I stumbled on this work (and artist) back in 2010 when I was browsing some Japanese BL blogs and I was immediately intrigued by the cover illustration. At first I thought it was a slice of life work because the style was so completely not in conformity with the kind in mainstream circulation. You know how in BL, you have all these gorgeously alluring and stunning covers where more often than not that same eye-catching quality isn't reflected in the interior of the book? I remember many a letdown from deceptively beautiful cover art. So, quite immediately, I was attracted to the lack of that strict BL moe aesthetic here; the caricaturized main characters into chibified versions was so incredibly sweet and unconventional by BL standards that I just knew I had to get my hands on it. The fact that it didn't take itself seriously was very refreshing to me.
When I was finally able to purchase this just a few days ago, I anticipated a light-hearted and adorable comedy, just as the cover suggested. I was not however, prepared to be bowled over by the hilarity, sheer detail and unassuming quality of this work. Is it funny? It is hilarious. The artist has a great sense for comedic timing, a flare for slapstick and is a true master at manipulating the beloved chibi moe to up the ante of humor (she does it so right). Amemiya has got to be one of the most memorable ukes I've encountered in a while. His crazy antics and ridiculous bloated faces are just so spot-on for each moment he stresses himself distorted and chibi'ed. But even more than that, he is absolutely relatable with his realistic insecurities, fears and worries; while we're laughing at how funny he looks in his embarrassment over mouth-raping his maybe-boyfriend, I couldn't help thinking about my own experiences of doing something stupid and fretting over them (and made stupid faces over them too). He's not your typical uke, he is clingy and persistent but not annoying or overbearing, aggressive and a little invasive but sympathetic, endearing and so very lovable. Oh yeah, and did I mention hilarious? Yeah. You get so attached to him, his tomfoolery & idiosyncrasies and his very real feelings for someone who is completely different from himself but whom he so desperately wants to be closer to.
Sensei's art is wonderfully unique. While there are hints of the self-parody from the cover in the characters' "real life form", you can also tell that sensei draws with care, her lines are confident and strong and what's more she pays attention to detail. I could not stop noticing all the little things in each page that suggest how much time and effort she puts into her work. I felt that she was able to convey the sweetness of the common Japanese everyday life; that unmistakable feel of a Japanese slice of life in manga. I really thought her attention to all those mundane little details really brought out that feeling.
I also love the character designs, the big scary badass with the funny airhead is another bias. And I admit that I'm a total sucker for BL featuring delinquents/yankees, bosozoku references and the cliche of the strong and silent badboy with the hidden heart-of-gold; the one who rages and mouths off when he's not happy but quietly cares and allows you to get attached to him. And it's so nice to have side-characters that stand out too, every character has their own personality and virtually all of them are memorable, if not endearing. I love that sensei didn't just throw in characters with no personality just to accessorize the main characters (as do so many BL stories), they are full of life and sensei gives as much importance to them as she does to the main ones, in terms of attention, consistency and individuality.
In terms of storyline, while the premise is cliche, the artist took this well-used trope and spun it into this down-to-earth and charming story of two boys getting to know each other and growing up in the process. At first, I expected this book to be all about laughs but instead, interspersed in the comedy are these painfully touching and heart-wrenching little moments where we're left aching in sympathy. It's these moments where the artist shows us that there's more to it than just mindless comedy, that there's people behind the humor and the stereotype and the fanservice, with feelings and tangible fears and challenges, with friends and lives outside of school. For me, that's what took this book from great to amazing. The scene where Amemiya revisits all the wonderful memories he's made after meeting Ninomiya and the artist's collage of those eventful moments both good and bad, are assembled in such a tender and unpretentious way, I couldn't help but feel for him.
As for the licensed book, I do agree that the editing process left something to be desired but it does get better. As for everything else, this book is a real gem, one I did not expect to find. I am totally in love with this book and I've found a new artist to look out for.
(-23)
