We Were There, Vol. 8

僕等がいた [Bokura ga Ita] #8

by Yuuki Obata

The award-winning series known as Bokura ga Ita in Japan! R to L (Japanese Style). I don't know if I'm following my fate… …or going against it. But there is one thing I want… …and that is for Yano's wish to come true. Nanami Takahashi falls for Motoharu Yano, the most popular, carefree boy in class. For Nanami, it's first love, but Yano is still grieving the death of his girlfriend who died the year before.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Slice Of Life, Drama

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2005

About the author

Yuuki Obata (小畑友紀) is a Japanese mangaka.
She won a Shogakukan Award for New Mangaka category in 1998 through her first creation, "Rain Drops".

Reviews

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh that last page... I can not believe this is where the anime ended!
So, I am starting to like Yano a bit more, since he is not being all creepy like in the first few books. Also, I see a lot of people being able to relate to this, both as adults and as teenagers. There is that feeling of helplessness of being a teen, old enough and smart enough for the most part as well as ready to be a grown up, but there are those few things that prevent it, like only being in high school and laws saying what age you are an adult.
This one actually shows a good bit of Japanese culture around school and filial piety, with Nanami not being allowed to apply to schools outside of Hokkaido, and Yamamoto San's mother getting upset when she tells rather than asks about a college in Tokyo.
I do suppose this also happens in the US, but college counseling is a lot different for sure.
Overall, a nice slice of life/ coming of age story.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, talk about a cliff hanger! Yano moves to Tokyo, and it ends with Nana, now 20, who hasn't seen him since she was 15. This volume was so perfect for its depiction of teenage relationships. Yano and Nana are deciding where to apply for college, and then Yano takes her on a trip for Christmas Eve. He hopes they will have sex, but Nana gets sick from drinking to much instead. Yano has made the decision to move to Tokyo with his mother, which Nana supports and is sure that it will work out ok. I love how these characters are far from perfect, but they are all doing the best they can. Next, I'm moving into their college years, and I am so curious to know what's going to happen!!

[ale (taylor's version) everett · Rating 3 out of 5]

:(

[Delanie Dooms · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the words previously spoken, all the events most powerfully felt, are put into question by this volume; given a metatextual element which differs from our perception of it.

This is because this is the volume which denotes the time-skip. And Nana, all her promises, all her love, does not see Yano again for years. All her promises, all his. Their love affair, so fraught and so caring, was a spectacle without value, a cloth to be torn; and it was torn asunder, indeed. What child-like thoughts, to dream of infinity.

The two must grow up, their life circumstances do not collide, and their ability to act mutualistically--to act together, to not separate, to form a strong bond of affection--is not questioned; he must go, Nana must sacrifice. She must watch over him; allow him to reveal his dream of protection of those he cares about; he must go.

[Franchesca Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG. Now I understand why this series got an award. 😭 This volume was not it. It was actually so sad, and the tension and knowing about the countdown towards Yano's departure was heart-wrenching. I think the way the mangaka drew the final scene when Nanami was running after the train was the last bit that did it for me. That was too much. My heart can't take this no more. I'm actually so curious to see what will happen after the time skip!!!

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

No sé, no sé qué pensar con ese final. Yano no es mi personaje favorito pero cada vez menos. Nanami... bueno, no logro entenderla del todo a veces. Irónicamente, creo que debe quedarse con Yano, pues adora perdonarlo.
Takeuchi es el personaje que más me gusta, aún cuando sea un tanto (demasiado) pacífico para mi gusto muchas veces.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

First volume of manga in 2023 completed.

Spoilers!

--
This one ended really sadly, Yano never ended up seeing Nana again, even after she's graduated and moved to Tokyo. That's too sad!
I haven't watched the anime yet, but heard that this is where they ended it! I'd be pissed and begging for a second season.

[Kotomi PV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este tomo ha sido especial, es muy díficil ver cómo Yano toma la decisión de irse y de Nana de aceptar que se arrepintió de decirle que se fuera, que estaría bien. Entiendo perfectamente esa sensación de estar lejos de la persona que quieres. Además, este tomo termina tal como pasa en el anime y luego hace el salto al futuro. Sé que se vienen cosas triste, así que ya me estoy preparando.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending! Oh no, what will happen...such a cliffhanger. This was my favorite volume so far! I loved the story and the characters, as always. It was such a bittersweet plot, but oh well...what will happen next...

[Jenny Derochemont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was pretty good. I can't wait to read the next volume. I had a feeling that something would happen like this. I hope they can find each other though.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one soooo much more than the previous couple. I think Yano leaving was the best thing that could have happened and I'm so excited to see what comes next for our heroine!

[Pearl Perla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their first date as a couple :’)

He finally waited for her aahhh

[haruhimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

What. The actual. Fuck…

[aliyah]

your joking

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time for Yano to grow up…learn how to be alone. But damn, that ending was kind of sad? What happened? They’re 21 now?!

[Maude · Rating 4 out of 5]

you've gotta be kidding me :/

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapters 29-31

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Caspita! Lo so che Yano mi ha sempre fatto una cattiva impressione ma portare fuori la tua ragazza per un fine settimana e poi farla ubriacare... A che pro? C'è un sacco di alcol in questo fumetto...

Allora. Ormai il mio interesse per questo manga si è perso. Anche perché capisco essere innamorati di una persona ma Nanami, povera, le subisce proprio tutte la Yano. E c'è sempre Takeuchi che la aiuta e giura che l'amicizia con Yano sarà sempre più importante dell'amore che prova per Nanami...

Uffa, ormai sono a metà. Dal prossimo numero in poi, la storia si sposta avanti nel tempo, quando Nanami e Takeuchi hanno finalmente finito l'uni. E Nanami non ha visto Yano per quattro lunghi anni.

Sempre detto che di Yano era da far sapone...

[Softreflection · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is it that this series had to get so complicated? I love how it just gets bigger and involves for people. It also involves reasons that would seem idiotic to others. Yano clearly loves Nanami, but where did he go? Away from her.
This book is seriously making me cry. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! But my library doesn't have the next book yet. TIME TO READ ONLINE!

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when things are beginning to run smoothly between Yano and Nanami, Yano's mother decides to get a divorce and move to Tokyo!
Will Yano keep his promise to Nanami and stay behind with her, or will he accompany his mother so that she doesn't go under?
And if Yano leaves... will Nanami's love last the year she might have to wait without him?

[Tory · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHAT THE HECK KIND OF CLIFFHANGER ENDING WAS THAT???

I can't say I've really been enjoying this series, but I've continued to read it for some reason I'm not even sure of. It's been a fairly standard, kind of fluffy romance manga up until this point, but the last page of this volume truly surprised me and I guess I'll have to keep reading it now. Darn.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Por lo que veo, este tomo en su momento me gustó mucho, e intuyo que tiene que ver con que acá se empieza a ir todo al carajo para nunca más volver.


Y pensar que en algún momento los personajes amagaron con ser felices...

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated is right and sad. This manga keeps having those doesn't it? And art expresses that. I had watched the anime first and recalled that part on the train, if I remember right. Still, it's like you can't stop reading and wonder where the story will go next. Good volume.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can't believe Yano left and they're already 21 years old. It makes me curious of what happened to the past years because they haven't seen each other since the day Yano left. Oh well, I'd better read the next volume to find out.

[Aug Dinash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is getting depressing! But I still really like it!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was soooo sad. I cried a few times. :(

Now I will need to buy 9 to 16. I really want to know what happens, since the manga only got to 8. :(

[María · Rating 4 out of 5]

He's gone to Tokyo...

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first and the best shoujo manga I have ever read nothing made me feel what I felt the same as We Were there did.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a continued unhealthy binge on this wildly tragic yet heartwarming series.

What a cliff hanger T_T Don't play my heart like that.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fucking heartbreaking!!!