With the dormitory rebuilt, it’s time for Yushi to move out of the apartment. However, what awaits him there is a life void of communication and full of misunderstandings. Downtrodden and at his wits’ end, who does he run into, other than his old housemate, Sato-san? Meanwhile, the gang of hooligans at the apartment gets a new member with the long-awaited return of a certain resident! Oh, and it looks like Yushi’s discovered an unexpected power?!
For readers who like the yokai characters who reside in the apartment, volume two is a bit of a slog. It's a necessary one to explain why Yushi decided to go back after finally being able to move into a school dorm. But in the longer run of the series (21 volumes total), volume 2 is road bump.
This volume really solidifies Yushi’s sense of belonging. Lots of charm and fun characters fill the pages. I’m so glad he gets back where he needs to be!
The story picks up right where the first book left us. Yushi Inaba is having to face down a classmate who barged into the manor. Takenaka welcomed himself in along with a group of "friends".
Takenaka had been harping on Inaba for a while about getting an invite to the famed apartment. And running around as a delinquent with a group of delinquents, hasn't helped Takenaka's judgement.
Little does Takenaka know that under the honor student dexterior lies a fighter. Inaba has had to grow up quickly because of his parents' passing. He puts Takenaka in his place quickly. Along with the help of several residents of the apartment. They've adopted Inaba and will protect him.
But the six months are up and the new dorm has been built. That was the plan. To live at the Kotobuki Manor until the dorm was rebuilt and move out. Inaba already misses everyone but it's time.
Moving into the new dorm is great. Inaba even has two roommates in his dorm and there's a cafeteria within the dorm. Everything should be perfect right? It's what he wants. Yet why does he feel like something is missing?
Through a series of events and depression. Inaba's realizing maybe this plan isn't the one he truly wants. Ruriko, the cook from the apartment, made better meals. They were also included in the rent! And everyone at the manor wished to talk and be involved in each other's lives. While the dorm? Suffocating.
The title of the manga would be deceiving if it didn't continue being set within the manor. So I know you saw it coming but after a series of events Inaba finds himself returning home. To the place he so loves.
In this book we see a little more into Inaba's world and his growth. Understanding what he truly wants in life and standing on his own two feet. We also get to venture into Hase's world. The two have been friends since elementary school.
Their friendship is amazing and I love seeing how one is a little jealous of the other. Only to find out the other one has the exact same feelings and fears. But they are not mean about it, true friends. Trying to understand one another, themselves, and becoming adults who they can be proud of.
The author introduces some more characters and I cannot wait to see more. Also get to know more about the current cast. Really interested in the author Isshiki. He is a character drawn with eyes constantly closed but when he opens them. . . You know things are going to go down!
Drinking and smoking are pictured in the manga. I mean have you met Akira, the painter yet? This series does contain some blood but the artist doesn't do gore or horror. Mariko is still running around with barely anything on but I honestly love her.
I did cry with this book but they were happy tears. The author does depict some deep subjects and how sometimes you cannot control things. But I love the cast and how the main character is growing. There are some typos, I am fine with them because sometimes translating to English is a little hard. You can still clearly read the dialogue and understand the story. Just minor things here and there.
I am off to read the next volume, may binge this series but I'm just loving it so much. I love yokai and a peaceful flow! Not every story has to be constant angst, explosions, and choas. Sometimes peaceful choas is what you need. Mix in big personalities and supernatural themes! Enjoy the read and give the author some stars!
Coming right out of a very difficult, divisive election season has made this volume resonate a little more than it normally would.
These days, people avoid discussing things with others, saying their values are just too different. But that just means they don't want to listen to ideas outside of their own mindset, and that's no good. Values take shape through comparing different views. Only after considering different viewpoints can you really say that you have your own values. <---THIS. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
It's true that these are pretty rough times we live in, but that doesn't mean it's hopeless. I know, since we yokai live for a looong time. I've observed humans in the long term. Good times will come again. That's how history has always repeated itself. And kids like you will be the ones who create those good times! Faults are just a part of who you are. You can't get rid of them. But, what you can do is change. That's why, you should look to the future.
You have your whole life ahead of you, and hte world is more vast than you can imagine. Just relax and enjoy the journey.
That being said, the first half was a little boring because it's Yushi trying to deal with living in the dorms and feeling out of step with the other students, who barely interact and gossip in damaging ways. He's starting to feel like his time in the yokai apartment was a dream, until he runs into Sato and gets some good advice about life and being human from a yokai that has lived many different human lives. I have to say it's a bit crazy to me that Sato likes to work as a salaryman over and over, but to each their own! I don't personally feel his guilt that he failed Takenaka - but I also don't think a guy coming over to trash his place was a "cry for help" unless you want to define that as "this person obviously sucks and needs some help to not suck, whether they want it or not."
Yushi's cousin comes to apologize and make peace with him, and he ultimately chooses to move back to the apartments where he felt more himself. There are a few interactions with Hase (they have a fun friendship, and the glimpse of Hase's family is a bit amusing) that startled me because the two of them look SO OLD to be high school students! The story behind Ruriko was tragic and a bit creepy...she's only hands because her body was dismembered and mostly never found, and the last thing she saw before death was her outstretched hands.
We meet the apothecary - he's modernized enough to carry bandaids! - and the eccentric bookseller.
I rated a little high because it hit the spot timing-wise. It's still a solid story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After a strong introduction in volume 1, this story doesn't hurry to go somewhere with plot. Initially the MC had a one-term lease while his dorm was rebuilt, and I was a bit surprised that [mild spoiler] when it ended it he didn't stay in the yokai apartment with all his new friends and great food but went to live in the blah dorm with some blah boys. And was sort of bored and let down about life. Very odd pacing choice, imo.
We spend a bit of time with former bestie Hase. His role in the story isn't clear yet, since he's going to another school and they rarely meet. Presumably he'll be important later.
Then the book ends with a cliffhanger that is practically IDENTICAL to the cliffhanger that ended volume 1 (and started vol 2 very anticlimactically), even including the same gang of delinquents. Weak, author. I may or may not pick up book 3 eventually.
There were a lot of life transitions in this volume and a lot of self-reflection from Yushi. It was a roller coaster of emotions.
There seemed to be a lot of emphasis on traditional gender roles in this volume that felt really constraining for the characters, but then the bonus chapter challenged some of that. I hope the relationship between Inaba and Hase keeps being explored.
Vol. 1 was defintely very cozy/wholesome feelings, vol.2 is getting a bit more serious with more serious topics. It still has moments of wholesomeness. I'm very interested now in how this manga/story will evolve. I had hoped for a more chill cozy story, but I have the feeling it will become more serious after reading this second volume. Not a bad thing though.
He moves out for a short time and I think it is supposed to show a lot of self discovery which falls short again of being heartwarming. His bestie is very interesting but he goes to a different school so he can't be super involved.
My biggest issue still.is that a 15 year old looks like a grown man.. I think that makes the adolescent struggles mean less.
This wasn’t bad, exactly, but I didn’t like it as much as the first one. Certain elements felt rather forced, and it felt like it tried to be super deep but couldn’t quite convey things properly for me. 3 stars.
Dès les premières pages, j’ai retrouvé l’ambiance chaleureuse de la maison Kotobukisô et ça m’a fait du bien ! Les dessins sont aussi chouettes que dans le premier. Du moins, je n’ai pas vu de différence. Je ne vais pas m’étendre davantage. J’ai adoré ce second tome et j’ai hâte de découvrir le troisième. https://psylook.kimengumi.fr/2022/09/...
“Akhir-akhir ini kalau kita bilang ‘Manusia punya nilai berbeda’, mereka langsung memutus percakapan. Karena orang ‘tak mau mendengar hal yang berbeda dari pikiran’. Itulah yang payah. Kau baru bisa menghargai diri sendiri kalau bisa menerima beragam pendapat yang berbeda.”
Berbeda dengan volume perdana, dalam “Life at the Monster Apartment volume 2” ini, karakter Inaba Yuushi jadi lebih thoughtful. Ada begitu banyak hal yang menjadi beban pikirannya dan menghabiskan berlembar-lembar untuk membahas pergulatan batinnya tersebut. Alhasil ceritanya jadi tidak semenarik volume pertama.