おべんとうと加瀬さん。

Kase-san Series #2

by Hiromi Takashima, 高嶋ひろみ

女の子同士だけど、私たちつき合っていますーー。

陸上部のエース・加瀬さんとつき合い始めた山田は、
三年になってなんと同じクラスに。
授業中も加瀬さんを見ていられるなんて!
幸せをかみしめる山田はふと思う。
「でも『つき合う』ってどうすれば?」
そんな中、沖縄での修学旅行が始まってーー。

泣いて笑ってゆっくり縮まるふたりの距離。
恋する女の子たちの甘く切ないガールズ・ラブ。

Genres: Manga, Romance, Yuri, LGBT, Queer, Comics, Graphic Novels

166 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2014

About the author

Name (in native language): 高嶋ひろみ (たかしま ひろみ)

Pixiv: 高嶋ひろみ

Reviews

[Jhosy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I don't really like manga with teenage girls (this is a subject that is already saturated in lesbian manga), Kase-san is an exception on my list that is worth it.
Yamada and Kase are very cute and my god ...The kisses between these characters are just so !!!
In this volume Yamada discovers the meaning, in sentimental value, of the word jealousy, when she begins to hear rumors that her girlfriend has had several other girlfriends.
I believe that Yamada in the school trip with Kase begins to experience a little more of her sexuality. Until then she and Kase had only had a few kisses and cute moments, but on the trip she has the opportunity to see Kase undressing in front of her and she is surprised by the reaction of her own body.
Maybe that's just the author's fiction, but it's interesting to take into account the oriental culture. For the fact that society teaches women to feel ashamed of their sexual desires and repress them. In this case, if we take this into account and the fact that Yamada has never had a relationship before with anyone, it is understandable her reaction of shame and repression of her desires.
This, accompanied by her jealousy and after seeing Kase alone with another girl, make her move away.
Kase looks for her and says that she understands if she wants to end the relationship, that this had happened before with her, after another girl sees her naked body. What makes me think ... For being a little tomboy maybe the girls had a certain idealization of her, but when Kase showed that despite her rather masculine appearance she was indeed a woman with beautiful curves, these girls, because they envisioned a straight relationship, ended things?
Mnn ... Anyway ...
In short, some provocative and cute, as well as dramatic moments in this volume. I would like the author to have Yamada and Kase talk about these problems more thoroughly. Yamada never tells her about the jealousy and the rumors that she heard and so Kase continues to think that everything is okay.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
This volume was still soft and sweet like the first one, which is great because that is what I was looking for in a wlw manga. But there was also some more "revealing" stuff in this volume, which I actually appreciated because it shows that they are also physically attracted to each other.

Because the main character kept describing the other girl, who she is dating, as boyish I was scared that she wasn't actually gonna be attracted to her... But luckely enough that wasn't the case! I am gonna take a break from reading these volumes, because I wanna take my time with them.

But yeah I recommend it if you wanna read a wlw manga that's not over sexualized, because it's written by a straight man with a fetish for lesbians... This one is actually written by a woman!

Edit: Reread this a couple months later and I still like it a lot!

[Adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is cute and soft and queer, and just getting to see these wonderful queer girls figure out how to be girlfriends is a true JOY. This volume was a little more revealing than I thought it would be, but tbh it was tastefully done and showed Yamada discovering her sexuality and her physical attraction to another girl for the first time in her life. Each time these two boneheads interact, my heart flutters. Will definitely be continuing on with the series!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gentle romance is in the awkward phase where there is much nervousness over doing one little wrong thing and dooming the relationship or there is much embarrassment over having purely lustful thoughts.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOBIESSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Mega cute volume. Basically this is Kase and her lover dating and while it feels a little shaky you can tell they care for each other greatly. I really enjoyed the stories here, about self image, shyness, trying to be there for someone, and so on. The growth the characters are having is great, and I really do enjoy it. A 4 out of 5.

[Alexis Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Volume 1 of Kase-san felt more like basic yuri with really great expressions Kase-San and Bento elevates it now really furthering how endearing the characters are. I would like to see Kase's perspective now and again but following nervous wreck Yamanda is great. This volume went to show Kase-san has been attracted to women before and really start being real about some of the things going on. It really showed Yamada lost in dating a woman despite not knowing how to properly do that (representation matters y'all). It also shows that this isn't just cute feelings but that they want to bone down and that really only adds to the cutness and sweetness. Yamada feeling horny for the first time and not getting it, Kase clearly feeling the same.

Outside of the narrative the art is super well done. The expressions are a massive hit and some of the most fun ones I've seen around. The art also manages to really use it's style to show Yamada's feelings, it feels very much like you can capture how she feels about where she is by the way the panels are layed out, what your seeing, etc. This is a grade a story and if not for the stack on my TBR Vol 3 would be in my shopping cart right now.

[Jaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY HEART. This series is SO SWEET. It's possibly my favorite yuri manga series right now. They're just so precious I may DIE.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two continue to be adorable flustered messes around each other.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Last year, I read book one of this series for the first time and gave it two stars. But between then and now, I’ve had this series recommended to me so many times, that I was sure I had to have somehow made a mistake with my rating. So I reread it, and sure enough, felt no need to raise the rating. But surely, for the series to get so much praise, the rest of the series had to be better? So I gaslit myself into believing I had to be wrong about the series and picked up book two. Unfortunately I was right after all; there was SO much fanservice in this volume. I felt that the characters were often sexualized in completely unnecessary ways, to a point that felt beyond excessive to me. I also detested how the book’s primary way of showing the character’s attraction/bond to each other was them taking turns noticing a short skirt or a bra fully visible through a wet shirt. And such instances happened over and over again throughout the book. I felt it cheapened the relationship between the two by making it all about the “physical” in possibly the weirdest way. Suffice it to say that reading it made me very uncomfortable.
…So yeah. That’s a one star from me.

[JayLando22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way the burgeoning sexuality of the characters was so realistically and not... fan service-y in this volume I had to look up the author. I assumed it was a male author, but this manga does so much to avoid male gaze and use character motivated titillation, I was like, did a dude write this? The answer is: no. Makes a lot of sense.

This is a very sweet relationship they are cultivating. It does consent and conversation and... romance with a gentle but deft touch.

The art style was kind of a weak point for me but it is growing on me. It allows for the humour of the piece to come through. Also, the lead is SO expressive and emotive and it all comes through.

I am starting to understand why this yuri manga has such a good reputation. For how fluffy it is considered , I think there is a lot of complexity in the work.

[Atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm really loving this serie! The characters don't feel like they came from out of space but just regular high school students which i love both of them and therefore i care about their relationship as well. I'm going excited to read the next volume to find out what's gonna happen next xoxo

[Niki Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite feel-good yuri series. If you're feeling down, Kase-san and... is always worth a reread.

[NotQuiteStill · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'était absolument chou, j'ai adoré chaque page.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Male author you didn't fool me twice but I'm gonna keep reading because I love these girls more than I hate you

[bow down to our ace king victor vale · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.45!

communication, kids. communication. nevertheless, same feelings i had for the previous volume! ^^

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up ✨

This was absolutely wonderful; I really enjoyed where the pace is going, as it picked up quite quickly in their relationship. I cannot wait for volume 3!

[Josephine (biblioseph) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main conceit of this volume, well the inciting incident, is that Yamada makes Kase-san a bento. In the previous one it was about flowers (morning glories) and running in the morning (which I also thought morning glories was slang for, but doesn’t seem to be).



Kase-San and Bento features some classic misunderstanding drama, but is wonderfully balanced with sincere affection and an attraction between the girls that feels solid and truly like a real “first” relationship. Well, I’m not sure what Kase-san’s previous relationship was like, but the way Yamada reacts to seeing Kase-san naked (changing for the public bathhouse) felt true for Yamada’s character thus far. A great sequel to the first volume,  Kase-San and Morning Glories .

This all comes together because the two girls go on a school trip and have to confront their feelings, not just for each other, but of their jealousy and self-doubt. There’s lots of kissing and physicality in this, which seemed like a natural progression for their relationship.

I just found out this series will only be four volumes, but I can see myself rereading this a lot in the future because it’s just so perfect and cute.

[Cell · Rating 3 out of 5]

不知為何，電子書沒出第1本《牽牛花與加瀨同學》
而後4本書名其中2本用「加瀨」，另外2本是用「加瀬」
搞得我好混亂
--
書中有送繡球花的橋段
查了一下百年前出版的的 Language of Flowers
繡球花 Hydrangea 的花語是 boaster(吹噓者) 以及 heartlessness(冷酷無情)
……劇中不是這個意思吧
而日文維基是寫：花言葉は「辛抱強い愛情」「一家団欒」「家族の結びつき」など
中文維基則是寫：繡球（花）的花語分別是希望、忠貞、永恆、美滿及團聚
這排毒排得還真不少
我還是當成只是單純地送花吧

[Alexis U · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: maybe Kase-san and Morning Glories wasn't as great as I remember
Also me: *sobs through every chapter of Kase-san and Bento*

For real this is my favorite Yuri series. I can't handle my emotions. I love the characters and I love their relationship and I love how Yamada is a sweet precious cinnamon bun who is just so genuinely excited to be dating Kase. I can't. It's so good.

[Snail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takashima-sensei just draws the best blushing and embarrassed faces ever. Good thing too, cuz this comic's full of 'em!

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for complete series



Kase-san and Morning Glories was originally published as a one-shot - I purchased it thinking that's all there is to it. I found out about the continuation of it before I actually got around to reading my copy. At that stage, I was really torn about what to do: I can't stand reading incomplete series, but the following volumes were quite pricey. I had half a mind to get rid of my copy again but eventually settled for giving it a try first - after all, it might just be good enough as the one-shot I thought it was.

Volume one was adorable - it didn't take much more convincing and I was up and ordering the rest of the series. Having read it as a whole now, I can say that each volume is equally beautiful and that I have absolutely no regrets for investing in this rather pricey series - it was worth every cent!

The main characters Kase and Yamada are quite different from one another, yet they make such a harmonious couple that won my reader's heart in an instant. Kase is athletic and keeps a feminine side despite being very much a tomboy. She is very protective of Yamada but is surprisingly generous and empathetic. Yamada can only be described as adorable and a bit of a goofball - she's had me laughing many a time with how much joy she takes out the simple things. She's definitely the naive and clumsy type but she also manages to stand her ground and make her own decisions when something is important to her.

As a couple, despite their differences, they couldn't have been better matched. Kase seems very much aware of her sexuality while Yamada only seems to understand hers gradually. It's clear from the start, though, that Yamada is in awe with Kase and the author did such a great job with how their relationship unfolds. It just has such a warm and sweet feeling to it! Although Yamada occasionally points out that they are both girls, the story never treats this as an 'Oh my god!' realisation. I feel as though a lot of stories with LGBT characters use it more as a trope for extra drama, but Kase-san and the Morning Glories is plain and simple an adorable story about two people in love who both happen to be girls.

I also have to mention how cute the art is. I really appreciated Takashima Hiromi art style, be it the cute and dainty girls or the hilarious expressions the characters wore during comedic moments. I thought it was a shame that, apart from a mid-aged teacher, there was never a proper drawing of a male character. It's another thing I noticed in LGBT focused stories; characters from the opposite gender are either non-present, unimportant or just nasty - I find that both a shame and unrealistic. But anyway, moving on, as far as art goes, I would love to see more of it!

As it happens, there is a sequel called Kase-san and Yamada. As much as I loved the original series, I am yet undecided on whether I will read the sequel. Takashima Hiromi seems to be one of those authors who manage to dish out a volume every 1.5 years. Depending on the length of the series, I might honestly not have the patience for this to conclude. That being said, Kase-san and Morning Glories is an episodic kind of story with a slice of life feel to it, which makes it an easy series to stop and consider concluded at any given time.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this volume so much that I read it 3 times before logging it in and putting down my thoughts. Also, these volumes are going to be on the shorter side so I was able to re-read volume 1 before re-reading volume 2!

At the moment I am currently reading 3 “Yuri” series and watching an episode a day of one. It’s very difficult to choose a “favorite” as they’re all very adorable and very enjoyable. What makes this series stand out from the others is that the focus really stays on the two main characters. Sure other characters are around but they’re not really that important.

Last volume ended with Kase-San asking Yamada to “go out” so this volume begins with them dating or being girlfriends. What really makes this series so adorable is that the two main characters are both obviously infatuated with each other. More details are given about how Kase-San initially developed her crush on Yamada and Yamada’s sexual attraction (even though she’s totally unaware and doesn’t realize that’s what happening). Even with that occurring the characters are just so innocent that makes this series so cute. Although both girls are obviously in love with the other they both have the nervous insecurities that their feelings will be unrequited. It’s like I could feel the butterflies in their stomachs for them when these moments happen.

Very excited for volume 3 to arrive!

Other thought
Went on YouTube to see if any “book tubers” reviewed this and discovered that there’s an anime adaptation! I watched a clip and there’s a moment where Yamada is jumping up and down with excitement to be hanging out with Kase-San. Totally made me cry to see the anime captured the cuteness of this series. So I will also be very excited to watch that once it’s officially released here in the states.

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very simple and startlingly stereotypical fluffy Yuri manga. In general, not a lot happens. Its remarkably cute though. Good choice if you want a fluffy fix.

Not nearly enough substance for 5-stars, but also, I don’t have anything to complain about? IDK, rating manga volumes is hard.

Definitely “G” rated; don’t expect anything even approaching spicy. We are talking teenage crushes and little bits of internal gay panik.

Later in the series there is plot, some little conflicts, and some truly heartwarming moments. You need to stick around for most of that though; thankfully its an incredibly quick read!

[Sucre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this three stars because it hits the same beats over and over again (my girlfriend is spending more time with other people than me, are we not as close as I thought?) but a) that's realistic for a high school romance and b) this manga is so cute I can't make myself take off a star. I also appreciate that even the happy-go-lucky, "innocent maiden" character is still shown to have sexual desires. Shock of shocks, lesbians can be multifaceted! So, even though this is yet another yuri with high school characters, I'll make an exception for it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how every chapter Yamada begins it by reminding us that Kase is boyish. Gotta love the standard for butch characters in Yuri lol. Also love how these characters are treated like ladies in old victorian novels where if they go outside for a minute they immediately tan. Also! When is it acceptable to call someone by their given name in Japan? Like, they're literally dating and still calling each other by their family names.

Yeah, she's my girlfriend, but we're not close enough for that omg. Maybe once we're engaged and living together.

Love it.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo secondo volume a mio parere è mille volte meglio del primo. Mi piace come si esplora la relazione fra Kase e Yamada, mi piacciono i racconti ed i momenti che vivono, sono abbastanza realistici ed a mio parere la relazione oltre a sembrare realistica è molto sana. Mi piace che Yamada sia alle prime armi, ma Kase non la spinga a fare cose che non voglia e mi piace il modo in cui comunicano e parlando dei loro sentimenti. Inoltre trovo i disegni veramente magnifici

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I liked this one - still continues to be cute, and you see them fumbling through their relationship. Yamada has a lot of insecurities, which we can really see this volume!

The reason for the star down, though, is definitely the fan service. It wasn’t huge, no, but these are teenagers, and it was definitely unwelcome. It would have been easy enough to cover the same topic matter without it.

I hope the manga doesn’t continue to have more...

[Freddie🏳️‍⚧️🐀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apologies for the short review.
Overall thoughts: Another amazing volume, keeping the strengths from the first volume. There's a bit more drama that feels a bit forced at time, but still some fluff to balance it out. The fluff is good and Kase and Yamada are just such a sweet couple.

Pros: The good communication between the couple makes the drama better.
A school trip is always a treat
Drama adds substance
Cute fluff

Cons:
A little too much drama but the good pace prevents drama from dragging on
Kinda meh last chapter

Kase-san is an easy reccomendation so far

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Yamada and Kase are now dating and still are trying to understand what all that encompasses. This was a great volume. Both characters have insecurities about the relationship that comes out but I loved how they handled things. They are just so precious and I am loving this series so far.

[Rex Inanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAAAHAHA MEINE SÜßIS :3333
Während Kase-San und Yamada doch recht stereotypische Yuri Charaktere sind finde ich die Beziehung der beiden sehr süß. Vorallem weil es keine Geschichte ist, die zwar als Girls Love im Regal steht, aber es am Ende nicht mal zu einem Kuss kommt. Auch diesen Band bin ich nicht enttäuscht worden, ich kann die Reihe nur empfehlen :)