春風のエトランゼ 2

春風のエトランゼ / Harukaze no Étranger #2

by Kanna Kii

A love story between an openly gay novelist and a young man coping with grief that was recently turned into an anime film! The continuation of the story that began with Seaside Stranger Vol. 1: Umibe no Etranger.

Ever since his parents disowned him for being gay, Shun has been living with his aunt on a small island near Okinawa. One day, he meets Mio, a high school student who recently lost his own parents and now spends his days sitting by the sea. The two young men begin to open up to each other...until Mio reveals that he's leaving. Three years later, an adult Mio returns to the island to confess his true feelings, but is Shun ready for a relationship?

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Yaoi, Queer, Comics, Boys Love

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2016

About the author

Kanna KII 紀伊カンナ is a Japanese manga artist.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best volume in the series so far. Readers continue to follow Shun and Mio as they travel back to Shun's hometown to visit his sick father. There are so many revelations in this volume that I wasn't necessarily expecting. Both characters are still dealing with homophobia, but from so many different angles. Not only is it present in family, but also others in the community who don't understand their relationship. What's more unfortunate is that you see how homophobia is passed from adult to children and that such hatred is a learned behavior. Shun is really dealing with some self esteem issues in this volume especially in regard to what he defines as success and wealth. It definitely does impact their relationship. There is also some discussion related to sex that I found interesting. I still think that Mio has issues with boundaries and I'm curious to know how Kii is going to explore that in future volumes. Overall, a solid installment and I'm ready to move on to the next one.

[Shu Wei Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

YES! I really appreciate it when queer books delve into the ugly realities of being queer such as homophobia from society and family. I really enjoy watching Shun's family grow as well from getting to know both Shun and Mio better; how they are actually turning out to be quite a sweet bunch.

I also love that on top of that, the story also shines light on self-esteem and self-identity issues through Shun. How that affects his relationships with Mio, his family and himself. Maybe that's because it resonates with me, being another late-twenties queer bitch with aspirations but no clear society-directed successes which lead massive insecurities.
I am really invested in these two beautiful boys as a result though.

(Also Mio, I know you are really young, still only just maturing and hella enthusiastic, but be kind to Shun okay? You don't gotta be intimate to be in love.)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always nice when a queer series acknowledges some of the realities of what that means. Our characters here are still dealing with homophobia, something made worse when Fumi walks in on them doing some very adult things, and I really appreciate how talking to him is handled. Meanwhile they also have a conversation about what adult things they enjoy doing, which comes with some very uncomfortable feelings for Mio. This continues to be one of the most grounded of all BL series as it chucks most stereotypes out the window, and that's something that we could use more of in the genre.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series. it's just really sweet and a bit more realistic than most BL manga out there and after rereading some of the... well... trash that I own I appreciate that.

[Brigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't exactly know what it is about this volume that just doesn't agree with me. It felt all over the place? And then Mio saying he's not gay *facepalm* (please, why can't we have bi/pan characters in BL manga?), while literally all the spicy scenes through the novels are Mio begging Shun to let him put it in... I just... no, it made me cringe so bad.

So I think our ways part here with Seaside Stranger. Shame, because I like the style :(

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review added under volume 3 in the series.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relectura després de bastant de temps i és fort com em produeix les mateixes sensacions de malestar i patiment pel Shun :( una història que enganya amb les seves il·lustracions cuquis, però que narra un relat complex sobre l'acceptació d'un mateix... D'aquest volum destaco la xerrada post-pillada amb el Fumi i com el nano s'adona que ell també els havia jutjat sense tenir-ne ni idea. Pateixo pel Shun perquè està estressadíssim per la feina i se'l veu molt compungit, incòmode i atrapat a casa els pares, en aquell poble que el jutja... A sobre apareixen problemes en les relacions sexuals dels protes que no acabo d'entendre perquè no sembla que el Shun pateixi quan ho estan fent. Per això m'he quedat descol·locada... Sembla que el Shun té traumeta per haver estat amb ties en contra del que li dictava el cor i que ara es preocupa per l'orientació poc clara del Mio. Llegint ressenyes i comentaris he vist que el concepte de la bisexualitat o pansexualitat no està tan estès al Japó i per això es donen situacions com aquesta (not gay but I fell for you). Molt a favor que es mostri el bar queer on té amics el Mio, que és un sol de persona! ♥ La nena dels pebrots ja es veu que és una mala peça... M'agrada veure com van confiant més l'un en l'altre, però segueixen passant moltes coses un pèl inconnexes i explicades a mitges :(

[andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le doy un 3,75. En la línea de los tomos anteriores, esta historia me está gustando mucho. Mio y Shun son más cucos a cada tomo. Y DIVERTIDOS, ME MEO CON ELLOS. Shun me está gustando cada vez más, se me hace más real ahora que ha tenido un par de crisis, aunque mi fav es Mio, es un bebé. Espero que la familia los vaya aceptando cada vez más, que son muy monos todos y cada vez hay mejor ambiente. La única pega que le encuentro son las escenas explícitas (otra vez). Parece que por norma tiene que haber dos por tomo. Y luego algunas cosas no se explican o vienen de sopetón, como el secreto de Sakurako. A ver si explican más cositas.

[holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art remains gorgeously rendered and I really appreciate how this volume touches on topics of mental health and self-worth—but every time a BL rolls up with “I’m not gay, but this one (1) guy is the exception” I lose ten years off my life CAN WE DO AWAY WITH THE SEXUALITY BINARY, P L E A S E

[Liv Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solo por la viñeta de "culito de herero" le pongo las cinco estrellas. Me he reído como nunca xD

[Jen (thisbeereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

damn, imagine getting all the way to book 3 and being told that you’re bad at sex 💁🏻‍♀️

[Kinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[Charlotte 🤍 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was too sigma

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was *so* chaotic?? What a whirlwind. It was just one thing after another after another. So many things happening at once. Didn't even give me a chance to take a breath. There wasn't anything like intense happening, but it just felt like too much at once. It was fun and I enjoyed it though, but it was a lot.

[MaDoReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Por favor que haya update pronto porque estoy enamoradísima de estos muchachos, agradecería más smexy times, pero bueno, no se puede tener todo, son tan monos que compensa.
Milkyway, please saca ya la edición en español.

[sameera]

first the dad now the child oh my goshhhh

the way shun handled it made me feel wonky. like brosky was resigned to his little brother avoiding him.😖

also shun having writer’s block gave me second hand anxiety even though it’s supposed to be comedic lol

[Messier Escárcega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Necesito el tercer tomo es que sin duda la historia me esta gustando demasiado.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

[cecilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
shunnnn is so annoyinnnngg poor mio. also too much disorientation in terms of setting and stuff I was extremely confused where we were what time frame who what when why etc

[agi]

i have feelings for mio's hair

[Oksana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would kill for these two

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best volume so far in the series, especially with storyline and flow.

[Léna Mkd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce deuxième tome a été une lecture aussi douce et touchante que le premier. On plonge encore plus profondément dans la relation entre Shun et Mio, explorant leur intimité et les défis qu’ils rencontrent en tant que couple. J’ai adoré la manière dont l’histoire aborde la sexualité et la dynamique familiale, rendant l’ensemble à la fois réaliste et attendrissant.

Malgré le fait que le manga oscille avec l’aspect idyllique (comme tout manga qui se respecte), ce manga intègre des éléments du quotidien qui apportent une belle authenticité à la lecture. On ressent les hauts et les bas de leur relation, ce qui la rend d’autant plus crédible et émouvante.

Visuellement, les dessins sont magnifiques et renforcent l’émotion du récit. J’ai toutefois trouvé que certaines bulles manquaient de clarté quant à l’attribution des dialogues, mais une fois habituée, cela n’a pas gêné mon immersion.

Côté personnages, Shun est fascinant malgré son côté aigri et têtu, et Mio, solaire et attachant, reste mon chouchou absolu. Quant à Fumi, le petit frère, il apporte une touche de fraîcheur et de mignonnerie qui rend l’histoire encore plus agréable. D’ailleurs, certaines scènes m’ont vraiment fait rire, notamment quand Fumi les surprend. C’était à la fois drôle et un peu gênant, mais ça a ajouté une touche d’humour bienvenue.

Un aspect qui m’a particulièrement marquée, c’est le rapport que Shun entretient avec lui-même. Son dégoût intérieur, son rejet de sa propre identité et la peur d’être repoussé sont très bien retranscrits, et ça m’a beaucoup touchée.

En résumé, une suite merveilleuse, toujours aussi belle et sincère, que j’ai dévorée en une heure à peine. J’ai hâte de lire le tome 3 !

[Savleye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the 4 volumes of the series I've read so far this one is my favorite. This volume has a very consistent storyline compared to volumes 2 and 4 which kind of jump all over the place in terms of plot. I also really like how they showed Fumi dealing with his classmates comments about Shun and Mio because having to deal with homophobia as a child is a very real thing that unfortunately doesn't get talked about enough. Removing a star though because the author is, for whatever reason, continuing to establish that "Mio is just a quirky straight guy that just so happened to fall for Shun". It's so stupid to not just admit that Mio could be bi.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5, rounded up.

I really liked the conversations brought up in this one. Getting to see Shun's brother understand his brother's queer identity and understanding being called weird hurts people and apologizing was a great addition. It's really refreshing to see these kinds of issues being addressed instead of just focusing on the fluffy romance part. But the problem is that I kind of want more of that fluffiness?? This volume was pretty rough to read at some points. I also don't love that Mio is written as one of those "you're my exception" characters. I'm sure it's a cultural thing, but I'm not a fan. Let Mio be bi/pan dammit :(

[Mathou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amour et famille

Quel magnifique deuxième volume!!!
Je suis toute excitée de continuer cette série, pour la simple et bonne raison qu’elle est excellente.
L’histoire qui se concentrait sur la famille de Shun commence à s’élargir dans un cadre scolaire avec son petit frère, mais également avec la figure du père et les gens de la ville. Les questionnements, les peurs et les nouvelles amitiés permettent de diversifier le propos du manga, tout en approfondissant la relation entre Mio et Shun qui sont toujours là l’un pour l’autre et tentent de comprendre comment vivre avec une deuxième personne et ses sentiments.
Il me tarde déjà de lire le tome trois!

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art continues to be pretty. The conversation with Fumi, Shun's younger brother, after he peeked in on them having sex is overall handled well, I believe. Especially Sakurako is a big help here. Aside from that, it would be great if bisexuality could be normalised as well. Instead Mio says "I like girls. Even then... I fell for Shun."
There are some mental health issues discussed, namely Shun's fathers depression and Shun's internalised homophobia and his self-doubts.
There's an attempt at healthy communication about their bedroom habbits but it fails with Shun saying "even if I told you, you wouldn't understand." Shun, man, do you want this relationship or not?

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I miss the story being at the seaside setting. They are still in the city visiting family.

Oopsie, the younger brother walks in on an intimate moment which causes questions and dilemmas. It was quite funny really. It was handled well.

Our two main characters are trying to figure out life while living with parents. This is a slice of life about this relationship. I hear there is a show and I would enjoying seeing it.

I still think the writing and storytelling is disjointed, but I can flow with it better. The author doesn't really connect dotes. The reader just has to figure out what's going on.

I'll go on with Vol. 4 eventually

[Seamaiden · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this point, I kinda regret buying the volumes. I found the movie quirky but wholesome. I don't like the continuation. I have no idea how Mio and Shun are together when they hardly communicate about their feelings and needs, and I definitely don't get their sex life. Mio keeps trying to understand why Shun doesn't like it but Shun refuses to communicate. I mean if he isn't into sex that's totally fine but his partner should know. Mio obviously wants it.
Though we also touch on Fumi's need for a real family and Shun's anxiety of the future and his situation, I just feel the relationship doesn't do it for me.

[Mad3lyne · Rating 1 out of 5]

On en a marre des livres avec un perso en mode «  gngng je suis hétéro mais je sors quand même avec lui » bro n’est pas hétéro il est juste DEBILE par pitié et en plus à côté on a l’autre qui se prend pour un monstre juste parce qu’il est gay on dirait presque que le but c’est de rendre ça ok d’être homophobe ?? L’excuse du fait qu’ils sont à la campagne au Japon ne marche PAS c’est juste insupportable à lire. Ca casse toute la tension entre les deux personnages, ont dirait qu’on les a forcé à être ensemble c’est terrifiant.