Ayyy let's go! This volume, Finder: On One Wing is mostly composed of Finder's "Naked Truth (Japan Arc)," but we also get some behind the scenes information and a few bonus stories: "Love Surprise," a Finder one-shot, "Baked Sweet Glasses," an unrelated one-shot about salesmen, "Seedlings in Love," another addition to the Mizuno and Hiyama mini series, and "Hardworking Photographer Akihito Takaba's Alluring Overnight Overtime," a Finder salaryman AU spin off.
Naked Truth (Japan Arc)
Yessss!! "Naked Truth" Arc I love you!!!!!
There is SO much about this arc I love, and I am trying really hard to not get ahead of myself and talk only about the Japan section of this arc... which is hard because the Hong Kong section of the arc makes me vibrate out of my skin.
I love the relationship between Asami, Akihito, and Fei Long -- and that relationship, between each of them in pairs and the three of them as a whole, is really the crux of this whole arc (and I am so excited for all the moments between Fei Long and Akihito in the coming volumes).
Fei Long really shines in this volume by managing to manipulate Asami through Akihito more than once because he understands that Akihito is a significant person to Asami (and therefore a significant piece on the chessboard that is underworld) which Asami and Akihito themselves aren't even admitting at this point. To neither of their faults, really. Akihito is in denial that he is anything special to Asami because of how he's been treated (understandable) and how Asami talks to him (also understandable). And Asami? He hasn't admitted it because while he is interested in Akihito and clearly drawn to him, he did not want to drag him into underworld conflicts.
This was something that really stood out to me on my reread -- Asami knew Akihito was someone special to him, but he seemingly wanted to keep him at a distance to keep him safe, which is a nice thought, but ultimately impossible, as just being with Asami makes him both a target and an uncontrollable variable. It's impossible to keep him safe at a distance, and it's even more impossible to keep him out of underworld affairs, so Asami's only option is to pull him even closer, and try to keep him safe there.
Even though Akihito is manipulated because he doesn't have much power compared to a gang boss, he is still able to hold his own -- he knows his worth, knows how to withhold information, and is able to work within his narrow restraints to make the best of his situation. Also, even under pressure and in duress, he finds it in him to be extremely sassy but also very open and honest about himself, which is one of the things that makes him one of my all time favorite characters (pages 82-83, my beloved), and he is willing to do whatever he needs to achieve his goals. It gets overshadowed sometimes because he is often being saved by Asami or getting whisked around in gang activity where he has no power, but Akihito is very clever, very resourceful, and very able to take care of himself and make his own moves, and I really love him for it. (The bonus character introduction and interview with him is so cute, he's really just a silly, happy go lucky guy. I get it Asami, I really do).
Also, once again, special shout out to all of Akihito's outfits. His 90s/early 2000s aesthetic slays so hard (tbh, I love the 2000s vibe of this whole story, which is silly to say given that's when it was made, but the vibe of the era is captured so well that it makes me a little nostalgic to read). Also special shout out to Fei Long. He is absolutely serving in every single scene he's in, and we need to give him credit for it.
Love Surprise
A pretty cute one-shot. I like how it really shows that Asami will put up with anything when it's Akihito who's doing it (as long as he's not, like, purposely endangering himself).
Baked Sweet Glasses
Really cute, and kinda ridiculous (as a baker, I cannot condone that use of frosting at all though lol). I love how persistent and carefree Fujiya is, and for a one-shot, it had a shockingly high amount of tropes I like, including both baking and really bad eye sight. What are the odds??
Seedlings in Love
Another installment in my favorite mini series <3 Yay <3 The background story for Mizuno and Hiyama's dads is just too cute. Old Men Yaoi <3 is wonderful on its own, but old men yaoi were they were rivals in their youth spurring the other on toward greatness?? Be still my beating heart...
Hardworking Photographer Akihito Takaba's Alluring Overnight Overtime
I love this little AU so much, it's SO fun to see these characters I know and love suddenly being thrown into a wildly different world and with a wildly different relationship dynamics . Ayano Yamane is really out here writing fanficiton for her own story and you know what?? I respect her so much for that. Queen shit.