Title: 魔法使いさんおしずかに！ (Be Quiet, Magician!) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 竹本泉 (Izumi Takemoto)
Book Size/Pages: A-5, 208pp., w/furigana
Volume: 1/2
Original Serialization: Nakayoshi 1984-1985
First Printing: 1/3/03
Rating: 3/4

This is a random find at the bookstore. I didn't think it was shojo as they placed it in the boys section, but this comic was originally serialized in Nakayoshi, the same magazine that was home to CCS and Sailormoon.

The story is pleasant and light and the artwork is simple and natural. It has a different feel to it than most current manga, but probably because it was written so long ago. It's like how Osamu Tezuka's stories seem a little different than more recent stuff like Miyazaki Hayao's.

Since this is a re-release, it has a lot of color illustrations like the Kodocha reprints.

1. Susan (13 years old) and her uncle Fred (30) have moved into her great-grandfather's house. Her great-grandfather is current traveling. There, they meet their neighbor Ellie, a soap-opera-loving young woman, Will, a boy about Susan's age, and his grandfather, Wally. His uncle is an unsuccessful illustrator and so they're usually low on money. Sue gets an idea that Ellie should marry his uncle, partially because she doesn't want to do the chores anymore. Sue brings her over for a bit, but his uncle gives her the cold should because he doesn't like pretty women (and that's why his illustrations aren't selling, because his females aren't pretty). She then has to run off again to catch a TV show. Later, Sue goes out and sees Ellie disappear into a pond and then pop back out again. Ellie reveals that she's a fairy and uses the ponds as shortcuts, but that Sue has to keep it a secret since no one else knows.

2. Sue asks Will if he believes in fairies and such, but he doesn't although he believes in UFOs and space travel. Over lunch with him and his grandpa, she finds out that Will is almost like her in that he has to do most of the chores around the house too. They go take a walk in the woods where she falls in a hole and various animals, including elephants come running out. She discusses this with Ellie who tells her that there are elves who dig tunnels. She also asks if Ellie can model for her uncle as his latest work was rejected again because the women aren't drawn beautifully enough.

3. Sue's dog, Cooper has been sneaking off in the middle of the night, and she wants to know why. With the help of Ellie, Sue is able to become a rabbit and follow Cooper. She travels through the tunnels in the ground where she overhears two magicians discussing plans to dig underneath the bank to steal money. Upon her return the next morning, she reports this to Ellie.

4. Sue goes out the next night with a shovel and tries to find out who those people are. She discovers that it's Will's grandfather, Wally, and one of his assistants. Wally tries to convince her that stealing is okay as the bank is insured, but to no avail. With Ellies help, their plans get ruined.

5. It's been a few months since previous chapter and Wally is up to no good again. He's got a blueprint to the bank and plans to make a magical cloth that will create holes in the wall. However, he loses his map and it falls into Ellie's hands. When he tries to rob the bank, all he gets when he opens the wall is water rushing out.

Title: 君が望む永遠 (Kimi ga Nozomu Eien) Anime OST Vol. 2
Original Creator: Age
Release Date: 5/26/04
Catalog No.: LACA-5278
Rating: 3/4

This soundtrack is supposed to cover the second half of the show. While I haven't watched the show in its entirety yet, I know what the story's about enough to appreciate the music.

Most of the tunes here are piano or violin, and all have a somber and solemn tone to them. Given the story, I believe it fits it well. There are some familiar tunes from the previous CD, but most of the music here are original to the anime, not just remixes from the game. There are few tracks that are specifically special arrangements of the game music, but they're all clumped together at the end, so I don't know if they're used in the anime or not.

As for vocals, it contains the TV sized versions of Rumbling hearts and the game ending (as well as the ending song of the last episode, I believe). These two were available elsewhere on the game CDs to. I don't think they're re-recorded.

Title: 花右京メイド隊 (Hanaukyo Maid Tai) Vol. 8
Artist/Author: もりしげ (Morishige)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 192pp., w/furigana
First Printing: 1/5/04
Rating: 3/4

Several disjoint short stories in this volume. Entertaining, especially the chapters that involve the eccentric Ikuyo, and some that are a bit touching such as Sayuri and Konoe's sword stories, but not really plot-moving.

Bonuses are a mini-comic featuring Ikuyo, a few illustrations, and a summary/character intro.

48. 慈悲王リュウカ、立つ！ (Merciful Queen Ryuka, Stand!): Ryuka has challenged Taro into a battle to the death in a wrestling ring. Ryuka is winning as Taro doesn't fight back, but she knocks herself out by performing a flying drop and missing her target.

49. ラベンダー色のあのコ (Lavender Colored Child): While running away from Ikuyo, Taro meets a maid who is changing. She allows him to hide under her dress. Later, she wipes him off with a lavendar hankerchief and runs away. Taro then tries to find out who that maid was and asks the two good friends, Sayuri and Aya. They both deny it, but Taro knows that it's Sayuri (who's complete different without her glasses) and returns it to her.

50. イクヨのメイドさん日記 (Ikuyo's Maid Diary): Having writers block, Ikuyo becomes a regular maid. She performs maid duties very well, much to the surprise of others. After spending time with Taro, she gets her breakthrough and goes back to her old, Otaku self.

51. マリエルのうれしい事 (What Mariel's Happy About): Shizuka comes back for a short visit, despite still being injured. Taro asks Mariel what makes her happen, and she can't come up with an answer. This bugs her a lot, which leads to Taro being a little worried. Konoe wonders if he's worried about the Mariel portrait in the underground mansion, to which he says is not. Finally, Mariel comes to understand her happiness although she can't describe it in words.

52. 花園よ永遠なれ (Flower Garden, Eternal): There's a big party at the mansion and almost everyone is drunk, including Konoe who gets into a breast size competition with Ryuka. They all start playing a kissing game where Taro gets a small kiss from Mariel.

53. 最後の贈り物 (The Last Gift): Konoe is bummed that her sword is broken. It's particularly important because her sister gave it to her. Grace tells her that she can go atop a mountain to get a replacement to which she does and for an instant, sees the image of her sister.

Title: 鋼鉄天使くるみ (Steel Angel Kurumi) Vol. 2
Artist/Author: 介錯 (Kaishaku)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 164pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 2/11
Original Serialization: Monthly Shonen Ace Next 3/99-5/99, Ace Dash 6/98-7/98
First Printing: 6/1/99
Rating: 3/4

I don't remember Akanokoji's story taking this long, but then again, the anime was bite-sized. The artwork jumps to SD very frequently, even during serious battles. It could get annoying, but currently, I enjoy it. It keeps a light mood throughout the story doesn't seem to interfere with the subject at hand.

Bonus has a mini-chapter where Kurumi's wandering through a manga house trying to find the authors and she also says there's going to be an anime based on this story.

6. 綾小路博士救出作戦 (Dr. Akanokoji's Rescue Plan): Kurumi, Amagi, and Nakahito go to the base of Mt. Fuji to find the whereabouts of Akanokoji and find Saki there hanging from a cross next to the victorious Karinka. Karinka then starts attacking Kurumi and reveals that she contains two angel hearts, so Kurumi by herself cannot defeat her. Saki then offers her angel heart to Kurumi.

7. 激闘は憎しみ深く (A Fight Full of Hate): Having become Super Kurumi, she defeats Karinka. Karinka then has a flashback with her and her master, Mikhail. She says she fights because of him. But he shows up and scolds her for hurting Nakahito and takes him away to the castle near Fuji. In the sky, there's an invisible flying fortress with some strange characters inside.

8. 再会、くるみと仲人 (Reunion, Kurumi and Nakahito): Amagi and Super Kurumi go to the castle. Amagi finds there are hundreds of Mikhail's bodies lying around. Nakahito is encased in a glass vessel which Kurumi breaks and rescues him. She is then visited by someone who splits Super Kurumi into just Kurumi and Saki and tells her to come back with him.

9. 悠久の再会 (Eternal Reunion): Kurumi doesn't remember who the people are who want her to return. They introduce themselves as people (things?) who want to interfere with the Academy's plans. Soon, the castle slowly comes to life in the shape of Dr. Waltzski (Akakonoji's abductor). Kurumi and Saki try to join, but can't. Later, the castle gets blown to bits by the new visitors.

10. くるみのなかよし大作戦 (Big Plan With Kurumi's Friends): Kurumi takes in Karinka and befriends her while taking a bath.

11. くるみのスパイ大作戦 (Big Plan With Kurumi's Spies): Saki has taken a job at the local restuarant and works with a fellow co-worker, Miyuki. When an unruly customer comes, she wants to use her powers, but doesn't want to reveal herself. Miyuki happens to save her using what seems to be extra-human abilities. Turns out that she is extra-human.

Title: 彼氏彼女の事情 (His and Her Circumstances) Vol. 8
Artist/Author: 津田雅美 (Masami Tsuda)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 216pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly LALA 3/99-7/99
First Printing: 9/10/99
Rating: 2/4

Yet another ho-hum volume. When will the 14 days be over? The story is a bit staccato, jumping from different characters to different characters, but a few main events happen, especially concerning Takefumi and Tsubaki.

There's a Tsuda dairy segment as always, and a really long chapter featuring a one-shot manga the author did 4-5 years prior to Karekano.

33. ACT33 14DAYS しりたい (I Want to Know): Takefumi is afraid of Arima because of his closeness with Yukino. Arima is still haunted by his other, evil half. Aya is wigging out because she has a writing job and deadlines to meet. Takefumi also gets a little close to Tsubaki and he realizes just how big he's gotten since Tsubaki seems lighter than what he remembers her to be (since he was just a child).

34. ACT34 14DAYS 私の好きな人 (My Favorite Person): In the summer heat, the girls start talking about their breasts, or lack of. Tsubasa is getting along very well with her new step-brother. Takefumi is coming to terms with his love for Tsubaki, with flashbacks of his past and his impressions of her.

35. ACT35 14DAYS 気温３１C (Centigrade 31): Takefumi gives Tsubaki an unexpected kiss behind the school building and they both inform each other that they love one another. Takefumi hopes that he no longer has to fear Arima. Meanwhile, Rika has finished their costumes for the play. Arima and Yukino then share a quite moment together.

36. ACT36 14DAYS ハリケーン (Hurricane): A typhoon is coming so everyone hurries and cleans up at the school. Without umbrellas, Arima sees Yukino home. Since he's drenched, teh family has him stay over for the night. Arima imagines his evil self being left outside as he lives in this comfy home.