Fujimoto seems to love writing about the relationships between humans and others. Aliens, mermaids, ect. And adding in the desire for violence within these forbidden relationships that also find connection despite the barriers. This is apparent in “Mermaid Rhapsody”, a story about the love of piano, and the bond between a human and a mermaid, both of which have eaten eachother historically. It was a really beautiful and cool story.
“Woke-Up-As-A-Girl Syndrome” was honestly just kind of uncomfortable. I think with it being 2023 and having trans people exist it just felt weird and wrong, as the MC doesn’t want to be a girl, and is just turned into one. But love prevails so that’s cool right?
“Nayuta of the Prophecy” is an interesting one because without spoilers for chainsaw man, a character named Nayuta who looks like this (sans horns) shows up in Pt 2! I guess Fujimoto took this character and kept her around, making changes of course but nevertheless. She’s adorable first of all. Cool concept, mage with horns, destined to destroy the world, no human heart and weird speech, claimed a “devil child” *cough seems familiar cough* The story has more to do with her relationship with her brother, and while she totally doesn’t understand humanity she does care about him and tries to show it in her own, very bad ways. Also interesting concept of danger of the prophecy vs nuclear war. This is also the first one shot where the art really feeels like chainsaw man, there are some amazing panels. I don’t know how it feels so wholesome and apocalyptic at the same time. A nice story with great design that definitely feels like it’s building up interesting and deeper relationships that might have been lacking before. Still levity but more serious. “She might destroy the world but she’s still my baby sister”
“Sisters” is the final one-shot of this collection, with Anzu, a high school student with a nude portrait of her stuck on the wall of her school, her sister having been the one who painted it and won a competition. And then the rest of the story feels creepily incest-like. It’s short and just….icky?
Then we have a final page where Fujimoto expresses a time he ate a goldfish for a meal, and that really feels like an explanation to some of his work by itself! At least the themes of poverty and being hungry which seems present in most of his work.
Overall I liked this significantly less than 17-21, it felt too perverted and didn’t have as much of an impact to me personally. “Nayuta of the Prophecy” felt like something that could’ve gone somewhere if it wasn’t a one-shot but a bigger piece, so I’d say that’s my favorite, it showed a lot of growth, but overall not a fan of any of these really.