tsukineko's manga / #loneliness(9)

This is a prequel to 'Don't Stay Gold', and appears also in the main manga 'Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai'. It's from when Yashiro and Kageyama were back in high school.

Afterwards, read the dj, (also by Miyamoto).

After this, read the sequel 'Lover's Mode'. That was quite a saga! I'm still a little ambivalent about it though. At times, (especially near the beginning), I found it kind of mediocre, (both the art and the story), however, as the story unfolded, I became really attached to [most of] the characters. Only Takamiya × Izumi left an icky feeling, (à la Usami × Misaki), until the end when I warmed to Takamiya after reading about his past, (in the Shiki story). I would say that overall the storytelling and art, which improved over time, were solid, (not brilliant). However, at times they were truly excellent! Several pages stopped me in my tracks - the expressivity of the imagery, shaking me to my core! I bookmarked some of those pages, but I'm not sure the bookmarking feature on the site works anymore. One of the pages screamed at me so loudly that I noted down the page number because I absolutely didn't want to lose track of it: Vol. 04, Ch. 02, Pg. 19. (I have been in a similar situation, and that page truly conveys the sheer despair and desperate pain and anguish one can feel, and the wretched screams that are ripped from deep within. It's also true to reality that one breaks down AFTER the ordeal rather than during.) I remember that one of the other pages that had a big impact, was of Naoya alone in the snow, at Xmas, crying from loneliness. Actually, I would say that loneliness is a constant theme in this manga, and this mangaka is very good at expressing it, (and other emotions), through imagery. OK, enough with this long ass paragragh - I'm off to read the sequel...

3.5 stars. This was really sweet, though sad. If only Yui could have his own story. Either the explanation of his relationship with his brother, or with someone else. He seems like a surprisingly sweet guy for a yakuza boss. Although as much is not said, I'm pretty sure he deliberately played cupid to the others, as he could see they were incredibly lonely, and could empathise, given his own loneliness.

This is tagged as twisted and suchlike, but the few parts I just read weren't particularly twisted, and the main couple are really sweet together! The love, lust, yearning, loneliness, angst, etc, are really well conveyed through beautifully expressive art. Looking forward to reading it...