I have volumes 1-5, but I've also been keeping track of all the chapters that have been coming out volume 6 and beyond. Whenever I go back to Taiwan, I zoom right to the Japanese bookstores and pick up whatever Zero-Sum manga I can find. It kind of stinks that the Japanese bookstores, in the US, do not carry Zero-Sum manga.
"Bokura no Kiseki" is one series that I definitely keep looking forward to every two months, because that's Zero-Sum Ward's release period. It's worth every wait, even though, I wish it was monthly. (It's all thanks to Bliss scanlations for working on this series in the beginning. I wouldn't have known about this manga's existence if it wasn't for them.)
Getting right to the main point, "Bokura no Kiseki" is literally what I said in my subject line. If you're ever familiar with the American TV series, "Once Upon a Time", then, the formula of "Bokura no Kiseki" is a little similar and different at the same time.
In "Once Upon a Time", you have well-known fairytale characters transported to our modern world stuck in a bubble rural town. They don't have any memories of their previous lives as fairytale characters. They simply live their lives in a never-ending cycle "daze" with false memories. The show uses a pattern of showing us what they're doing in the current time, but also gives us flashbacks to the characters' fairytale lives.
This kind of formula is what "Bokura no Kiseki" plays on in its own successful way. You have characters who existed in another time, and perhaps, another world where magic actually existed. Something terrible happened in the past, between two kingdoms, that caused the involved parties to reincarnate into our modern day earth. So, all these people now have new carefree lives in the 21st century.
However, the main character, Minami, is special among all these reincarnated people. He seems to be the only one(?) who remembered things about his previous life as a princess. Because of this, he carried around a diary detailing everything that he remembered including how to write in that ancient language. However, his diary is also the main catalyst for things to follow as later into the story, more people begin to remember the ancient past...... To say more would be huge spoilers.
You have big reveals, mysteries, characters who are doubtful of other characters, characters who seem to be hiding secrets, who's good and who's bad, magic fights, teachers being slightly involved (whoo), different factions, and the whole feeling of "there's more than what it seems, right?" If you're looking for a good series to theorize on, this is it. What's more awesome is you have
not just gender swapping reincarnations, but also beauty swaps as well. i.e. Pretty girl gets reincarnated in a less desirable body..
The only thing that makes my head scratch a little is that, it's a little TOO convenient for every reincarnated person to go to the same high school. I mean, what if Minami was accepted to a different high school? But, the fact that we (definite spoilers for future volumes)
don't know who the prince and Glen reincarnated as makes me wonder on this all the more. Yeah, it would be funny if Glen's reincarnation never showed up. It would be kind of sad, but understandable in some way, if Zeze was the prince. D: Oh geeze. That would be kind of messed up. Innocent looking Zeze suddenly ends up being the prince and will have to fight Minami again? I don't think so.... His karaoke shop would be destroyed to kingdom come.
Also, Nanaura is soooooo suspicious. He definitely has an "alibi", but trying to figure out what exactly is he up to even up to volume 7 related chapters.... o__o 彼は不審者だけどクレイジーじゃないです！！
It is now February 2023. Having caught up to the latest chapters both in English and Japanese, I have to say, the story still amazes me at its complexity, twist reveals and depth. We're still learning more about the characters and the previous life this many chapters into the mystery. Some of the supporting cast, who you'd think are "innocent" aren't so innocent, because of their previous lives. I love this. Some other manga stories will have the supporting cast just be exactly as they are set to be, but in Bokuseki, nope. You can't just be a random student extra in the story. No matter how small your role is, your existence is still vital to keep the story flowing.
Super understandable how some readers still find this many characters a bit hard to keep track of, but if you look at all of the students' eyes and compare them with their previous lives' eyes + eyebrows, they all mostly match. There are just a few minor exceptions to this like Ooki, because of her appearance change.
One big spoiler shoutout (chapters 128+):
Zeze has seriously become one of my most favorite characters in the entire story. His merge with Eugene has been pretty seamless. He has the ability to rationally think things through once he was settled. Also, his character development has been a joy to watch. To see the cold Eugene really embracing his current self and understood that what he's done in the previous life wasn't right. He can't just bottle things up without saying things to people. Now, as Zeze, he became more involved and chattier, while still maintaining quick thinking abilities. He's also more open to communicating with his former wife on different issues, which then lead to them talking things out. Eventually, he was able to get Minami/Veronica to forgive him and tell him that "he wants to work together with Eugene". It's so heart-warming to see this, while being stressed with a time limit.
Can't wait to see what's next. 🙂 Also,
darn you Spirits!! Raaaggghh!!
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