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惡の華 [Aku no Hana] #7-9
The Flowers of Evil: Complete, Vol. 3
Flowers of Evil Complete volume 3 collects volumes 7-9 in an omnibus edition and features story and art by Shuzo Oshimi. Takao and Sawa have been forcibly separated. Takao is now living in suburbs of the big city. His parents have new lives in a small apartment and their past for the most part has been forgotten. Now and then little cracks appear in that facade, but for the most part they are playing their roles as a normal happy family.
576 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2013
6 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Shuzo Oshimi
137 books1,068 followersShuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 23, 2022
Who the hell is this new girl and why do I care about her? Trick question, I don't
October 4, 2018
Wow it's as if the time skip helped push this series into a more mature area, one I can actually really enjoy. While the previous 6 volumes were good they were missing something. This, this deals deeper with social issues with people who can't fit in but want to.
Our main hero has left behind the panties world. What's that mean? In the last few volumes our main character, Takao, is trying to life a normal new life. He becomes mostly a ghost. Sure, hanging out with people, but always in the back, and saying very little. This is all till he meets Tokiwa. A inspiring writer who he begins to fall for. Of course, it's not all that simple, when old faces come back into Takao's life.
Good: This is a more mature book for me than previous volumes. The relationship issues, falling in love, the awkwardness of people and teenagers, and trying to fit in, but never really doing it, is all interesting. I also thought the ending really works well as it gives us something to look forward to in terms of Takao becoming his own person.
Bad: The family stuff seems like background. Like the mom-dad issue should have been talked or shown more to give us more emotional connection with them.
Overall it's really good. Like, this volume made me really want the next one. This is a super easy 4 out of 5 and hoping the complete volume 4 and 5 will finish this off well!
Our main hero has left behind the panties world. What's that mean? In the last few volumes our main character, Takao, is trying to life a normal new life. He becomes mostly a ghost. Sure, hanging out with people, but always in the back, and saying very little. This is all till he meets Tokiwa. A inspiring writer who he begins to fall for. Of course, it's not all that simple, when old faces come back into Takao's life.
Good: This is a more mature book for me than previous volumes. The relationship issues, falling in love, the awkwardness of people and teenagers, and trying to fit in, but never really doing it, is all interesting. I also thought the ending really works well as it gives us something to look forward to in terms of Takao becoming his own person.
Bad: The family stuff seems like background. Like the mom-dad issue should have been talked or shown more to give us more emotional connection with them.
Overall it's really good. Like, this volume made me really want the next one. This is a super easy 4 out of 5 and hoping the complete volume 4 and 5 will finish this off well!
July 8, 2021
Okay, okay, okay.
October 19, 2024
Popieprzone, edgy nastolatkowie przeciwko światu, ale nadal fascynuje mnie ta symbolika, sposób przedstawienia historii i wszystkiego, co za sobą niesie. Ponawiam opinię po pierwszym tomie: jeżeli załapiecie konwencję, to jest dobrze, ale łatwo jest się zniechęcić.
June 12, 2023
A lot of what kasuga (the main character says) is like superrr cringe. If anyone said the stuff he was saying in real life it would be.. the worst. But for some reason it just makes sense in the context of the story. He’s only like 13 or 14. he’s feeling incrediblyyyy isolated and obviously dealing with some anxiety disorder or depression, so when he thinks stuff like “I shouldn’t hang out with people im only gonna be a bother” the author makes it very clear that he’s not trying to be like “uwu nobody gets me 🖤🖤⛓️⛓️” by not having him say stuff like that OUT LOUD and (usually) keeping it in his head. A lot of the stuff he does with his bestie nakamura is.. questionable (like shinji level, but not the hospital scene.. just his other cringy shinanegins). A lot of the events shouldn’t be taken at face value. It’s a story about, puberty, basically. A lot of the feelings of isolation, dullness, and shame that come with adolescence. They do explore that in a BIT of a sexual way but not too much I think. It’s acknowledged pretty well that sexual feelings are NORMAL and you’re allowed to have them while also criticizing the way a lot of teenage boys go about expressing those feelings 😭 I don’t think the execution of the criticism is great but i appreciate the acknowledge that tween boys are nasty and not in a cute way. ANYWAY I think the best execution of that feeling of distance is in the walls each of the characters create between eachother. They use the word “pervert” and “perversion” a lot in this story but it’s not really in a sexual way, it’s used more to describe the things that each of the characters are hiding about themselves or are embarrassed about. The things about themselves they find unsightly and wrong.. which usually aren’t at all. Which is one aspect of the story I think a lot of us can relate to. Whether it be food we like or dislike, interests that people criticize or find stupid, personality traits, etc. The main characters want to KNOW eachother, they want to break down eachothers walls and see one another and be seen, and the act of doing that is referred to also as “perversion” because it’s so intimate
I understand why people enjoy this manga a lot but I do think it’s a little overrated. I feel like I SHOULD relate to the main character but I just don’t all that much 😭. The part I relate to the most is that he finds a friend who’s super into books and they give each other a ton of recommendations and lend eachother books, which was a bit on the nose🧍I also really enjoyed the way the author portrayed that feeling of distance and detachment from reality, while also being desperate to be present.. and the importance of friendships and connections to bring you into the moment.. but i feel like I’m not getting something. the artwork is really really good though and I enjoyed the actual story so it deserves the 4 stars 🤷
My brain is super foggy and I’m tired so if this review doesn’t make sense I’m very sorry 🫡🫡
NOW QUOTE TIME THIS IS GONNA BE A QUICK ONE CAUSE MANGAS ARENT VERY QUOTABLE 😭
“‘We’ve been dating for a year now, but I always feel this wall between us.. don’t you love me?’
‘But have you ever tried to break down that wall?’”
“If I continue to run away then nothing is going to change”
I understand why people enjoy this manga a lot but I do think it’s a little overrated. I feel like I SHOULD relate to the main character but I just don’t all that much 😭. The part I relate to the most is that he finds a friend who’s super into books and they give each other a ton of recommendations and lend eachother books, which was a bit on the nose🧍I also really enjoyed the way the author portrayed that feeling of distance and detachment from reality, while also being desperate to be present.. and the importance of friendships and connections to bring you into the moment.. but i feel like I’m not getting something. the artwork is really really good though and I enjoyed the actual story so it deserves the 4 stars 🤷
My brain is super foggy and I’m tired so if this review doesn’t make sense I’m very sorry 🫡🫡
NOW QUOTE TIME THIS IS GONNA BE A QUICK ONE CAUSE MANGAS ARENT VERY QUOTABLE 😭
“‘We’ve been dating for a year now, but I always feel this wall between us.. don’t you love me?’
‘But have you ever tried to break down that wall?’”
“If I continue to run away then nothing is going to change”
October 13, 2018
After a quick chapter to resolve last volume's cliffhanger, there is a jump in time and space. Kasuga's parents have moved him away from the town where the actions of Kasuga and the two girls involved a romantic triangle with him caused such a shameful uproar. Now in high school, Kasuga keeps to himself and maintains a low profile until a fellow bookworm starts to pull him out of his shell. After having gone so far over the top, the creator pulls back and spins a more traditional shojo romantic arc for this section of the story. There is darkness around the edges, of course, but having followed a Catcher in the Rye storyline of teen alienation in the first two volumes, this one seems to be exploring the possibility of repentance and redemption à la Crime and Punishment.
I wish I had the next volume right now. Must be patient...
I wish I had the next volume right now. Must be patient...
August 22, 2022
only ruined my day a lil bit this time
December 15, 2021
Very different than the first two. The thing about Manga is they have to end on a cliffhanger because they’re aerialized which means the climax moment will be at the beginning of the next volume, which is a different rhythm than I’m used to. I actually deleted my review on the second book because it’s so depraved that there is no way to discuss it without saying a bunch of fucked up shit so I took it down and just sent it to Kai and Matt who are reading this with me. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than self immolation!
This volume, after we get the climax resolution, is a time jump of 3 years. I’m ngl I was praying for a “kasuga trans” arc lol but I think I’m just projecting. At first I was really disappointed with the time jump. I am not that interested in kasuga as a character. As he says himself, he is an empty shell. I am more fascinated by the dynamic between the three characters than any individual character on their own. It is similar to what I said in my Sally Rooney review about relationships between things defining them rather than the discrete parties themselves.
This reminded me of the show You in later seasons. Honestly Joe and Kasuga are a bit similar. They are bookish guys who feel superior because of that, they idolize specific women and put them on pedestals which is its own form of dehumanization (this concept was brought up in conversations with friends lol why am I bringing everything back to sally Rooney). They are both fucking depraved freaks while also being sensitive soft boys. But anyway we have a new location and a fresh start.
The town itself was a big character in the first part of the series. It is modeled after the authors hometown. The setting of a formerly prosperous town on the decline really added to the characters feelings of ennui, and the physical location of the town being in a valley added to the characters sense of being trapped and boxed in on all sides. So I was not really liking the removal of the family from the town to the suburbs of a different city.
But the more I thought about it I realized it was appropriate. As insane as this story is, Oshimi has kept it very grounded in reality and the reactions of all the characters are very accurate to what would happen in real life if these problems presented. If my child were behaving this way, you can bet your ass we would pull them out of school and go to a new town. I know plenty of people in real life whose parents did exactly that for far less serious transgressions. think most people would react like this, and Kasuga parents are very sensible normal people who truly want what’s best for their son. Life is very long and no one has just 1 single crazy arc in their lifetime in middle school and nothing else happens forever.
So we have a new town, kasuga has longer hair, we have no idea what happened to nakamura. Kasugas parents have been suffering from the traumas of the last few years. They are quicker to argue and seem unhappy. I think kasuga should feel a little more guilty for that but he’s still young and in his self centered phase. kasuga, in the vein of Joe, sets his sights on a new girl. Tokiwa reads novels and is NLOG. That’s catnip for kasuga (and also Joe). This volume is much calmer and there are no disturbing sexual scenes.
The reunion with Saeki was odd. What are the odds they would run into each other! But this does seem like a pre internet story so they may not have known where each other went. I miss Saeki and Nakamura and hope they are more present in the next volume.
This volume, after we get the climax resolution, is a time jump of 3 years. I’m ngl I was praying for a “kasuga trans” arc lol but I think I’m just projecting. At first I was really disappointed with the time jump. I am not that interested in kasuga as a character. As he says himself, he is an empty shell. I am more fascinated by the dynamic between the three characters than any individual character on their own. It is similar to what I said in my Sally Rooney review about relationships between things defining them rather than the discrete parties themselves.
This reminded me of the show You in later seasons. Honestly Joe and Kasuga are a bit similar. They are bookish guys who feel superior because of that, they idolize specific women and put them on pedestals which is its own form of dehumanization (this concept was brought up in conversations with friends lol why am I bringing everything back to sally Rooney). They are both fucking depraved freaks while also being sensitive soft boys. But anyway we have a new location and a fresh start.
The town itself was a big character in the first part of the series. It is modeled after the authors hometown. The setting of a formerly prosperous town on the decline really added to the characters feelings of ennui, and the physical location of the town being in a valley added to the characters sense of being trapped and boxed in on all sides. So I was not really liking the removal of the family from the town to the suburbs of a different city.
But the more I thought about it I realized it was appropriate. As insane as this story is, Oshimi has kept it very grounded in reality and the reactions of all the characters are very accurate to what would happen in real life if these problems presented. If my child were behaving this way, you can bet your ass we would pull them out of school and go to a new town. I know plenty of people in real life whose parents did exactly that for far less serious transgressions. think most people would react like this, and Kasuga parents are very sensible normal people who truly want what’s best for their son. Life is very long and no one has just 1 single crazy arc in their lifetime in middle school and nothing else happens forever.
So we have a new town, kasuga has longer hair, we have no idea what happened to nakamura. Kasugas parents have been suffering from the traumas of the last few years. They are quicker to argue and seem unhappy. I think kasuga should feel a little more guilty for that but he’s still young and in his self centered phase. kasuga, in the vein of Joe, sets his sights on a new girl. Tokiwa reads novels and is NLOG. That’s catnip for kasuga (and also Joe). This volume is much calmer and there are no disturbing sexual scenes.
The reunion with Saeki was odd. What are the odds they would run into each other! But this does seem like a pre internet story so they may not have known where each other went. I miss Saeki and Nakamura and hope they are more present in the next volume.
February 7, 2023
Perfection. Really hit its stride with this one. I feel like I finally grasp what this series is going for. The time/place jump is so complete it almost feels like a wholly different story, and it’s true that Oshimi has thoroughly eased up on all the perverse shenanigans and overheated melodrama, but the weight of that past still hangs heavily over Takao’s new present: it simmers just beneath his deadened eyes and constant wry smiles. The actual events of the narrative reveal, in contrast to the previous volumes, Oshimi’s surprising deft gift for melancholy coming-of-age romance, one frequently wracked by profound unease and inner sadness but just as frequently tender, poignant, and funny. I was absorbed from the word go. The art is the best it’s yet been and the drama is completely compelling. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Let’s hope he can bring things to a smooth landing in the final volume.
September 7, 2020
The gut-wrenching psychological breakdown that is the first two volumes of Flowers of Evil mellows out into what can almost be considered a teenage romance combined with a reflection on what it means to love someone and try to move on from them. Kasuga is a fascinating protagonist and seeing him deal with the scars from the first half of the series while trying to grow yet still haunted by his past has me absolutely hooked. While I feel Oshimi's strength is in the storytelling and character moments that happen during the ulcer-inducing dramatic moments seen in the chapters before this, he manages to write what feels like a real, conflicted teenage crush.
And of course the horrifying note it ends on threatens to rip away whatever happiness he has left. I can't wait to see how this ends.
And of course the horrifying note it ends on threatens to rip away whatever happiness he has left. I can't wait to see how this ends.
November 7, 2025
This 3-in-1 volume completes what was ended on a cliff hanger, and then moves the story to the next major arc. The fallout is bleak and one wonders what new lows will appear next. However, I was pleasantly surprised the direction the story went.
There's worry that things would get worse, worry that we're not worthy of happiness, worry that the past is repeating, and that it's more of the same. Took a little longer to read because I actually stopped at a few hopeful points, not wanting to read about the other shoe dropping; but if there's another shoe drop, it's within the last 11 chapters. On to the final omnibus volume I go!
There's worry that things would get worse, worry that we're not worthy of happiness, worry that the past is repeating, and that it's more of the same. Took a little longer to read because I actually stopped at a few hopeful points, not wanting to read about the other shoe dropping; but if there's another shoe drop, it's within the last 11 chapters. On to the final omnibus volume I go!
January 27, 2024
After the conclusion of the events that were seen in the previous volume, the narrative follows a path I honestly was not expecting. Very different from both previous volumes.
I would say this book is almost like a aftermath of everything that happened in the previous books. Much more calmer.
That said, there is an event at the end that made me explode of happiness. It was fantastic to experience.
With only 1 more volume to finish this series, I'm really curious to see how Oshimi will wrap it up.
I would say this book is almost like a aftermath of everything that happened in the previous books. Much more calmer.
That said, there is an event at the end that made me explode of happiness. It was fantastic to experience.
With only 1 more volume to finish this series, I'm really curious to see how Oshimi will wrap it up.
August 25, 2022
*3.5 stars*
December 24, 2023
“THIS TOWN IS HELL! LIVING HERE IS HELL! NOBODY HEARS! THE SOUND ECHOING FARAWAY, BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS! NOBODY HEARS THAT FLOWER BLOOMING!! SINK!! SINK!! ALL OF IT SINK!!! A SLIMY YUCKY MUCK!! RUSTING! ROTTING, SINK!!! IN THE SAME MUD ONLY FACING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. THERE IS NO OTHER SIDE!!! WE CAN’T EVER!! WONT EVER LEAVE THIS TOWN!! JUST LIVING OUT OUR LIVES FACED AWAY … FOREVER! AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER!”
“So I… figured it’s not something I want people to… know about me. Well, I guess I’m empty too.. I wonder if I’ve been faking myself all this time?”
“My… wound might heal, but the scar won’t go away, ever. Somewhere, sometime, i’m gonna have time to face this.”
“So I… figured it’s not something I want people to… know about me. Well, I guess I’m empty too.. I wonder if I’ve been faking myself all this time?”
“My… wound might heal, but the scar won’t go away, ever. Somewhere, sometime, i’m gonna have time to face this.”
October 13, 2019
I'm hoping for a "happy ending" to this series that has made me think of perversion and humanity so constantly. It has been great so far with cliffhangers at the end of every book. But its definitely worth the read.
December 18, 2021
What a change of pace! This is another volume that should be divided into two parts, pre and post time skip.
Pre-time skip volume 3 by and large continues the theme and vibe of 2. Obviously the standout moment is the suicide attempt scene, two themes here stuck with me. The first was nakamura pushing kasuga away- it winds up being unclear whether this was a realization that she doesn't want him to die, or her kind of looking down on him for not being worthy of going through with it. I am almost certain it is the former for one main reason. In the lead up, we increasingly see Nakamura not as the complex, older than her age pervert that kasuga seeks to idolize, but rather as just... troubled. She is severely mentally ill, in distress, and has trouble forming human bonds and cannot take it- nothing more or less. It's finally made crystal clear that, again, Kasuga dehumanizes her as well.
Unsurprisingly, Kasuga moves after this, we get a 3 year time skip, and the vibe changes. I was pissed at first, but it's pulled off well. It gets less anxiety inducing, but the pathos of the story stays. We see quite a lot more of Kasugas parents which is great- they are once again normal people who clearly love their son and don't know what went wrong and blame themselves. Again, it is good to see that the child's neuroses are not just transferred from the parents.
Then we get Tokiwa, our first new big character. She seems to represent a chance for Kasuga to do things right this time. But she doesnt- she doesn't represent anything, which I think Kasuga comes to understand (and often he does not make the right choice, like confessing his love in front of her then boyfriend although this is succesful). She is just herself- and what Kasuga does right is understanding that and recognizing her as distinctly human- as both complex and simple. It... works, and casts light on Kasuga's actual perversions.
Pre-time skip volume 3 by and large continues the theme and vibe of 2. Obviously the standout moment is the suicide attempt scene, two themes here stuck with me. The first was nakamura pushing kasuga away- it winds up being unclear whether this was a realization that she doesn't want him to die, or her kind of looking down on him for not being worthy of going through with it. I am almost certain it is the former for one main reason. In the lead up, we increasingly see Nakamura not as the complex, older than her age pervert that kasuga seeks to idolize, but rather as just... troubled. She is severely mentally ill, in distress, and has trouble forming human bonds and cannot take it- nothing more or less. It's finally made crystal clear that, again, Kasuga dehumanizes her as well.
Unsurprisingly, Kasuga moves after this, we get a 3 year time skip, and the vibe changes. I was pissed at first, but it's pulled off well. It gets less anxiety inducing, but the pathos of the story stays. We see quite a lot more of Kasugas parents which is great- they are once again normal people who clearly love their son and don't know what went wrong and blame themselves. Again, it is good to see that the child's neuroses are not just transferred from the parents.
Then we get Tokiwa, our first new big character. She seems to represent a chance for Kasuga to do things right this time. But she doesnt- she doesn't represent anything, which I think Kasuga comes to understand (and often he does not make the right choice, like confessing his love in front of her then boyfriend although this is succesful). She is just herself- and what Kasuga does right is understanding that and recognizing her as distinctly human- as both complex and simple. It... works, and casts light on Kasuga's actual perversions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2019
Vol 7 - 4/5
The series went in a totally different direction than I was expecting. From the way the last volume ended, it almost looked like Kasuga and Nakamura were about to kill someone or themselves. There was a time skip where they separated and Kasuga changed back to his quiet, reclusive self. He met a new girl that loves reading as much as he once did, could this be a new beginning for our once hopeless pervert?
***
Vol 8 - 4/5
I’m actually enjoying this less chaotic part of the story. Kasuga has a semblance of normalcy and happiness, yet his past still haunts him. Everything was beginning to look brighter for him until Saeki showed up and opened old wounds. How will he handle this? Will he go back to his old ways? Or will he embrace his new life?
***
Vol 9 - 4/5
I’m really enjoying this new side of Kasuga. He’s actually sympathetic and relatable now even after all of the horrible and bizarre things he did when he was younger. It’s interesting to see such a gross character getting such a major redemption and turn around. He’s much more brave and confrontational now, he doesn’t run from his problems anymore. I hope he keeps this new attitude up.
The series went in a totally different direction than I was expecting. From the way the last volume ended, it almost looked like Kasuga and Nakamura were about to kill someone or themselves. There was a time skip where they separated and Kasuga changed back to his quiet, reclusive self. He met a new girl that loves reading as much as he once did, could this be a new beginning for our once hopeless pervert?
***
Vol 8 - 4/5
I’m actually enjoying this less chaotic part of the story. Kasuga has a semblance of normalcy and happiness, yet his past still haunts him. Everything was beginning to look brighter for him until Saeki showed up and opened old wounds. How will he handle this? Will he go back to his old ways? Or will he embrace his new life?
***
Vol 9 - 4/5
I’m really enjoying this new side of Kasuga. He’s actually sympathetic and relatable now even after all of the horrible and bizarre things he did when he was younger. It’s interesting to see such a gross character getting such a major redemption and turn around. He’s much more brave and confrontational now, he doesn’t run from his problems anymore. I hope he keeps this new attitude up.
October 1, 2021
This volume was more like a transition but oke. I'm intrigued on how this manga will end.
Prob a 3 bc, well, not much happened , but i didn't got bored soo
In essence, after what happened in volume 2, SPOILERthat festival situation (in which they almost amolish themselves) we follow Yasuga on his new City a few years later. Not much happens expect him getting involved worth this popular girl call Tokiwa, tbh. SPOILER? *She kinda looks like you-know-who and surspisingly they got together??? Like, its mostly bc she doesn't want others to know that she reads a lottt (relatable) and bc of her novel, but still, didn't expect him to do this again (he reminded me to how he got with the popular gril form his homtown middle school.
They both had issues though. Just as him.
So that's prob why.
*is it really a spoiler? Its pretty obvious but whatever
Anyway, es un libro puente claramente. El final te introduce la trama del cuarto y suena interesante. Pero este lit sólo fue de él conociendo y acercándose a esta chava, which,, oke? But somerhibg else could have happened you know???
Whatever. Tampoco espero demasiado de este manga tbh. Bueno, espero que el final sí sea bueno, gripping and shocking.
Prob a 3 bc, well, not much happened , but i didn't got bored soo
In essence, after what happened in volume 2, SPOILER
They both had issues though. Just as him.
So that's prob why.
*is it really a spoiler? Its pretty obvious but whatever
Anyway, es un libro puente claramente. El final te introduce la trama del cuarto y suena interesante. Pero este lit sólo fue de él conociendo y acercándose a esta chava, which,, oke? But somerhibg else could have happened you know???
Whatever. Tampoco espero demasiado de este manga tbh. Bueno, espero que el final sí sea bueno, gripping and shocking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2022
This series is absolutely insane. Especially considering that, after the worst of the worst is over and the main conflict seems to be resolved, THERE’S STILL WAY MORE!!! I think this series is the closest one to actually get me to think about my life for a bit. Even not considering that, I still think that it’s so effective at being so uncomfortable. The insanity of it just keeps going, and it’s strange to go back and remember how this all started. I do really like the shift in tone though, it almost feels like payoff to see Kasuga be happy for once in the story. Look forward to getting the final part soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2025
"I cannot live as a ghost for the rest of my life."
The scrapman is still stuck in the past, but he's showing some serious mental development and maturity. Or is it just a tiny peak before the inevitable fall. Beyond rock bottom. To the otherside.
"My wound might heal, but the scar won't go away, ever. Somewhere, sometime, I'm gonna have to face this!"
Kasuga is still stuck in the past, that much is obvious. He needs a reason to live and he keeps pinning that unto other girls, either psychotic ones or ones who will break.
The scrapman is still stuck in the past, but he's showing some serious mental development and maturity. Or is it just a tiny peak before the inevitable fall. Beyond rock bottom. To the otherside.
"My wound might heal, but the scar won't go away, ever. Somewhere, sometime, I'm gonna have to face this!"
Kasuga is still stuck in the past, that much is obvious. He needs a reason to live and he keeps pinning that unto other girls, either psychotic ones or ones who will break.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2020
I thought it was really wonderful to see how Kasuga was able to pull himself out of his own head and start acting like his life really mattered.
The only thing left to see is how Kasuga finally manages to reconcile with his past. I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this series.
The only thing left to see is how Kasuga finally manages to reconcile with his past. I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this series.
February 27, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ in this volume, we get a time jump after the fucked-up-ness that was in the end of the last installment. While I am still compelled to fly through this series, I ultimately feel like the big point of it all isn’t impacting me the way it should. I guess I could say that I enjoyed this volume the most of out the three read so far but the final and fourth volume will truly determine if this series stays on my shelves.
December 12, 2020
Me encantó. Fue diferente a los otros volúmenes y todo lo qué pasó anteriormente se demuestra en las acciones de Takao ahora. Podemos ver más sus sentimientos y como realmente se siente sin estar dependiendo de las emociones de los demás. Aunque ahora tiene a otra chica, siento que él no depende tanto de ella o tal vez sí.
Pero este volumen superó mis expectativas y le dio depth a la historia.
Pero este volumen superó mis expectativas y le dio depth a la historia.
April 25, 2022
Here we have a time skip and the time skip works really well. The story matures along with the characters and it’s nice to see our main character grow but also clearly show some traits he’s kept. The story maintains its grip on you and is very engaging. Great cliffhanger ending and we have more beautiful art from the great Shuzo Oshimi.
September 9, 2022
Wow. This series really matures into something beautiful out of nowhere.
The first two collections seem so excessive in comparison to the third, but without those shades of guilt and regret following Kasuga, without the shedding of all sorts of uncomfortable stigmas of adolescence in the past, I don’t think there would be much tension in this story.
I’m terrified of reading the last volume.
The first two collections seem so excessive in comparison to the third, but without those shades of guilt and regret following Kasuga, without the shedding of all sorts of uncomfortable stigmas of adolescence in the past, I don’t think there would be much tension in this story.
I’m terrified of reading the last volume.
March 26, 2023
Dios amo esta historia y estoy super metida. Me suele preocupar cuando meten personajes nuevos a mitad de la historia pero Tokiwa es una adición genial y sigo amando la historia, aunque tengo mucho miedo por los personajes por cómo termina el último capítulo del tomo. Amo este manga, hacía mucho que no leía algo que me hiciese sentir tanto.
May 28, 2022
The last two complete volumes lead its readers to a point of catharsis, this collection acts as a retrieval for those shattered pieces in the hopes of being mended. That delectable emotional rush may be missing here, but it is replaced with a calm flow that prioritises maturity and insight in its character development. I am left eager for the conclusive statement that its next collection will bring.
June 29, 2022
I think this depicts depression in teens very well. The story felt oppressive and gloomy although it was a very quiet, every-day slice of life in a sense and I think it conveys well what it wants to.
Excited to see how it will all wrap-up
Excited to see how it will all wrap-up
August 1, 2023
The climax we needed from the second omnibus still has me wondering what ever became of Nakamura. Kasuga is at least now facing himself and coming to terms with his life. Tokiwa is honestly a breath of fresh air in Kasuga's life and I am interested to see how things turn out.
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