While I liked the ending to the Rules manga, this doujinshi brings the series to a far more satisfying close than the manga did. Mainly this is because at the end of the manga, only the immediate problem (the break-up of Tooru and Atori) is resolved. Even with the two-years later epilogue, the larger, more important problem (that Atori and Tooru can't communicate effectively) remains unresolved. That is, until this doujinshi.

While I was glad to see Tooru and Atori patch things up at the end of Rules, I was still left wondering what might happen the next time they argued. Would it be more of the same? Was their happiness only temporary? Luckily Song Birds lays those fears to rest. In this doujinshi, we're shown that both guys (especially Tooru) have matured, that they continue to fight, that they're trying (with some success) to fix their communication problems, and most importantly, that they're committed to continuing to work on their issues. Knowing all of this, as the reader, I was finally able to walk away from this series feeling really good about the fate of its main couple. It's unfortunate that there wasn't enough room in the last volume of Rules for this story as I honestly feel that it's the real conclusion to the story. If you're a fan of the Rules series, make sure to add Song Birds to your reading list.

... Last updated on September 4th, 2008, 2:21am

I love this particular DJ by Miyamoto Kano the most. It brings Tooru's story full circle, and in a realistic way, too. Time heals everything.
I just love how Atori has developed into a supportive partner to Tooru and in turn, Tooru's sharp edges soften. What a beautifully told story to cap off the entire Rules series. Read it, read it!!!~