Miwa and Saeko have discovered that they are definitely physically compatible. But a gathering of the band clubs for a weekend training retreat becomes an unexpected threat to their new relationship. Can their blossoming feelings survive each other’s company?
I've heard a few times that the relationship in this manga series takes an interesting turn that some readers may not necessarily enjoy. For me, this was an interesting volume to work through. There are some new character developments particularly in Saeko that made me think that this relationship is bound to get more complicated than expected. While I enjoyed how Tamifull explored queerness, I began to notice some things that may become red flags in their relationship later on in the series. That doesn't mean that the series won't be good, but I think it will pull away from this cutesy romance that readers may expect to get. I think that the framing of Saeko's jealously is great example of this. Initially, Saeko believes that she has no reason to be jealous of any attention that Miwa may receive, but she quickly learns how wrong she was in that assessment. In fact, her jealousy becomes so much of an issue that she begins to lash out and, in my personal, becomes a little controlling. I see these aspects of Saeko's personality greatly changing the landscape of their relationship. While I'm hoping it doesn't lead towards an emotionally abusive situation, I can definitely see it happening. Overall, I'm looking forward to seeing where the rest of the series takes me.
Because these two have a contrived beginning to their relationship, they take nothing for granted, which I really liked. They have frank discussions about their relationship--and particularly about sex. I'm used to yuri manga that has a lot of blushing and hand-holding and meaningful glances. This is one of the few that I've read that has sex scenes, and they don't feel like fan service or the male gaze to me. Whether it's in sex or conversations, I appreciated that they're often realistically awkward. This is not a romanticized relationship: they are both complex, flawed people, but they are trying to improve.
This isn't flawless: volume 2 contains a possibly transmisogynistic joke, unless I'm misinterpreting it--though it also might have a trans character. There is a side character who gets a subplot who discussed not wanting to be in a relationship because they would "have to be a woman." I look forward to seeing how that arc continues in volume 3. Saeko can also be pushy with Miwa--and she definitely needs to stop groping her in public.
Sweet and funny, this is quickly shaping up to be a reliable series. There's a little more drama this time around as Miwa, the shy one, struggles with self-confidence and a person seemingly intent on outing her. Saeko, the outgoing one, has dismissed jealousy as something she is incapable of feeling, but she cannot deny she's becoming unusually irritated when other people pay attention to Miwa.
I am actually really pleased with the direction that volume 2 in this series takes. It truly feels organic and real. We have 2 women who are continuing to learn and grow themselves, while also navigating their romantic relationship. I am invested in where this series will go from here.
Odd mix of awkward relationship cuteness, dealing with repressive societal mores, and relatively explicit sex scenes. This second volume turns things up a notch in all areas and throws in a bunch more supporting characters, making the cast a little difficult to keep straight (no pun intended). The themes of jealousy and communication were expressed a tad melodramatically, but this is manga....
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NeGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This volume stressed me out a little more than the first one (but in a good, engaging way), because the theme is JEALOUSY. Saeko is having romantic jealousy issues that she doesn't want to admit because she already SAID she doesn't get jealous! Miwa envies Saeko's easy conversational skills, and is worrying that she needs to learn to be more assertive, especially when people are making her uncomfortable...but then overthinks her answers. And then there's the guy who's part of her reason for that resolution - because he seems to have just figured out her and Saeko's relationship and keeps hinting about it in groups they're not out to!
For all that he stresses me out, Kan is actually quite an interesting addition to the cast. Because he finally says that his antagonism to Miwa in particular is because I'm assuming that will get explored in future volumes.
The friend group continues to be wholesome and funny. These include: - The guy in their band who had a crush on Miwa immediately, but has decided to channel those feelings into protectiveness. Like: "Miwa deserves to be happy, so no one better hurt her, even Saeko. And sure as heck no one better hurt her BECAUSE she's with Saeko!" - The himbo who is trying really, really hard to be supportive because he thinks he did a bad job at that with the friend who came out to him in high school. - The other friend who wouldn't shut up about his girlfriend but ends up getting broken up with because (ominous foreshadowing) JEALOUSY! - The ditsy straight partygirl who causes at least one problem per book but you still kinda like because she has a good heart and is just so happy to have discovered that she can have friends who are girls. (She needs to get with the himbo, OMG, that would be so cute). - The one who might be either ace or trans (or both?). It isn't 100% clear, because they are very uninterested in joining in all the couples stuff, but they remark to Miwa that it is partly because they feel that they would have to "present as a woman"...but I'm not sure if they mean they don't feel like a woman or if they just like their tee-shirts-and-no-makeup look and don't want to bother getting dolled up! Either way, that will be interesting to explore later.
Oh, and considering the MCs are naked on page 1 of the manga...yeah, the spice level got dialed up in this one!
Saeko and Miwa have rounded every base in the progression of their relationship, but that means everything’s smooth sailing, right? Well... maybe... In their case, the destination might have been a lot easier than the journey that starts when they get there...
I have read other reviews of this series that suggest that Saeko and Miwa shouldn’t be together. I don’t think I would go that far, but it is true that they are not being super healthy this volume. It feels like the two of them are actually really good for one another, but (paradoxically) in the worst way possible.
Communication is good until it is suddenly bad, Saeko’s descent into traits she hates is a big bummer, Miwa’s slow walk towards any self-confidence is brutally feeble at points, and relying on sex to solve problems only goes so far (I appreciate that Miwa sees this EXACTLY for what it is).
But they love one another, or are definitely infatuated at least, and for now that’s enough. There’s no big catharsis here that lets us know things will be okay, just an assumption that most manga trend toward a happy ending and they end in an okay place. For now, that has to be enough.
This book has a real world attitude to homosexuality as well, tackling the risks inherent in coming out, people who are threatening because of that sexuality, and the oblivious member of the opposite sex who can’t take a bloody hint. I would suggest an actual lesbian would have a better grasp of its veracity, but it rings true on the page.
And the characters along the way add so much. Rika is every hypersexual nuisance I ever knew and causes a lot of trouble through sheer thoughtlessness. Kan is an utter bastard and truly detestable, even though he’s got a good reason why (if you think he doth protest too much, it isn’t explicitly stated but I think that’s quite clearly the case...).
Then there’s Usshi, who I would read a whole series about. She’s 19, never had a boyfriend, likes to do things on her own and sees no issue with it. I was hoping we were about to get even more diverse by adding an asexual character, but that turns out to not be the case (and given how she gets shredded in the process I wish I had been right).
By the way? The correct answer to “Wouldn’t those things be better with a partner?” is actually “It depends on who you ask”.
I did find the story a little busy and disjointed with all the jumping around. A couple of page breaks lead to the dreaded ‘flip back to see if I missed a page’ and that’s an automatic foul in my books.
Four stars. I didn’t even discuss the sex and this is a frank and sex-positive book in a way I appreciated. The story is choppy to an extent and all this drama can be hard for even the sweet to cut through, although the “commentary track” at the end is the perfect exit page for the book.
It’s a strong series and I’d recommend it just because it has a unique setting and what feels like a more realistic take on a same-sex couple than many yuri books. That it is great reading besides that is icing on the cake.
Soeko only gets more grope-y and pushy and now she's dealing with jealousy, all while making Miwa feel lesser in the relationship and feel like she has to change basically everything about herself to make this relationship work and I'm not about this at all. No one really listens to Miwa's feelings or even respects what little boundaries she has. The guys are still being super creepy toward her too. Leave the poor woman alone.
well, these characters definitely act like real life horny and emotional dysregulated 18 year olds. I’m still sort of enjoying this story, but I desperately need the main two to connect on a genuine, non-physical level.
3 stars. Still not crazy about this series or these character. I don’t know why but I’m just not clicking with it and I don’t fine Miwa or Saeko to be all that likable so I’m having a hard time giving a damn about either of them and their relationship. Again, the side characters are carrying this for me because I’m way more interested in everyone else instead of our main characters. I’m gonna give this series one more volume and if I’m still not feeling it I’m gonna have to jump off. Way too many other yuri series that I want to get to.
Cute, but a little too slice-of-life ish for me. I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series because I do prefer more mature romances, but it was definitely a fun ride!
That guy who keeps giving Miwa grief is a complete a-hole. Then it turns out he's not homophobic, per se, rather, PDAs greatly bother him, as do people who aren't "normal" according to his skewed view of what's normal & what's different. We see he has a weird name, & at a young age, it was pounded into his head that being normal is bad. So he decided to embrace weirdness, to the point his mother eventually took him to what we presume is a psychiatrist, to make the boy "normal". So he's all sorts of screwed up in the head. Hes taking it out on Miwa, when he just wants to be accepted for being the weird person he is. He is lonely, he is depressed, & his heart has turned cold, from what appears to be years of being rejected. If he continues to appear in future volumes, I have a strong suspicion that it will turn out that he's either gay, bi, or bi-curious. As for all of the jealousy on Saeko's part, she's got to tell Miwa how she REALLY feels, & soon. The longer she lets it fester, & stuffs it away, the more outbursts she will have, & mistreatment of Miwa will become a serious problem. IMO, I think the jealousy & strife between Miwa & Saeko is really not conducive to the main story. It really detracts from the blossoming love between the two girls. It takes away the focus on love & getting comfortable with each other, to focusing on hurt feelings & feelings of mistrust.
pride 2022 Romantik ve kuir mangalarda genellikle çoğu şey gereksiz bir dramatikte ilerledikten sonra tatlıya bağlanır ve mutlu sonla taçlandırılır… BU KESİNLİKLE ÖYLE DEĞİL. Birince ciltte de biraz hissedilen Miwa ve Saeko’nun emotional baggage ları bu bölüm iyice kendilerini göstermeye başladı. Umarım 3. Cilt itibariyle kendi kişilikleri içinde bu sorunu çözmeye ve çift olarak kalmaya devam edebilirler, çünkü başaramazlarsa korkarım end is near. Ayrıca Miwa’nın lezbiyen olduğunu bilmesine rağmen HALA ona yazmaya çalışan arkadaşına: KES ARTIK ABİCİM KIZ SENLE İL-Gİ-LEN-Mİ-YOR
PS: sonraki bölümlerde kızlarımızın geçmişlerine ve kuir fobiye (tam olarak nasıl denie bilemedim help) dair daha detaylı kısımlar olmasını umuyore <3
I can already tell their relationship won't last from the second chapter of this, and it's a pity, really. I enjoyed the first volume, but from what I've heard the following volumes are a lot like this one, so for my own happiness I don't think I'll be reading more. Who knew you could get so emotionally invested in the romance story of two random fictional characters? Crazy.
ehhhhh... just a bit annoying how the characters acted but im super interested in this Kan dude. I want to know why he is the way he is but that means ill have to buy the 3rd volume..... which i can't afford
3.5 stars. not totally loving the saeko jealousy arc and not speaking up about it. I thought it was going to be addressed at the end but i guess not. They are both pretty open and haven great communication with everything else so i don't like that this is an outlier. i love how they bring up stuff to each other, also i have such a nuanced (?) relationship with jealousy so im tired of reading about it. Kan is an interesting character to introduce. First I think he's super sexy, second i think he's closeted and thats why he's a hater. Lucha having a little redemption arc is so sweetie. Realizing and accepting that before, he treated a friend badly that came out to him and wanting to be different this time around and be as supportive as possible <3 I really appreciate Usshi's take on love, how she feels no need for it to be a part of her life, how she likes doing stuff by herself and it doesnt make her lonely. I hope she has a nonbinary phase pleaseeee. "I'm not really... opposed to being in a relationship, and yet the idea that someday I'll have to be a woman... I'll have to present as one... I really hate it." Tsurata was being really weird this book and it was throwing me off. I don't know what his deal is but he needs to get his shit together.
Miwa is trying to grow as a person. Trying to stand up for herself more. But change doesn't come easy, and her being shy up until this point in her life is not something she'll overcome right away.
Saeko is learning to deal with her emotions. That jealously, no matter how much you say you don't have, probably have. And this makes for their relationship go into a interesting directions.
This is as slice of life as slice of life can get. It might not be any big drama, but the real feel of this relationship and drama work well for me. And them talking it out most of the times, works really well. It's a cute series, and while not as good as say Soap and Sweat for me still holds up very well for a more mature feel to relationships.
Ich les wirklich nicht viel GL, weils einfach nicht meins ist. Aber wenn man schon den Band mal in Händen hält, why not :3 Und von dem wenigen an GL, das ich gelesen hab, ist das hier wirklich ein extrem guter. Es hat überraschend viel, und auch recht tiefe Story, die die Bziehung der beiden ergründet, aber auch viel darüber erzählt, wie das Umfeld auf so eine Homo-Beziehung reagiert. Ich find sogar, dass es hier besser als in sehr vielen BLs gehandhabt wird. Und Miwas Charakterentwicklung ist wirklich schön mitanzusehen, auch wenn die immer noch sehr langsam ist.
Warnings: explicit sex scenes, threat of character being outed
Miwa and Saeko are comfortable enough and settling into their relationship, and Saeko especially is happy about where they are. When prompted by her friend, she declares that their relationship is bereft of jealousy as the nature of it is different from a typical heterosexual relationship. However, during a camping retreat, she finds out that even when she is secure in the idea of their relationship, she definitely feels jealous when guys keep approaching Miwa (thinking her to be unattached as she doesn't have a boyfriend). She tries to push down this instinct, leading to some distance between them. Meanwhile, Miwa is having some problems of her own, as one of the guys in the group she has been placed in is immediately very hostile towards her. He claims he can't stand her polite smiles (which is a defense mechanism of the perpetually anxious, so like screw you, dude) and moreover, he is definitely suspicious of the closeness between Miwa and Saeko which obviously doesn't look friendly as much as it does girlfriendly. Miwa, in turn, is feeling anxious about it, and down on herself because she feels she should be more confrontational or confident in the very least so people can't easily mess with her like that; she also feels like she might burden Saeko by having the latter chase away the pushy guys. In a way, both of them feel their individual struggles might mean the death of their relationship, and it takes a while for them to communicate with each other about it, when they are in a camp where they don't get much time alone, and they have to hide their relationship. The themes of this book were very naturally brought up as a progression of their personal arcs in relation to their relationship, and I like that it takes a nuanced approach while keeping their characterizations in mind.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
this is so ridiculous sometimes but so cute at the same time. And I don’t like Kan but I kinda felt for him 😭 I don’t like that T bandmate (I have memories no character names in this) though, the scoundrel he is. The rest of the friend group slays tho
This is very refreshing! it's sweet, the conflict is realistic, it's fairly forward with its sexuality and overall very fun and easy to read. I'm happy to know there are so many volumes. It feels more like comfort food than a five star meal, but that really cements it as a necessary regular in my rotation!