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彼氏彼女の事情 (His and Her Circumstances) Vol. 17
I KNEW IT! I'VE LOST ALL RESPECT FOR YUKINO AND ARIMA. (see chapter 81). Bonus is a Tsuda diary. 79. ACT79 プレリュード (Prelude): Yukino is spending some time with Arima at their summer house. They discover some old Jazz records and from the expression on his dad's face, Arima knows they belong to his father. Yukino asks about his dad, but there's not much known about him. They go into another house where they see the piano and Arima remembers more. Meanwhile, Maho meets up with his boyfriend in NY and decide to attend a Reiji Arima piano concert. 80. ACT80 ピアニスト (Pianist): Yuusuke explains to Maho about why Reiji has become an underground cult favorite. After coming back from the house with the piano, they listen to the radio and Reiji's being introduced. Upon just hearing this tune, Arima's (current) dad knows that it's his brother. 81. ACT 81 コンサート (Concert): Yukino's pregnant [!@#(*!]. It just so happens that Yuusuke and Maho meet up with Tsubasa and Kazuma going to the same concert. At the concert, Kazuma suddenly breaks out singing. This gets them into the backroom with Reiji after the concert and which time Tsubasa asks if he knows the boy she has a picture of on her cell phone. He tells him that it's his son. 82. ACT82 テンペスト (Tempest): Reiji is going to pay a visit to Arima. Yukino has been going to Arima's place almost everyday as she doesn't want the same thing to happen that with his biological mom. She bumps into him outside Arima's house and at first, she thinks he's Arima. Arima's current dad comes out and gives Reiji a slap. Reiji goes away, but then accosts Yukino and Arima again, this time having Arima join him on a bike ride and convincing him to do it at gunpoint. 83. ACT83 A BOY AND A MAN: Reiji takes his son around town, dumping his motorcycle in the ocean as they're being followed by the police after his little gun act. He promises this will be the last time they meet. In the hotel, Arima somehow is now uncertain about his feelings for his dad. |
Title: 彼氏彼女の事情 (His and Her Circumstances) Vol. 17 |
愛人 (Ai Ren) Vol. 2
This series is becoming more and more complicated with the plot starting to encompass more and more situations. It makes for a little tougher reading as I like a simple clear-cut storyline, but on the other hand, it keeps things interesting. The themes of love and death are still very strong in this second book. Bonus is a letter from the author explaining the themes in this second volume and other musings. 9. この星の還る (Return to this World): The chapter follows a group of people as they make first contact with the "HITO," a seemly alien race and ultimately die in a large explosion after the encounter [seems to be giving some hints as to Ikuru's past, as the title states]. Chapter ends with Ikuru and Ai enjoying the night sky. 10. スティル・ライフ〜静かな生活〜 (Still Life): Ai and Ikuru enjoy life cooking, playing, and exploring. They also grow a garden. One day, Ikuru sees a tomato plant dead under the heavy rain. He rips it out and throws it aside to get it out of his sight. Several days later, he and Ai notices that it has started growing again. The next heavy rain comes and Ai is out there with an umbrella protecting the plant. 11. ホーム・スウィート・ホーム〜子供たち〜 (Home Sweet Home, Children): More flashbacks to the moment of death in the previous life (?). Ai and Ikuru go to visit Haruka at her place of residence, which is an alien ship. Inside, a lot of children run around, who Ikuru explains are genetic rejects. Ikuru explains his fear of dying before Ai, but Haruka, who's recovering from arm surgery, tells him that he has to keep on living for Ai. Meanwhile, Ai gets in a little scuffle with the kids and walks outside where he sees rows of pods on the ground. 12. ホーム・スウィート・ホームII〜青空と夕やけ〜 (Home Sweet Home, Blue Skies and Sunset): Outside, a caretaker tells Ai that the beings inside the pods are people not yet born. Before they leave, Haruka tells Ikuru that Ai is just an illusion, but all love is an illusion. He has the power to make it real though, into passion. Ikuru and Ai leave and Ai writes in her picture diary about her trip. 13. 思春 (Adolescent): Ai suddenly feels like her body is changing. For some reason now, she feels like her heart aches and yearns for something. 14. 遺言 (Last Words): Ikuru has a seizure where he passes out in the hallway. The next day, Ai finds some tapes of Ikuru's parents and so they watch the home video that his parents made him when he was still in his mother's womb. His dad explains to him what he was going to be named and tell him about the life he's going to start living. Naturally Ikuru ends up with tears rolling down his cheek. 15. 泣く女 (Crying Woman): After Haruka has a visit with Ikuru, she goes back to her base where she's met with two men in suits. After some formalities, she brings them to visit her mom, a supposed "Mother of Humanity." She foils their assassination attempt and after telling them to leave, she breaks down crying in front of her mother's living capsule. 16. ないしょのこと (A Secret): Ikuru notices that Ai seems to be bothered by something as he noticed it in her looks. Outside the bath, Ai explains that one day, she won't be herself anymore. Ikuru brings her in making her pinky-swear to not die and vice-versa. 17. 君と見る青空 (The Blue Sky I Gaze With You): Ikuru has the dream with the goddess of death again, and then another dream where he meets an older Ai who tells him that they're both ghosts now. He wakes up from this nightmare to a teary-eyed Ai who's been trying to wake him up. |
Title: 愛人 (Ai Ren) Vol. 2 |
魔法騎士レイアース２ (Magic Knight Rayearth 2) Vol. 2
There was a lot of action, but I got the feeling like there was a lot more talking in this one compared to the other 4 books that preceded it. The artwork is excellent, especially during the fight scenes. However, there's just something about this part of the story that seemed a bit lacking. There's an afterward from a contemporary, 中田芳樹 (Yoshiki Nakata). Both Tatora/Tarta and Asuka getting in a scuffle with each other. The Chizeta leaders use their two genies to battle Faren's super Sanyun. It's a mutual defeat and both countries withdraw for the time being. Lantis heads out in search of the Pillar so he can eradicate it. Clef tells the story about the time right before Princess Emeraldo summoned the Magic Knights, leaving behind Mokona. Eagle, and the group from Autozam, recall the promise they made to Lantis about destroying the Pillar. However, for the sake of their country, Eagle has to renege on that promise in order to obtain the power of the Pillar. The three countries, along with the Magic Knights start a lengthy duel again. Hikari is injured and Lantis comes to her aid. |
Title: 魔法騎士レイアース２ (Magic Knight Rayearth 2) Vol. 2 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 5
Man, how different this is from the anime. I remember Wiseman to be some kooky grandpa leading the Hawkeye, Fisheye, and Tigereye. Since when was he some pile of bones? After a long hiatus, I've decided to continue reading some more Sailormoon. The re-releases are finished now and I have them sitting here, so might as well go through them. I thought this volume was a bit fast in telling the story about Chibiusa's transformation to and from Black Lady, although I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if it got prolonged any longer. At least it ends on a good note and another arc will start up in the next volume. Bonus includes a sticker and according to the ad in the back of the book, a special cover. I can't seem to tell what's so special about the cover (mine's a first printing, too). 22. 思惑 NEMESIS: Chibiusa has stepped to the dark side. Sailormoon miraculously obtains her powers on Nemesis and is able to free the other Sailor Scouts locked up in the dungeon. Meanwhile, Chibiusa seducing Tuxedo Mask, who has come looking for her. Sailor Pluto tells Sailormoon about what has happened to Chibiusa. 23. 暗踊 WISEMAN: . Chibiusa is making a deal with Wiseman in that she'll get him the Crystal's (both of them) while she gets Tuxedo Mask. Sailormoon and the others have a quick respite back on Earth before having to come out again. They see that Chibiusa has turned into an adult, Black Lady. Black Lady then takes Sailormoon's broach. 24. 攻撃 BLACK LADY: Rubules and Prince Demando [they gotta have better names than that in the English translations] reveal that Wiseman is not just a being underneath a robe, but rather, has fused himself with Nemesis and is now an overseeing power. Sailor Pluto can't stand just being a guard at the gates of time and decides to help out. Prince Demando manages to steal the Crystal's from Chibiusa's hands and claims that he now possess the power. 25. 対決 DETH FANTOM: Pluto commits the violation of stopping time right before Demando is about to join the crystals. She saves them, but as a consequence, she herself is going to die. Black Lady sees Pluto dying and suddenly breaks out of her spell and becomes Chibiusa again. Sailormoon and gang then take on Wiseman. 26. 再生 NEVER ENDING: Queen Serenity rises from her sleep and gives the Sailor Scouts new powers before sending them home to their proper time. At home, Chibiusa says she has to return to her own time, causing some sorrow, but comes back almost instantaneously. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 5 |
フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 1
I guess Dragon Age hasn't been around that much and lived under a different title back in 2000. I'm starting this series so I can finally catch up on my subscription to Dragon Age. Anyhow, I thought this was going to be a mecha series, but there haven't been any giant robots running around just yet. The story is set in this volume, but I still don't have a very clear understanding of what's going on, why she's being protected, and who are the bad guys. Maybe in some later chapters. There's a bonus comic in the end and a few color pages to start the book off. 1. 転校生は危険なソルジャー！？ (The Transfer Student is a Dangerous Soldier!?): 千鳥かなめ (Kaname Chitori) is being protected by a 相良宗介 (Sosuke Sagara), despite her extreme displeasure. He jumps in whenever she screams, even if it's just a cockroach. Detonates her locker because he thinks there's a bomb inside, and harasses her teachers. However, when she comes under attack from overzealous stalkers, he comes to the rescue and she rewards him with a lunch. 2. 至上命令！かなめのヒミツを守れ！！ (The Prime Directive! Protect Kaname's Secret!!): There has been graffiti around in the bathrooms speaking ill of Kaname One of her fans, 白井悟 (Satoru Shirai) asks her for a date, and she promptly refuses, but this is enough to rouse Sosuke's suspicions. He has Satoru tied up in the bathroom under interrogation when one of the girls, 稲葉瑞樹 (Mizuki Inaba) rescues him, lets Kaname know her hate for her, and reveals that she's the one behind all the graffiti. 3. はじめてのおつかい刺客と百人組手!! (The First Hitmen and Hundred Person Kumite): Kaname is entrusted with some secret documents to bring to another school. Before they're delivered though, she gets accosted by the boys of that school who asks her to hand the papers over as they show an embarrassing aspect of their school. Sosuke quickly disposes of them with a flash grenade. Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, a group of officers receive news from Sosuke that Kaname is fine. 4. パンと弾丸（ブレット＆ブレッド） (Bread and Bullet): After an incident at the bread counter at school, Kaname and Sosuke take charge of the shop. Their PE teacher opposes students engaged in commercial activity at school and so he tries to ensnare them in traps. However, he himself falls for traps set by Sosuke including electrocution, tear gas, and finally, he gets caught by the principal as he tries to taint the bread. 5. 悪夢の胎動 (The Signs of a Nightmare): An order has been given to launch a cruise missile from the submarine in the ocean (now in the Japan seas?). 6. かなめの受難 陣代高校危機一髪！ (Kaname's Passion, Critical Moment at Jinshiro High): Sosuke has been acting even more high strung than usual, so Kaname has a talk with him atop the school roof. He explains she's is in even more danger now and that he's a special agent dispatched by Mythril to protect her. She leaves without much thought, gets him called to the office while she sneaks out. She then encounters someone. 7. 戦友来襲！？勘違いの午後 (Comrade Attack!? A Misunderstanding in the Afternoon): In the time Kaname was away, she partied with some foreigner she met. Sosuke finds out that two more agents have been sent to help him out, Kurutsu and Mao. During their perimeter search, they find a classmate going through Kaname's laundry, but then Kaname catches Sosuke clinging on to her underwear too. Sosuke admits he's a bit concerned about Kaname hating him. |
Title: フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 1 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 4
Re-starting another series that I've put off for a while. Haven't watched past the fourth episode of the anime, so this is all new to me. There didn't seem to be a lot going on in this volume. A lot of Tohru reflecting back on the relationship between her mom and some more info and more characters introduced, but it isn't until the last chapter that there's some interaction between the main characters. Just 10 more books to go as of now. There's a bonus comic plugging the non-retail drama CD. 19. It's the start of a new school year and two other Souma's have transferred in, Momiji and Hatsuharu. The student class president has issues with Hatsuharu's white hair, but gets show that Hatsuharu really is born with hair of that color. Word has also gotten out that Akito is visiting the school. 20. Tohru meets Akito, first being a little scared, but finds out that he's not such a bad guy. That is until he meets Yuki and reminds him that he missed him when he didn't show up at New Years. Tohru breaks up their tense moment and has the school kids play badminton while Akito has a talk with Shigure. 21. A new member, Ayano, the snake appears. Unlike the others, he turns into a zodiac animal form whenever it gets cold. In human form, he looks a lot like Yuki's older brother, but in fact, there's some tension between the two. Ayano takes Tohru out to dinner, much to Yuki's disdain, and talks to her a bit about Yuki. 22. They dig out some old photographs and there's one of Shigure, Hattori, and Ayano. They comment on his hair followed by a recanting of his days in school with long hair. Hattori suddenly arrives to bring Ayano home. 23. At work, Momiji bumps into his mother. He explains how his has a mother and a little sister. However, the mother doesn't know who he is as she got her memory erased when she knew that Momiji was cursed. However, Momiji still loiters around her, watching over her. 24. The Sohma's and Tohru's regular friends make the trip to her mom's gravesite. All the while, Kyou is trying to come to terms with his feelings. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 4
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