Title: 妹 (Sister) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 山花典之 (Noriyuki Yamahana)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 213pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 1/2
First Printing: 8/24/99
Rating: 4/4

From the back of the book, this series was originally serialized quite sporadically from 1996 to 1998 in Weekly Shonen Jump. Probably one of those special chapters that appear every so often. However, it looks like it got a formal serialization as there's 13 volumes for the second story of this manga. Anyhow, I was able to read a few pages of this manga at Book-off ($4 bucks, not $1) before I got it so I knew it was something that I would end up liking.

This story is yet another about brotherly love. Unlike Koi Kaze though, this is more focused on a guy who has saved enough money to finally be able to "buy back" his little sister after they split when their mother died. The character actions remind me of Shamneko's style (which I really like). The drawing varies in detail, but is mostly pretty good. The story itself is pretty funny and has some suggestive themes. Akane, the main character is regularly terrorized by males who try to show their dominance, but is pretty tame for a "Young" comic.

There aren't any bonuses in the book except for a color first page.

1. 再会 (Reunion): After their parents died,　雨宮真平 (Shinpei Amamiya, 18) has been trying to reunite himself with his step-sister, Akane (16). After years of working and saving up, he's finally saved up enough to get an apartment and them live in the same place instead of her living at their uncle's. Akane, meanwhile is terrorized by her teachers at school because she's poor and so they feel like they can take advantage of her. They accuse her of theft at which Shinpei offers to pay, even though she didn't actually commit any crimes. Later that night, she goes back to reclaim the money from the teacher. She gets molested, but Shinpei comes in and kicks some butt for the sake of his sister.

2. ひまわり (Sunflower): They are currently living in a temporary place until they can find a new apartment. Through Shinpei's friend, Akane finds out that Shinpei works terribly hard to save money. So, when the apartment broker that Shinpei consulted comes and offers her some money and other favors for a "photo shoot." She goes. She gets abused and yet again, Shinpei comes and saves her. After they're safe, Shinpei starts crying (he's really not a brave fellow, but will do anything to help his sister).

3. 編入試験 (Transfer Student Exam): Shinpei wants Akane to go to school and as he flips through her old report cards, he finds out she's quite smart. He tells her to apply for a private and very prestigious high school and when she gets in, he'll pay tuition. She passes with flying colors, but the teacher there doesn't like her because she's poor. Since the principal already set up an interview, the only way to prevent her from being admitted is if she made a bad impression. So the teacher, 猫田 (Nekota), asks the parent of a denied applicant to kidnap her before the interview in exchange for his daughter's acceptance. She talks her way out of captivity and shows up at the interview ragged. The principal suspects the Nekota had something to do with it.

4. PRIDE: At school, Akane is picked on by the other students because of her social status. As such, she tells Shinpei that she wants to quit. He gets angry and she leaves to stay with a friend. However, the people her friend hangs out with aren't the best of characters and they rob Shinpei as he's desperately trying to find Akane. Akane hears about this, takes back the money, and moves back with Shinpei and learns to tolerate the other school kids.

5. ともだち (Friend): まりな (Marina) is another student picked on by the popular students in class. Akane saves her from being one incident where she was picked on and they quickly become friends. The popular kids don't like this, so they trick Akane into meeting them, have some guys beat and hold her and ask Marina to thump her with a baseball bat. Marina refuses.

6. 兄貴はつらいよ (Brother is Mean): Shinpei's friend, 鉄 (Tetsu), is in love with Akane and isn't doesn't like the fact that Shinpei, who doesn't not share the same blood, is living together with him. So he concocts this plan where he would ask Shinpei to look for a tattoo on her body while she's sleeping. She's supposed to wake up, catch him in the act, and move out. However, things don't go according to plan. Akane catches them, but forgives them.

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