Nakahara Aya - Love Com, vol. 07-10 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

This continues to be a fun albeit typical high school shoujo series, although the past few volumes have a few too many moments that make the characters act stupidly for the sake of the plot for me.

Spoilers worry about entrance exams

I'm very glad the Mighty arc is shorter than I expected! I feel like it occupies a lot more space in the movie, which kind of creeped me out.

After a few misunderstandings, Risa and Otani are officially dating! Of course, since this is high school shoujo, this means more misunderstandings or obstacles must come in.

Cue: the other girl and the other guy!

The Other Girl, Mimi, is of course the opposite of Risa, except in terms of height. She's gorgeous and acts sweet around Otani, although the sweetness is a bit of a facade. Thankfully, there is not too much rivalry, and I like how she keeps getting tricked into sympathizing with Risa. And I loved the scene with her, Otani, and Risa at the arcade, in which she finally gets why Otani likes Risa. Mutual gaming for the win!

The Other Guy, Kohori, is so far boring. And since he is the Other Guy, not the Other Girl, there aren't fits of jealousy with Otani or random "She should love meeee instead!" Oh shoujo. I love you, but sometimes...

ETA: Also, Risa deciding to go to the Umibouzu concert with him even though there have already been two misunderstandings is so stupid! At least the manga acknowledges it, but still!

And then, Otani decides he wants to go to college despite his terrible grades, meaning the obligatory chapters about entrance exams! I'm a little curious as to how far the manga will go: there are 7 more volumes, right? I hope it follows them beyond high school graduation. I'm a little tired of all the high school manga in which the couple gets together and you never find out what happens after graduation, because I feel that's when the biggest changes will happen!

It's odd, because for Fruits Basket, I actually do believe many of the main couples will make it past high school (ex. Tohru and Kyo, Haru and Rin, even Machi and Yuki, though the last stretches my belief a little). But much of that is because they get to know each other under very trying circumstances that probably won't be replicated later. Whereas here, although I do believe that Risa and Otani genuinely like each other, that like seems to be based on shared interests and personality, all of which can change past high school.

Don't spoil me though! I enjoy the speculation.

In conclusion: fluffy and cute (I will never get tired of Risa and Otani geeking out about video games and Umibouzu together) but a little like spun sugar. I think I would have enjoyed it much more had I not read it after the emotional depth of Fruits Basket.

Comments

[lnhammer]

Since they made the Mighty arc the climax of the movie and beefed it up and then some, yeah, it occupied more space there. This didn't bother me as much as how every actor but Risa's was clearly well older than their nominal age while Risa's was spot on for her age, which produced a rather creepy vibe. (I hope that actress goes places -- she's cute and has good comic timing, and clearly has the potential to become a good comic actress.)

Going to the Umibouzu concert with Kohori was a put the book aside for a few days moment. Otherwise, I've been continuing to enjoy it, though it will be interesting to see how the plot can be spun out for yes seven more volumes. Though I have a few ideas, mostly revolving around Risa finally catching a sense of purpose. In this respect, High School Debut's timeline is more solid.

---L.

[oyceter]

Yeah, I really wish the movie chose a different way to get to the climax. Alas! It was mostly the teacher-student thing that squicked me out. I know Mighty doesn't really reciprocate, but even the hints of it bugged me a lot.

Sigh. The concert thing really was incredibly headdesky!

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I know! Why was Risa sooooo stupid about the concert? Kohori is sweet apart from the nonconsensual kissing (which, hell, he is in manga set in Japan, we're lucky he didn't do anything else), but yes not that interesting. I love the series despite its lack of depth, because it just makes me laugh and laugh.

[oyceter]

I knooooow!! And she almost did the right thing too! Sigh. I do love the series when it's not doing the standard romantic misunderstandings, because Risa and Otani geeking out together is the best thing ever.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Okay, no details! It does get away from the mad geeking and into standard, if more ridiculous than usual, romantic fluff later on. Which is too bad.

(happy birthday!)

[oyceter]

Thank you!

Sigh, too bad about romantic fluff and less geekery =(.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

(So wait, do you want to know whether the original manga extends past high school or not? I just had to go read all that was available, so I can tell you what's up with the 16 volumes of original story line, volume 17 = Love Com Plus, and the new Love Com D that is coming out now.)

[oyceter]

Don't tell me! Though thanks for offering, sorry I was unclear!

[la_vie_noire]

Uhm, offtopic, but,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Just wanted to say it. XD

[oyceter]

Awww, thank you!