Loveless, Volume 06

LOVELESS #6

by Yun Kouga, Ray Yoshimoto (Translator), Christine Boylan (Adaptation)

When 12-year-old Ritsuka discovers a message from his brother Seimei that he was murdered, Ritsuka joins forces with Soubi to find Seimei's killer and uncover the truth.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Yaoi, Romance, Comics, LGBT

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Amanda Hudgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: child abuse, pederastic relationship (no sexual content)

I have made a lot of mistakes lately and I feel like most of them are reading Loveless.

I feel like I should clarify, perhaps. I don't believe in guilty pleasures; enjoying something is not an act that should bring you guilt. If you want to stay up til 6 AM and the sun is literally streaming over the bed because you've been reading a YoI crossover fanfiction instead of sleeping then that's your prerogative and there's no shame in that. Shame has no real place in media consumption. That said, Loveless is probably the first piece of actual media that has made me feel uncomfortable in writing about it or consuming it, and I've reviewed what amounts to be soft-core porn on this site and that is primarily because it features a fetishistic relationship between an adult man (Soubi) and a child (Rituska) and that is a bummer, because if it didn't include that it would basically be entirely guilt free.

I feel like the main reason I keep sticking through with Loveless, despite the weird predatory relationships and the child abuse, is how fascinating I find Soubi as a character. In this volume, we get to see a bit more behind the curtain towards his relationship with Seimei (which was clearly never a good one) and his general feelings of abandonment; "I was thinking...why am I so easy to throw away? Why won't anyone take me...when someone decides to go I will always be left behind.” He's drawn in this really elegant way, and he seems like this really put together character, but he needs to be held and managed and maintained and there's this strange fragility to him that makes him fascinating. If the author had just put him in a relationship with someone who wasn't literally in the sixth fucking grade.

Seriously.

There's still no actual sexual content between the two of them, but it's that fine line that feels gross and lewd, and the only real reason I'm persisting is because I have already started and because the art and the world building and I do want to know what happens. What is up with the behind the scenes stuff? Do I tend to skip over the weird loli-stuff? Yes. Is it still there? Double yes. Do I recommend this to literally anyone? For that reason alone, no.

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues, just as messed up as before - Ritsuka's mum spends some time in the spotlight (and it's so fun to hate her), somebody who was supposed to be nice and dead is malefic and not dead and I'm not entirely sure what's going on. But I still like it.

[Fatemeh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm curious to know more about Seimei, but I don't care about anything else. Argh, this manga...

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally found this book and bought it. It is so hard to find Tokyopop manga, and although VIZ licensed this manga, they don't bring out the older volumes in one volume format, no they only do it in a 2 books format. And since I needed 6 and 7, it would mean I would need to buy 2 of those 2 books format things. :\

I really missed this manga, been ages since I last read it, and I can tell you this, it is still awesome and really great.

The illustrations and the little pages with art are really wonderful. Yun Kouga has a lovely art style.

With story, poor Ritsuka, having such a mother, a mother who will tie him down to keep him near her. Scary.

Soubi is still as mysterious as always.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HATE HIM I HATE HIM!!!! POOR SOUBI AND RITSUKA!!!! SEIMI IS THE WORST EVER!!!

[Illy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooooooo the plot is getting better and better. I absolutely adore this series. God, I need more!

[Kathy Wallen · Rating 1 out of 5]

August 11, 2025

Soubi keeps getting creepier and creepier...

Soubi: Ristuka. (grabs his arm)
Ritsuka: I said it's all right! Let me go!
S: Thank you. This key makes me happy. (He's trapping Ristuka against a door.)
R: I mean, that key isn't to my room, it's to the Aoyagi house, so you be careful when you use it. And... and I probably jumped the gun. Maybe you're not ready for it! (nervous sweating) No! I don't think you are after all! Stop squishing me!
S: Hey... If you just let me use force... If it's all right to use my... strength... then I could save you right now, Ritsuka. I can deal with that woman (Ritsuka's abusive mother).
R: You idiot, that's not saving me! Stop shoving!
S: Ritsuka... I... I want you to embrace me, Ritsuka.

Soubi then KISSES him which is gross, creepy, and one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever read.

The only characters that I liked were Yoji and Natsuo (the two Zeroes) and Ritsuka's classmate Yuiko. The former two unfortunately head back home and probably won't be seen again for a while.

More boring stuff happens and I can't seem to find the plot anywhere.

[elio ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

my god this volume!! ritsuka’s relationship with his mother will always make me cry- i hate everything he’s been through, and fucckkkk his relationship with soubi is even more gut-wrenching. the panel where soubi steps on his flowers and then asks him “is it garbage?” FUCK FUCK THAT PANEL ITSELF SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THIS MANGA! i could talk about it for hours. and i hate how, after everything he’s been through, ritsuka passively accepts soubi’s lies – the same way he accepts his mother’s violence. and WORSE when the mother is abusive and locks him in the house, he says he feels happy (because in a fucked up way that means she cares). fuck i’m gonna cry again. can’t wait to read the rest and hoping the mystery will finally be solved.

[Rosa Posa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was more put together than the last. I am looking forward to the next. I really hate the way relationships Ritsku has. The story would be so much better if Soumi and the other adults in his life could just look at him normally. He’s literally 12. The story is finally getting somewhere, and I am excited for the next one, and the anime, but I do not like that an adult is kissing a child. Like, did I miss something… other than that, the plot is getting exciting and thrilling, and I’m loving the new characters and their development. Kinda confused how Seimi is just here all of the sudden though, but am intrigued too of course

[Gore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is Soubi centric and it made me learn so much about him. While we may not know the full detail of his background, we get hints of why he acts the way he does. From being rude to Ritsuka's teacher, taking in the Zeros kids, and his relationship with Seimei. It's clear he has abandonment issues and he clings heavily to anything and anyone that is willing to let him be by his side, despite him being used or not.

[Dacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart is pounding because of all the excitement and the plot twist with Seimei being alive! He's actually kind of dark too D: especially sending Nisei to do tell his mom to kill Ritsuka! I'm in shock but I can't put the series down. On to the next volume!

[Angela Kocheshkova · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am still not convinced that Seimei is the bad guy of the story
yes, my heart hurts for Sobi and Ritska but I am just not convinced. it's too easy, too obvious, there's got to be smth more to it

[Mosley · Rating 2 out of 5]

At this point I feel like I'm just reading this series on autopilot trying to get through what I bought so that I didn't waste the money that I put into buying it.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Soubi and Ritsuka:<

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PLOT IS GETTING REAL GOOD NOW!

[may · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sad about Soubi, he got discarded like he’s nothing and I knew Seimei was bad new but wow, he succeeded my expectations / Ritsuka is becoming better at handling things thrown at him

[Katie Sapphire-Star · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book slightly more enjoyable than the others but still finding the plot and various characters confusing.

[Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I didn't find this volume to be quite as brilliant as the two before it, it was definitely a thriller. The plot is almost at it's climax.

Soubi loses his cool for the first time - he is far more pained by emotional stress than physical, which is a wonderful opposite for Ritsuka. I really feel for Soubi, even though he cannot put into words what he really feels.

I am so eager to see the end of what happened to Seimei! And I am curious about what is going to happen to Yoji and Natsuo.

[Luru · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is thickening, and this volume was better in terms of the story being somewhat cohesive. (Not enough for actual enjoyment, but it was easier to follow what was going - though characters bordering on disturbed and insane aren't making that any easier).

Secondary characters were given a bit more room on occasion, but it really doesn't work as well as intended when character introduction and development are quite nonexistent.

[Av Wexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait for the two in one volumes to come out. At this point I can't tell if the guy living with the old lady is actually Seimei. The blurb for volume seven said "Seimei undergoes a macabre resurection" and you can't very well ressurect someone living.
Soubi's mental state at the end was really surprising. Never thought he could be anything but manipulative, stalkerish and cocky.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally there is a hint of some answers! I have loved the mystery, though... and since I believe Vol. 8 will the the last in the series, it makes me a little sad to see the story begin to conclude itself.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh goodness... it's been a while. I owned this series in middle school and read them over and over again so much the binding nearly desintigrated. I scraped and saved every penny to buy a new volume. Might be time for a reread soon, for nostalgia's sake.

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little bit more intrigued, mainly to see what happens now. Still not hooked on the series though. Artwork is consistent, and without the spells and battles its less confusing/weird. Instead there seems to be more family conflicts.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art and interesting story.

[Shannon (Twilight Sleep) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bah. Despite the hype surrounding this manga/anime, I had a really hard time getting into it. It didn't hold my attention at all.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still interesting. Wonder what will happen next?

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F KOU loveless v.6

[Yue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume was even more senseless than the others. But as there are only 2 more volumes, I will continue.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deepening intricacies and heartbreaking characterization make this volume a worthy addition to my favorite manga series.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original concept and beautiful art.