Anonymous Noise, Vol. 4

覆面系ノイズ [Fukumenkei Noise] #4

by Ryōko Fukuyama

Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love!

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven't played out the way anyone expected...

Yuzu thought he'd resigned himself to just being friends with Nino, his "Alice." But now that he's faced with the prospect of losing her voice to Momo, he's having second thoughts--and has resolved to confront Momo directly! Meanwhile, the feelings that Momo has been hiding for so long seem to have reached a boiling point!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Music, Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2014

Reviews

[Raroshnaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making a promise is already hard enough,but getting the promise broken is even worse, much more when the person you trust the most ,is the one who betrayed you first ✌️😎

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't help, but feel like this is missing something. Like the story is there, but it just feels so shallow. I think I'm starting to like Nino a little better though. She's annoyed me for the most part. Also, Momo is such an ass lol. I'm still debating if I want to keep reading this or just watch it. I want to know Momo's and Yuzu's stories, but I don't know if it really makes a difference if I just watch it.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 4 out of 5]

The backstory revealed in this volume was both heartwarming and sad. I'm glad that Nino got to hear about it and is now giving a little consideration to the problems and dreams of people outside herself.

Yuzu's lie, though. So annoying...

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

With volume 4, we finally have the full stage set for the conflicts to come in this tale of unrequited loves. Momo refuses to admit what he feels for Alice, Yuzu admits what he feels for Alice and is rejected, while Miou pines for Yuzu and Haruyoshi holds a secret love for Miou. It's all going to get even more complicated as we get more backstory of how In No Hurry formed.

Synopsis: Yuzu impulsively kisses Alice - and she immediately rejects him. Despondent once she starts avoiding him, Yuzu immediately makes up a story for the kiss to convince Alice that he isn't attracted to her. Momo, meanwhile, fights his long burning love for Alice under layers of disdain - but he won't concede her to Yuzu either. Thus begins the battle of Yuzu and Momo for ultimate ownership of Alice's voice. When Nino lets out all her feelings into a song, Haruyoshi, overhearing, is impressed and volunteers to give Nino the story of how the four band members came to know each other and eventually form In No Hurry To Shout.

Unlike the anime, we get much more depth in Yuzu and especially Momo in the manga. There are far more undercurrents and I'm finding that I am enjoying the manga much more for that reason. The anime focuses on the music where the manga makes the relationships much more complicated but also more understandable. I found I didn't warm up to Momo in the anime but really liked him a lot in the manga.

Although we've seen this story before (a lot of similarities to Full Moon Wo Sagashite, minus the supernatural element) Fukuyama gives the tale a nice modern spin with just enough edge to ensure the story isn't too saccharine sweet. I also appreciated that in this volume 4, the gauntlet was finally thrown down between Momo and Yuzu. I expect volume 5 will fully focus on the music and the band battles. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[D E N Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best volume yet!

Man, last volume I said I was hoping that there would be some sort of character development for the leads and I'm glad to see it happen with Alice! I'm kinda happy rn because Alice finally sang for other people other than Momo. While it's obvious that she still has feelings for Momo, I'm glad to see her finally stand up for her band. It was also good seeing the backstory on how No Hurry was formed, I found the chapter about that quite endearing. One more highlight from me here was how Yuzu and Momo both declared their feelings FOR Alice. Overall, I think this volume was a good build-up for next volume's rock festival. I'm so pumped to read the next volume for sure! :)

[Katie (Katie's Corner Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

see full review @ Katie's Corner

I think this particular manga has been on my to-read list for at least half a year. Somehow, I always found other things to read or just plainly ignored it. And now for some reason, it is the very first one to be reviews on my blog. Fate? I don’t know about that. But as soon as I took up this manga the first 22 chapters went so fast I couldn’t believe myself, and then I was waiting for about 2 weeks for the next chapter to be translated. Now I have to wait for even more…

First let’s talk a bit about the plot. I think the summary doesn’t give us a lot, but at the same time it intrigues enough to start reading. Let’s say we have three main characters: Nino, Momo and Yuzu (Nino is a girl and Momo and Yuzu are guys). Nino and Momo are childhood friends, who are very, very fond of each other. They are always together doing stuff and especially sing different songs. Because of some circumstances Momo’s family has to move away and those two promise each other that their singing will be the sign to bring them together in the future.

Now, you’ll think total childhood friendship cliché. Well, sorry, to disappoint you. Because those two were inseparable, when Nino is left alone, she is suffering a lot. Because of loneliness she wants to scream and in order to stop her soul to scream out loud she starts to wear a mask over her mouth. Everything would have been amazing, or kind of, if she didn’t meet a boy called Yuzu one day when she had he breakdown. And so he asks her to sing his songs when she is having her breakdowns. Long story short, something again happens and Nino is left alone again, but now, she is singing when she wants to scream. Several years pass and now all of our main characters are high school students, but are they the same? Could it be that Nino can be reunited with Momo? Or something absolutely different is awaiting her? That’s for you to find out if you start reading this manga.

Now, a bit about the style of the manga and why I chose this particular one for today. I have read another work by Ryouko Fukuyama, Monochrome Kids, though it is still being translated in English and I am thinking of reading it in German. I can say with utmost certainty that if somebody would have told me a year ago that I will be reading and understanding manga, I would have laughed. To say the truth I’ve tried one about 5 years ago. For me it was just some pictures and words, I was always confused from where to start reading. I just wasn’t having fun. I don’t know what, but somehow around a year ago everything changed. I got a taste of ut and I liked it. But even now sometimes I’m lost when I am reading manga about music or arts. The author has to express his ideas and emotion through black & white world of drawings and words.

When I was reading Unmasked Noise, I felt all the characters to the extent that I thought they were real, that they lived around me. I got why they are so stupid, but the best part was that I was really feeling the music through the pictures and it was amazing. I think it was as if I was listening to the screams and songs while reading. I only had the same experience with Chiba Kozue’s Crayon Days, where through black & white I actually was seeing all 24 colors of palette. I guess, the next time I will write about that one.

When I was reading Unmasked Noise, I was on edge every time. I was intrigued by everyone’s past and was cheering them on their future. The characters are portrayed as real people, they are not the best people in the world, nor are they the worst. They are just people; they are high school students, who have their own dreams, fears, expectations and obligations. They are in love, but they all have to forget that feeling for the time being, first is to show each other that they are there, that their voices can reach their loved one hearts.

I really hope that this review was at least a bit helpful, I tried not to spoil (which was quite hard, because I want to say so much more). I guess I will just write another review when all the chapters are translated and I finish reading them. Christmas is just in a few days. Have great holidays and have fun!

XOXO

Katie

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/ZPA4zZqPkRA

THAT WAS SO GOOD!

Haruyoshi has been one of my favorite characters and getting his backstory was everything! Makes me love his character even more then before! <3 <3 <3

Funny thing about this volume is that it had ALL the drama!

And even funnier is I just ate it up! LOL!

But seriously though! That opening chapter really yanked my heart strings when it came to Yuzu. For a male shojo hero, he has gone through sooooo much! And then getting his FULL backstory also?

I just don't know how he does it.

I'm really glad he is fighting for Nino/Alice because Momo once again brought all the angry feels here at the end. I know he's jealous, but there is no reason for him to act like such a jerk.

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this "origins" story! I am truly glad that Nino now has a deeper reason to keep singing AND see how her singing "leveled up" because of it. Though I will say I have major respect for Miou! We got her backstory too and I could not imagine being in her shoes and being able to interact with the very person who "stole" everything from her.

Fantastic volume and really excited to see the big performance!

[Perla Villa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 I still don't like Momo. I'm more annoyed with the story than anything. I'll read vol. 5 since I have it but not sure if I will continue it.

[Rlygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic manga!
Delightful, easy to read story about friendship, music, school, and self-discovery! And the artwork is GORGEOUS. The characters are vulnerable, humorous, talented and easy to fall in love with. I enjoyed how clean the language and artwork was too. Great choice for children, young adults, and pre-teens.
I jumped in on Volume 4 without reading the other ones first, but I was still able to follow along with the plot.

[Miss Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

y'all i'm starting to get real tired of momo sakaki, like if all his scenes are just gonna have him be a pointless jerk i don't understand why we're wasting the page time? let's just stick with in no hurry, they're actually likeable and put in the effort to be good friends to each other

2.5 stars

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I'm enjoying this series. And continue by saying that even though volumes 2-4 are right in front of me, I don't remember which events happen in which specific volumes. There is angst in here. Stubborn, childish love. Milk. More angst. Backstory, finally. Dudes being super into a regular but weird girl. Love denied because so and so can never know. The regular.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still really enjoying this series and would absolutely keep reading the next volume if I weren't so tired.
If you are looking to read this volume, it is consistent with the previous volumes, and so my previous summaries for this series apply, pacing and story are all still good.
Hopefully, you'll be hooked by the time you are looking at this volume though.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars, Completed April 19, 2017

(Full manga series review can be found under Volume 1.)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, angsty shoujo goodness. There's really nothing like it, and this series really knows how to simultaneously enrage, enthrall, and energize you. Someone really needs to tell Yuzu and Momo that Nino's voice belongs to her and not either of them, though.

[&#x1f31f;Star&#x1f31f; · Rating 5 out of 5]

We get to see In No Hurry’s origins in this volume. I love Haruyoshi in this volume! I really adored the band members friendship and commitment to each other and am glad that Nino is now included in their circle.

[Celinda Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute manga! The story is definitely getting a lot more interesting. LOVE the relationship between Nino and Yuzu, seriously she just needs to forget about Momo! Can't wait for volume 5!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm leaning towards dropping this series. I'll see where I stand after I read volumes 5 & 6 since I already borrowed those books from the library.

[Cheryl Partida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how this managa is going so far. The friendships are developing and he band is coming together nicely. I do not like Momo still.

[Jessica G · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Band back story! Poor Yuzu. He is clearly the best, and Momo is a stupid jerkface. But they both need to stop with all the "I won't let him take her" BS. Oh, manga...

Great review, huh? ;)

[Ruthsic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I have reached the point where I can say: Too MUCH Angst, OMG. So, after Yuzu suddenly kissed Nino (why would you even do that, dude) and she stops talking to him, he scrambles for a way to make it right. After much apologizing and assuring her it wasn't because he was in love with her, they get back together as friends. Meanwhile, Nino has been re-evaluating what makes her singing powerful - her past live performances for the band were done when she was emotionally stressed, but they still turning out good doesn't mean it will always be so. So, she is trying to figure out how to bring that same raw power to her singing in normal circumstances, while also side-eyeing the guitar she got from Momo. A major storyline in this book was the past of In No Hurry - as in, how they were formed, and how Nino was a catalyst for it. I am still, however, very interested in why Yuzu's mom is such a hardass towards him about music.

The romance front is quite messy, and shows no sign of untangling the web of unrequited love. We have Haruyoshi in love with Miou in love with Yuzu in love with Nino, who is in love with Momo, and supposedly Momo has a girlfriend, who I really hope is not that Tsukika (mostly because she definitely isn't a high school girl and he is 15). Then comes the fact that Momo and Yuzu are being petty AF about 'ownership' of Nino's voice; both of them think the other is manipulating to steal her away from him, as if she has no agency in this matter. Sure, teens can be messy and impulsive, but even their childhood selves would be side-eyeing them right now. Look, the girl is an airhead most of the time, but she sorta knows what she wants, okay? The slight relief in this messiness comes in the fact that we see Nino interact a bit more with Miou and more importantly, Haruyoshi; now we only need a heart-to-heart with Kuro, as it seems they only interact with her through Yuzu. There was also a nice bit of band solidarity as they decide how to keep the Alice image.

Overall, this volume is full of angst, but also has some backstory to make up for it.

[Kris Mariela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, the denial in Nino’s part because Yuzu kissed her was thick as hell. And of course, it became awkward and weird after because she saw him as a friend. I believe that Yuzu’s heart was in the right place when he wanted to help his Alice to calm down because of Momo’s confession and her lie in response, but Yuzu was right to think that he needed to apologize because there was no consent in Nino’s part.

Aww, it was so sweet of Nino to apologize to Yuzu for hurting him without her knowledge; she even cooked porridge for him because he was sick.

Oh, damn, Yuzu always dodged the question that he was in love with Nino to keep her by his side. Man, oh, man, that’s a dangerous game you’re playing.

I wonder why Yuzu couldn’t do music when he was younger? Haruyoshi felt his music that meant that it must be awesome.

Damn, kids working together so one of them can express himself well is heartwarming eventhough it’s deceitful because they’ll be breaking out of the hospital.

Aww, Yuzu standing up to something he wanted to do was amazing!

Momo must have loved Nino so much that she was his muse all those years.

In No Hurry vs. Black Kitty!! I’m so excited💕

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In case you were wondering how In No Hurry got started, learn where they met and how they came together. Nino also discovers some of Yuzu's tragic backstory, how he had been forbidden to music, and how he fought to stay with it anyway. I love when we get more depth into the characters and show them for who they are. The more I learn, the more I want to read.

Some of my frustration though stems from Nino's absolutely tunnel vision when it comes to Momo. Even when she's starting to see those around her and believe in what they're doing she can be instantly derailed by the mere mention of his name. I keep hoping she's actually growing and changing and she falls back so easily. Argh!

[alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had to have been my favorite volume so far. The author went into such good detail about the origins of In No Hurry and the friendship development of the band. In the anime adaptation they leave out some of the real emotional building of the group but specifically chapter 19 was truly enjoyable! It gave even more depth to Yuzu’s feelings for Alice and just how much she impacted not only his life but his friends aswell.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the volume where we see the backstory of the band before Nino met them? That was a beautiful sequence; the story wasn't anything new (this manga is really happy staying in the shoujo trope lane) but it was well told and had some really, really pretty set-pieces (the window!) that I appreciated lots.

[Holly Tabbutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. It has its issues like every other series but it’s just so close to my heart. Yuzu and Nino are such perfectly flawed humans that have so much chemistry as well as friendship between them. It kills me everyday to know that she ends up with stupid Momo.

I hate Momo.

I wouldn’t spit on Momo if he was on fire.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to get the backstory of how the band started, but there was much too less main story progression in this volume. I was a bit bored at times, but I'm really looking forward at what's to come.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anontmous Noise, Vol. 4

Nino, Yuzu, & the gang are getting ready to put out In No Hurry's debut album. They are also signed to perform at a music festival.

But Momo & his band are about to do the same.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get the backstory to In No Hurry To Shout and see them practicing for Rock Horizons. I do wish we knew why they were all in the hospital but that may come later. I am really not liking Momo right now either. He's such a jerk...

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 3 out of 5]

How this volume went for me:
Annoyed by Yuzu sacrificing his feelings to make Nino stay.
Bored by the back story of the band coming together.
Tired of Nino crying over Momo.
Annoyed again by Momo being a huge dick.

Oh and add some angst in there as well!