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Yazawa Ai - Nana, vol. 18-20 (orig. Jap.)
Note: I'm reading these in the original Japanese, so I may be missing nuances and giant plot points.
Spoilers are still worried
Oh Yazawa Ai, how did you make me like and hate Takumi at the same time? TAKUMI!
The placement of his short story in the series is killer, right before he and Layla (I can't keep spelling it "Reira" when the original has "Layla") start to crash and burn. The frightening thing is, I believe he sincerely cares about Shin and Ren, loves Layla, and is in love with Nana K, even as he treats them horribly at times. Even worse, I think he knows how he is treating them, but he doesn't know how to do better, and he genuinely is trying. Of course, Takumi trying frequently means that he coldly alienates people while doing what he believes is best for them, or, I suppose, taking care to distance himself from Layla both for Layla and for Nana.
I'm forever in awe of Yazawa for being able to write these flashback shorts that so perfectly show what these characters were like as kids, as well as give them backgrounds that make what we see of them make so much more sense. In Nobu's case, it was the casual privilege along with the caring heart, and with Takumi, it's the constant pragmatism and how he uses it both to hurt people and to help them. The scene with the girl he knocks up is particularly telling, and even though I still hate him for how he handled Nana being pregnant, I can also see how it was a kind of expression of love from him.
I can't wait to get Shin's backstory. I also cannot quite believe that Shin is one of my favorite characters—oh, I lie, I love them all. Except Shouji, whom I still hate. And Takumi, whom I grudgingly like. But oh, Shin. Sometimes I forget how young he is, and then he does something stupid and gets busted for smoking marijuana, and I remember he's just turned 16 and had his heart broken.
And oh, the glimpses we get of grown-up Shin are so tantalizing! Especially grown-up Shin hearing Layla on the radio and being heartbroken once again. Like Satsuki, I have a bit of a crush on Shin, which is so bad and wrong! But he is so cute and so broken!
The flashforwards are getting more and more ominous. Especially the beginning of volume 18, with Nana O. only barely hanging on to life, finding places by the ocean and quick death but also fighting day by day. Oh Nana K., I hope you find her in time. And Nana K. walking in on Nobu playing the guitar, remembering the first time they met and the sweetness of their brief romance. Awwwwww. I just. I love how everyone in the flashforwards are so grown-up, and it's so bittersweet seeing Nobu less flippant and Nana less bubbly. I particularly hurt for Nana K., who has clearly thought often about divorcing Takumi but keeps finding more reasons to stay than to go.
Also, shallow me thinks Takumi looks much better with the flashforward haircut.
And then, in volume 19, there's the reveal of baby!Ren, and oh. OH. I had counted all along on Ren being alive because of how his name is mentioned, but now he may not be, and I am SO WORRIED. I ran and flipped back through all the flashforwards, and I cannot tell if katakana Ren and kanji Ren are different or not. I don't think they are, since both Rens are referred to with katakana, although I think only rocker Ren is referred to with kanji. But now all the comments make sense, with Ren staying with Takumi and always playing the guitar. But just... oh. I very much am afraid that he's Layla and Takumi's kid, that he's why Trapnest falls apart (I am guessing they fall apart), that he's why Nana keeps thinking of divorcing Takumi but also why she stays. And of course flashforward Layla's conversation to Ren's ghost or memory is not reassuring me! It would also make Nana O's disappearance and depression make total sense, especially if it happens when she's still angry at him. Grown-up Layla also breaks my heart. They are all so much older and more resigned!
I am not sure how Yazawa makes her kids so cute, but she does. I love both Satsuki and baby!Ren.
Also, for a brief moment, when Satsuki said she liked Shin, I was afraid Yazawa was going to go off the rails like Kare Kano, but I have faith in her!
I do not know what to say about Takumi and Layla, save that I wince and wince and still feel for Layla. And even for Takumi, a little. I continue to love Nana K. for making the best of what she can, and for constantly prioritizing Nana O. I know Nana O. feels completely abandoned and like Nana K. thinks Takumi is more important than she is, but I don't think so. Not with the birthday plans and the Valentine's cake and staying with her through the Search debacle and etc.
And! OMG Yuri and Nobu actually behave in a relatively healthy manner! I am shocked, but pleased. And completely amused by how easily Nobu and Shin are impressed.
Also, Miu is back, and she and Yasu have sex! Oh, I love them so much. I am so worried that we haven't seen or heard about Miu in the future yet, because I really want them to work out. I love that Yasu takes the time from crazy Blast stuff to devote himself to Miu, and I just love Miu, period.
Also also, Ren names Satsuki! I love that so much. And he is going off the rails, and then the car crash, and Nana O's voiceover about how Ren was supposed to take her with him when he died, and I am SO WORRIED. SO WORRIED.
No further spoilers please!
Spoilers are still worried
Oh Yazawa Ai, how did you make me like and hate Takumi at the same time? TAKUMI!
The placement of his short story in the series is killer, right before he and Layla (I can't keep spelling it "Reira" when the original has "Layla") start to crash and burn. The frightening thing is, I believe he sincerely cares about Shin and Ren, loves Layla, and is in love with Nana K, even as he treats them horribly at times. Even worse, I think he knows how he is treating them, but he doesn't know how to do better, and he genuinely is trying. Of course, Takumi trying frequently means that he coldly alienates people while doing what he believes is best for them, or, I suppose, taking care to distance himself from Layla both for Layla and for Nana.
I'm forever in awe of Yazawa for being able to write these flashback shorts that so perfectly show what these characters were like as kids, as well as give them backgrounds that make what we see of them make so much more sense. In Nobu's case, it was the casual privilege along with the caring heart, and with Takumi, it's the constant pragmatism and how he uses it both to hurt people and to help them. The scene with the girl he knocks up is particularly telling, and even though I still hate him for how he handled Nana being pregnant, I can also see how it was a kind of expression of love from him.
I can't wait to get Shin's backstory. I also cannot quite believe that Shin is one of my favorite characters—oh, I lie, I love them all. Except Shouji, whom I still hate. And Takumi, whom I grudgingly like. But oh, Shin. Sometimes I forget how young he is, and then he does something stupid and gets busted for smoking marijuana, and I remember he's just turned 16 and had his heart broken.
And oh, the glimpses we get of grown-up Shin are so tantalizing! Especially grown-up Shin hearing Layla on the radio and being heartbroken once again. Like Satsuki, I have a bit of a crush on Shin, which is so bad and wrong! But he is so cute and so broken!
The flashforwards are getting more and more ominous. Especially the beginning of volume 18, with Nana O. only barely hanging on to life, finding places by the ocean and quick death but also fighting day by day. Oh Nana K., I hope you find her in time. And Nana K. walking in on Nobu playing the guitar, remembering the first time they met and the sweetness of their brief romance. Awwwwww. I just. I love how everyone in the flashforwards are so grown-up, and it's so bittersweet seeing Nobu less flippant and Nana less bubbly. I particularly hurt for Nana K., who has clearly thought often about divorcing Takumi but keeps finding more reasons to stay than to go.
Also, shallow me thinks Takumi looks much better with the flashforward haircut.
And then, in volume 19, there's the reveal of baby!Ren, and oh. OH. I had counted all along on Ren being alive because of how his name is mentioned, but now he may not be, and I am SO WORRIED. I ran and flipped back through all the flashforwards, and I cannot tell if katakana Ren and kanji Ren are different or not. I don't think they are, since both Rens are referred to with katakana, although I think only rocker Ren is referred to with kanji. But now all the comments make sense, with Ren staying with Takumi and always playing the guitar. But just... oh. I very much am afraid that he's Layla and Takumi's kid, that he's why Trapnest falls apart (I am guessing they fall apart), that he's why Nana keeps thinking of divorcing Takumi but also why she stays. And of course flashforward Layla's conversation to Ren's ghost or memory is not reassuring me! It would also make Nana O's disappearance and depression make total sense, especially if it happens when she's still angry at him. Grown-up Layla also breaks my heart. They are all so much older and more resigned!
I am not sure how Yazawa makes her kids so cute, but she does. I love both Satsuki and baby!Ren.
Also, for a brief moment, when Satsuki said she liked Shin, I was afraid Yazawa was going to go off the rails like Kare Kano, but I have faith in her!
I do not know what to say about Takumi and Layla, save that I wince and wince and still feel for Layla. And even for Takumi, a little. I continue to love Nana K. for making the best of what she can, and for constantly prioritizing Nana O. I know Nana O. feels completely abandoned and like Nana K. thinks Takumi is more important than she is, but I don't think so. Not with the birthday plans and the Valentine's cake and staying with her through the Search debacle and etc.
And! OMG Yuri and Nobu actually behave in a relatively healthy manner! I am shocked, but pleased. And completely amused by how easily Nobu and Shin are impressed.
Also, Miu is back, and she and Yasu have sex! Oh, I love them so much. I am so worried that we haven't seen or heard about Miu in the future yet, because I really want them to work out. I love that Yasu takes the time from crazy Blast stuff to devote himself to Miu, and I just love Miu, period.
Also also, Ren names Satsuki! I love that so much. And he is going off the rails, and then the car crash, and Nana O's voiceover about how Ren was supposed to take her with him when he died, and I am SO WORRIED. SO WORRIED.
No further spoilers please!
no subject
I also wonder if Hachi's first child turns out not to be a girl as thought, but a boy, whom they name Ren because it's not long after Ren's death, and then she has Satsuki later. (Though my first thought was also that he's Takumi and Layla's child.)
I have been wanting to read vol. 21, but I didn't buy it last time I was at the bookstore because I thought for sure I would find scans online and now it's been a month or more and still no scans, so since we're planning on going to Kinokuniya in a week or so I'll probably buy it then.
no subject
Volume 21 is really good! I will say no more about it now.