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ストロボ・エッジ [Strobe Edge] #3
Strobe Edge, tomo 3
Ninako, Ren et Ando sont membres du comité d'organisation de la fête de l'école. Ninako s'enfuit quand Ando l'embrasse soudain sur le front. Ren, qui évitait Ninako, la prend dans ses bras pour la cacher. Pourquoi fait-il cela ?
Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
31 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Io Sakisaka
91 books1,520 followersIo Sakisaka (咲坂伊緒) is a Japanese manga artist. She also designed the characters for the anime movie HAL. Her works are:
-Call My Name (2001)
-Watashi no Koibito (2002)
-Bye-Bye, Little (2002)
-Blue (2006)
-Mascara Blues (2007)
-Strobe Edge (2007)
-Ao Haru Ride (2011)
-Sono Omokage o Shitteru (2013) (oneshot)
-Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (2015)
-Otome no Itari (2020) (oneshot)
-Sakura, Saku (2021)
-Call My Name (2001)
-Watashi no Koibito (2002)
-Bye-Bye, Little (2002)
-Blue (2006)
-Mascara Blues (2007)
-Strobe Edge (2007)
-Ao Haru Ride (2011)
-Sono Omokage o Shitteru (2013) (oneshot)
-Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (2015)
-Otome no Itari (2020) (oneshot)
-Sakura, Saku (2021)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
November 23, 2022
The heroine is the cutest, i find her absolutely adorable. No wonder Ren and Ando couldn`t help but lose their hearts to her sweet soul. Ando however is really making some choices that will set him up for another break-up. Ah, love-triangles are never easy.
October 5, 2017
The story progresses so smoothly, it's hard not to fall in love with the leading lady. She's so cute, though Ren kind of confuses me. Plus, that cute boy with the restaurant owner cousin is adorable!! The love triangle is getting stronger and stronger and I can't wait to see what will happen next!!
July 30, 2015
"I'm in love with you, Ninako."
Why must I feel so conflicted and always, always like someone else that isn't the love interest!???? FFFFFFFFFFFFF the ending is giving Ninako a chance to hurt Ando like he had been in the past. I could.Not.Even. at that moment. He spills his story to her, and then because he loves her so much and can't stand the way she looks at Ren, he decides that despite how much it will kill him, he's going to offer himself to her to "use" so she can "forget" Ren. Just like with his first relationship...
And Ninako should say no. She already said that it was wrong to do that in volume one...but I WANT her to say yes...even though it's wrong. And I'm so conflicted right now you guys!? Why is this not an anime? Ao Haru Ride gets one-sure it's good, but THIS. THIS is what should have been adapted. MY FEELS would be even greater.
And that beginning was flipping hilarious. Ninako understandably mistakes what Ren says about Ando to mean that Ando is dying. Just perfect stuff.
Ren's girlfriend...I like her a lot, and I feel terrible. She's seeing Ren starting to drift away from her and she was already super insecure. The worst thing is that there's no "bad guy" in this. It's just realistic. Everything's a blur of gray, a smudge of right and wrong. And I don't know how I can contain all these swirling feelings inside me right now.
Ando deserves a good ending.
September 29, 2022
Review on IG: @xojazzle
Feeling: conflicted lol there’s so many things going on I’m like AHHHH. First, ren. This boy is soooo CONFUSING. He has a gf and just needs to distance himself from Ninako. Even his friends made a comment that ren acts different around her. He lets lose and acts more like his true self. I feel bad but cmon😵💫 second, ninako is kinda dense (sorry) lol she needs to stop being upset with ren when he spends time w his gf! Like YES I get it. You love him but you know he has a gf so ur just setting urself up for heartbreak? I feel rlly bad for ren’s gf, mayuka, bc I think she senses something *sigh* she’s so nice. But I can see her relationship w ren is VERY surface level. They’re both very different and don’t seem compatible. Third, ANDO. HE IS SO CUTE HAHA I love the whole reformed playboy and I know he’s the second male lead but I love him. He SCREAMS toma from ao haru ride bc he’s “the guy she’s using to get over the first guy” so I know this isn’t going to end well for him lol he’s a very sweet guy so I hope he gets a nice ending. I’m interested to see what happens in the next volume! Side note: sayuri and daiki R SO CUTE I LOVE THE LITTLE SNIPPETS OF THEM🫶
Feeling: conflicted lol there’s so many things going on I’m like AHHHH. First, ren. This boy is soooo CONFUSING. He has a gf and just needs to distance himself from Ninako. Even his friends made a comment that ren acts different around her. He lets lose and acts more like his true self. I feel bad but cmon😵💫 second, ninako is kinda dense (sorry) lol she needs to stop being upset with ren when he spends time w his gf! Like YES I get it. You love him but you know he has a gf so ur just setting urself up for heartbreak? I feel rlly bad for ren’s gf, mayuka, bc I think she senses something *sigh* she’s so nice. But I can see her relationship w ren is VERY surface level. They’re both very different and don’t seem compatible. Third, ANDO. HE IS SO CUTE HAHA I love the whole reformed playboy and I know he’s the second male lead but I love him. He SCREAMS toma from ao haru ride bc he’s “the guy she’s using to get over the first guy” so I know this isn’t going to end well for him lol he’s a very sweet guy so I hope he gets a nice ending. I’m interested to see what happens in the next volume! Side note: sayuri and daiki R SO CUTE I LOVE THE LITTLE SNIPPETS OF THEM🫶
December 19, 2012
Most romance manga have a cooling off period after the first major obstacle douses the romance. It's like a feint. The mangaka tricks the reader into thinking the romance is going to climax before rudely ripping away the happy ending. Obviously, this story ends the moment Ren dumps Mayuka and confesses his love to Ninako, so obstacles must arise that prevent that from happening.
In this volume, we meet some of the obstacles: Andou, Mayuka, and Ren himself. In many manga, this period feels belabored and drawn out. We know the mangaka is artificially preventing the happy ending because the obstacles are usually contrived. This is the time for a new love interest to enter the scene, or for one of the lovers to move away, or, as is usually the case, for both events to happen at the same time. Mangaka often insert stupid storylines that distract away from the main action. It might be a visit to the beach, or an amusement park, or school activity week. Sometimes side characters get sudden prominence. The main character now drifts along the story with the reader, awaiting the time when the mangaka decides to tease the romance again, or comes to an ending.
Sakisaka uses many of these distractions as well. In this volume we have Andou—a new love interest for Ninako, Miyaku—Ren's old love interest, and school activities. But what sets her romance apart from the others is that the side characters never steal the spotlight for long, nor do the obstacles. Always underneath it all, the main romance smolders and gives the reader hope. It's a subtle touch that adds a great deal of depth to the story.
Ninako couldn't just capture Ren's heart by being cute. That's only enough to capture his attention. But Sakisaka lets Ninako get involved deeper and deeper into the normal minutia of Ren's life. Their school and work lives are intertwined so that neither can ever forget about the other. It all feels organic, like when Ninako tries to get the cat out of the tree. Instead of a contrived situation where she falls into Ren's arms, she kids with him while classmates look on, capturing his heart along with his smile far more effectively than with guile. Sakisaka takes time to build their relationship, but doesn't bore.
I am finding myself very impressed with her storytelling skills.
In this volume, we meet some of the obstacles: Andou, Mayuka, and Ren himself. In many manga, this period feels belabored and drawn out. We know the mangaka is artificially preventing the happy ending because the obstacles are usually contrived. This is the time for a new love interest to enter the scene, or for one of the lovers to move away, or, as is usually the case, for both events to happen at the same time. Mangaka often insert stupid storylines that distract away from the main action. It might be a visit to the beach, or an amusement park, or school activity week. Sometimes side characters get sudden prominence. The main character now drifts along the story with the reader, awaiting the time when the mangaka decides to tease the romance again, or comes to an ending.
Sakisaka uses many of these distractions as well. In this volume we have Andou—a new love interest for Ninako, Miyaku—Ren's old love interest, and school activities. But what sets her romance apart from the others is that the side characters never steal the spotlight for long, nor do the obstacles. Always underneath it all, the main romance smolders and gives the reader hope. It's a subtle touch that adds a great deal of depth to the story.
Ninako couldn't just capture Ren's heart by being cute. That's only enough to capture his attention. But Sakisaka lets Ninako get involved deeper and deeper into the normal minutia of Ren's life. Their school and work lives are intertwined so that neither can ever forget about the other. It all feels organic, like when Ninako tries to get the cat out of the tree. Instead of a contrived situation where she falls into Ren's arms, she kids with him while classmates look on, capturing his heart along with his smile far more effectively than with guile. Sakisaka takes time to build their relationship, but doesn't bore.
I am finding myself very impressed with her storytelling skills.
January 20, 2021
Ando really pisses me off when he's trying to be the teacher of love. Ugh
May 29, 2024
Es muy adictivo.
January 2, 2019
Really good plot, but the jealousy is off the freaking charts with these characters.
I don't 100% support the idea of a girl having a crush on a taken man, but she told him and asked to just be friends.
Ando surprised me in the last couple of pages though. He's a super pretty boy, but I have a feeling he's gonna be a huge train wreck.
I don't 100% support the idea of a girl having a crush on a taken man, but she told him and asked to just be friends.
Ando surprised me in the last couple of pages though. He's a super pretty boy, but I have a feeling he's gonna be a huge train wreck.
November 12, 2017
Me encanta la historia.
Después de un pequeño inconveniente Ninako pudo hablar claro con Ren.
Ando se disculpó pero sus sentimientos están cambiando.
El festival de cultura es muy divertido, me encanta la cara de "quiero ayudar" de Ninako.Ren haciendo cosplay está muy guapo.
Los amigos de Ren han notado pequeños cambios en él, pero quién sabe cuando lo notara el mismo Ren.
Ando me está gustando mucho quiero saber más de él
Por eso me gustan las historias shojo, mi corazón se ilusiona ❣
Después de un pequeño inconveniente Ninako pudo hablar claro con Ren.
Ando se disculpó pero sus sentimientos están cambiando.
El festival de cultura es muy divertido, me encanta la cara de "quiero ayudar" de Ninako.Ren haciendo cosplay está muy guapo.
Los amigos de Ren han notado pequeños cambios en él, pero quién sabe cuando lo notara el mismo Ren.
Ando me está gustando mucho quiero saber más de él
Por eso me gustan las historias shojo, mi corazón se ilusiona ❣
September 17, 2021
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/49J17zomUnI
Absolutely loved!!
This series is so easy going and extremely enjoyable to read! I am shocked at how this love-triangle-but-not-really-a-love-triangle is panning out. I think both boys are very realistic and it makes me sad that in different ways, both Ren and Ando are hiding who they really are.
However, Ninako is AMAZING! I admire how steadfast she is in her love for Ren and that regardless of what people might tell her, she continues to love Ren anyway. I also deeply appreciate that while her feelings are deepening for him, that she cares for her friendship with Ren more and sticks up for that. She is so sweet and honestly can't help but cheer for her!
I loved a lot of different events that take place and just found the dynamics of this volume fun to read. I think I'm realizing that the school festival is one of my favorite events in manga and deeply appreciated we didn't have a bunch of drama that went down. Not that drama is always bad thing, but I found it to be refreshing in light of other recent reads.
As a manga writer, I really loved hearing about Sakisaka's writing process. I wish I could hug through the page and tell her not to compare to anyone because her art is AMAZING! I'm really glad she shared about her process though and found it very insightful.
Overall, I'm pretty hooked on this series and though I told myself in the beginning I wouldn't want to collect it, now I'm wanting to! LOL! I'm looking forward to what happens next because I think a certain someone is picking up on that change is in the air...
Absolutely loved!!
This series is so easy going and extremely enjoyable to read! I am shocked at how this love-triangle-but-not-really-a-love-triangle is panning out. I think both boys are very realistic and it makes me sad that in different ways, both Ren and Ando are hiding who they really are.
However, Ninako is AMAZING! I admire how steadfast she is in her love for Ren and that regardless of what people might tell her, she continues to love Ren anyway. I also deeply appreciate that while her feelings are deepening for him, that she cares for her friendship with Ren more and sticks up for that. She is so sweet and honestly can't help but cheer for her!
I loved a lot of different events that take place and just found the dynamics of this volume fun to read. I think I'm realizing that the school festival is one of my favorite events in manga and deeply appreciated we didn't have a bunch of drama that went down. Not that drama is always bad thing, but I found it to be refreshing in light of other recent reads.
As a manga writer, I really loved hearing about Sakisaka's writing process. I wish I could hug through the page and tell her not to compare to anyone because her art is AMAZING! I'm really glad she shared about her process though and found it very insightful.
Overall, I'm pretty hooked on this series and though I told myself in the beginning I wouldn't want to collect it, now I'm wanting to! LOL! I'm looking forward to what happens next because I think a certain someone is picking up on that change is in the air...
November 25, 2017
RESEÑA COMPLETA ➜ https://goo.gl/AyXVJF
Ninako sabe que algo le está pasando a Ren pues no deja de evitarla aunque sigue ayudándola. Ella cree que sus sentimientos son una molestia para Ren hasta que un día lo escucha por casualidad decir que se mantiene alejado de ella para que las chicas que la molestan la dejen en paz.
Esta acción de parte de Ren sólo hace que Ninako lo estime más y que se esfuerce aún más para que su amistad con él crezca. Para Ren eso está bien ya que sin saberlo ha llegado a sentirme muy cómodo al lado de ella, pero para Ando eso significa que las cosas para él se ponen peor pues la fuerza y el cariño que Ninako le demuestra a Ren han logrado que él se sienta atraído por ella y sin importar que los ojos de ella sigan a Ren, él estará ahí para ganarse su corazón.
En el tomo pasado les decía que las cosas a penas se iban acomodando así que no podía hablarles muy bien de las cosas pero ahora si, en este tercer tomo las cosas han quedado muy claras y el triángulo amoroso ha quedado claro. O más bien debería decir el cuadrado ya que Mayuka (la novia de Ren) se percata las similitudes que Ren y Ninako comparten.
Pero dejando de lado nuestro triangulo-cuadrado amoroso, tengo que hablarles de Ando quien se ha convertido en mi personaje favorito. No digo que Ren este mal pero al menos hasta ahora no hemos logrado ver más allá de esa fachada fría suya en cambio con Ando la autora nos ha dejado ver más de su personalidad. Al principio sólo nos lo presentó como un chico que sólo le gusta jugar con las chicas pero en este tomo nos cuenta que sólo es así porque su primer gran amor sólo lo usó para acercarse a Ren.
De verdad espero que la autora nos cuente más sobre la relación entre Ren y Ando pues esté último hizo un comentario que me puso a pensar que hay mucha más historia detrás de ellos. Creo de hecho, que la historia de Ren y Ando me tiene más enganchada que la historia entre Ren y Ninako xD
RESEÑA COMPLETA ➜ https://goo.gl/AyXVJF
July 23, 2013
And here, my children, is the next Strobe Edge.
Oh how I love rereading! (Well. It's rereading until Volume 6. Because I have never touched Volume 7 before, but ANYWAY...)
Alright, I have to say one thing. To all those romantics out there that don't know what it's like to actually BE in love. To have a guy to think about every single day . . . it will seriously drive you crazy.
CRAZY.
CRAY-CRAY-CRAYZEE, I tell you.
Ninako. This super brave, very-in-love girl . . . . . . . she just . . . she just seems so . . . so . . .
So . . . so . . . so so so so so so so . . . so . . . . . . so . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (*wiggles fingers in frustration because I can't find the right word to say . . .*).
It's just . . . . HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND A GIRL LIKE THIS?!
1. Ren doesn't love her back. She thinks, "That's okay! I don't mind, let's just be friends!"
Let me just tell you something!
If you walk about, and you see the person that you love that has another girl to love walking about, you're going to feel this feeling deep inside your heart.
AND. IT. HURTS.
It hurts like crazy.
Why?
Because he doesn't love you back. Because he has somebody else--because he won't look at you the same way you look at him, GAAAAH!
It hurts. It does.
IT SERIOUSLY SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE!
The way Ninako thinks . . . the "I don't need him to love me back, I am okay just loving him" . . . THAT is real love. That is. When you don't care about yourself, and you just care about the other person . . . that's exactly what love is.
But that is REALLY. REALLY. REALLY hard to come by. She's hurt, and she knows it. It's hard to genuinely feel that you don't need this person to love you back--you imagine that happiness and luckiness and it just stabs you right in the chest.
2. "It doesn't matter that Ren has a girlfriend! I will still love him!"
Okay, most girls will TRY and move on. Say, "Okay, this person's taken. I can't put my hope on something that might not ever happen. LET'S AWAY!"
But Ninako's willing to stay. She does not care about this super hot guy that has 1000 girls already floating over him, and that he is dating a super sexy model girl. She will freaking love this guy.
And that takes some guts. LOTS of guts. And super thick, non-breakable heartstrings.
3. "I HAVE TWO OTHER GUYS LIKING ME, but that's a-okay! I will STILL stay with Ren! Who is already taken!"
Guts.
Guts.
Strong, un-explodable, non-flammable, non-destructable GUTS.
Did you know that when a girl is in love, she becomes way stupider?
It's AMAZING how this girl can love a first love like this. Absolutely selfless. No regrets. No thoughts about stopping. Tears, but she wipes them away.
But think about this.
Staying in love with a guy even though she already has a girlfriend?
Ignoring any other guy that likes you.
Because you like this ONE GUY so, so, soooo much?
That IS true love. That's loyal, and trustworthy, and TRUE. ALL THE WAY.
But it also burdens you a little too.
Of course, love makes you so stupid that you don't even think it's a burden.
Andou is like "Niiiiinako! He doesn't even LOVE YOU!" (*does dramatic pose because he looks like a K-Pop star*) "Be with ME! I will make you happy! I will make you forget about him!"
But Ninako is a strong super woman.
"NO, Andou." (*places back of hand dramatically onto her forehead for extra drama.) "I love Ren . . . even if I wanted to stop. . . I can't."
URGH!
Why does love make you do that?!
I'm in love. I am.
And you know what that makes me do? DO YOU KNOW ALL THE STUPID THINGS THIS ONE PERSON CAN MAKE ME DO?!
1. I think about him so much, I CAN'T EVEN SLEEP AT NIGHT.
2. When we fight, I CAN'T SLEEP!
3. When I have a nightmare about him, I CAN'T SLEEP.
4. When we talk to each other late at night, I CAN'T SLEEP.
5. When he tells me something lovey-dovey that makes my heart go cray cray, I CAN'T SLEEP.
And I LOVE SLEEP!
AND SLEEP IS IMPORTANT!
But I can't sleep. Because this dingleberry is just all over my mind.
Not only that, but sometimes I DON'T DO MY FREAKING HOMEWORK when I think about him. Which results to even LESS sleep because I need to stay up late or wake up super early to FINISH MY HOMEWORK.
I never had this problem before this guy. NEVER.
But why not?
Because I hadn't met him.
But now I met him.
Now I love him.
NOW HE'S THE FREAKING LOVE OF MY LIFE, and I can't forget him, even if I wanted to.
And part of me thinks, "Theresa, YOU ARE SO STUPID for falling this hard."
A bigger part of me says, "I don't mind loving him, he's my entire world."
......
......
...... All these romantic mangas and movies and books I've been reading and watching and crying over .....
THIS IS ALL HIS FAULT.
So Ninako is a STRONG WOMAN. Who is in love. Who's become stupid because love has brainwashed her head like an incurable disease.
Just. Like. Me. (*sigh)
Onto the next volume, my dears. (VOLUME 4 IS SITTING ON MY SHELF, WOOT WOOT WOOT!)
(Wouldn't it be funny if I said WOOF WOOF WOOF!? *bah-dup PAH!* goes the slapstick comedy drums . . .)
4 stars.
(Not five?! WHY NOT, THERESA?!)
Well because . . . . . . . . because . . . . . . . . . . . THIS BOOK WASN'T AS SPARKLY AS THE FIRST TWO! But 4 stars is still a lot.
(THERESA, every Strobe Edge book deserves a 5 starry!)
OKAY FINE! 4.6.
(4.6, NOOOOOOOO!)
*stubbornly folds arms*
This volume didn't get my heart racing like the first two.
Of course, you should still read this one!! OKAY???
MY TUMBLRTUMTUM!! You know you wanna click this!
AS OF NOVEMBER 6, 2011 (rated 5 stars)
JEEZ, I JUST LOVE THE LOVE LESSONS THAT THIS SERIES TEACHES IN EVERY VOLUME!!
Anyways, I just noticed that my reviews for each individual manga--like how I'm reviewing the volumes for Strobe Edge, seem to reveal the entire plot...
I do this because
1. I want to state my opinions to the actions in each volume.
2. I want to be able to read over my reviews and remember what happened because I don't actually have these books on hand, so I can't flip through them.
3. I feel like spoiling.
Anyway, how I review my Strobe Edge reviews reveals LOTS AND LOTS OF SPOILERS. So really....if you're trying to avoid spoilers, IT'S DANGEROUS IF YOU READ MY REVIEWS UNTIL YOU'VE READ THE STORY YOURSELF!
And why wouldn't you want to read it yourself??? It's AMAZING. TERRIFICAL! NINJETIC!!!!
I love this series!
So anyway, this is just a warning from here on out: MY STROBE EDGE REVIEWS CONTAIN LOADS OF SPOILERS. Stay away if you really don't want to be spoiled!!!
But . . . if you do so wish to be spoiled . . . you may read ahead. But remember: I warned you!
Mwah! Ha! Ha!!!!!!
Anyway, this volume receives 5 SPARKLY SPARKLY STARS!!!! (They are so sparkly you need SUNGLASSES!!!!!)
Io-san definitely DOES NOT disappoint with her creations!!!!!!!!! So here are those spoilers I told you guys about. And I can't remember every single detail, so I'll tell you guys the ones that made the hugest impact on my attention!
Through the volume, Andou asks Ninako what she wants to be to Ren. What made me happy was that she said she didn't really want to be anything to Ren. She just wanted to love him more.
But in the last chapter, when Ren and Ninako both notice the scent of winter (which is amazing because I don't usually smell winter...I only feel it when it freezes me half to death), Ren's girlfriend Mayuka clings onto Ren.
I kind of realized that Mayuka was saying both "I love you, Ren! Don't leave me!" and "Back off, girlfriend! He's MIIIINE!"
Ninako smiles at Ren and tells them to have fun being boyfriend and girlfriend and she dashes away with Andou.
I'm really glad that Ninako isn't the kind of girl that would angrily stomp her foot against Mayuka clinging onto her boyfriend. The way Ninako gets a bit jealous is really...cute! There's no violent thoughts or regret or hatred or anything.
I seriously wish I could be more like Ninako! When I was younger (9 or 10) I would get so incredibly jealous when this one second grader would cling over my crush. I would start a whole war!
But that was a childhood crush. I don't remember being that jealous, but now that I look back, I seriously wish that I calmed down a little. I probably looked like a huge, scary, evil dinosaur stomping around the way I did...
BUT ANYWAY, I think that Ninako--as the main character/heroine--is my favorite kind of main character in a romance manga. SHE TEACHES THE READERS A THING OR TWO!
And what adds to the fact that this volume got 5 stars is that the cliffhanger made me gasp so loudly that I probably sounded like I was choking or taking a deep breath before diving into the ocean and preparing to hold my breath for the next six hours.
(WARNING: BIGGEST SPOILER YET!)
I think that it was really cute what Andou said to Ninako after they dashed away.
"If you're okay with just liking him, don't make a face like that."
When you love someone and you say you're okay with just liking him without requiring anything in return, it's really tempting to lean away from that when you see the guy being clung onto by his girlfriend.
This was one of the important lessons of this book! It's harder to see the person you like like someone else!! It gets your stomach all queasy and sometimes you want to cry.
I'm so glad I finally found a book that revealed this fact into the world!!
And Andou brought up that his first love had gone out with him but she never liked him. She only used him to get over someone else.
Being led on by someone by thinking that they like you is one of the most hurtful things someone can do to you. I've experienced this myself and it does hurt someone!
So near the end of the book, Andou tells Ninako that she could use someone else to get over someone.
And he offers Ninako the opportunity to use him.
This is the newest kind of love confession I've ever seen!
So . . . I'm really looking forward to reading Volume 4. THAT CLIFFHANGER TUGGED ON MY HEARTSTRINGS!!!!!
Oh plus, in this volume, when Ninako was heading for the train but she tripped and the train doors were about to close, and Ren stepped off the train towards Ninako, and Andou was left behind on the train, it really made me laugh when the train hurried away with him in it.
But anyway, overall, this volume of Strobe Edge was awesome.
I love this manga. It's highly recommended.
THIS!!! IS!!!! ZE TRUE ROMANCE MANGA!!!!!
Oh how I love rereading! (Well. It's rereading until Volume 6. Because I have never touched Volume 7 before, but ANYWAY...)
Alright, I have to say one thing. To all those romantics out there that don't know what it's like to actually BE in love. To have a guy to think about every single day . . . it will seriously drive you crazy.
CRAZY.
CRAY-CRAY-CRAYZEE, I tell you.
Ninako. This super brave, very-in-love girl . . . . . . . she just . . . she just seems so . . . so . . .
So . . . so . . . so so so so so so so . . . so . . . . . . so . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (*wiggles fingers in frustration because I can't find the right word to say . . .*).
It's just . . . . HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND A GIRL LIKE THIS?!
1. Ren doesn't love her back. She thinks, "That's okay! I don't mind, let's just be friends!"
Let me just tell you something!
If you walk about, and you see the person that you love that has another girl to love walking about, you're going to feel this feeling deep inside your heart.
AND. IT. HURTS.
It hurts like crazy.
Why?
Because he doesn't love you back. Because he has somebody else--because he won't look at you the same way you look at him, GAAAAH!
It hurts. It does.
IT SERIOUSLY SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE!
The way Ninako thinks . . . the "I don't need him to love me back, I am okay just loving him" . . . THAT is real love. That is. When you don't care about yourself, and you just care about the other person . . . that's exactly what love is.
But that is REALLY. REALLY. REALLY hard to come by. She's hurt, and she knows it. It's hard to genuinely feel that you don't need this person to love you back--you imagine that happiness and luckiness and it just stabs you right in the chest.
2. "It doesn't matter that Ren has a girlfriend! I will still love him!"
Okay, most girls will TRY and move on. Say, "Okay, this person's taken. I can't put my hope on something that might not ever happen. LET'S AWAY!"
But Ninako's willing to stay. She does not care about this super hot guy that has 1000 girls already floating over him, and that he is dating a super sexy model girl. She will freaking love this guy.
And that takes some guts. LOTS of guts. And super thick, non-breakable heartstrings.
3. "I HAVE TWO OTHER GUYS LIKING ME, but that's a-okay! I will STILL stay with Ren! Who is already taken!"
Guts.
Guts.
Strong, un-explodable, non-flammable, non-destructable GUTS.
Did you know that when a girl is in love, she becomes way stupider?
It's AMAZING how this girl can love a first love like this. Absolutely selfless. No regrets. No thoughts about stopping. Tears, but she wipes them away.
But think about this.
Staying in love with a guy even though she already has a girlfriend?
Ignoring any other guy that likes you.
Because you like this ONE GUY so, so, soooo much?
That IS true love. That's loyal, and trustworthy, and TRUE. ALL THE WAY.
But it also burdens you a little too.
Of course, love makes you so stupid that you don't even think it's a burden.
Andou is like "Niiiiinako! He doesn't even LOVE YOU!" (*does dramatic pose because he looks like a K-Pop star*) "Be with ME! I will make you happy! I will make you forget about him!"
But Ninako is a strong super woman.
"NO, Andou." (*places back of hand dramatically onto her forehead for extra drama.) "I love Ren . . . even if I wanted to stop. . . I can't."
URGH!
Why does love make you do that?!
I'm in love. I am.
And you know what that makes me do? DO YOU KNOW ALL THE STUPID THINGS THIS ONE PERSON CAN MAKE ME DO?!
1. I think about him so much, I CAN'T EVEN SLEEP AT NIGHT.
2. When we fight, I CAN'T SLEEP!
3. When I have a nightmare about him, I CAN'T SLEEP.
4. When we talk to each other late at night, I CAN'T SLEEP.
5. When he tells me something lovey-dovey that makes my heart go cray cray, I CAN'T SLEEP.
And I LOVE SLEEP!
AND SLEEP IS IMPORTANT!
But I can't sleep. Because this dingleberry is just all over my mind.
Not only that, but sometimes I DON'T DO MY FREAKING HOMEWORK when I think about him. Which results to even LESS sleep because I need to stay up late or wake up super early to FINISH MY HOMEWORK.
I never had this problem before this guy. NEVER.
But why not?
Because I hadn't met him.
But now I met him.
Now I love him.
NOW HE'S THE FREAKING LOVE OF MY LIFE, and I can't forget him, even if I wanted to.
And part of me thinks, "Theresa, YOU ARE SO STUPID for falling this hard."
A bigger part of me says, "I don't mind loving him, he's my entire world."
......
......
...... All these romantic mangas and movies and books I've been reading and watching and crying over .....
THIS IS ALL HIS FAULT.
So Ninako is a STRONG WOMAN. Who is in love. Who's become stupid because love has brainwashed her head like an incurable disease.
Just. Like. Me. (*sigh)
Onto the next volume, my dears. (VOLUME 4 IS SITTING ON MY SHELF, WOOT WOOT WOOT!)
(Wouldn't it be funny if I said WOOF WOOF WOOF!? *bah-dup PAH!* goes the slapstick comedy drums . . .)
4 stars.
(Not five?! WHY NOT, THERESA?!)
Well because . . . . . . . . because . . . . . . . . . . . THIS BOOK WASN'T AS SPARKLY AS THE FIRST TWO! But 4 stars is still a lot.
(THERESA, every Strobe Edge book deserves a 5 starry!)
OKAY FINE! 4.6.
(4.6, NOOOOOOOO!)
*stubbornly folds arms*
This volume didn't get my heart racing like the first two.
Of course, you should still read this one!! OKAY???
MY TUMBLRTUMTUM!! You know you wanna click this!
AS OF NOVEMBER 6, 2011 (rated 5 stars)
JEEZ, I JUST LOVE THE LOVE LESSONS THAT THIS SERIES TEACHES IN EVERY VOLUME!!
Anyways, I just noticed that my reviews for each individual manga--like how I'm reviewing the volumes for Strobe Edge, seem to reveal the entire plot...
I do this because
1. I want to state my opinions to the actions in each volume.
2. I want to be able to read over my reviews and remember what happened because I don't actually have these books on hand, so I can't flip through them.
3. I feel like spoiling.
Anyway, how I review my Strobe Edge reviews reveals LOTS AND LOTS OF SPOILERS. So really....if you're trying to avoid spoilers, IT'S DANGEROUS IF YOU READ MY REVIEWS UNTIL YOU'VE READ THE STORY YOURSELF!
And why wouldn't you want to read it yourself??? It's AMAZING. TERRIFICAL! NINJETIC!!!!
I love this series!
So anyway, this is just a warning from here on out: MY STROBE EDGE REVIEWS CONTAIN LOADS OF SPOILERS. Stay away if you really don't want to be spoiled!!!
But . . . if you do so wish to be spoiled . . . you may read ahead. But remember: I warned you!
Mwah! Ha! Ha!!!!!!
Anyway, this volume receives 5 SPARKLY SPARKLY STARS!!!! (They are so sparkly you need SUNGLASSES!!!!!)
Io-san definitely DOES NOT disappoint with her creations!!!!!!!!! So here are those spoilers I told you guys about. And I can't remember every single detail, so I'll tell you guys the ones that made the hugest impact on my attention!
Through the volume, Andou asks Ninako what she wants to be to Ren. What made me happy was that she said she didn't really want to be anything to Ren. She just wanted to love him more.
But in the last chapter, when Ren and Ninako both notice the scent of winter (which is amazing because I don't usually smell winter...I only feel it when it freezes me half to death), Ren's girlfriend Mayuka clings onto Ren.
I kind of realized that Mayuka was saying both "I love you, Ren! Don't leave me!" and "Back off, girlfriend! He's MIIIINE!"
Ninako smiles at Ren and tells them to have fun being boyfriend and girlfriend and she dashes away with Andou.
I'm really glad that Ninako isn't the kind of girl that would angrily stomp her foot against Mayuka clinging onto her boyfriend. The way Ninako gets a bit jealous is really...cute! There's no violent thoughts or regret or hatred or anything.
I seriously wish I could be more like Ninako! When I was younger (9 or 10) I would get so incredibly jealous when this one second grader would cling over my crush. I would start a whole war!
But that was a childhood crush. I don't remember being that jealous, but now that I look back, I seriously wish that I calmed down a little. I probably looked like a huge, scary, evil dinosaur stomping around the way I did...
BUT ANYWAY, I think that Ninako--as the main character/heroine--is my favorite kind of main character in a romance manga. SHE TEACHES THE READERS A THING OR TWO!
And what adds to the fact that this volume got 5 stars is that the cliffhanger made me gasp so loudly that I probably sounded like I was choking or taking a deep breath before diving into the ocean and preparing to hold my breath for the next six hours.
(WARNING: BIGGEST SPOILER YET!)
I think that it was really cute what Andou said to Ninako after they dashed away.
"If you're okay with just liking him, don't make a face like that."
When you love someone and you say you're okay with just liking him without requiring anything in return, it's really tempting to lean away from that when you see the guy being clung onto by his girlfriend.
This was one of the important lessons of this book! It's harder to see the person you like like someone else!! It gets your stomach all queasy and sometimes you want to cry.
I'm so glad I finally found a book that revealed this fact into the world!!
And Andou brought up that his first love had gone out with him but she never liked him. She only used him to get over someone else.
Being led on by someone by thinking that they like you is one of the most hurtful things someone can do to you. I've experienced this myself and it does hurt someone!
So near the end of the book, Andou tells Ninako that she could use someone else to get over someone.
And he offers Ninako the opportunity to use him.
This is the newest kind of love confession I've ever seen!
So . . . I'm really looking forward to reading Volume 4. THAT CLIFFHANGER TUGGED ON MY HEARTSTRINGS!!!!!
Oh plus, in this volume, when Ninako was heading for the train but she tripped and the train doors were about to close, and Ren stepped off the train towards Ninako, and Andou was left behind on the train, it really made me laugh when the train hurried away with him in it.
But anyway, overall, this volume of Strobe Edge was awesome.
I love this manga. It's highly recommended.
THIS!!! IS!!!! ZE TRUE ROMANCE MANGA!!!!!
May 24, 2021
El tomo 3, abarca del capítulo 8 al 11.
La trama se complica puesto que los sentimientos de Ninako, Ren, Ando, Mayuka y del resto son más profundos. Poco a poco van creciendo, cambiando, equivocándose… viviendo sus vidas de estudiantes con su logros y fallos.
Vemos un pequeño vistazo sobre el pasado de Ando: su primer amor nunca lo quiso. A pesar de que su primer amor, aparentemente se dio, es decir, se dio una relación de noviazgo, él se dio cuenta que la chica solo anduvo con él para estar cerca del chico del que ella se había enamorado, que obvio, no era Ando. Por eso él se fue vuelve un Don Juan… no le vía sentido volver a enamorarse, hasta ahora.
No justifico su conducta, pero entiendo que, por sentirse usado, él ya no creyera en el amor.
La trama se complica puesto que los sentimientos de Ninako, Ren, Ando, Mayuka y del resto son más profundos. Poco a poco van creciendo, cambiando, equivocándose… viviendo sus vidas de estudiantes con su logros y fallos.
Vemos un pequeño vistazo sobre el pasado de Ando: su primer amor nunca lo quiso. A pesar de que su primer amor, aparentemente se dio, es decir, se dio una relación de noviazgo, él se dio cuenta que la chica solo anduvo con él para estar cerca del chico del que ella se había enamorado, que obvio, no era Ando. Por eso él se fue vuelve un Don Juan… no le vía sentido volver a enamorarse, hasta ahora.
No justifico su conducta, pero entiendo que, por sentirse usado, él ya no creyera en el amor.
October 22, 2021
Ando te amo con todo lo que soy hdp por quÉ sos tan cute no ves que vos y Ninako are going to be the death of me?
4 de 5 estrellas.
4 de 5 estrellas.
January 28, 2019
This volume takes a more introspective look into Ren's feelings but spend too much time rehashing the same patterns from the last volume. I like how Ando's feelings and character is developing so far but he still comes off as invasive at times that puts me off his character. At this point, I want Ren to make a decision already but with the number of volumes left, it doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon.
August 10, 2017
Talk about the pain of first love! Not only is Ninako suffering for it, so are those around her. The more I get to know the other characters, the more I like them. Ren seems too good to be true at times, which actually gets a little annoying. I'm loving the minor characters so much - and really hope to see more of them. Ando seems to be coming out as a major player in this little drama.
October 3, 2019
El amor adolescente es algo tan universal, que es imposible no sentirte identificado con los personajes de este manga 💜.
April 21, 2022
Every book is 5 stars cause this is a core series for me. ANYWAY, REN & NINAKO SMELLING THE WIND PLEASE & THANK YOU.
February 20, 2024
andou my boy didn’t learn his lesson
September 14, 2017
Tantos personajes lindos en una sola historia... Así no se puede escoger.
¡Me encanta!
La historia está tomando forma, Ren comienza a darse cuenta de sus sentimientos y los celos también surgen con ellos.
Necesito leer más de ellos.
¡Me encanta!
La historia está tomando forma, Ren comienza a darse cuenta de sus sentimientos y los celos también surgen con ellos.
Necesito leer más de ellos.
March 10, 2023
Pues ya está, Io Sakisaka ya lo ha conseguido, ya me ha enganchado.
Éste tomo me ha resultado más divertido y ágil de leer. Además que ya voy conectando mejor con todos los personajes, aunque tengo que reconocer que los únicos que no terminan de encajar son Daiki y su pareja, que han sido muy acelerados, y aún no comprendo bien su función en la trama con los protas. Quitando eso, me gusta como vemos poquito a poco la evolución de Ren, y me ha sorprendido bastante Ando, sobre todo al final. Quién me me cae bien y mal a la vez es Ninako, la prota, y es que esa cabezonería suya a veces me pone de los nervios, aunque también la entiendo perfectamente jajaja.
Éste tomo me ha resultado más divertido y ágil de leer. Además que ya voy conectando mejor con todos los personajes, aunque tengo que reconocer que los únicos que no terminan de encajar son Daiki y su pareja, que han sido muy acelerados, y aún no comprendo bien su función en la trama con los protas. Quitando eso, me gusta como vemos poquito a poco la evolución de Ren, y me ha sorprendido bastante Ando, sobre todo al final. Quién me me cae bien y mal a la vez es Ninako, la prota, y es que esa cabezonería suya a veces me pone de los nervios, aunque también la entiendo perfectamente jajaja.
December 31, 2013
Halfway through, the story takes a brief, unwelcome detour into what Roger Ebert called an Idiot Plot: a series of (not terribly) comic misunderstandings that would be immediately solved if only characters would actually speak to each other. Imagine my surprise when the Idiot Plot is brought to a close almost immediately when the characters involved actually speak to each other. Huh.
January 29, 2015
This volume is just as cute as the others. I love the scenarios the books end on. The series is so sweet, although it may have a few too many love triangles but it was cool to see the characters outside of a school setting. I'm not sure if I liked this one as much as the first but it is still a solid four stars.
July 12, 2017
Ninako is very clueless and idiotic and is unable to do anything!!!! She tries her best, I appreciate it but honestly, the author made the guys smart and athletic(most of the time) while making most of the girls stupid airheads... Sigh... The arts pretty cute though....
January 29, 2020
En general me ha gustado bastante pero hay algo que apetece en este volumen en específico que me encanta. Concretamente es la escena de los olores de invierno y punto intermedio, es algo que yo suelo notar y me ha parecido una escena super bonita.
March 4, 2018
I love Daiki and Sayuri better than the main characters 😂😂
March 15, 2018
Loved it! Ren is so cluelessly cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2019
4.5 cute adorable stars
September 5, 2019
Super cute and enjoyable!! Can't wait to read the rest of the volumes!
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