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憂鬱な朝 / Yūutsu na asa #7

憂鬱な朝 7 描きおろしショートストーリーつき

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「この手をを二度と離さない」──桂木との逢瀬でそう誓った暁人。桂木から初めて弱音を聞いた暁人は、改めて過去の清算を決意!!
最後の生き証人である、病床の桂木高正の元を訪れる──。一方、激怒する石崎父と対峙し、叱責された桂木。工場経営での独断専行を咎められ、大番頭の職を解任されてしまい…!?

218 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2016

9 people are currently reading
130 people want to read

About the author

Shoko Hidaka

47 books115 followers
Shoko Hidaka (native name: 日高ショーコ) is a Japanese mangaka unit.
The drawings are by Shoko Hidaka, and the stories are by Takie (タキエ) but the author name is always "Shoko Hidaka".

Dōjinshi Circle: speaker

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5 stars
126 (55%)
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68 (30%)
3 stars
27 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Sophie.
2,636 reviews116 followers
January 7, 2019
*flails* I need an extra star for Katsuragi's *face* in the last chapter omg. That was fantastic. I'm still not sure how it is all supposed to play out in the end, but there is a lot of good things happening in this volume. Definitely one of the best BL manga out there. And just gorgeous, too.
Profile Image for Elaine White.
Author 43 books260 followers
August 24, 2024
Lesson learned? Maybe.

A whole lot of people are learning lessons in Vol. 7. And we got another piece of Katsuragi's parentage puzzle, though it's far from complete. I absolutely loved the smart, almost underhanded way Akihito went about getting the information out of the eldest Katsuragi, and that both (legitimate) Katsuragi sons helped him.

There's a real conflict of loyalty in this series, and I love how it's frequently ebbing and flowing. One minute, the eldest Katsuragi son can't abide Akihito because he's a child, and the next he's grudgingly impressed by him, and willing to help his machinations see fruition. I think the change of loyalties reflect how mature Akihito has become. Even Amamiya has changed his perception of Akihito. He's no longer a little boy being guided, manoeuvred and controlled by Katsuragi, but he's become his own man, an independent piece, moving independently of Katsuragi, and sometimes counter to his wishes. I really believe that all these adults who bow so easily to Katsuragi - his brothers, Amamiya, the Marquise and even Soichiro's father - see Akihito besting Katsuragi and realise the real power he has and that they lack.

I loved that some more of Akihito's plotting fell into place, here. All along, I've loved Akihito and Soichiro's friendship, because it's pure and they fight but they always end up best friends again. They don't care about status or using each other. But I'm honestly not sure what the heck Soichiro's father is thinking or plotting. There's been a few hints about Soichiro taking over the Kuze house - or at least being capable of it, with the right temperament and ideals - which would be a super interesting twist, but I don't quite follow the "how" or "why" Soichiro's father would allow it, except to advance the family somehow. I'll have to wait and see how that part pans out in the final volume.

The UST and the angst got a little holiday, in this volume. Katsuragi and Akihito came to a kind of stalemate, here, both realising they're always at odds and arguing, so they wisely took some time apart, got some space from each other, and it seems to have worked. Katsuragi found something he LOVES to do - for himself, and not for anyone else. And when Akihito discovered that...I melted. He so desperately wants Katsuragi to find out who he is, without the shadow of the Kuze house, or any other, hanging over his head. More than anything, I think Katsuragi will become his own man, find his place in the world, all because Akihito gave him the freedom, the confidence, and changed his thinking to make it possible. I'm not sure he would ever have taken the initiative himself, or would have realised just how unhappy and lonely he was, until Akihito showed him.

And...miracle of all miracles...they're talking! For once! Without shouting or jumping out of their clothes. (Though I'm certainly not complaining about either of those!)

And, now the time comes for Volume 8. The only one I haven't read yet. The one I've been waiting for, since it was released in November. I even pre-ordered the paperback, so I'd have it the minute it was released and...I've been a chicken. I couldn't bring myself to read it. I wanted to binge 1-8, complete, without a break, and I didn't want to do it because it would mean the series was over.

Blue Morning has become one of those rare series where I've rated EVERY book in the series 5*. There are only a handful of series - whether yaoi, manga or novels - that have gotten that praise from me, and I sincerely hope Volume 8 doesn't break that streak. And the only way to know is to read it...

---

Ah, time for my favourite panel!

I chose this panel, despite its simplicity, because it's everything I've been waiting for! For Katsuragi and Akihito to sit down like two adults and actually talk!

description

Now, I admit I removed a corner panel from this one, because it wouldn't have made any sense in this context. But, for me, this is one of THE most pivotal moments of the series, so far. It's the moment when Katsuragi actually tells Akihito just how important he is. And NOTHING is more important than that.

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Profile Image for Dathúil.
29 reviews
July 23, 2018
I got so swept up at the end of this book! Sitting in a cafe and my emotions are all over the place. This was a very moving volume. Can’t believe it’s not over yet. How long until the next one? Still a bit confused as to the politics and family situations ...I just keep pushing forward through the book. Really enjoyed this! It should be made into a movie!
I love the complexity of this series ...makes you think but still has all the fun of being a yaoi book.
1,534 reviews51 followers
May 17, 2021
I'm laughing at the summary I just noticed, which I think was only included with this volume: "Downton Abbey meets Emma in this tale of tumultuous love between a butler and his young charge."

What a ridiculous way to (a) improperly describe the story (b) try to sell this to a Western audience. "It's like uh...those Brits! Jane Austen, yeah, everyone loves her and uh...what was popular recently...that show with rich people and servants!"

That aside, the actual storytelling in these books continues to be top-notch. To be perfectly honest, I might rate this one 4 stars if it'd been standing on its own - it's dense and was a little difficult to get through, requiring a lot of slow, careful reading and trying to understand all the tangled business dealings. Hidaka is so good at balancing beautiful art with thoughtful dialogue and descriptions, though...what could have been unwieldy and maybe even a bit dull in other hands still sings under her pen.

And I do love seeing Katsuragi truly come into his own. Akihito took a backseat during much of this volume, so it was particularly nice to see him (and his reunion with Katsuragi) in the final pages. I particularly loved the little character notes at this point: how his servants value him but understand he's a little inept with the daily tasks he tries to do on his own, like laundry, or even shutting the storm shutters. And it was funny to see that Katsuragi is actually the more fragile aristocrat of the two - while Katsuragi was nearly fainting from the effort of traveling third class, Akihito thought it was a fun little adventure where he got to meet lots of different people.

There's a lot of that in this volume actually: the realization that Katsuragi has always been far more than a butler or a clerk or whatever role he's had to play amongst the nobility. He'll have a more difficult time extricating himself from this tiered society than the man who was born to rule within it. But he's been finding his way, and it was so nice to watch him taking a more active role in his own life. Everything surrounding the spinning mill has been fantastic - his management of it, the union forming to protest that position being taken from him, and his sharp-witted, ruthless plans to take ownership over the mill...in order to save the jobs of hundreds of people.

I hope there's a bit more of Akihito in the final volume - I'm sure we're going to find out what he actually discovered about Katsuragi's parentage - but I've enjoyed getting such a deep dive into who Katsuragi is as a person. He's a wonderfully drawn character, and it's fascinating to learn a bit more about his mother, too, and to see where he really gets it from.

That's not to say Akihito doesn't get some great moments. My favorite was probably when he swore to himself to step back, to be more gentle with Katsuragi - to support him in the life he wishes to lead, without pressuring him. That made Katsuragi's journey in the final pages so much sweeter: this is a choice he's making for himself, and he's staying because he wishes to. Because he truly loves Akihito, and it's long past time for them to actually sit down and talk about what that means.

Another fantastic installment on the journey; I sure hope the final stop holds up to the rest.
Profile Image for Julie Hayes.
Author 78 books102 followers
September 4, 2019
Akihito finds one of his father’s old suits and tries it on, only to find it fits him as if it were made for him. He has a reason for dressing this way. He’s going to pay a visit to the dying head of the Katsuragi house. Meanwhile, Tomoyuki is returning to the Ashizaki house, along with Amamiya, having spent the night with Akihito. Now he has to face the anger of Saemon Ashizaki.

On Akihito’s arrival at the Katsuragi house, he is met by Takayuki Katsuragi, who is highly displeased at this unannounced visit, fearing it’s being done to cause him to lose face. Akihito insists he has no desire to place Tomoyuki as head of the Kuze house, he merely wishes to speak with Takamasa Katsuragi before it’s too late.

Soichiro returns home to find Katsuragi in his room, and he’s surprised to find the man has been drinking. Not surprising considering what happened between him and Soichiro’s father. They speak of Akihito and his plans to spend the summer at Kamakura before leaving for his studies in England.

When Akihito, dressed in his father’s suit, is finally permitted to see Takamasa Katsuragi, the dying man confuses him with his father, and at Akihito’s urging, begins to spin a tale going back some thirty-odd years. Afterward he retires to Kamakura. Time passes, and summer is nearly gone, but no sign of Katsuragi.

Katsuragi and Soichiro have a confrontation regarding the latter’s marriage, as well as the geisha he loves, but it’s not satisfactory to him, even after Katsuragi explains his reasoning. He dismisses Katsuragi peremptorily, tells him to get out.

Things are surely coming to a head in this series, truths are coming out, revealing a complicated web of lies. Akihito has learned that which Tomoyuki yearns to know, and is about to tell him the truth. Surely, using this information, they can find a way to stay together and be together, as equals? I believe that is what it all comes down to in the end, finding the common ground on which they can be equal partners, not master and servant, and free to live their lives together.

Even so, I worry that there are forces who may work against them. At this juncture, although Soichiro has long been supportive of their relationship, right now he is angry, so there’s no telling what he may do. His father is angry too. I think the next volume is the last one, and should be here in just a few months. I’m looking forward to seeing these two men get the happy ending they deserve.

Another great volume, waiting anxiously for the next one!
Profile Image for mysilicielka.
724 reviews7 followers
April 22, 2023
W poprzednich tomikach miałam wrażenie, że bohaterowie tylko udają, że coś się dzieje, a tak naprawdę tylko kręcą się w kółko. W końcu autorka coś zmieniła pod tym względem, w tej części wreszcie poczułam, że są podejmowane znaczące decyzje. Przez większość mangi główna para jest od siebie odseparowana, można było aż poczuć bijącą od nich tęsknotę za swoją drugą połówką.

Czeka na mnie finałowy tomik, z którym wiążę ogromne nadzieje. Trzymam kciuki, żeby zakończenie okazało się szczęśliwe, a cała seria zostawiła miłe wspomnienia.
Profile Image for bow down to our ace king victor vale.
615 reviews6 followers
July 13, 2022
3.43!

overall, i liked the direction this volume took ^^ the ending especially was just rather quiet and nice to see :) the panels were drawn beautifully as expected of this mangaka

katsuragi’s mother is so pretty omg,, no wonder ppl say her son looks like her, basically copy and paste the face minus the hair haha

when Akihito asked for his right hand i thought he was going to put a ring on his finger 😭😭 im so fricking dumb lmaoo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ester.
1,202 reviews67 followers
August 12, 2019
Espectacular ver lo bien hilado que está todo una vez llegado al penúltimo tomo de este manga. Hidaka es una reina y este manga mi favorito del mundo mundial porque no hay nada que me guste más que una historia coherente, bien entretejida y con personajes redondos que no dejan de evolucionar hasta el último momento.
Profile Image for Marker.
707 reviews2 followers
September 30, 2020
Le doy 5 estrellas porque la esencia de este volumen creo que es todo lo político y los negocios y tratos que hace Tomoyuki, de verdad ese hombre era un genio de los negocios.

La relación de los protagonistas es como un sube y baja, a veces está bien, otras veces se alejan a pesar de que se aman. Pero la trama de conspiraciones, negocios, tratos y diplomacia es lo que se lleva este volumen.
Profile Image for Ester.
1,202 reviews67 followers
January 27, 2023
Ha sido una gozada leer, al fin, este tomo con la traducción española. Otro tomo maravilloso donde se descubren más secretos y la antesala al tomo final donde, finalmente, todo se resuelve. Los momentos clave siempre me estremecen y gana muchísimo la obra por la traducción tan detallada de Ana María Caro. Deseando al fin leer también el último con su traducción.
Profile Image for mghf.
198 reviews24 followers
June 21, 2024
this volume is so dreamy, tbh i didn't shed a tear during my reading but after the last chapter, i burst into tears so pathetically. these pent up feelings and emotions and and i'm sorry i can't be coherent rn bc seeing akihito being madly in love without the feeling itself inflicting & causing pain to him is such a sight i didn't know i very much needed.
Profile Image for Jordan MacKinnon.
851 reviews7 followers
May 12, 2023
Oh I think we are finally wrapping up all the political drama. It certainly feels like the dust is now settling! So I am excited ! Both characters are getting amazing character growth which is something that is so nice to read about! I am looking forward to seeing how this wraps up!
Profile Image for -moonprismpower-.
2,970 reviews15 followers
July 7, 2023
The politics and the drama over Katsuragi’s situation take over this series… BUT I do like Akihito and Katsuragi’s relationship. It’s TOO GOOD. It’s getting better. Katsuragi is being better to Akihito. And god, I love Akihito. He’s becoming a great man.
Profile Image for Christine.
1,328 reviews83 followers
August 10, 2023
August 2022. BL manga series (8 volumes) about a young Lord and his butler/mentor who struggle with their desire for one another and the needs to better establish social, political, and financial strength in the changing landscape of Japan post-WWI when the feudal/samurai system is becoming outdated and financial power and the nouveau rich are becoming more relevant and powerful.

Absolutely loved this series. Would like to own it someday, in full, I’ll definitely reread. Highly recommend, it is ranked one of the top boys’ love (gay) manga out there and definitely has earned the title.
It’s also completed which is really nice, as opposed to a couple great series like Twittering Birds that are ongoing but taking years to get recent volumes released in English.

The social and political strategies and machinations are thankfully interesting but I wouldn’t have read 8 volumes of it without the romance at the core of it driving the narrative forward.
The challenges between the characters driven by a variety of traditional and modern values create different conflicts and friction throughout the story as we see characters change loyalties and even those on the same side approach situations with fundamentally different approaches and end goals.

It is explicit, but it’s the level of explicit of clearly knowing Adult Things are happening and people in bed, but not actually seeing the body parts that are key players in the act.
Many moments are charged and sensual in looks and touch without leading to explict moments, I think a couple volumes when they are most at odds have none at all but the whole series is marked explicit regardless.

Got all 8 volumes through Sac library using the Link+ system, I think they were from San Francisco library system originally.

“Blue Morning” volumes 1-8 by Shoko Hidaka.
Profile Image for Adam.
1,021 reviews
December 18, 2020
As Akihito continues to distant himself from the Kuze house, Katsuragi must make the political moves to help save the viscountship of the Kuze Estate. Shortly, Akihito and Katsuragi are reunited after quite some time apart, and they must now decide if this is the place where they want to be. As this volume was the the predecessor to the eighth and final volume, it was very heavy on the text and it lacked the heat of previous volumes. Decent.
Profile Image for Moriah Venable.
1,368 reviews32 followers
December 1, 2019
This has been a wild roller coaster with the two of them trying to help of the other while keeping their plans a secret.

With Akihito Kuze no longer has the title of the family but was trying to give it to Tomoyuki Katsuragi which not go as planned.

With the two always keeping secrets from each other what will the future hold for them?

I look forward to see how this series ends. I didn't think I was going to enjoy it, but I was hooked.
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