Despite having positive opinion over the story I just can't help getting remembered about how Kei always kiss without consent like he just when and did it.

Without consent it just sexual harrasment for a book about kid being sexually exploited, it leave me a very strong message. Again I'm just confused.

The title to this is my review, I think. This author's work is good as a whole and I am hesitant to say this story isn't good -- I was compelled enough to read it all in one sitting and it didn't feel like a chore to finish. It's interesting. However, it was, as another person pointed out, aimless and the point isn't clear. I understood Kei and You to some degree, but Mitani was underdeveloped and sloppily, they tried to make her motivation similar to Kei and You without it really landing. There was no point in introducing Ren at all.

The author's notes were more interesting and painted a far different picture than the story itself (and it was more fascinating). From the notes, you really get a sense of the issue is societal expectations and the discovery that gender expectations are a myth. This should have just been an auto-biographical manga rather than the author picking themes from his real life. Because this story felt like Kei, who always seemed to have a crush on You, was just conflicted about him not being a woman and not being able to be with You. I thought You would discover he was gay and his fixation with Mitani mirrored Kei's fixation with appearance of womanhood as an escape. By fixating on Mitani, he gets to keep being a man, i.e., liking women. Just like for Kei, being a woman meant he could be with Kei in a socially acceptable way, i.e., as a woman. The confusion and angst about not wanting to be a boy or a girl comes from this disconnect that just because you're saying you like the appearance of something (a woman in this case) doesn't mean it's reality. However, that wasn't the story at all despite everything building up for this to be the case. Lol.

... Last updated on September 2nd, 2023, 5:14pm

I admire Oshimi Shuzo for how prolific, consistent, and excellent his oeuvre is.

Okaeri Alice might just bite off a little more than it can chew, though:

i know it's shuzou oshimi but sometimes i wish they think normaly
not my fav oshimi's work, but still give it a chance
will update later

Compared to other Oshimi's manga this one feels a bit aimless.The characters aren't too great like in his other manga, and story isn't really anything special. Usually I feel more invested in the struggles of the protagonista, this time I didn't feel anything. Maybe it's only me, but I think the execution could have been much better.

This series has...

- Consistent pacing along with other Oshimi Shuzo's works.
- Unpredictable developments
- Great paneling and SFX to showcase the characters' inner monologue, making it immersive.

The mangaka, Oshimi Shuzo, has again and again made his career portraying lost boy protagonists who don't know what's up and are caught up in situations beyond their naive understanding of live.

At the moment of writing this review (08.01.2023.) the manga is still unfinished (so we have to contend with potential horrors of ending).
In essence, it's about Lostboy-kun having to find his way around when his (male) childhood friend returns a.. trap. In a skirt and with long hair and all. and pretty AF. and with obvious hots for MC. Meanwhile their mutual female friend Humble-chan (who had hots for the now trap) starts misusing Lostboy's affection for her to ensnare him, starts "dating" him and play him off, while Trap-chan doesn't stand still either. Rollacoaster of manipulation, guilt and regret ensues. aka Oshimi Shuzo bread and butter.


OK, this manga DOES present some interesting philosophical questios if you bother to look: what makes a good partner? what's a partner? what's the boundary you should draw? what's acceptable? WHY should one respect oneself?
I DO feel sorry for Trap-chan, and i think he IS a tragic character. and s/he sems to be an all round OK person. Meanwhile i am pretty pissed by miss Humble and her (for lack of better word) character, but then again, given the passivity of Lostboy, she is sort of a needed plot device to move the plot forward... i guess...


Maybe i'm too old, but I think anyone with a little bit of spine and life exp would feel seriously compelled to "get his ducks in a row" before your two "friends" take a giant... ship... all over your life. AKA to call them out and set the rules straight.
which doesnt happen in any way shape or form before... long.

but before it, it's just the MC being manipulated or gently pulled in.

Personally, while i can appreciate the philosophical aspect of considering a same-sex relationship (as if "what makes an actual relationship?" ). the manipulation and all is not my cup of tea.

... Last updated on January 7th, 2023, 6:46pm

1. i have never caught up to a manga so fast. 2. i hope ren doesnt get in the way and it is super plutonic with kei because i absolutely think kei and yo should be together

Imma just say that basically we don’t really know who the mc is going to pick whether it’s the boy who dresses as a girl or whether it’s the girl whom he’s liked since childhood cause it seems like he’s attracted to both and as if the female is playing with him but the Mc basically is unable to choose between them so I’d say to come back after the love interest is confirmed

Great beginning,

Hope this will continue with the same quality

... Last updated on September 30th, 2021, 11:43am