I love everything about this story. It became one of my all-time favourite with just one read (and, of course, I have re-read all the released chapters a couple of times too).
There are not many stories like this one in yaoi. This one is so well constructed it deserves more than yaoi readers, it should be read by anyone who wants a story worth of reading.
Ichikawa sensei has mastered her ability to write characters and credible plots to a point that has got me amazed. Blue Sky Complex is a story with a high grade of realism; I can actually believe something like Narasaki and Terashima's relationship could happen in real life. This manga is a delicate piece of art, Ichikawa sensei's masterpiece.
It has a realistic pace, well-written characters, and situations. Even the ero scenes in this manga are incredibly well written; Ichikawa sensei approached sex in such a mature, tender and credible way that makes the reader experience that sweet feeling of being in the search of a pure love. I can feel the kind of love Narasaki and Terashima harbor for each other, and it's amazing how warm and honest it is. They have stolen my heart completely.
But, how is that Ichikawa sensei managed to achieve this? They key are her characters, and of course, their particular ways to see the world. After all, Ichikawa sensei is really good when it comes about POVs.
Narasaki and Terashima seem to be really different from each other, but they have more in common than they think. The former is a good student, and the latter is a bit troublesome, and both of them enjoy spending time in quiet peaceful places, so what better place than the library to make these two closer? After being asked by a teacher to work as library receptionists, they start sharing some time in the kind of atmosphere they like and getting to know each other.
Spoilers start here. I refer to the story a lot and make some comments, so proceed only if you have already read, at least, the first volume.
The story starts with Narasaki's POV, letting the reader know his impressions of Terashima. Narasaki doesn't understand him since he's so silent and acts indifferently, but thinks Terashima is an interesting guy based on what he reads, and there's something more just than his book preferences. Days pass by, and Terashima asks Narasaki some help with his studies, and also asks him for a reward if he gets better grades. Narasaki agrees, and tells him that he only has 300 yen and has to think in something that can be bought with that amount. Terashima accepts the deal.
Day after day after Narasaki finds himself thinking more and more in Terashima, and waiting for that brief time they share in the library before leaving school.
The way Narasaki is dragged to Terashima is so natural that the reader can infer easily that he's starting to like him in a romantic way, and is cute to see how Narasaki doesn't understand why he is thinking so much in this guy. Oh, that's it! The reader gets it: Narasaki has never been in love before.
Summer break arrives and their responsibilities as receptionists end, and they won't be doing the same job once they return to school. Narasaki keeps thinking in Terashima, in how nice was spending time with him, and in how great was finding someone to talk his interests and have a random talk.
Narasaki misses him, he enjoys being with him; he had a reason to like school, a reason to not to be bored anymore. Oh, but it's summer break! And he's bored in his home without anything fun to do!
Having nothing at home, he goes for a walk and buy something for his brothers. In his way, he meets Terashima, who was walking around to buy ice cream.
Narasaki feels happy. He didn't expect that meeting. The feels! Doesn't everybody feels like time stop and everything is more interesting when that one person you have been thinking about appears? Ichikawa sensei made a good move here because it's only obvious to the reader while Narasaki, being a dense character isn't even able to put into words all that. His very first time in the love department.
After sharing a short talk, Terashima asks Narasaki for the promised reward. Narasaki reminds him that he only has 300 yen, but Terashima tells him that the reward he wants won't cost anything. Narasaki is suddenly kissed by him. And in many other occasions after that, Terashima kisses him again.
He doesn't get why Terashima does it, but Narasaki starts to think he might be in love with him.
What is nice about Blue Sky Complex, is that Ichikawa sensei, as she has done in previous stories, once again plays with her character's POVs, and let us know the counterpart of Narasaki: Terashima, who is also a really well written character.
Under Terashima's POV, we learn that he realized that he was gay during middle school, and just to confirm it he accepts going out with a girl from another class. We also learn that he had his eyes put on Narasaki even before they met: Terashima was attracted to his gaze and looks; he was so interested in him that he started to get early to school just to see him.
So, Terashima does know he's in the love department, he's faster understanding himself than Narasaki, and that side of him makes the reader wants to know more about his thoughts and reason to act the way he does. Oh, man! This character is a total mystery during the first chapters, and damn! Ichikawa sensei has played a really good move with him! Why did he act so indifferent when he was with Narasaki at the beginning if he liked him before they met? I bet all readers were starving for this when reading it for the first time.
After being asked to be a library receptionist as a punishment because of his behavior, Terashima finds himself sitting next to Narasaki without having never imagined that he was going to have the opportunity to share some time with his crush. In this very part of the story the POVs collide, and the reader can know what was happening in Terashima's mind while Narasaki was starting to have an interest in him. Under that cool and mysterious facade, Narasaki saw every day, a really excited Terashima was hidden; his heartbeats were a total mess.
So that's the reason! Terashima was so nervous, and he, perhaps, expected Narasaki to start a conversation? It's really fun that they were asking themselves why the other was so silent at the same time. Terashima is afraid of having his feelings noticed by Narasaki because they're so strong and have grown since they met, but at the same time, he wants to be noticed by him. Terashima thinks Narasaki is a bit cold and strict, but he's also warm and has a complex way to see things, a divergent one compared to the people who usually surround him.
Finally, Terashima is who ends starting a conversation with Narasaki. And then the distance between becomes shorter.
He kisses him during the summer, and he does again and again in other opportunities until Narasaki realizes that he's in love with him, and a beautiful romance blooms.
I don't know if this exactly expresses all my thoughts on this masterpiece, but I tried. All I know is that I knew I discovered a good reading when I finished the second chapter.
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