Tamon's B-Side, Vol. 5

多聞くん今どっち!? [Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!?] #5

by Yuki Shiwasu

When a shiny idol is a sad mess in real life, can his number one fan help him stay upbeat?

High schooler Utage Kinoshita works part-time as a housekeeper so she can afford her fangirl obsession with Tamon Fukuhara, her favorite member of boy band F/ACE. When work serendipitously sends her to the home of her idol, she discovers that the real Tamon couldn’t be more different from his wild and sexy onstage persona!

Just when it looks like Utage can finally relax and enjoy her summer, F/ACE member Ori goes all out trying to make her fangirl over him. Does Ori purely want to win Utage over as a fan, or has he (gasp!) caught feelings for her?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Contemporary, Shojo, Young Adult, Humor, High School

168 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2023

About the author

Name (in native language) : 師走ゆき

Associated Names:
СИВАСУ Юки
师走ゆき

Reviews

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/HTi6ADNKLbA

"After all…you can't be anyone else but yourself, right?"

UGH, WHY ARE THESE CLIFFHANGERS SO BRUTAL!!

I really continue to be impressed with this story! While I feel volume three was the weakest and my personal least favorite, I've really been enjoying seeing Utage and Tamon have a REAL blooming romance. It's full of uncertainties but yet there is something sweet and heartfelt about it. I really never considered that Utage could love Mr. Gloomyhara and I don't mean that to knock her! But mainly because she is such a huge Tamon fan, and like her, I couldn't visualize her loving him romantically either. So in that sense, this series has been really fulfilling!

When it comes to Ori, I never thought my feelings would change about him, but dare I say I'm coming to like him?? His parents were so harsh in my opinion and sort of explained why he acts the way he does. I would even go as far as to say it makes me feel some compassion for him. I don't want him to win in this love triangle, but a small part of my heart will be rooting for him!

Oh my goodness, we finally met the REAL Natsuki and he is SOOO different than I expected! LOL! I'm looking forward to learning more about him though!

Another very good volume!!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

F/ACE needs a name for its rabid fans, while Ori wrestles with having caught feelings for Utage. Meanwhile, we learn the other side of another member, Natsuki, who hides his own special brand of crazy behind his band persona.

Man, the first chapter of this one is just dire. Whenever the manga decides to play with the insanity of the fanbase, my brain checks out for a while because it absolutely annoys me more than anything.

Utage on her own is more than enough to illustrate the wacky thinking of hardcore fans, her losing her head is a highlight of the volume, and it becomes borderline insufferable when it turns into a gaggle.

Luckily, this rebounds in rather good fashion afterwards. Tamon’s proclamations about his useless nature are back in top form and a couple of them are straight up hilarious. He’s one of the best sad sacks in manga.

But he’s changed more than a little from his time with Utage and him trying to break that barrier down between the two of them is actually one of the better reasons for an ongoing would-be relationship I’ve seen. Utage worships Tamon so hard that she can’t let herself even consider being with him either, so the distance between them is at least plausible.

And then there’s Ori, who I admittedly find a little boring, who finally works out that he cares for Utage and that it doesn’t matter to her at all. Great moment when he gets a little too pushy and Tamon steps in, though. Respect those boundaries!

This is followed by a F/ACE ‘relationship advice’ segment that’s just plain goofy. Ori and Tamon both end up submitting to this video chat using fake names and Tamon’s, in particular, is just absolutely perfect for his character.

In a way, it’s too bad that the first ‘b-side’ we saw after Tamon’s WAS Ori, as everybody else has been far more interesting and funny. I mean, Ori is just classic tsundere, while the rest are also tropes but ones that are hammed up to far better comedic effect.

Keito reappears and does apologize for being an ass, but also continues to be an ass and really, really in it for the money. This leads to the great running gag of him being cheaper than Scrooge McDuck when it comes to penny-pinching and it’s that little bit extra that makes it work.

And then there’s Natsuki, whose wide eyes and beauty come at a cost and his down time is spent acting out in all the worst ways. The image of him in the pachinko parlour is great. The contrast between these sides of him is really well done and injects some great comedy into the closing chapters.

I wouldn’t call this series consistent, but it does get it right more often than not. It absolutely pulled off more gags than usual this volume and managed to overcome an opening chapter that really started it on the back foot.

3.5 stars - the laughs are strong enough that combined with a somewhat okay romance that comes from the right places makes up for the lamer bits that fall flat. Overall worthwhile and a little more fun than the previous volume.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

UGH THE CLIFF HANGER

[Fen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this series is so funnnn i love how with each volume we meet a new member outside of their idol person and get to see how they interact with the others in and out of performing. natsuki is kind of becoming a favorite of mine out of the boys, i love his cutesy persona contrasted with the flighty, almost cold reality. tamon and utage are so sweet together, i honestly really enjoy the push and pull of utage not wanting to defile her favs perfection, while tamon just wants to love her unconditionally. ahhh my babies

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamon’s self-degradation is just bordering on too much but he’s developing!

Recap: fandom name, summer homework, Ori still jealous, Tamon wants to be friends, We meet another member who is actually a huge smoker and gambler and slacker but their song writer lol. Her new teacher loves F/ACE too.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending!!! I can’t wait for them to get together. This volume was so funny. I love that we are getting to see the other members are f/ace more too.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly, I cannot get enough of these characters. I'm excited to watch them grow!

[dora♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

TAMON PLS STOP PLAYING WITH UTAGE THIS WAY

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I contemplated giving this three stars, but some of the funny moments are really funny so it's worth rounding up. The entire first chapter is a ton of words and boring content as the group tries to name their fanbase. Ori then takes the main focus and has a few funny moments but is also overall kind of boring. It was really hard to stay invested in the story and to keep my focus in the book itself. I kept getting distracted...by nothing...and that doesn't usually happen. The highlight for me is a single panel where Tamon straight up freaks tfo because Kinoshita explodes into the ceiling. (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) And T. Rash. (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) I don't really care for Natski's B-Side reveal. The lip tint portion is the best of the book to me. I can't really put my finger on it but I just could not get into this volume until then. Maybe it does deserve three stars. But I don't know how long this series is and maybe this is the middle volume and it's just filling in some story points? IDK. Not going to overthink it. It's not as good as previous volumes.

[Shirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really know how to feel about this volume. On one hand I'm very excited to see that Tamon has shown progress in his attitude and how he perceives others, but this series has taken on too much in my opinion. For every member to have hot/cold personalities, clearly relating to some underlying trauma, is too much. It almost feels like a reverse harem situation that is bubbling up but not having the confidence to take influence. I was mostly hoping for this series to focus around Tamon and delve deeper into his (relatable) issues, but instead it's casting its net wide into a variety of personality differences.

[Kaitlynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still really enjoying this, but I'm also starting to get a little frustrated at the extra slow slow burn and character development. I'm really hoping, based on how this one ended (cliffhanger and all, ugh) that we're finally moving in the right direction... Although it might also take a detour on some of the side characters.

Thank you to VIZ Media for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

F/ACE had to choose a name for their fans, I think the name was great, it completely matched with the band’s name. We see Ori understanding his feelings and also Tamon trying to get closer to Yuki. I love how they’re introducing more of F/ACE’s members, this time it was Natsuki, he’s a bit of a troublemaker, I hope we get to see more of him in the next volume. I loved Tamon and Yuki’s last scene, it made the pace go a bit faster.

[Rella · Rating 4 out of 5]

sabemos la personalidad de otro miembro: del cute.
aun tengo esperanza que alguno tenga su personalidad fuera del personaje de idol que no sea malaaaa. (no me refiero fea por como sea su personalidad, sino debe haber UNO siquiera que fuera de camaras sea lindo lindooooooo) Porque cada uno el chiste es que sean completamente diferente cuando estan trabajando de idols. Ojala el callado no sea otro que le ande gritando al tamon, ese es mi argumentoooooo.
teoria: sera muy platicon

[The Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So we've met Tamon's B-side, Ori's B-side, and Keito's B-side. That only leaves two more members of F/ACE that we haven't been properly introduced to and I've got a sneaking suspicion that there's more to them than meets the eye.

But first, Ori's obsession with Utage is leading to something else. Meanwhile, Tamon is struggling to bridge the canyon Utage has dug between them with her fanaticism for Hottiehara.

[Hazel Jamieson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Tamon and Utage are endgame but I really hope they're not.
I just cannot stand Tamon he's like pathetic and weirdly controlling and I just don't like him.
I'm not sure who a better match for her out of the guys are but I think Natuski is pretty cool, he has the most normal B-Side IMO. Anyway the art is amazing and I'm really hooked wanting to know what happens next. If you're this deep in the manga obvs you're going to keep reading, but I just loved where this volume went.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. More characters, more shenanigans, and date I say it...more plot???? Count me in. I don't love it quite as much as the previous series, but it is still a wonderful example of how well a manga can be created. The art, the characters, the humor, and the groundedness holding it all together. Just wow. I bow down to the sensei.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always dying from laughter after each volume of this series!!!! The reveal of Natsuki’s “actual self” was too funny. Obviously, none of the boys in F/ace are what they seem… I like that!
Now, about Utage and Tamon… OMG JUST LOVE EACH OTHER ALREADY LOL. I’m fangirling for their love!!!! Haha

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it was a decent volume, but that first chapter was awful. Anyway, we get to see the different side of Natsuki, which is fun. Ori finally realizing his feelings was good, but can we please get Tamon and Usage to do the same.

[Shauna Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars

Oh no Ori!!! This only ends badly for him, and that breaks my heart cause he's so precious. Nice to see Natsuki's other side.

I'm excited to see more from this series, I wonder how long it will be, regardless I'm here for the ride!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oohh we get introduced to the fourth member in this volume... and Ori really explores his feelings, quite sweet. Gloomyhara is growing too and showing up for his band mates in different ways. I really enjoyed it.

[E (manga_runner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot seems to happen in this volume: F/ACE picks a name for their fan club, summer homework, introduction of another member, teacher is an ex to one of the members?, and jealousy over her affection (or is it more?)

I liked the lil twist with the teacher and feel like there is more there.

[Felicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Utage is too exaggerated in her reaction. Sometimes, she seems silly. But some member of the group F/Ace appreciate her very much. Overall, I like the deepening about every character of the group of idol. For that, I'll continue the reading.

[c · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really like how we're seeing more of the other f/ace members !!! im curious as to how gloomyhara is going to progress as a character from here

[bea 🪴]

new f/ace member lore dropping…. hello natsuki!

[foodtabas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is hilarious. A great read to pick up when you need a laugh

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

More F/ACE reveals, yay! It's the way I keep letting this series get away with their annoying cliffhangers and crazy slow development, urghhhh. Baby steps, baby steps.

[Kai Maciel · Rating 5 out of 5]

*swoon* 🩷

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this direction, and LOVE to see another persona revealed!

[nibha ⋆˚꩜｡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this vol was kinda mid ngl 😭

[niel · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow start for the volume but the ending !! i love natsuki..