Title: かりん (Karin) Drama CD LE
Original Creator: 影崎由那 (Yuna Kagezaki)
Release Date: 7/23/04
Catalog No.: AFC-3012
Rating: 4/4

I thought Sailor Jupiter (Emi Shinohara) had retired, but she comes back as Karin's mother in this drama CD. The main lead, 広橋涼 (Ryo Hirohashi), I remember played a minor character in the Ichigo 100% Drama CD 1 and now has a larger role. The Love Hina link here is Yukie Maeda who plays Karin's and Kenta's teacher. The voice acting fits very well to what I imagined the voices should be.

The story on the drama CD is a little different than the manga. There are two new characters, Kamisato and Fujimura, who weren't in the manga. Karin's first attack in the manga is the same guy who she meets at the restaurant, which is similar to the drama CD. However, in the manga, Kenta doesn't find out about Karin's true self until much later.

This story is a little more light-hearted than I thought it would be. There are two tunes, the intro and ending, that I love because they set the theme very well. They're light and upbeat and makes the rest of the story have the same feel.

The only gripe I had was the sound effect when Karin bites down on her victims. In the story, it's pretty crunchy/fleshy which doesn't really go with the humorous atmosphere. In the bonus CD though, on the second track, it's more comical which is how it should be.

The main CD itself contains 7 tracks and the limited edition comes with an extra CD that has 10 mini-tracks, about 5 minutes each, and has a 17 minute cast free talk track. Each cast member, even the minor characters, has a chance to talk about their impressions of the story. I always love these impromptu talks as it usually contains unscripted humor. Karin's voice actress accidentally introduces herself as "Karin" and gets laughed at by the rest of the cast before properly introducing herself as Ryo Hirohashi.

1. Karin explains that she's a vampire, but one that fills blood rather than suck. She gets her cravings when there's someone unhappy around and after her attack, they feel better, so being a vampire might not be such a bad thing. When Kenta transfers into her class, she heartbeat beats faster and she passes out in class. She concludes that maybe Kenta might be depressed in some way and it'll be a problem if she gets too close to her.

2. Their class leader, Kamisato, tries to confiscate Karin's cell phone as it's not allowed in class. However, Karin needs it to call Anjyu, her sister, if anything happens so she won't let go. Kenta steps in and convinces Kamisato to let her have it (she apparently likes him). After the incident, Kamisato goes to the class occultist Fujimura to have him find out some dirt about Karin. At the restaurant where Karin and Kenta works, Karin meets a man who's really bummed about something. Fujimura sees Karin turn red at the sight of this man and takes some photos. As he follows Karin, he gets a sense that there's something supernatural about Karin.

3. At school the next day, they peep on Karin as she's recuperating in the nurse's office. Kenta comes in to the nurse's office and Karin first tells him to leave, but explains that the reason is because she'll burst with blood if he comes closer. To make up for her sudden yelling, she offers him her lunch as she hears his stomach rumble. Kamisato gets envious at the sight. Later that day, she sees the depressed man from the restaurant again and can't restrain herself anymore. Thinking that they're alone, she has a bite. Kamisato and Fujimura see this and take pictures, catching Karin in an embrace with a business man. She's ecstatic as this will get Karin kicked out of school.

4. Rumor's spreading around school that Karin is cheating with some older man. Karin's friend, Mari, says it's highly improbably. Kamisato tries to have Kenta turn on Karin on this news, but it just worries Kenta thinking that she was seen in the act. Karin gets called into the office with Kenta and they have a discussion with her parents. They conclude that they only saw her hugging, so it's not a big deal. Kenta wants to find who's the one spreading the rumors as it has to be someone in their class. No other class knows about it.

5. Karin and Kenta talk about who could be up to trying to defame her. At Karin's household, they talk about how they knew about the photographer when Karin made her attack and how to deal with the two people. Karin finds out that one of the person there was Fujimura and Kenta tries to find more about it.

6. Fujimura breaks ranks with Kamisato as he's more interested in finding out about Karin's family. Kamisato is loses respect of her teacher and the students she's supposed to manage. She also reveals to Kenta that she's the one spreading the rumors. Anjyu meets the curious Fujimura and Karin's family give him the scare of his life. Ren meets up with Kamisato.

7. After Ren has her way with Kamisato, she becomes of the popular girls at school. Kenta and Karin still have to maintain their (physical) distance, but are still on good terms.

Title: 愛人 (Ai Ren) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 田中ユカタ
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 232pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 1/4
Original Serialization: Young Animal Vol 11 '99 - Vol 19, '99
First Printing: 12/5/99
Rating: 4/4

This is only my second Young Animal series after Ai yori. I got this first book for $1 Book-Off again. I read the first few pages and flipped through the rest of the book at the bookstore and it seemed like something I might like (and for $1, why not?).

While there are a lot of fun moments, much of this story deals with the more serious matter of life and death as the main character has to deal with that, whether it's himself or Ai. It's definitely a more solemn story than what I've been reading, but it does pretty well at setting the mood, especially during the nights when he's dreaming of being taken away by the goddess of death. It strikes a pretty good balance between the joys of everyday life and the harsh reality the characters have to face.

Bonus comes a letter from the author as to why he chose the title, which actually originates in Chinese.

1. 春の日に、君と帰る (On a Spring Day, I Come Home With You): Ikuru Yoshizumi application for an "Ai Ren" went through without a hitch. An "Ai Ren" is a genetically created being to accompany someone with a terminal illness. Ikuru's situation is that when he was just a toddler, he and his parents were in an accident. He should have died, but miraculously was saved by a lot of grafts and transplants. Since half his body isn't his, what's keeping him alive is what's also killing him and his outlook is very bleak. He takes his "Ai Ren," who he name "Ai" home. Since she was just born, she can't speak much yet and acts very childish. At night, he imagines the goddess of death visiting him again, but it's just Ai. The next day he gives her a haircut.

1.5 どうぞ、よろしく (Thanks): Ikuru calls the doctor who gave him Ai as she's not developing intelluctually. The doctor tells him that after 30 hours, she should have reached a level a maturity and so maybe she's just a little late. Ikuru makes her dinner and weeps while watching her eat.

2. ごはんが、できたよ (I Made Dinner): The next morning, he makes her breakfast and upon inquiry, he explains that he doesn't usually eat as he's fed intravenously. They spend the day about town playing and buying her clothes. In the bath, he falls into depression about his harsh life. Ai jumps in and offers to breast feed him, and he realizes that living also means taking life from another (i.e. milk from a mother).

3. AGH-RMS あい (AGH-RMS Ai): Ikuru's visiting doctor, Haruka, comes and explains to him about Ai, an AGH-RMS (Artificial Genes Human Regeneration for Mental Support). She tells him that he should return her since her lifespan is less than his and he'll be left broken hearted. After she leaves, Ikuru embraces Ai and makes her promise to live a long life.

4. LIVING WITH GHOSTS 〜ヒトの宮み〜 (Person's Life): On a cold and rainy night, the lights go out and they go into the attic. Ikuru explains that the house used to be a rehabilitation center, but people have died there too so rumor has it that ghosts walk about. He explains to Ai that ghosts are people who have died, but don't want to disappear. Ai tells him that she doesn't want Ikuru nor herself to disappear so she wants them to be ghosts when they die.

5. １００万年のピクニック (Million Years Picnic): Ai is preparing to go to the beach the next day. That night, Ikuru thinks he's being visited by the goddess of death again, but wakes up. They spend the next day at the beach and the amusement park beside it.

6. 先生とボク (The Teacher and I): Haruka is one of the "sixes," a super-human. She helps Ikuru rehabilitate and also teaches him about human sexuality. Eventually, she is the one who sees him off to live at his current place and promises to visit. Despite Ikuru's unwillingness to be weaned, she tells him that he's graduated from her training.

7. あいの絵日記I 〜たのしいまいにち〜 (Ai's Picture Diary, Everyday Fun): Ai draws about how she got drunk, when she got a cold and got visited by Haruka, and when they went out to the movies. She also remarks about how she knows that she used to be someone else.

8. 初恋 (First Love): Ikuru goes back to the Ai's doctor and asks if her lifespan is what Haruka told him. He tells him it's true and she'll probably only live for 8-10 months and can't be revived. Ikuru goes home crying, but finds a cheerful Ai waiting for him. They have cake and Ikuru tells her that he wants to be with her (for the time she has remaining).

Title: 彼氏彼女の事情 (His and Her Circumstances) Vol. 15
Artist/Author: 津田雅美 (Masami Tsuda)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 187pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly LALA 8/02-12/02
First Printing: 2/10/02
Rating: 3/4

Finally, it looks this Arima foolishness is coming to an end. Much of this volume does contain more of Arima's psychological problems, but it looks like it's over by the last chapter. There was also a particular scene in here that startled me the first time I read it. This is probably the first time I've been shocked by a scene in a comic book.

Bonus is a couple pages of Tsuka diary.

69. ACT69 彼のソネート (His Sonnet): Arima recalls when he was a kid being brused and busted up by his mother and comes leaves his biological mother's apartment, running out into the rain. He goes by Yukino's house before stopping at home where he takes a hot bath. His parents ask about his interactions with his mother, but Arima runs away again.

70. ACT70 もうひとりの彼のソネート (His Other Self's Sonnet): Arima arrives at Asaba's place. Asaba mentions that Yukino knows that's he's lying and gets a punch to the face. Asaba passes out and Arima waits until he wakes up, just to be polite. Yukino arrives at Asaba's place and takes notice of Arima's shoes. Arima comes out and tells her that he doesn't want to see her.

71. ACT71 彼女のソネート (Her Sonnet): At school, Arima's past comes to haunt him again. Yukino traps him, blocks the door, and gives him an ultimatum. He can either tell her the truth or end the relationship by moving her and walking out. He starts going crazy again before Asaba gives him a slap. Yukino and Asaba walk home and he tells her it's not going to be easy saving Arima.

72. ACT72 彼と彼女のソネート (His and Her Sonnet): Kazuma drives by and witnesses Yukino and Arima walking to school and gets a bad feeling, but his story in New York is for later. Yukino tells him more about what she's learned from Asaba about his mother. In the library, they try to talk, but she feels distant. He goes in a fit of rage blaming her before embracing her and doing it on the floor. A flashback sequence where Arima falls down the stars. Afterwards, Arima stabs himself in the hand and Yukino clutches her abdomen (hmm...).

73. ACT73 夜の終わり (End of Night): Arima arrives at school with a bandaged hand and Yukino sees this. She slaps him and then makes a blood pact by injuring her own hand. She reminds him that he used to like people, and with that, his nightmares disappear and has a new outlook on life.