A previous reviewer pointed out many "problems" and plotholes, but he just, flat out, had it wrong. This reviewer mentions that, and I quote:
"the mystery plot involving Yutaka's original body? Solved almost immediately with no real investigative effort on Yutaka/Nina's part. The doctor just so happens to have taken pictures of someone who looks exactly like the real Yutaka! (And how the doctor knew what the real Yutaka looked like, when he'd never actually seen him before, is conveniently never explained.)"
Wow. He didn't read it did he? After the doctor shows Yutaka the pictures this is what he says, word for word:
"There's a society called 'MSC' that a lot of alchemical and magical researchers belong to. A lot of its' members are connected to that school. And most of the students at that school are around your age. I showed them your photo and they were able to locate someone who looked like you."
"Conveniently never explained", huh? Next the reviewer goes on to say this:
"Yutaka befriends and confronts the fake Yutaka, falls in love with a girl who gives him candy, and realizes that he may have also fallen in love with the doctor (because "Nina's heart" loves the doctor.)"
First off, Yutaka never "befriends" fake Yutaka. Ever. Not even for a second. When Yutaka is transferred to the school, fake Yutaka offers to show Yutaka (I'll just say Nina from now on) to the music room. Something happens and Nina notices a scar on fake Yutaka's head. This is another quote directly from the manga:
Fake Yutaka: "Oh? This scar on my forehead? It's left over from surgery."
Nina: "Like transplanting your brain into another person's body?"
Fake Yutaka: "HAHAHA! You say the funniest things!"
Nina: "Are you trying to deny it!?"
Nina is then stopped by fake Yutaka's friend who tells her that fake Yutaka hurt his head in an accident.
Next I wouldn't say that Nina fell in love with the "girl who gives him candy" but rather, thought something along the lines of, "Wow she's not bad maybe I like her." Nina also ends up seeing Nakahara-san (the girl who gave her candy) and thinks, "Thank god! I'm still excited by seeing a girl!" So Nina's attraction to Nakahara-san could just be some attempt at retaining what little amount of masculinity he had left. That's off the point though.
Next Nina doesn't just suddenly go, "Hmm I guess I love the doctor." It takes Nina a while (a couple chapters, but seeing as there are 12 and she starts to wonder if he/she is in love with doctor in chapter 7 that doesn't leave much time to come to terms) before he/she realizes this fully.
The reviewer then goes on to mention that "the villain never becomes more than a cardboard caricature of a mad scientist" and I slightly agree with them at this point. The villain is explained with some backstory and motivation to their evil deeds though. They're not just thrown in there just for the sake of needing a villain.
The reviewer then says:
"the doctor remains a mystery from beginning to end (both in terms of personality and his background)"
Once again I sorta agree. All that is explained about the doctor is his relationship with the original Nina and that only spans a few pages. That part could have been better. But, about knowing the doctor's background? That would have been unnecessary. All you need to know about the story is revealed. And when it comes to his personality the point is that other than Nina his life is without anyone and anything. Nina is his world and all he cares about. Why would we need to know anything else like, "Oh he is a masochistic, @$$hole who likes ponies and tv!"? That wouldn't really add anything to the story if it were true.
And last, but not least the reviewer says this:
"Besides character development, the rushed way that the manga was written also leads to plot inconsistencies as (for instance) the doctor initially claims that the real Nina was dismembered in a car accident, but during his later flashback on the life of Nina, we discover that she in fact died by falling off a cliff. (If the mangaka didn't care enough about the plot to keep basic facts straight, you can imagine what a mess the larger plot must be...)"
READ THE FREAKIN' MANGA BEFORE YOU SAY STUPID THINGS!!! GET YOUR FREAKIN' FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE PUTTING STUFF DOWN!!! The doctor never says that "the reall Nina was dismembered in a car accident". He says this in the first chapter:
"Her body was torn apart in an accident."
He never mentions a car accident.
Now people may think I'm just nitpicking this reviewer's post, but I just don't want people to pass this manga up because they read this person's half-@$$ed review. I personally enjoyed this manga VERY MUCH. I thought it was a wonderful quick read. Nina and the doctor's relationship is the strongest point in it. It is a tragic relationship that may only last one volume, but it is expertly written. Is this manga the best I've ever read? No. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much did I enjoy it? 10. All a ten rating means when I rate is that I was completely satisfied with the story. I highly recommend this to anyone with a few hours to spare and who has room in their life for a wonderful story.
(-24)
