Please Save My Earth, Vol. 4

ぼくの地球を守って [Boku no Chikyū wo Mamotte] #4

by Saki Hiwatari

Are the woes of the present meant to be endured for the promise of a better future or to atone for past wrongs? In a captivating epic of love, fate and faith, seven young people must struggle with this spiritual puzzle as their alien past lives threaten the future.

Rin knows almost everything now, but he's keeping it to himself. When he met the others, Rin lied, claiming he was Shukaido, the age difference due to being reborn twice.

In truth, Haruhiko is the reincarnation of Shukaido, and Rin has made sure he knows the reason behind their age difference--Skukaido's treachery, which left Shion alone on the moon for nine maddening years! Shion's obsession to protect Earth has been passed on to Rin, who is intent on destroying the Moon Base and all traces of their potentially Earth-destroying past.

Overwhelmed by his past life, Haruhiko has cut himself off from everyone. When Tamura insists on talking to him, he sees more than he bargained for--including Haruhiko disappearing in front of his eyes! Having teleported to a river, the distraught Haruhiko jumps in! Issei and Sakura happen to spot him and try to save him. Will Issei make it in time?

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Romance, Shojo, Fantasy, Drama, Comics

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Saki Hiwatari (日渡早紀 in Japanese) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist. Her first work, "Mahōtsukai wa Shitteiru" was published in the weekly shōjo anthology Hana to Yume in 1982.

Reviews

[XA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinche niño maldito malcriado te odio culero

[they think that i'm tom cruise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was just as good as the first one... There was something so deep about it. (I like the word "deep" better than "philosophical" or "profound." It feels truer because I think it touches something in you that's deep down. I guess that's the advantage of a medium that uses words and drawings. And I think "deep" gets a bad rap. Like its facetious use seems to outrank its denotative one, to me anyway... Anyway back to the manga.) And then there was that question about whether Gyokuran would love Mokuren if she were reincarnated as a man! I'm interested in seeing what Hiwatari is going to do with this mess that's been created by Enju being reincarnated as a man, and I hope we get to see more of Sakura/Shusran's interiority... I miss Arisu's interior thoughts, too! But I like the collective protagonism that Hiwatari is cultivating. <3

Some of my favorite moments: "What is the difference / Between being caught by the past and caring for the past?" & "Say, now, and in the next world / Will we be different? Or will we always keep on like this?"

And that moment when Rin's parents are excitedly showing him all the wonderful things on Earth, like bubbles and snow and fireworks ("flowers blooming in the sky!"); lotus flowers, maple leaves, and the ocean... and he starts crying as he looks out over a wind-swept country field... MY GOD, it really captured that yearning for Earth. I dunno, I connected with that. It reminded me of that feeling I get when I remember one of my all-time favorite moments in a poem: "I will have to miss you / Earth; I miss you already." (Fittingly from Ariana Reines' poem called "Science Fiction.")

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this all in one night, just before bed and immediately after reading the preceding volume, so i don't remember the specific details too well. That said, this volume continues building the relationships and the narrative, turning "Please Save My Earth" from a simple supernatural romance into a grand tragedy, a beautiful meditation on identity, age and madness.

[✨Sky✨ ♏ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars

[Joy Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart goes out to poor Haru, and Issei too. They don’t deserve this pain, they deserve the world.

[Othy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't deal with Rin when I read this in high school, and I really can't deal with him now.

[Tina Olah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite volume of the story so far...a large chunk of this one was mainly about character relationships and didn't advance the plot much. Overall though still a great volume (and a great series).