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LOVELESS #3
Loveless, Volume 03
When 12-year-old Ritsuka discovers a message from his brother Seimei that he was murdered, Ritsuka joins forces with Soubi to find Seimei's killer and uncover the truth.
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 10, 2019
Ahhh, this volume was also rather eventless. So, while we wait for the fun to start in the following volumes. Let me rant a little about that annoying bitch aka their teacher.
Could someone please stop her? Is she stupid? Does she even have a brain in that big head of hers? She’s so unnaturally dumb that I just can’t handle it anymore. I don’t even know how she’s managed to keep her ears till her age when she’s fallen in love with a random stranger just because he’s hot. No, I bet it’s because of her clinginess that no one’s agreed to sleep with her yet.
Am I being ridiculously angry at a fictional character? I DON’T CARE! In this volume, Soubi saved the teacher from being bullied by some people, not because he cared about her, but because those people happened to be actually looking for him and they all went off to fight like they always do.
Cue to when the fights done, Soubi comes back and finds the teacher sleeping in the park. I do not know why in hell she was sleeping in the park and has not gone home, but let’s assume she’s stayed there for Soubi to come back and make sure he’s alright. She does think, after all, that Soubi went to fight them because of her.
The he comes back and this is how their interaction goes (I’m writing word for word from the manga/ S stands for Soubi and A for annoying dumbass teacher):
Anyone in their right mind would get the hint by this point and finally leave. But what does the teacher do? She starts crying!
ARGH someone kill me already! You see what I’m saying? She’s a dumbass! She’s crazy! Delusional!
And she keeps thinking about him the following days, acting all worried and stuff. This is her though after she accidentally spilled her tea because she was deeply thinking about him : Why don’t you tell me anything?
Because he doesn’t know you?? Why would he? You’ve literally only talked a few times, and you’ve acted like a demented person all those times. I wouldn’t want to do anything to do with you either.
You know what, though? It’s not just her. All the females in this story have something wrong with them. I’m starting to think the author just doesn’t know how to write them (although she's a woman herself). God, I’m so angry!!
Could someone please stop her? Is she stupid? Does she even have a brain in that big head of hers? She’s so unnaturally dumb that I just can’t handle it anymore. I don’t even know how she’s managed to keep her ears till her age when she’s fallen in love with a random stranger just because he’s hot. No, I bet it’s because of her clinginess that no one’s agreed to sleep with her yet.
Am I being ridiculously angry at a fictional character? I DON’T CARE! In this volume, Soubi saved the teacher from being bullied by some people, not because he cared about her, but because those people happened to be actually looking for him and they all went off to fight like they always do.
Cue to when the fights done, Soubi comes back and finds the teacher sleeping in the park. I do not know why in hell she was sleeping in the park and has not gone home, but let’s assume she’s stayed there for Soubi to come back and make sure he’s alright. She does think, after all, that Soubi went to fight them because of her.
The he comes back and this is how their interaction goes (I’m writing word for word from the manga/ S stands for Soubi and A for annoying dumbass teacher):
S: Good morning, sensei. You’ve already woken up. It’s already dark, it’s better if you return soon.
A: (Sees Soubi’s injury) Agatsuma san!? No way! What is this injury here! I can’t believe it!
S: Sensei, please don’t touch it. Ouch.
A: Terrible… to the hospital… if you don’t hurry
S: I’m fine. Don’t bother about me. [If it was me, I’d be leaving by this point. I don’t have time to care for assholes if they don’t want me to. But let’s say we’re very kind and we also believe this is our fault. So we stay.]
A: No. Impossible… but… Is it… my fault? I’m sorry.
S: Huh? Why should I suffer pain for your sake? [Soubi can be a real douchebag if he wants to. And he is being one here. He’s not saying this to stop the teacher from worrying. He genuinely means that he doesn’t care enough about the teacher to get hurt for her. His face shows it. But the teacher is persistent.]
A: But…! I can’t think of any other reason. [Argh]
S: I said to leave me alone please. This is my problem.
A: Liar! Let’s go to the hospital. If you don’t get your hand treated…
S: Please don’t touch me.
A: I can’t-can’t do that! Saying such words. [you see what’s happening here? The teacher does not have even one grain of self-worth. The way Soubi is treating her is awful. Soubi’s a dick and she’s just so so utterly dumb. God, I feel like I need to smack them both.]
S: Don’t get so sure of yourself, sensei. Anything about me has absolutely nothing to do with you! Go back quick!!
Anyone in their right mind would get the hint by this point and finally leave. But what does the teacher do? She starts crying!
S: Don’t be so socked. I won’t be concerned with why you’re crying.
A: How can that be? Don’t say… such stuff… deliberately…
S: Go back home quickly. Night has fallen.
A: But… it’s funny Agatsuma san. You came to… save me, but you always say such hateful words. Tell me, what’s with those words!? You saved me for real!! You’re so stubborn!! That way… one day, all your friends will leave you!!
ARGH someone kill me already! You see what I’m saying? She’s a dumbass! She’s crazy! Delusional!
And she keeps thinking about him the following days, acting all worried and stuff. This is her though after she accidentally spilled her tea because she was deeply thinking about him : Why don’t you tell me anything?
Because he doesn’t know you?? Why would he? You’ve literally only talked a few times, and you’ve acted like a demented person all those times. I wouldn’t want to do anything to do with you either.
You know what, though? It’s not just her. All the females in this story have something wrong with them. I’m starting to think the author just doesn’t know how to write them (although she's a woman herself). God, I’m so angry!!
August 6, 2009
Poor. Yun Kouga really revels in violence and blood. When it's not Soubi bleeding, being hurt or tortured, it's Ritsuka being smacked around by his mother. The main characters' actions and emotions make no sense to me, I just can't connect with them. As the synopsis says: erratic. And the female characters are still naive and dumb (the teacher starts crying in class because her students are mean to her and Yuiko is talking about herself in third person? *rolls eyes*).
Also, Yun Kouga is obsessed with video games - this theme appeared already in Gestalt and here again. Over and over again. It's boring. I don't care about levels and points and fighting techniques of RPG characters.
To sum it up, even though this manga is a real hit and people seem to love it, I think I will pass on it from now on. There are much more entertaining manga out there.
Also, Yun Kouga is obsessed with video games - this theme appeared already in Gestalt and here again. Over and over again. It's boring. I don't care about levels and points and fighting techniques of RPG characters.
To sum it up, even though this manga is a real hit and people seem to love it, I think I will pass on it from now on. There are much more entertaining manga out there.
November 6, 2015
I finally get why yaoi is so popular... It is because yaoi mangas make girls look so stupid so of course the reader will want the incredible guy to fell in love with the girly guy! Who of course will be stronger, more intelligent, braver and more interesting than girls in the manga. In this case, Yuiko and the teacher are so annoying. The teacher is so dumb, I wonder why Soubi did not run away from her when he got the chance.
But I still couldn't figure it out why Soubi needs Ritsuka. He could fight the duet Zero without his help, even if he got badly injured in the process. At the end, he won, and he was so nice he even invited the Zero kids to live in his house.
It still is not getting awesome but it is enjoyable.
But I still couldn't figure it out why Soubi needs Ritsuka. He could fight the duet Zero without his help, even if he got badly injured in the process. At the end, he won, and he was so nice he even invited the Zero kids to live in his house.
It still is not getting awesome but it is enjoyable.
February 7, 2017
Erratic, random, I still think the author had no idea where the story was going or how the magic actually works (other than fighters saying pretty words). However, it's strangely compelling and interestingly messed up.
This volume has a bit of fighting, some playing of video games and strange ways of exploring the mystery of a character's death.
I still like "Loveless", but I couldn't explain why.
This volume has a bit of fighting, some playing of video games and strange ways of exploring the mystery of a character's death.
I still like "Loveless", but I couldn't explain why.
March 28, 2023
4,5 Sterne
April 18, 2011
Yun Kouga, Loveless, vol. 3 (Tokyopop, 2003)
Well, it only took me three volumes of Loveless to decide I wasn't going to continue on with this one. Too many structural defects, the main one being that scene shifts are almost impossible to track when (a) so many of your characters look close-to-identical and (b) they don't use each other's names all that often. A majority of the time I ended up having no clue who was who. Five more volumes of this? I'll pass. Fans of Fruits Basket (another manga with much the same problems) may get a lot more out of this than I did. **
Well, it only took me three volumes of Loveless to decide I wasn't going to continue on with this one. Too many structural defects, the main one being that scene shifts are almost impossible to track when (a) so many of your characters look close-to-identical and (b) they don't use each other's names all that often. A majority of the time I ended up having no clue who was who. Five more volumes of this? I'll pass. Fans of Fruits Basket (another manga with much the same problems) may get a lot more out of this than I did. **
September 30, 2011
I just cannot see how Loveless' fighter can take the punishment everyday-for he fights daily. Also no one doping anything about the prolonged child abuse suffered by Loveless-come on now! I do not know if I will give this series one more volume or not.
May 12, 2017
Oh goodness... it's been a while. I owned this series up to book 8 in middle school and read them over and over again so much the binding nearly desintigrated. Might be time for a reread soon, for nostalgia's sake.
February 26, 2020
I read the first 5 volumes back when this came out. If memory serves, the storyline was an interesting one, at least I really liked it. With manga, you really have to suspend your belief when it comes to some of the content, such as age difference.
August 11, 2025
August 10, 2025
I am just as confused as I was in the last book. How the fudge does the magic system work? You can just conjure up any power that you want and fight like you're in a video game?
Speaking of video games, the only star that this book earns is for featuring the GameCube (mi amor) and a Zelda game.
I am still wildly creeped out by the fact that Soubi, a grown man, has what appears to be a romantic attraction to Ritsuka, a twelve-year-old boy. Soubi says this about him:
I still have no idea who almost any of the characters are, and I don't care about any of them.
I am just as confused as I was in the last book. How the fudge does the magic system work? You can just conjure up any power that you want and fight like you're in a video game?
Speaking of video games, the only star that this book earns is for featuring the GameCube (mi amor) and a Zelda game.
I am still wildly creeped out by the fact that Soubi, a grown man, has what appears to be a romantic attraction to Ritsuka, a twelve-year-old boy. Soubi says this about him:
I need only one person. He governs me completely. And that is my choice.Ritsuka, pack up everything and run in the opposite direction of this man. He is creepy and weird and I wish that the Zeroes would kill him already. (I already know that that's not happening, though...)
I still have no idea who almost any of the characters are, and I don't care about any of them.
August 9, 2020
TW: adult man kissing a child, child abuse, violence
This is a filler issue, I think, for Loveless. It's the introduction of Zero - and definitely more of the child abuse angle that the series seems to just kind roll around in, but it also doesn't really go anywhere. We get more self-sacrificing Soubi. We get more of a bit more backstory, but we don't really GO anywhere.
It's an interesting world for sure - the worst thing, by and large, about Loveless, is the fact that it has a relationship between a sixth grader and an adult man, and you can argue if you'd like, that the relationship isn't romantic. That I can't actively trigger warn for BDSM, because there isn't anything that is necessarily there for that that context is also there every time Soubi talks about Ownership and Orders (the capitalization is intentional) with his eleven year old sacrificial partner that he occasionally leashes.
This is a weird series.
This is a filler issue, I think, for Loveless. It's the introduction of Zero - and definitely more of the child abuse angle that the series seems to just kind roll around in, but it also doesn't really go anywhere. We get more self-sacrificing Soubi. We get more of a bit more backstory, but we don't really GO anywhere.
It's an interesting world for sure - the worst thing, by and large, about Loveless, is the fact that it has a relationship between a sixth grader and an adult man, and you can argue if you'd like, that the relationship isn't romantic. That I can't actively trigger warn for BDSM, because there isn't anything that is necessarily there for that that context is also there every time Soubi talks about Ownership and Orders (the capitalization is intentional) with his eleven year old sacrificial partner that he occasionally leashes.
This is a weird series.
October 21, 2020
This volume of the manga (or at least the version I read) was translated by a different group to the first two volumes, and I have to say, the quality has gone up a lot. Its so nice to not see Ritsuka (a twelve year old boy) being mistranslated as calling people bitches all the time.
This volume is where the plot of Loveless really kicks in, imo, with the Zero boys living with Soubi and the introduction of Septimal Moon. Its still almost deliberately obtuse though. I share Ritsuka's frustration, I too would like some answers at some point.
Idk if Japanese values are just different in this respect but Kio (the closest thing this series has to a responsible adult) encouraging the underage Natsuo and Youji to drink alcohol felt kind of weird to me. Which I realise is probably a strange thing to be bothered by in a story with so much, like, actual murder.
This volume is where the plot of Loveless really kicks in, imo, with the Zero boys living with Soubi and the introduction of Septimal Moon. Its still almost deliberately obtuse though. I share Ritsuka's frustration, I too would like some answers at some point.
Idk if Japanese values are just different in this respect but Kio (the closest thing this series has to a responsible adult) encouraging the underage Natsuo and Youji to drink alcohol felt kind of weird to me. Which I realise is probably a strange thing to be bothered by in a story with so much, like, actual murder.
May 14, 2018
I really love this whole universe and I'm glad that the plot has me very much intrigued. There's so much going on that will keep you interested and wanting to know more. The bond between the different fighters and their sacrifices throughout the story really touches my heart. It's the reason I'm so madly in love with what Soubi and Ritsuka have going on. Especially because they're not even meant to be together in battle.
January 10, 2024
Soubi is such an ass to Ritsuka's teacher. He even got to her and made her have a break down in her own classroom because of a kid saying something similar to Soubi. Still, I am intrigued, and definitely want to learn more of his past as well as Ritsuka.
February 8, 2024
More battling and more characters introduced but still no answers. The battle was quite clever but I'm starting to get confused about who is who, and wishing there was just a bit more information given. I'm continuing the series for now but I can see myself giving up soon if it continues like this.
March 22, 2018
4/5 ⭐
I enjoyed this one a bit better then the second one
I enjoyed this one a bit better then the second one
October 2, 2018
This volume was a little weird, but I’m excited to see where this story goes! Plus I ship soubi and ritsuka SO HARD LIKE I NEED THEM TO BE TOGETHER!
February 21, 2020
Getting into some torture porn here... the author sure likes them injuries!
June 29, 2022
This series is a hot mess! I will continue to push through the eight volumes I have, only because I paid for them but I'm not a fan
November 28, 2022
my favorite part is when they play FF11
January 14, 2024
Ładny pan ma problem z głową, ciekawostka
August 5, 2024
El sistema de pelea es uno de mis favoritos, además que las ilustraciones son increíbles.
November 20, 2024
Soubi ): / he’s still a mystery to me / I don’t like Seimei / please do something about the mother!
December 13, 2012
Loveless, Volume 1 was a book that didn't keep my attention as well as it should have, so I almost gave up on this series. But, I am glad that I didn't. When I saw the second omnibus of this series up on Edelweiss, I thought "What the hey? Let's give it another shot, and see if it gets better.". And, it did.
Loveless isn't an extremely fast-paced series, nor it is it extremely slow. It has its' action moments, but is more about the life of the characters than tons of battles. If you expected *Bleach* or *Skip Beat*, turn back now, as this series is not those. But, if you love both of those series, chances are that this series will be to your taste.
I missed Vol.2, but that didn't matter that much, as this one still made sense to me regardless.
--------------------------
Ritsuka's brother, Seimei was killed by Septimal Moon. Ritsuka knows this, because Seimei left him a message about it on the computer. When Seimei passed on, he left behind a fighter named Soubi. Ritsuka must become Soubi's companion/sacrifice now.
Ritsuka makes it his main goal in life to find Septimal Moon and to avenge his brother, Seimei. So, imagine his surprise when he finds out that a coded message he has is actually about a meeting in an MMORPG, and the person he meets there claims to BE Septimal Moon. But, she also tells him that Septimal Moon did NOT kill Seimei.
The girl promises Ritsuka that she will answer any question he asks, as long as she can answer it as YES or NO. Ritsuka starts rapid-firing questions at her, but then discovers that he must figure out which questions are the most important. However, before he completely figures this out, he falls asleep.
He dreams of seeing Seimei's death taking place, and wakes up in a cold sweat, only to find Yuiko there, trying to comfort him. They eat lunch together, and then this volume launches into some less important things about some kids staying at Soubi's place.
While the kids at Soubi's are less important, don't dismiss them. They do play a semi-important part in the story, so they later pretty much know who Ritsuka is without really asking him.
Also, there are some cute chibi stories and a fairy tale at the end of V3, and some illustrations that focus on Soubi at age 12, which the mangaka seems pretty obsessive about. But, hey, it's really cute, so I like it, too.
Now that I see that the story does get better, I'd love to continue this series, and maybe watch the anime afterwards.
------------------------------------
This volume was provided to me by VIZ Media, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Loveless isn't an extremely fast-paced series, nor it is it extremely slow. It has its' action moments, but is more about the life of the characters than tons of battles. If you expected *Bleach* or *Skip Beat*, turn back now, as this series is not those. But, if you love both of those series, chances are that this series will be to your taste.
I missed Vol.2, but that didn't matter that much, as this one still made sense to me regardless.
--------------------------
Ritsuka's brother, Seimei was killed by Septimal Moon. Ritsuka knows this, because Seimei left him a message about it on the computer. When Seimei passed on, he left behind a fighter named Soubi. Ritsuka must become Soubi's companion/sacrifice now.
Ritsuka makes it his main goal in life to find Septimal Moon and to avenge his brother, Seimei. So, imagine his surprise when he finds out that a coded message he has is actually about a meeting in an MMORPG, and the person he meets there claims to BE Septimal Moon. But, she also tells him that Septimal Moon did NOT kill Seimei.
The girl promises Ritsuka that she will answer any question he asks, as long as she can answer it as YES or NO. Ritsuka starts rapid-firing questions at her, but then discovers that he must figure out which questions are the most important. However, before he completely figures this out, he falls asleep.
He dreams of seeing Seimei's death taking place, and wakes up in a cold sweat, only to find Yuiko there, trying to comfort him. They eat lunch together, and then this volume launches into some less important things about some kids staying at Soubi's place.
While the kids at Soubi's are less important, don't dismiss them. They do play a semi-important part in the story, so they later pretty much know who Ritsuka is without really asking him.
Also, there are some cute chibi stories and a fairy tale at the end of V3, and some illustrations that focus on Soubi at age 12, which the mangaka seems pretty obsessive about. But, hey, it's really cute, so I like it, too.
Now that I see that the story does get better, I'd love to continue this series, and maybe watch the anime afterwards.
------------------------------------
This volume was provided to me by VIZ Media, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
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June 1, 2015I love Loveless! I am also quite confused! Whenever one mystery is solved, it seems like two new ones pop up in its place, especially surrounding Septimal Moon - gah, its a hydra! Kill it with fire!... no, its not that bad. But I sure wish I could figure out what Soubi's real motives are. He is definitely motivated by his orders from Seimei, but he seems to have a genuine attachment to Ritsuka as well. He tells Ritsuka to command him and he will do as he says, but then he doesn't follow some of Ritsuka's orders, and resists using Ritsuka as his sacrifice, even though Seimei told him that he belongs to Ritsuka. He's starting to get on my nerves! Good thing he's pretty! I liked the battle with Zero, and the flashbacks to Soubi's training, the BDSM undertones of this manga just became overt! Ritsuka is another psychological Gordian knot. He is in denial about his crush on Soubi, but he doesn't trust Soubi either, and no wonder when his mother is a certifiable psycho. The scene where she made him dinner and quizzed him about what he was supposed to like as "Ritsuka" was actually quite chilling. But at least she didn't stab him with a fork this time. I certainly hope he manages to get some answers out of the next video game rendezvous; if Soubi is going to keep running so hot and cold, Ritsuka's just going to have to take matters into his own hands! I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume!
April 8, 2015
I had forgotten that I had this one on Interlibrary Loan. Since I've built a bit of a relationship with the ILL Librarian, I decided to read it before returning so I can provide a review, if she asks.
I had forgotten who half the characters were since reading the last volume, which left me quite confused for the first several pages.
The teacher, about the only developed female in the series, has become more annoying and dumber since we met her.
The main focus of the first half of this particular volume seemed very focused on pain. We have to watch Soubi learn to deal with extreme levels of pain. We have to deal with the MC's mother's abusive behavior toward him. We learn the Zeros have no ability to feel pain, which can be an advantage, but also is a big disadvantage.
The MC, Ritsuka, decodes a message, which sends him off to a meeting with Septimal Moon.
Besides the confusion, the ridiculous levels of violence, for no obvious reason, other than to be gratuitous violence in most cases, just makes this a very so-so manga.
I had forgotten who half the characters were since reading the last volume, which left me quite confused for the first several pages.
The teacher, about the only developed female in the series, has become more annoying and dumber since we met her.
The main focus of the first half of this particular volume seemed very focused on pain. We have to watch Soubi learn to deal with extreme levels of pain. We have to deal with the MC's mother's abusive behavior toward him. We learn the Zeros have no ability to feel pain, which can be an advantage, but also is a big disadvantage.
The MC, Ritsuka, decodes a message, which sends him off to a meeting with Septimal Moon.
Besides the confusion, the ridiculous levels of violence, for no obvious reason, other than to be gratuitous violence in most cases, just makes this a very so-so manga.
August 10, 2022
I thought I would pick this series up again. It's not phenomenal but I have faith that it will get better. And I found a translation that doesn't just confuse me. :) And the artwork isn't bad. I've seen better but it's not bad. The story is progressing into a more seeable arc. The idea of Soubi, 20 some yrs old kissing Ritsuka, whose 12 still makes me cringe sometimes but I remind myself this is fantasy and after a while you get used to it. I just pretend Ritsuka is older and read the books for the action. Some of the transitions are hard to follow, but the more you read the easier it gets. If anything, it's easy to read in bed late at night. Sort of looking forward to seeing where this goes.
May 13, 2015
Still disturbing, but it does make me think. Why is it ok in American culture/lit for a a 100 year old male vampire to fall in love with a little girl and not for a 20 year old cat-person to fall in love with a little cat-boy. In fact, there are rampant inappropriate age matches of the older male to significantly younger female in our lit. Still, this book takes it to a much younger level. I just pretend R is 16 or 17. It's definitely a compelling and strange story.
January 17, 2016
Ah, the entrance of Zero. The use of the group(s) Zero is a major development in the Loveless series, and I love how their presence intensifies conflict and the seriousness of the plot.
I also love the paradox of Soubi's loyalty - how he has to obey both Ritsuka and Seimei, unsure which can be absolute.
I also love the paradox of Soubi's loyalty - how he has to obey both Ritsuka and Seimei, unsure which can be absolute.
May 1, 2011
Soubi is such pain slut
:-P
But I love him though
:-P
But I love him though
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