This is a great manga. It's a bit of a stretch for me because I typically never read transgendery/same sex coupled focused stories (as they're usually a bit intense...), but this one's so fun and lighthearted that I can't help but enjoy it, if not more than others. It holds a very unique concept while still maintaining such a natural/easy-to-read vibe.

For a while I was really confused about the main character Aikawa. He act's so much like a girl and seems to think pretty much the same as one, but openly accepts the fact he is and only will be a boy. You'd think this is just a simple story about a guy who'd want to be a girl himself, but he never has those intentions at all. It's strange, but refreshing. This character is featured as someone who just wants to be exactly who he is. There's no use putting on labels to match what he's like the most. And it's so surprising to see someone who has such a strong sense of identity while having some of the most complicated traits.

Romance in this is also pretty light and sweet. It feels... very genuine. You can't help but think about the rift in their genders/sexuality (at first it mildly bothered me), but it really all comes down to how well they resonate with each other above all else. Can't deny that they're meant to be :>

There are a lot of ambiguous feelings and themes which makes it a story difficult to completely comprehend. But even so, it's an enjoyable read that makes you truly want to come to an understanding. I would recommend this to someone who's open minded and looking for something a little out of the ordinary.

... Last updated on September 10th, 2012, 8:08pm

Ŵell I currently like it but I want to wait for the end before I rate it cause I don't want it to turn out like no bra did.for all you people it might not be Shounen ai but it's has a Shounen ai ext.
Me being a yaoifangirl but ialso read straight and shoujo ai I should know that
Aikawa is super cute so I'm following this series.

Before you click away after seeing "gender bender" as a tag, let me say that this is NOT YAOI and NOT SHOUNEN-AI. It is simply a story of a guy who fights his instincts over the kawaii that is supposedly another guy.

The comedy is spot-on, but of course they all rely on the premise that Aikawa (the ambiguously gendered deuteragonist) is a guy. However, it is never confirmed. Hence, Maki (our hero) is stuck being teased over and over again by Aikawa and being harassed and envied by all the males in the school. This inevitably leads to both jaw-droppingly fantastic and belly-achingly hilarious situations. An odd couple they are (a couple meaning simply two people together of course), but they chemistry as a comedy duo cannot be underestimated.

However, under the gag comedy is a layer of questioning that isn't really dealt with in typical shounen mange. Is Aikawa actually a guy? Does it really matter? Should it really matter? Being a shounen, it simply scratches the surface of the delicate topic of sexual orientation, but it scratches it well. I am a straight male and have personally never been interested in or read yaoi or shounen-ai, yet I found their drama strangely touching, probably due to the fact that their relationship can never quite approach the romantic stage. It's quite interesting to see two people interested in each other but refusing to look at each other romantically yet still maintaining a casual friendly relationship. Translation: no rage-worthy angst here.

I've read many gender benders before in my journey across the land of shounen, but I can confidently say that there is no other manga like this. If you like shounen, particularly romcom shounens, you WILL enjoy this. Read it for the comedy or read it for the peculiarities, you will not regret it.

... Last updated on January 27th, 2012, 5:34pm

Honestly, I don't like something like "gender bending", or "same sex relationship".
But I have to say..
This is really interesting manga..
Though it's a shame that Aikawa is a boy..
She is really cute...
T^T

I normally don't care about this genre, but there's something so easygoing and charismatic about this particular manga that makes me really like it. I can't even put my finger on what, exactly.

It very much helps that both the leads are likeable, but that doesn't really cover it. Short version: better than the sum of its parts by a wide margin.

Well, this is the only gender-bender that kept me through the whole series (not that it was very long, but...) It started off well, with an interesting introduction. The next few chapters were also refreshing to read and the laughs produced were unique. Not very often do you see something so outright wrong yet entertaining at the same time.

The art work is also great for this manga. Not too comic and Doraemon-ish yet was informal enough to pull off the gags.

A series with potential, I give you that. For people who likes awkward jokes and humour.

... Last updated on December 16th, 2009, 12:47am

This isn't yaoi, and this isn't shounen-ai. This manga is amazing for being one of the rare, special manga that portrays the complexities of gender and sexual identity in real life in an approachable, charming, way that really draws you in. Prunus Girl challenges you with a main character--the love interest--who's not outright transgender, but refuses to cram himself into either of the "boy" or "girl" boxes. He's both and neither, and I think this will make people more uncomfortable than this being "yaoi"--which it's not. This is a shounen romance through and through, where the relationship just happens to not fit gender norms.

I love this sensitive portrayal and especially the main character Maki for being able to accept Aikawa and choose both the "cola" and the "peach" candy because that's just who Aikawa is. I really hope the mangaka doesn't make a horribly regrettable decision due to outside pressure, but the way the story has been going so far, I'm going to keep the faith. I'm really looking forward to reading a lot more!

For people who like this, try the manga IS, which is about intersexuality.

... Last updated on October 19th, 2009, 3:35am

okay... so far it´s intresting but there´s one problem what gender is that boy/girl? I´m really confused because of that. I mean he/she claims to be a guy but why does that other guy act like he/she is a girl plus if there´s any romantic wouldn´t it be yaoi?

the first 3 chapters were titilating but the next 3 were boring. Also people are too accepting to the point where there´s no difference whether the guy hooks up or not.

Also I don´t like the myth that the main characters tend to be loser guys but going to the other extreme of a superman seems out of place in the story. It just adds nothing and detracts from the story. It really adds nothing to the story. At worst it just makes the other boy´s attraction to him be less about that one moment they met alone, and more a vapid girl going after the best.