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天使のルージュ (Angel's Rouge) Vol. 1
I don't know how the this series and Secret Rouge were presented in Young Jump. It seems like this should be the successor, but according to the books, Secret Rouge Vol. 1 was first, then this comic, and then Secret Rouge Vol. 2 appeared again. Hmm. Like Akane, the author is presenting the story again after a short 2 volume stint. However, the main female character here has a different name and a different personality. Rather than being attracted to her new secretary, she actually hates him and it's the manager who likes Daisuke. 1. コスメ・フリージアへようこそ (Welcome to Cosmetic Freesia): Daisuke Hifumi has just been fired from his current job and since he doesn't want to take over the family's sushi business, he made an agreement with his dad to find another job within a week. Meanwhile, 綺月彩香 (Ayaka Kozuki), the president of a small cosmetics company, Freesia has trouble dealing with other male bosses at other companies. Her manager, 黛麗子 (Reiko Mayuzumi), suggests that she get a male secretary, namely a body guard. So they start interviewing people. Daisuke hasn't had a lot of luck and it's almost his last day. Through his sister, he finds out about this opening at a cosmetic business and the night before the interview, gets together with his friend and drinks. They end up at a party with some other girls, who happen to employees of Cosmetic Freesia and Ayaka herself. Daisuke gets drunk and starts babbering about how he has to interview at this small, negligible cosmetics company in front of the girls. The next day he goes to interview and sees the same girls who he, the night before, had bad-mouthed to. 2. 面接会場味方なし！？ (No Friends at the Interview!?): He goes to the interview and gets grilled by the girls. Reiko, however, asks him as he's walking out why he wants to be secretary. His answer is simple and honest, so Reiko hires him for the job, much to the disgust of the boss and employees. He shows up to work and his first job is to mop the floors. The co-workers make him go outside and clean windows where he manages to peep in on Ayaka as she's changing. 3. 彩香の夢 (Ayaka's Dream): Ayaka brings Daisuke along as an escort to a high-class boat party. On the ship's deck, Ayaka sees a little girl who complains that despite her mother working in the industry, she's not allowed to wear makeup. Ayaka puts some lipstick on her and later, explains to Daisuke that makeup changes how a woman feels about herself. Daisuke realizes that she's really devoted to her job and feels like he should do his best too. 4. 秘書だから！！ (Because I'm the Secretary): While sweeping the floor, the end of Daisuke's broom accidentally fondles one of the female co-workers standing behind him, causing ruckus among the other girls who already dislike him. Later, he accompanies Ayaka on a business trip and in the car, surprises Ayaka with his knowledge of their product line that he had memorized. 5. 予感 (Premonition): Ayaka takes Daisuke to 翠庵 (Suian-sensei), an old woman that lives in a traditional Japanese house who trains people in manners, to get him up to snuff on etiquette. Daisuke gets kicked around a bit during training by her. As he's sweeping the grounds, he sees Ayaka in a kimono. She sees a spider and jumps into his arms. 6. そばにいさせて (Let Me Be With You): The other girls in the company come to this house to enjoy the bath here. They didn't know that Daisuke was training at the same place and are surprised by his presence. However, they take full advantage of him by having him keep the fires going to keep the water warm. As he's doing that, they start a rumor that Ayaka has another secretary and make sure he overhears. Daisuke runs up to Ayaka to confirm this but she says that having one secretary is more than enough. 7. 弱い男の固い意志 (Weak Man's Strong Will): Before going to a business meeting, Ayaka stops by 杉浦 (Sugiura's) research center to me with him. Maybe they've had something in the past. After the meeting, she goes to the obligatory party with the boss she did the presentation for. He's already drunk and tries to hit on her, but she prevents him. Her peers think she should have let the boss have his way. Afterwards, Daisuke accompanies her home and she falls asleep leaning on him in the car. |
Title: 天使のルージュ (Angel's Rouge) Vol. 1 |
宇宙のステルヴぃア (Stellvia) DVD Box 2
It took me 4 months to finish this box, 8 months after its release. Like I said before, I thought the series should have ended at the end of the first half of the show. They hyped the Great Mission since the beginning and that pretty much ended at episode 13. This second half could have been a season two as it feels a bit tacked on. What I liked from this half was the relationship between Shiipon and Kouta. Despite the huge mystery of the cosmic fracture, I enjoyed constant tension between Shiipon's self-doubt and Kouta's insensitivity. Like the first box, this comes with a booklet with summaries, art, interviews, designs, etc... There are 4 DVDs in the box, but lacks any type of video bonus. I don't think it included a textless ending for the last episode. The quality of the video is still superb, but there was this one scene where the picture became pixelated because of the grid-like background, typical of MPEG compression. After successfully deflecting the earth from the Second Wave, the students go home thinking that all is over. However, they discover a cosmic fracture that is approaching earth with the power to destory the planet. They first witness it destroy Ultima as it comes in from space. Having been successful during the Great Mission, Shiipon and Kouta are selected to pilot Infinity for this Genesis Mission. However, Shiipon can't seem to use the DLS system and feels like she's inferior to Kouta who has no problems with it. Kouta's also been hanging out with Ayaka a bit too much, stirring up some jealously. In the end, they manage to eliminate the cosmic fracture by sacrificing the space stations, including Stellvia. |
Title: 宇宙のステルヴぃア (Stellvia) Mission 2 DVD Box |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 3
With all the crazy characters in this book, I've come to dislike Fukuyama. I don't mind eccentric personalities, but he's just annoying. The collection of stories in this volume ranged vastly. I liked the last story, but could have done without all the fighting in the chapter before that. First four pages are colored. 13. Yukinari and Miharu are about to enjoy a peaceful card game when Kirie and Fukuyama show up. Fukuyama brings with him a strip-MahJongg game which he claims his family's an expert at. After a few rounds of Kirie and Miharu having to disrobe and Yukinari having to wear a bunny suit, the three of them get the last laugh when Fukuyama loses and has to be a playboy bunny in public. 14. Lisa discovers Koyomi living with Yukinari and feels threatened that she's a new rival. Her two underlings, Hayate and Kosame, tell her that Koyomi has a fear of guys, so Lisa goes out and makes her the target of lustful men. When that fails, Lisa personally talks to Koyomi and introduces her to her brother, Fukuyama. 15. Yukinari is a bit worried about Miharu working, so Kirie gets the idea to dress him up as a girl so he can work alongside the two of them incognito and changing his name to 佐藤雪菜 (Yukina Satou). Their job involves entertaining kids, which isn't too bad until the men show up, including Fukuyama. The men take a particular liking to Yukina, but Fukuyama hordes Yukina to himself and doesn't find out that she's Yukinari until he starts feeling his body. 16. In going to Fukuyama's Christmas party at his house, Kirie sees a strange mirror and walks though it. On the other side, there's a parallel universe where the personalities are all switched. Fukuyama is the female-allergic, Koyomi has a crush on him, Yukinari horny one, and Lisa is in love with Kirie. After a few struggles, Kirie manages to escape that world. 17. Miharu feels like everyone is avoiding her, although they're just planning a surprise party in her name. When she doesn't show up, Yukinari goes out and finds her partying with Fukuyama to forget her sorry. He manages to convince her that she's not disliked, and even Lisa puts in a good word on this day. 18. The gang is celebrating Setsubun by the traditional throwing of beans to ward off evil spirits. However, things get out of hand when members start throwing each other out of the house. 19. A mysterious girl shows up looking for her mother and Koyomi helps her look. For some reason, the girl has a sense of urgency and says that she has to find her today. However, they stop after she finds a toppled over snowman. The next day, the girl disappears and Koyomi realizes that she might have been a snow-person herself. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 3 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 11
This is the beginning of my second favorite arc in the series. Did Mamoru go to Hahvahd in the anime? Don't remember. What I do remember was that Ami mentioned Columbia University in one of the episodes, and well, guess where I went to grad school. Sailor Iron Mouse is my favorite enemy Sailor, it's a shame she got disposed of so quickly. The bonus stickers are the same as the cover images for Venus, Chibiusa, Neptune, and Uranus. 50. スターズ１ (Stars 1): Usagi is having nightmares again. While things seem to be back to normal, Usagi isn't happy as Mamoru going to Hahvahd. As Usagi sees him off at the airport, he mysteriously disappears and Sailor Galaxia shows up. Usagi passes out, is saved by the three idols, and forgets about the incident. Meanwhile, Sailor Iron Mouse, a hench-creature of Galaxia comes to steal the scout's Star Seeds. The inner and outer scouts can't defeat it, but out of nowhere, three new scouts appear and eliminate Iron Mouse. 51. スターズ２ (Stars 2): The Tsukino family has a new addition, Chibi-Chibi, and like before, this new member uses some memory magic to make the parents think that she's a little sister. At school, the three Idols Yaten, Seiya, and Taiki suddenly enrolling at her school and become the popular guys at school through each of their talents. Through Michiru, the girls get to attend one of their live concerts and Usagi can feel that the song they sing serves as a beckon for someone. After the concert, Sailor Aluminum attacks and kills Mercury and Jupiter, taking their Star Seeds away before the three idols reveal that they're also Sailor Scouts by transform in Sailor Star Healer|Fighter|Maker. 52. スターズ３ (Stars 3): The Starlights depart as soon as they appear. Later, Taiki makes Usagi remember what really happened to Mamoru and why he hasn't been in contact. Galaxia makes her official debut. Mina(-P?) and Rei confront the idols/Starlights, thinking that they might be enemies and Rei's two crows come under attack by the new hench-woman. 53. スターズ４ (Stars 4): The new enemy, Sailor Red Crow kills Phobos and Deimos. Venus and Mars fight back, but they're soon killed and their Star Seeds taken away. In the future, King and Queen, with Chibiusa, feel that someone terrible is happening in the past. Present day, a strange new cat-like student transfers into class. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto do some investigations to find out about the extra-solar system Scouts and through Chibi-chibi, the Sailor Starfighter's princess, the one who they sing about, appears. 54. スターズ５ (Stars 5): The princess reveals to her protectors that Chibi-chibi herself is also a Sailor Scout. The new student is Sailor Tin, another villain who attacks the cats. Sailormoon saves them, but not before Chibiusa, in the future, senses something wrong with Diana. Usagi meets Kakyuu (I think), the Starlight's princess. She explains to Usagi about Galaxia, the Sailor of Destruction. Later that night, Usagi meets a woman with tremendous power. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 11 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 9
While it was twice as long as any other chapter, I enjoyed Saki's background story. Like in a previous volume, it looks like the parts I like best about Fruits Basket isn't the main characters, the development of the side characters. This volume has a bonus chapter. 49. As Yuki is going to his pre-semester student government meeting, he ponders over Kyo's words that he's a boring person. At the meeting, he meets two new members, one of whom after some interactions, tells Yuki that he's an interesting type of guy. Yuki explains to Tohru that he felt better after hearing that praise. 50. At work in the store, Alyssa meets a guy who reminds her of Tohru's clumsiness and becomes attracted to him. During lunch, she sees him in the streets and has a meal with him. Some misunderstanding happens when he belittles his visit to the store, but they manage to come to even terms. Turns out that he's a member of the Sohma clan too. 51. Saki was born with a special extra-sensory power that she never wanted, but had to live with. Being different, she was teased and pushed around by he peers as a young child. Once, it got so far that she willed on of her abusers to die, causing him to collapse. After that, things only got worse for her and she had to transfer out to another school. At this school, she met Tohru and Alyssa and their friendship started well until rumors of her past surfaced again. Saki tried to distance herself, but Tohru wouldn't allow her to isolate herself and wanted to be a friend no matter what happened before. 52. Kyo and Tohru visit Kyo's master's house where Tohru helps him with some cooking after he burnt his own meal. However, he gets a phone call from Kyo's father who wants to meet with him. He leaves the two kids alone and meets the dad who still blames Kyo for the chaos in the family. However, Kyo's master vows to protect him. 53. Momiji comes over and invites everyone to go on vacation at the Sohma summer house. While Yuki and Tohru are studying, Yuki brings up the topic about the cap that Tohru keeps around. Tohru explains to him that it was given to her by a kid who helped her out when she got lost as a child. And it's implied that the boy was Yuki as a child. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 9
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