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アオのハコ [Ao no Hako] #2
Blue Box, Vol. 2
Taiki’s new doubles partner puts him on an intense training regimen that makes his dream of reaching nationals start to feel a little more achievable. Then Taiki meets another badminton player with eyes for Chinatsu. Will this new rival spell the end for Taiki’s romantic aspirations?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
January 31, 2023
This gets 4 stars, just for the humor and realistic take on high school life. Again, with the SLOOOOOW burn for the romance and POOR HINA, that's all I have to say about that. The artwork is realistic and the story is solid and I am looking forward to the next one.
My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2023
Kengo is clearly after Chinatsu and it’s eating Taiki alive, so naturally they’re paired together for the doubles section of the badminton qualifiers. When Chinatsu proves too cool for (just one) school, the stakes are high for Taiki’s solo bout as well. But if things are seeming so okie doki doki, why is Hina so irritated?
Welcome to another very good series that is not going to end the way I want it to. Oh, they finally start to do something with Chinatsu and Taiki’s a really strong lead for something like this. His earnest young love for his senpai pushes through for some serious ‘teens being teens’ and this feels like a real pairing in the making.
Except there’s the force of nature that is Hina Chino - kami’s gift to rhythmic gymnastics and she knows it. And she basically runs off with this volume by virtue of being just a brilliantly put-together mess of a thing. Give me complicated over straightforward any day.
Hina’s the sort of girl who picks on the guy she likes, except she doesn’t realize she likes him just yet. And as the realization is slowly dawning on her, she’s found herself well behind the curve at this point and this is one competition she might be destined to lose.
Which is a shame as she and Taiki have a great chemistry together, which was obvious from the first volume. She gives him hell, but she’s also being the best damn wingperson she can be to help him achieve his relationship goals and watching that start to wreck her without her quite knowing why is oh-so-tragically exquisite.
And, ironically, I think Hina’s supposed to be a character we don’t like, with her teasing and smugness and knowing she’s just that good. But she’s just so well written! Hina knows she’s good, but she’s also aware of the intense pressure to stay good and remain at the peak of her sport. Her margin for error is so slim and it’s rattling her.
Then that’s contrasted with Taiki and Chinatsu both striving to reach their goals, but leaning on one another much more. It’s just so deliciously complicated and feels real with a heft that I love in my manga. I hope Hina doesn’t end up in the ‘tragic screw-up at the last second’ plot, but at least the manga’s brought it up ahead of time - it makes sure the burden on her is prominent.
The aquarium date turns out to be surprisingly fun; Chinatsu ends up being the girl of Taiki’s dreams in more ways than one and, while she needs a bit more fleshing out, she’s clearly a good kid and possibly showing some interest here and there. If Hina didn’t exist, these two would be a slam dunk.
And big props for how they handle Kengo as the, uh, “rival” plus actually considering such oft-ignored ideas like consent, even between people giving contact info. This story sets off in the right direction constantly.
I spent most of last volume being annoyed by the premise, but there was a lot of good there and now that we’ve gone beyond it, the good still remains. And while I still think the cohabitation angle is dumb, it sure does land like a ton of manga at the end.
The art’s good, the main cast are all insanely likeable, it gets a little drama and a little romance and a little comedy all bundled up into a pretty perfect little package. No complaints. Okay, Chinatsu could be a bit more, but we’re getting there.
5 stars - I thought I would give this 4 stars at first, but, rather than basing my review on all the things it did right, I ended up trying to figure out what it did wrong. And that, in turn, ended up being nothing at all.
Welcome to another very good series that is not going to end the way I want it to. Oh, they finally start to do something with Chinatsu and Taiki’s a really strong lead for something like this. His earnest young love for his senpai pushes through for some serious ‘teens being teens’ and this feels like a real pairing in the making.
Except there’s the force of nature that is Hina Chino - kami’s gift to rhythmic gymnastics and she knows it. And she basically runs off with this volume by virtue of being just a brilliantly put-together mess of a thing. Give me complicated over straightforward any day.
Hina’s the sort of girl who picks on the guy she likes, except she doesn’t realize she likes him just yet. And as the realization is slowly dawning on her, she’s found herself well behind the curve at this point and this is one competition she might be destined to lose.
Which is a shame as she and Taiki have a great chemistry together, which was obvious from the first volume. She gives him hell, but she’s also being the best damn wingperson she can be to help him achieve his relationship goals and watching that start to wreck her without her quite knowing why is oh-so-tragically exquisite.
And, ironically, I think Hina’s supposed to be a character we don’t like, with her teasing and smugness and knowing she’s just that good. But she’s just so well written! Hina knows she’s good, but she’s also aware of the intense pressure to stay good and remain at the peak of her sport. Her margin for error is so slim and it’s rattling her.
Then that’s contrasted with Taiki and Chinatsu both striving to reach their goals, but leaning on one another much more. It’s just so deliciously complicated and feels real with a heft that I love in my manga. I hope Hina doesn’t end up in the ‘tragic screw-up at the last second’ plot, but at least the manga’s brought it up ahead of time - it makes sure the burden on her is prominent.
The aquarium date turns out to be surprisingly fun; Chinatsu ends up being the girl of Taiki’s dreams in more ways than one and, while she needs a bit more fleshing out, she’s clearly a good kid and possibly showing some interest here and there. If Hina didn’t exist, these two would be a slam dunk.
And big props for how they handle Kengo as the, uh, “rival” plus actually considering such oft-ignored ideas like consent, even between people giving contact info. This story sets off in the right direction constantly.
I spent most of last volume being annoyed by the premise, but there was a lot of good there and now that we’ve gone beyond it, the good still remains. And while I still think the cohabitation angle is dumb, it sure does land like a ton of manga at the end.
The art’s good, the main cast are all insanely likeable, it gets a little drama and a little romance and a little comedy all bundled up into a pretty perfect little package. No complaints. Okay, Chinatsu could be a bit more, but we’re getting there.
5 stars - I thought I would give this 4 stars at first, but, rather than basing my review on all the things it did right, I ended up trying to figure out what it did wrong. And that, in turn, ended up being nothing at all.
September 26, 2023
As with the first book, this was such an innocently cute, and super slow-burn YA sports romance.
I loved the illustrations, the pacing, the slow burn, the relatable characters, and the character development as each character works towards achieving their goals of going to nationals while also trying to figure out how to behave 'normally' around each other.
In this volume, we get to see a bit more of Hina and learn a bit more about her, and the feelings that she may have towards Taiki.
Everything feels realistic, without there being any over-the-top drama. This is like a slice-of-life manga about students attending a sports school and I'm enjoying every moment of it!
I loved the illustrations, the pacing, the slow burn, the relatable characters, and the character development as each character works towards achieving their goals of going to nationals while also trying to figure out how to behave 'normally' around each other.
In this volume, we get to see a bit more of Hina and learn a bit more about her, and the feelings that she may have towards Taiki.
Everything feels realistic, without there being any over-the-top drama. This is like a slice-of-life manga about students attending a sports school and I'm enjoying every moment of it!
March 27, 2023
Blue Box comes with a stronger volume 2!
This time Taiki works harder than ever to get places in his practice. You get a lot more of him working with his new mentor, improving his skills, while also trying to catch up with Chinatsu in both skill and of course getting with her.
Taiki crush on Chinatsu grows as they go on their first "date" if you can really count it as a date but it is cute. I also really enjoy Taiki motivation and pureness.
The best friend really in love with Taiki is cliche but it works well enough here.
A 4 out of 5.
This time Taiki works harder than ever to get places in his practice. You get a lot more of him working with his new mentor, improving his skills, while also trying to catch up with Chinatsu in both skill and of course getting with her.
Taiki crush on Chinatsu grows as they go on their first "date" if you can really count it as a date but it is cute. I also really enjoy Taiki motivation and pureness.
The best friend really in love with Taiki is cliche but it works well enough here.
A 4 out of 5.
June 7, 2026
man i love hina i feel so bad for her
December 24, 2021
Wow, this series is so fucking good! I was kind of good with the first few chapters, but damn did things pick up in this volume! The romance is so wholesome, healthy, and encouraging it makes my heart swell. The side characters are stellar as well, Hina of course being the standout, but Haryu is awesome. The artwork is incredible, dynamic, emotional, yet super cute for the funnier moments. This is a really solid shounen romance that I highly recommend!
January 26, 2023
I LOVE this series. The first volume was cute but now it’s really starting to grow on me. The slow burn romance and the side characters and the beautiful mundanity of life. It’s great.
May 15, 2023
Blue Box’s second volume is stronger than the first—more feels at stake, readers get deeper glimpses into the characters’ personalities and Chi/Taki feels more grounded and less like a pipe-dream crush.
March 24, 2024
Tiene momentos muy de 😫🙈 y de recordarme a otros dos personajes muy queridos, por eso, le voy cogiendo el gustillo.
September 13, 2024
Boring as fuck (dropped at ch 12), might wait for the anime. Just for the romance, everything else is just mediocre.
October 11, 2024
A veces da lache pero es bastante entretenido, así que seguiré con el tercer tomo
Read
October 31, 2024i think its kinda sad
November 6, 2024
Story is picking up slowly but surely. I, unfortunately, don’t care about the romance, BUT Hina is winning my heart.
November 27, 2024
Loving everything about this. The art style is so pretty and everyone feels so down-to-earth.
Read
July 24, 2025Zelo kjut zgodba
August 23, 2025
at the heart of this are two great central characters....as Taiki's heartfelt romantic aspirations for Chinatsu are messed with.
September 13, 2025
I love a cute couple but a third wheel who puts their feelings aside for the main couple because they know they like each other like Chono is will always have my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2023
Está bonito, de momento me va gustando.
May 18, 2024
Super cute and is a very long slow burn but I really like it and really fits the characters personalities so far
February 10, 2023
I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I'm not sure this is my cup of tea shojo as I did not enjoy this volume as much as I enjoyed the first. I can tell this is written by a man for other boys/men as the female characters are fairly similar. I would really like to see the female characters start to have their own personalities as right now, I thought they were pretty similar, the only difference is one acts more shy while the other is more outgoing. That's something I think would improve this series.
I'm also not sure how I feel about the love triangle that starts developing. I wish the friend of the main character would just remain a friend. I think that would make this story more compelling. But maybe that is just my preference.
I think my favorite part was when Taiki gets paired up with the best player Haryu. Especially when Haryu starts training him as hardcore as possible. That was a cool way to show Taiki's resolve and determination to be the best.
I'm not sure this is my cup of tea shojo as I did not enjoy this volume as much as I enjoyed the first. I can tell this is written by a man for other boys/men as the female characters are fairly similar. I would really like to see the female characters start to have their own personalities as right now, I thought they were pretty similar, the only difference is one acts more shy while the other is more outgoing. That's something I think would improve this series.
I'm also not sure how I feel about the love triangle that starts developing. I wish the friend of the main character would just remain a friend. I think that would make this story more compelling. But maybe that is just my preference.
I think my favorite part was when Taiki gets paired up with the best player Haryu. Especially when Haryu starts training him as hardcore as possible. That was a cool way to show Taiki's resolve and determination to be the best.
January 18, 2024
Aiuto...già intravedo tutte le possibili cause di future incomprensioni. Hina prova qualcosa per Taiki e probabilmente qualche dubbio è venuto pure a Kano. Diciamo che Taiki mi sembra abbastanza sicuro dei suoi sentimenti, quindi, forse forse, non avremo nessuno triangolo. Qui la parola chiave è "forse". Di certo, sarà interessante scoprire qualcosa di più sul carattere di questa promessa della ginnastica ritmica.
I sentimenti di Kano sono più difficili da interpretare. Non capisco bene se siano simili a quelli di Taiki o se siamo ancora lontani. Certe scene, sopratutto durante il capitolo dedicato all'uscita all'acquario, mi lasciano propendere per la prima opzione.
Mia opinione personale: la parte romance è un po' blanda e poco originale. Decisamente più interessante il lato sportivo - il miglioramento costante di Taiki, grazie anche al brutale programma di allenamento del senpai Haryu, il suo compagno di doppio, la sua determinazione nel voler raggiungere i campionati nazionali. Ecco, questa è la parte migliore. Spero che non finisca troppo in secondo piano!
I sentimenti di Kano sono più difficili da interpretare. Non capisco bene se siano simili a quelli di Taiki o se siamo ancora lontani. Certe scene, sopratutto durante il capitolo dedicato all'uscita all'acquario, mi lasciano propendere per la prima opzione.
Mia opinione personale: la parte romance è un po' blanda e poco originale. Decisamente più interessante il lato sportivo - il miglioramento costante di Taiki, grazie anche al brutale programma di allenamento del senpai Haryu, il suo compagno di doppio, la sua determinazione nel voler raggiungere i campionati nazionali. Ecco, questa è la parte migliore. Spero che non finisca troppo in secondo piano!
August 12, 2023
Attachant, doux et délicat. Dans ce tome : le match et le date a l’aquarium, et Hiba qui découvre qu’ils vivent ensemble.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2023
The art style in this volume???? Incredible. Hina, my love, you will find someone who cares about you like Taiki cares for Chinatsu one day ❤️
June 9, 2023
A cute aquarium adventure but some heartbreak for Hina Chono. :(
July 5, 2023
3 to 3.5
The art is really. The story is also moving at a good phase.
The art is really. The story is also moving at a good phase.
August 1, 2023
I'm finding this series so charming and endearing.
November 28, 2023
Mediocre as a sports series and as a romance.
June 17, 2026
ok, yo ya se que hubo revuelo o discusion y se almenos a ese punto que el chico se queda con chii.
osea me espoileé.
sabiendo eso, mi perpectiva ya se va sabiendo que al publico no le ha caido bien chono (la gimnasta).
entonces mis pensamientos han sido influenciados.
dicho eso, que pedo el pensamiento de chono ante la envidia (que no se si se da cuenta a este punto) que le tiene a chii (la basketbolista). que esta bien bonita, cae bien y es buena en su deporte; el pensar "ojala tenga un fetiche raro". o al menos eso pensó en la traducción que leí.
chii y tai.. (no me recuerdo del nombre completo del que juega badminton, el prota) fueron al aquario. gracias al amigo de tai que le explico a chii que tai se metio a "defenderla" de darle su número a otro chico (un amigo de ella que no se lo iba a dar de todas maneras) y que si ganase, que si podia como "darle un premio", saliendo a divertirse una tarde.
sabiendo lo que se y no sabiendo lo que conlleva TODO
chono... no me gusta como interactua con tai. y no es el hecho que lo moleste. si no que a veces lo trata como si es menos o no sé. quiza ella no se de cuenta de su trato, y realmente no es nada malo... lo que digo no me gustaria que me tratasen así y procurar no tratar a nadie así.
cuando al final del tomo se dio cuenta que chii vivia con la faminlia de tai, le exigió por que no le contó y la escena transcurre ella sentada en una silla y el sentado/incado en el suelo. además le dice "no te perdonaré hasta que pases x horas con esto", y le ponia tochos de libros en las piernas.
obviamente, para este punto de la historia, chono NO SE HA DADO CUENTA QUE GUSTA DEL CHICO. y claro, ella es una adolescente. esta en último año de junior high, como 15 si no estoy mal. claro que es inmadura y no se da cuenta que gusta de él.
ya veré como continúa...
osea me espoileé.
sabiendo eso, mi perpectiva ya se va sabiendo que al publico no le ha caido bien chono (la gimnasta).
entonces mis pensamientos han sido influenciados.
dicho eso, que pedo el pensamiento de chono ante la envidia (que no se si se da cuenta a este punto) que le tiene a chii (la basketbolista). que esta bien bonita, cae bien y es buena en su deporte; el pensar "ojala tenga un fetiche raro". o al menos eso pensó en la traducción que leí.
chii y tai.. (no me recuerdo del nombre completo del que juega badminton, el prota) fueron al aquario. gracias al amigo de tai que le explico a chii que tai se metio a "defenderla" de darle su número a otro chico (un amigo de ella que no se lo iba a dar de todas maneras) y que si ganase, que si podia como "darle un premio", saliendo a divertirse una tarde.
sabiendo lo que se y no sabiendo lo que conlleva TODO
chono... no me gusta como interactua con tai. y no es el hecho que lo moleste. si no que a veces lo trata como si es menos o no sé. quiza ella no se de cuenta de su trato, y realmente no es nada malo... lo que digo no me gustaria que me tratasen así y procurar no tratar a nadie así.
cuando al final del tomo se dio cuenta que chii vivia con la faminlia de tai, le exigió por que no le contó y la escena transcurre ella sentada en una silla y el sentado/incado en el suelo. además le dice "no te perdonaré hasta que pases x horas con esto", y le ponia tochos de libros en las piernas.
obviamente, para este punto de la historia, chono NO SE HA DADO CUENTA QUE GUSTA DEL CHICO. y claro, ella es una adolescente. esta en último año de junior high, como 15 si no estoy mal. claro que es inmadura y no se da cuenta que gusta de él.
ya veré como continúa...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
POPKULTUROWY KOCIOŁEK: Fabuła „Niebieskiego pudełka” opiera się na dosyć prostym założeniu: dwójka nastolatków, uprawiających różne sporty, mieszka pod jednym dachem i mierzy się z wyzwaniami związanymi z licealnym życiem, sportem i rosnącymi coraz silniejszymi uczuciami. Jest jednak coś, co wyróżnia tę mangę z grona licznej konkurencji i jest to sposób, w jaki autorka prowadzi narrację. Miura zręcznie balansuje między komedią, romansem i dramatem, tworząc opowieść, która jest lekka, ale na swój sposób angażująca.
Dużym i mocno zauważalnym atutem tytułu, na pewno są jego bohaterowie. Taiki i Chinatsu to postacie z którymi łatwo będzie mógł się utożsamić nastoletni czytelnik.
Taiki to nastolatek, który zmaga się z niepewnością i brakiem pewności siebie, ale jednocześnie jest pracowity i oddany swojej pasji. Chinatsu z kolei to utalentowana sportsmenka, która mimo swojej popularności jest skromna i sympatyczna.
Całkiem nieźle wypadają również inne postacie, które poznajemy w miarę czytania tytułu. Większość z pojawiających się bohaterów, jest dość wyrazista i wnosi coś nowego do historii, nigdy jednak nie przyćmiewają oni głównej dwójki, będąc dla nich dobrym i zróżnicowanym tłem....
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/sport...
Dużym i mocno zauważalnym atutem tytułu, na pewno są jego bohaterowie. Taiki i Chinatsu to postacie z którymi łatwo będzie mógł się utożsamić nastoletni czytelnik.
Taiki to nastolatek, który zmaga się z niepewnością i brakiem pewności siebie, ale jednocześnie jest pracowity i oddany swojej pasji. Chinatsu z kolei to utalentowana sportsmenka, która mimo swojej popularności jest skromna i sympatyczna.
Całkiem nieźle wypadają również inne postacie, które poznajemy w miarę czytania tytułu. Większość z pojawiających się bohaterów, jest dość wyrazista i wnosi coś nowego do historii, nigdy jednak nie przyćmiewają oni głównej dwójki, będąc dla nich dobrym i zróżnicowanym tłem....
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/sport...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews