The manga begins with our protagonist covered by a slimy octopus and its tentacles - don't worry! There's a totally logical explanation for that! (Well, kinda...)
The other thing that immediately grabbed my attention was the artstyle - already visible in the cover. It harkens back to ye olde days of classic last-century manga and if publisher's were actually interested in bringing in classics older than some measly 30 years, a more precise placement could be made. Anyway, while our protagonist Nakamura is hit the most by this stilistic choice, it presents itself through all characters, albeit to varying degrees. Hirose, the love interest, straddling the line between traditional Shounen and Shoujo look, similiarly to Blue Flag. The Shounen influence is further exemplified through the use of speed lines during an exaggerated action sequence, though typical to the manga, in a parodic fashion. (Though I have to ask: Do people actually still use cloth handkerchiefs? If you talked to me just once, you'll already know that I couldn't let this question stand! It was time for RESEARCH!
This is what I've found: In Japan, it's called 'hankachi' and used to wipe up fluids like spilled water, to dry one's hands after washing them or to wipe sweat off one's body - though it's rude to use it to blow one's nose, appearently - I see!)
Another thing the manga excels at is it's ability to relate - which is, of course, subjective. The planning of conversations that never happen like they're supposed to, embarrassing ice-breakers ("Whatcha doing? Homework?"), and catastrophizing ("Agh! I screwed up! He totally hates me now!!") come to mind.
Further stilistic choices that set this manga apart are the use of third-person-narration, giving the narrator a certain distance to the action to observe the situation half-earnestly, half-amusedly. Yes, I have to say it: It's that Jane Austen style narration again - a definitive plus.
And while this isn't something mind-blowing, I like the structure that starts of somewhat episodic and ends up with a slowly thickening red thread.
Being a mainly comedic piece and a single volume at that, the characters aren't too complex or developed, of course, but they're charming in their simplicity and don't overstay their welcome. The atmosphere reflects this - there's a very idealistic view of love present (
It was loooove at fiiiirst sight!) and simple problems that seem huge in one's teenage years.
The comedy element also means that the actions of characters are quite exaggerated - if the story played out in a more realistic setting, some of Nakamura's actions would be seen as weird, overblown or even creepy/stalkerish, which is a criticism I've seen in a few reviews. I'd say, again, that the comedy angle takes the edge of these things.
Otherwise, reviewing humour is pretty difficult. There was a joke - I liked the joke -> Good comedy! Rinse and repeat... So you'll just have to believe me when I say: Yeah, it was funny! Though I can at least bring up the internal BL parody (as opposed to the inherent one that is present throughout the volume) of the anthropomorphized bento. ("Another masterpiece!" :lol: - naturally I want to read the whole story right now!)
The manga is, in fact, so painfully innocent, that it may have deserved an 'All Ages' recommendation - to be fair, there is that one panel - you'll immediately know what I'm talking about when you come across it - that keeps it firmly in the 'Teen' category.
Now let's move on to the characters - first off, the (surprisingly) best character is definitely the girl who tries to scam Nakamura into the occult club. She's a terrible person and I love her. :hrhr: I mean, sure, I wanna know if Nakamura and Hirose get together, but what's got me
really hooked for the sequel is whether or not Nakamura gets drafted into the club!
Nakamura himself has an interesting flaw for a protagonist in a BL manga: A very smug sense of superiority. It would have been so easy to just write him as a klutzy, naive, shy goody-two-shoes, so that was a nice surprise. It's not a big flaw - even somewhat charming, so it doesn't make him unsympathetic, either.
Hirose is a bit flatter, but still immensely likeable - gullible, but loyal and courageous.
In the home-stretch the manga trades some humour for some fluffy dialogue and the slight hint of romance. "You're not weird, they're just boring" ... "Don't go" Awwwww, gimme the fluffy wish-fulfillment, yessss! It ends on a happy note, though naturally our leads have 'only' reached a friendship yet.
I like the bonus pages, too, but I probably shouldn't think too much about the fact that octopi are Nakamura's favourite pet, favourite food and fetish all in one. I'll leave the vore-threesome with Hirose and Icchan to the doujin-writers. :drop2:
