Welcome Back, Alice 3

おかえりアリス [Okaeri Alice] #3

by Shuzo Oshimi, Martin Gericke (Translator)

„Sag, erinnerst du dich an unser Versprechen? Daran, dass du kein Wort mehr mit Kei wechseln und nur noch Augen für mich haben wirst?“ Yohei hat den Plan gefasst, der hübschen Yui endlich seine Liebe zu gestehen. Aber auf die Hoffnung, dass sein Schwarm seine Gefühle nach all den Jahren erwidern könnte, folgt ein bitteres Erwachen, denn Yui hat sich mit Kei allein bei ihm zu Hause verabredet. Voller Sorge, seine Kindheitsfreundin an Keis lustvolle Manipulationen zu verlieren und erneut von der Vergangenheit eingeholt zu werden, begibt Yohei sich auf den Weg zu Keis Wohnung. Dort wird er bereits von Yui erwartet – und sie setzt ihm unvermittelt ein heikles Ultimatum …

Genres: Manga, LGBT, Comics, Queer, Romance, Japan, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2021

About the author

Shuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .

Reviews

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ship Kei and Yo so bad but I'm so afraid it will not sail in the end—I mean, it's an Oshimi manga, psychological drama genre is a top priority over romance. Anyway, Mitani is pissing me off but yea, all are greedy in love and war lol. Although, in volume 3, this series is still kind of quiet compared to Oshimi's other series. I can't help but be suspicious.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this idea of how children have no gender and develop it because it's an idea that is implanted inside you as you get older.

So you have these characters who are struggling with society's expectations of gender. What does it mean to be a man. What does it mean to be a woman. In what ways have gender roles ruined our abilities to enhabit our bodies and subsequently our desires?

Cant wait for the next volume!

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what's going on, and I won't psychoanalyse anything because I'm not very good at it. But things are kind of going south, and Mitani is pissing me off.

[MargReadsManga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think this series is for me. I’m out.

[giada · Rating 3 out of 5]

cant sleep and the only thing keeping me company is the drama of three dysfunctional teenagers

a bit of a weaker volume, we get a relationship in the span of a month & the usual molestation that keeps on happening in every instalment of the manga

[sofka]

bro (sis?) clocked his (her?) two very emotionally fragile friends in a state of confusion and couldn't wait to start serving sexual manipulation

[Des Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire the pacing of this series! I'm never on the hook long, and this was a fascinating turn. Mitani turns out to be pretty manipulative and shitty too, as high schoolers often are. There's a couple happenings between Kei and Yo that sort of reframes some of the previous encounters. Not justifying anything, but layering context in a story about what it means to be a man. I wonder if we're headed to some great twist and wild turnabout, or just meandering through the authors mind as he pontificates on youth, sex and gender.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so underrated right now.

Oshimi is a master inking emotions to the paper and it takes courage to write a story like this.

Yo really needs to drop Mitani. She's a mess. She'll only make him drown in her abyss of gaslighting. She plays for the "Me and only me first team" and Yo needs to figure out that quick.

Kei has a very strong personality and is a great friend to Yo. Yo needs to realize that.

Great series!

[leti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Menudo puterío y avanza rapidísimo, me ha fastidiado la última mitad del último capítulo... En los siguientes tomos o mejora mucho o se hará repetitivo cargándose la historia...

[Xosé M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este tercer tomo es un poquito más turbio y triste si cabe. Aparece el bullying y se resuelve del mejor modo posible: con un beso tan warro 🥵entre los protagonistas que al bully le provoca tanto asco que en vez de pegarles se tiene que ir espantado.

Oshimi destaca especialmente en los silencios, en esos momentos en que los personajes callan y las miradas y los mínimos gestos, esa materia última de la que están hechos siempre los tebeos, adquieren toda su relevancia.

Este cómic está lleno de suspiros, sudores, rubores, roces y miradas. Ni los personajes ni el lector somos capaces en última instancia de interpretarlas. A estas alturas, rozando la mitad de la historia, nadie entiende nada. Los personajes se mueven entre el capricho y el rencor. Formas oscuras (y ellos lo saben) del deseo que los ata.

¡ah! —se viene digresión— y esas ilustraciones en las páginas entre capítulos que sin narrar nada mantienen al lector unido a los personajes en una tensión siempre suspendida. Esas páginas cumplen una función: seguimos conociendo a los personajes pero al margen de lo narrado. Posan ante nosotros, se dejan ver. —En el shojo esta suspensión es más
habitual, las viñetas desaparecen, hay un impresionismo que rompe cualquier supuesto orden de lectura en un sentido estrictamente temporal. Los personajes están ahí con su psicología presente más en sus gestos y en sus rostros que en sus actos.

El manga ha sabido siempre, y mucho mejor que sus parientes occidentales, que el tebeo es mucho más que el tiempo narrado en sus imágenes.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author notes at the end are killing me

[Sroka · Rating 4 out of 5]

nie sądzę aby to było z gatunku romansem tylko wątek poboczny to romans, a to jest duża różnica
ta manga zdecydowanie bardziej skupia się na elementach psychologicznych

[Bentgaidin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy romances where I can watch two good people fall in love with each other... this is the other sort, where everyone's really confused about what they want, and I'm so glad to be reading about it, rather than in the complicated mess that's happening on the page. But it's really good too. :)

[mio · Rating 4 out of 5]

i just feel so bad for his girlfriend. she definitely has some problems of her own and it just doesn't get better in this vol. her crying and doubting herself if she can ever be enough for yo, even going as far as offering her body when she clearly isn't ready for taking this step is just so sad to me

[Irene ➰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

I found an amazing improvement in the art and in the story as well.
This time there's finally some good story and there's some good plot development.

What the characters' feel are totally understandable emotions.
The fear of not being enough, that sensation of being wrong. They all were very well described and drawn. I was very immersed in the read and I felt sorry for certain situations and angry for others.

Now I'm very interested in the development of the story and its continuation.

[Kristin Katsuye · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is getting kinda worse. Really debating on continuing from this volume alone.

That being said, this isn’t bad, but there’s things in it that I’m not enjoying.

First, I don’t like Mitani. I’m sure that’s common, but what I don’t like about her is how she just follows Yohei around. When she won’t even make a decision on what club she wants to join, but rather only the one(s) Yo wants to. It’s not even about her being the girl trope of not making her own choices, it’s her entire character that keeps popping up that I don’t like.

What I did like, was how her simple sentence with Yo could be that she doesn’t even like him at all, even though they’re together. When he had to think back & he doesn’t know if she’s only with him because of Kei. I like that aspect because it’s a scenario that makes you think.

What I don’t like it how this is just playing across as a dramatic mess. Lots of scenes are cliche, which sometimes can be enjoyable from either a trash or psychological perspective. For me this is more dramatic that I kinda don’t want to read (maybe right now maybe ever).

It keeps a pattern of me being intrigued with the characters actions & then being like this is too much that I don’t care about. At times I feel the author is doing these actions just for surprise factor alone. To shock the audience by giving them some fan service. Other times I feel he’s going to deliver something more meaningful & that maybe I’m just not far enough to see it. Because each volume ends with his own personal story in dealing with this subject in life, makes me feel there’s going to be more to this. Or it could possibly just be some surface level dramatic story.

If you’re just in it to see the manipulation drama then go ahead. I personally don’t care for characters like that. When I do though it’s more of a psychological tactic that involves more complexity to it. With this scenario, I may not even know if that’s the case with this until closer to the end.

At this point I’m not rooting for any character. Yo is just a horny teenage boy. Mitani I don’t like, nor do I even think she likes Yo. Kei seemed like the one to route for, but the manipulation along with the not consenting. However, Kei is how I’m sticking with this series. I mean obviously he’s the real character of interest as that’s the character that’s predominantly shown on the cover(s). If that’s the character to give me some psychological torment it’s that one. That’s what I’m here for, that’s why I’ll stay. If I eventually never see enough of it or feel the ending won’t add up, then I will stop.

[Enairolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’aime beaucoup ce titre et je suis toujours impatiente de découvrir ce que la suite nous réserve. Je peux vous dire que je ne suis jamais déçue pour le coup. Je suis même de plus en plus surprise. Cette histoire nous laisse tout de même un sentiment de malaise. L’histoire est assez perturbante et j’ai même l’impression que plus on avance dans la série, plus elle le devient. Je ne sais pas du tout quelle tournure va prendre l’histoire, je ne vois pas là où l’auteur veut nous amener, j’ai quand même une petite idée mais franchement pas certaine du tout. En tout cas, je trouve que l’histoire est vraiment intéressante à découvrir, complexe mais intéressante!

Dans ce troisième tome, Yui décide d’avoir une conversation sérieuse avec Kei afin de clarifier ses intentions envers Yôhei. Les deux sont toutefois incapables de se comprendre, ce sera donc à Yôhei de trancher lorsque Yui lui pose son ultimatum : elle lui propose de devenir sa petite-amie mais à la condition qu’il coupe tout contact avec Kei. Fou de joie, il accepte. Mais cette promesse sera mise à rude épreuve, surtout lorsque Yôhei sera témoin du harcèlement que subit Kei…

La décision qu’a pris Yui ne me plaît pas du tout. Déjà fonctionner comme ça ce n’est vraiment pas un comportement que j’accepte de base. Faire du chantage ou du moins quelque chose qu’il y ressemble, ça ne fonctionnera jamais, c’est vraiment quelque chose à fuir même.. Yui propose de devenir sa petite amie à condition que Yôhei ne voit plus, ne regarde plus et ne parle plus à Kei.. En plus, je trouve que le comportement de Yui par la suite est assez étrange. Enfin je ne sais pas trop quoi penser d’elle non plus je dois bien l’avouer.. Kei est un personnage très complexe mais hyper intéressant. C’est un personnage difficile à cerner même, on ne sait jamais trop quoi penser de lui, on ne sait pas ce qu’il sera capable de faire. Mais comme je le dis, son personnage est vraiment très intéressant je trouve. Yôhei m’a fait de la peine, le pauvre il est complètement perdu dans ce qu’il ressent, il ne sait plus quoi faire et j’avoue que ça m’a fait de la peine pour lui. Vu comme ce tome se termine, j’ai hâte d’avoir le prochain entre les mains en tout cas. Ça s’annonce très intéressant!

Ce manga est assez perturbant. Il y a vraiment un sentiment de malaise qui nous prend pendant cette lecture. C’est assez perturbant mais personnellement j’aime beaucoup. Je me demande toujours ce qu’il va bien pouvoir se passer par la suite et j’arrive toujours à être surprise. J’ai vraiment très hâte de découvrir ce que la suite nous réserve en tout cas, surtout quand on voit comment se termine ce tome!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting that this third volume has a much higher rating than the first, a continual uptick from 3.57, when folks generally seemed uncomfortable with it, and now to 3.82 where I think more folks seem to begin to see more of what he is trying to do. On one level, it seems like a love triangle, where Mitani liked Kei who likes Yo (who just says he wants to help Yo learn to be a boyfriend for Mitani), and Yo likes both Mitani and Yo. But I think things are more complicated than even that; let's see:

Okay, so there's the "Born This Way" defense of glbt identity, right? And Oshimi may actually agree with that, I am guessing, but then asks the question: How do you know you are born a certain way? And can things change, be more "fluid"? Like, can you be born to change? Oshimi admits he, in his thirties, is still confused about his sexual identity, and always has been, so in this manga he tries to explore things a bit for himself (and maybe others).

In this manga, Kei is a boy who dresses and presents as a girl (meaning for hm dresses, feminine, and so on) and just says he is most comfortable looking like a girl, he's "done being a boy" but says he is still a boy. He is harassed by some guys who grab him sexually, suggesting as a guy he shouldn't mind that kind of aggressive treatment that girls resent (and see as assault, of course), but Kei backs the guys down and threatens them with violence if they have try anything like that again. Neither he nor Yo want to be in that kind of boys club.

Mitani, who selected Yo as her boyfriend, wants him exclusively, and wants him to not even acknowledge the existence of Kei, which is obviously too restrictive for Yo, who needs to find out why he also is attracted to Kei. At one point, Yo succumbs to pressure from some guys who suggest that he get bold and kiss Mitani, which he attempts to do, rebuffed. And Mitani in order to "get" Yo as a boyfriend asserts her own sexual position aggressively, later. The issue here being explored is what does it mean to be a boy/man or girl/woman? is to be aggressive and know who you are without question as a traditional male and be (cock) sure of yourself, or can you wonder (the q of lgtbq) what you are and question it? I think this would be useful to young readers who are questioning their identity and desires.

This whole US presidential announcement that in this country there will only be two genders is just naive and unhelpful, even painful to read from a political leader who could have some potentially harmful impact on young people through his regressive policy positions.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I have learned from the story so far is that crossdressers are much more fun to date. Regular girls are stuck up, possessive and frigid. It would be so much better for everyone out there without all these insecurities.

Yohei and Yui declare their love for one another, though they don't want to make it public yet. All should be good. Yui does seem a bit possessive with her 'don't look at Kei' and 'don't stare at me' bit, especially when she says 'I'll be watching' and smiles. Oh, yeah, this won't last long.

Boys will be boys, so Yohei's classmates encourage him to kiss Yui. After a month of going out, you would expect it to get to kissing at least. She rejects him, if you can believe that. 'Why're you being like this?' Can you believe the nerve of that girl? When he reminds her about throwing herself at Kei way back when, she has the audacity to walk home alone. Hell of a dating scene!

Yohei can't sleep, so he goes to the store where he witnesses an older student trying to force himself onto Kei. Yohei intervenes and almost get a black eye for his effort. That is, until Kei plants a wet one on him, which sends the would-be molestor scurrying away in disgust. So bjs from a crossdresser are fine, but him kissing another guy is disgusting? Homophobia sure is selective. Then Yui finds out about the encounter. It adds another few knots in her underwear. She goes full interrogator on poor Yohei, but then offers herself to him. Well, that turned abruptly for the better, huh? Shieah, no!

So we jump to the sex scene. It starts well enough, but the essential element decides to not rear its not-so-ugly head. Yep, the wood is a no-show. Yui gets angry and sends Yohei away. Really, this girl has issues of her own. Yohei instinctively heads by Kei's house. It's that kind of story, so Kei steps outside just then, in the pouring rain like any normal individual. He (because everybody still refers to Kei as a 'he') invites Yohei in to clean up. While Yohei is taking a shower, what does Kei do? Offers to join. Nah, unbelievable! Seriously, now! Come on!

[Sai Fighter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for the whole series:



This is such a wild read. This series absolutely has to be paired with the author's notes that appear at the end of each volume. It puts a lot of stuff into context.

The "romance" in the series is so back seat to literally everything else going on in the manga. This isn't about a love triangle between childhood friends, this is about Oshimi's own struggle with what it means to be a man. Kei and Yui are not people, they are the two paths of masculinity that Yohei has to choose from. Kei is the ambiguous agender/gender queer departure from strict social expectations that are required to be masculine in the world. Kei represents freedom, an escape from gender all together. This is desirable but not an easy choice to make. Yui is the path of traditional masculine gender identity and masculine sexuality. Things that happen to Yui and Yohei are basically direct translations of Oshimi's own sexual trauma around masculinity. And this struggle between the two paths is represented by a love triangle, which i think its pretty powerful and brilliant.

Then there is Yohei themselves, who is struggling with gender and body dysphoria. Kei and Yui also seem to represent Yohei's struggle between his sexuality and his gender desires. There is a REALLY intense scene during the final volume that just blows my mind and feels like the perfect physical manifestation of this struggle for Yohei. It was honestly amazing.

With that out of the way, this series is going to make you uncomfortable. This manga has sexual assault and dubious consent. I would not say it is full blown rape but its uncomfortable for sure and its suppose to be. There is also self harm in the form of self mutilation. Even with all of this, the manga really made me think about my own gender experience, and while I don't really identify with Oshimi's struggle, this was still such a good read. I literally binged it in like 2 days. Recommend if you can handle it.

[Jessica Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s talk about Mitami. While the manga series is from Yo’s point of view, the journeys of Mitami and Kei are just as important and these two volumes really focus on Mitami’s own doubts and messy feelings.

When vol 2 ended, Yo just promised to Mitami (unknowingly in front of Kei) that he would look and think only about her as they were dating. Yo is now trapped in a situation he thought he always wanted. He’s finally dating the girl of his dreams, Mitami and has what he wanted. And yet he can’t stop thinking about Kei and he’s only starting to unravel his own mess of feelings.

Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...

[AsianMerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This easily could’ve been the best volume yet but Oshimi messes it up with his want to shock the reader. If he removed the actual kiss, but made the news that they did kiss go around, it be a lie then it would’ve been some intrigue like “oooo Mitani really can’t get over him with just the thought of that” but no, plus the two haven’t talked in a month, how is Kei just gonna instantly kiss him. Then at the end, LET THE INTERACTION BE NORMAL!!! Having him wanting to join in the shower ruins what could’ve actually been a sweet moment!! Also the way it was written to start off with was weird, Kei literally heard their conversation and he’s confused to what they talked about when they sit next to each other next day? YOU WERE LITERALLY THERE!!!

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Okay so this series seems to be going down a half star for every volume I read, which isn't a great sign. Unfortunately, I think I'm not going to get what I was hoping to from this series and I might have to call it a day. I do want to continue on since they're so quick and easy but it's pointless since it's not what I was hoping for and doesn't seem to be getting there in any way at all. There are really weird dynamics that I just don't understand and we don't seem to be getting any explanation for and I don't think I'm willing to read loads of volumes to find out when it is something that could so easily be addressed much quicker than what this series is doing.

[Stefania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third ever manga series which doesn’t say much cause I just started reading manga last month but I cannot put this series down. I will read anything Oshimi puts out at this point. I want to root for Kei and and Yo but I’m like worried it’s gonna end so bad why do I do this to myself. Also I want to know what the hell is going on with Mitani, girl needs a hug and a nap.

[KarleeXx0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still super invested in this series, but honestly these characters are so unlikeable. Mitani is annoying because she is so clearly fueled by her jealousy of Kei (Although I find this topic quite intriguing). Kei is honestly a creep and is a sexual offender. Yo is just kind of an ass****. It's a hot mess but I want to know what happens!

[M ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so frustrating having to wait for the next volume, I just want to know the whole story already. It’s interesting seeing how Yo is affected by the idea of what it means to be a boy/man. I love Kei.

[プラメンちゃん (PSI) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is getting really good and Oshimi does his typical “shake your head at each character’s actions and reactions” thing where things slowly go south but you just can’t stop reading. I need more volumes now 😁

[Yessenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"El amor no siempre es sencillo de definir, y a veces, aceptarse a uno mismo requiere más valentía que aceptar a los demás. 💭💖 A medida que navego por mi identidad, descubro que la verdad más importante es la que yo elijo vivir, sin prisas ni presiones. 🌿✨"

[aled · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen mixed opinions of this series but honestly as a poc having struggled in the last and continually struggling even now about gender sexuality sex lust desire shame,, the shit that was being discussed i GET ITTTTTT

[Célia De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon troisième tome. L'auteur a réussi à faire en sorte que l'on soit compréhensif à l'égard de la totalité des personnages de ce triangle amoureux. Je ne sais pas comment je vais attendre pour lire le tome 4 !!!