The art was beautiful and clean. The characters were likable. There was a well thought out plot. One of the things I really liked about this was how they would show what was happening with Shion's mother. I've read too many stories where the parents are ignored.

I do think this story could have developed the world inside No. 6 more before jumping into everything. I would have liked to see more information about the false utopia before Shion and Nezumi met for the first time. This might be because it's adapted from a novel - I imagine the novel probably does a better job with that.

On another note, I'm looking at the comments below and just want to add that this is, without a doubt, 100% BL. It is not a bromance. However, I think this can attract a wider audience than the average BL story. It has a lot to offer.

... Last updated on May 22nd, 2021, 7:22pm

I think one of the greatest things about this manga is that eventhough it's so romantic it's actually not focus on romance but was balanced very well with the action and sci-fi factors. The bond between Shion and Nezumi, you can call it love or "special friendship" or bromance... whatever you feel like to, but you just can not dislike or deny it even if you're into shounen ai or not, because their feeling for each other is truly sincere and beautiful.
I love the novel and manga ver, anime ver is "a bit" disappointing...

... Last updated on April 22nd, 2013, 2:50am

@aedieu
As far I know ( I've read the first four volumes of the novel that is the original story, being manga and the anime "just" adaptations), there's no real love story between Safu and Shion. Neither a senpai/kouhai realtionship ( I think thay are of the same age). Shion always states that Safu is a very important person to him but just as a friend. So I think that no one forced Asano sensei to turn toward Yaoi/BL. In fact this story seems to me more a shounen with represtenation of a deep frienship or at last bromance then a Yaoi or BL ( even if some actions and thoughts of Shion can be viewed as beyond the border of friendship).
I've read just some chapters of the manga that seems to me a squeezed version of the novel.
If you want have a more deep view of all the characters, their mutual realtionship, the story itself I'd suggest to read the novels, there are quite a lot differences ( some of them only apparently little, as the whole story of Shion birthday and the character of Safu grandmother) and that are also well written.

... Last updated on April 13th, 2013, 3:31am

It looks heterosexual boy + woman, and it works 100% as such. Heck, it'd even look believable as an oneesama/senpai yuri crush... but the text says otherwise, for no apparent purpose, it's either BL or a bromance between a het boy and a more mature transvestite?? These premises don't even really work, because characters never seem to give even a moment's thought to neither their crushes' gender - yet also never mention or think of orientation/inconvenience/whatever when hit on by females.

GIVEN (chars, according to the way they're drawn):
A) one androgynous child lead (lacks gender characteristics),
B) one strong'n'violent and flat-chested but super-feminine flirty female lead, and
C) one big-boobed loud weird girl, supporting
FURTHERMORE:
A) actively avoids sexual advances from both genders; professes heterosexuality & male identity to B, yet makes moves on B;
B) actively flirts with everything that moves, treated like a girl... also gets hit on by nearly every adult male out there
C) looks like a girl, acts like a girl, treated like a girl... even scanlated as a girl for the first dozen chs, then suddenly gender-flipped. disinterested in sex, doesn't flirt... AND those boobs, they're clearly there!!
AND!: 20 chapters in, nobody has done the dirty or had any introspection around confusing desires or shifts in gender/orientation identity. nor professed any surprise at sexual advances from an "unexpected" direction from random episodic characters, either, not even giving it any thought
YET!! TEXT SAYS: ...they're 3 males - huuuh Really, why

Even the genre and category lists here seem to show reader's confusion. And online reader sites, too, call it "Josei" (...is it?) sometimes, but never (BL/yaoi... it is?!?!)

READS like scifi with a background theme of romantic love starting to bloom between barely-pubescent male kid and an adult female that takes him under her wing, initially to repay a "debt" of a rescue when both were still kids... translator could've swapped it as such and not one reader would've ever thought otherwise. It's 100% het-looking stuff that makes perfect sense as het, but is for some reason claimed to be shounen-ai..

...heck, it COULD even be more feasibly rebranded into yuri (even the confusion of the younger protagonist over just about the only clearly-female&identified-as-such sudden request for sex before study abroad parts them would suddenly seem more realistic)

MANGAKA-SAN? Were you:
a) Accidentally picked up for serialization by the "wrong" mag, and decided oh-well-whatever?
b) Bullied by an editor to make a BL, and in rebellion decided to just write & draw it as het and then just gender-flip a couple people?
c) Utterly unable to write anything but het, but really wanting to cash in on a fad, and deciding to just masquerade a het manga as homoerotica yet not actually bothering to do it??
d) OR - so used to writing BL that you subconsciously gender-flipped a few characters, not realizing that the story you were writing was het in your head AND worked better as het??

i like the art! It is lovely!!!
the story is also very interesting! now, this is the reason why this manga/anime is gaining popularity!!!

Love this anime/manga.it is my favourite shounen ai anime ever.it's interesting and it didn't rush over things or drag on.it's a must read for anyone whether they like shounen ai or sci-fi.it isn't that much of a tragedy cause in the end ...well watch it to find out.

*__* if it's not bl there's a lot of sexual tension in this one.... why would they hug. or kiss. or... imply stuff * o *

well it must be bromance @___@

K, shoving that aside, the series was pretty good. They give you a healthy dose of plot, great art. *_* The bond between Nezumi and Shion is really great, although i pity what they both had to go through.

I enjoyed it though~ there was not a moment I was bored x.x

Wow, first to comment. First of all, this manga is simply amazing. The plot feels real with a sci-fi feel to it, the art is great and very eye-appealing (especially Nezumi XD), and the relationship between characters feels so true and heart-warming. I love the relationship between Shion and Nezumi. Some say it's BL and some say it's friendship. I don't have enough to judge but I must say that if it is friendship (because the romance element is currently pretty close to zero in the beggining chapters), their bond is strong, built on trust and respect for each other. It's beautiful seeing the two interact with one another. They truly need each other. Their relationship was also given time to develope. I like that. It's not just a sudden developement. There was something else there that makes their relationship seem complete, not empty. The charatcers themselves also felt very developed. None of them feels flat. They feel like individuals. Through their actions, instead of words, you can tell their hobbies and personalities. They facsinate me. The plot was also really good. I really liked how the sci-fi element was elegently incorporated without becomming too obvious. There was some really graet action (which I don't usually like but this is an exception) and it kept me anxious and at the edge of my seat the whole time. Even in the most carefree parts of the plot, you can still feel the tension underlayed in the characters and the tone of the manga and their surroundings. It's like everyone is holding their breaths. Overall, I feel completly satisfied. Two thumbs up for such a rare find in today's mangas I definatly will keep following this series. I can't wait to see further developements in the plot and characters.

... Last updated on July 28th, 2011, 1:26pm