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Vanilla
Vanilla, Volume 02
Things seemed to be finally working out between Ichiru and Saeki, but their bliss didn't last long. Ichiru is worried because Saeki doesn't seem to give the same importance to their love as he does, and after a huge argument, it looks like the two will break up Is there no safe exit to this labyrinth of love...?
200 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 23, 2016
Review originally published at mangaupdates.com in August, 2009.
Hmm. Like Stimulating Relationship, I couldn't stop reading, but was largely disappointed in most scenes. It just seemed so surface and unexplored.
The tension between the teacher and student was awesome. The secondary character in the shape of the other student with the completely different perspective on relationships was fascinating.
The story had great potential - again, it was intriguing. If only all these features were brought together with more depth and impact...
Because it had awesome elements, its failure was more pronounced.
Hmm. Like Stimulating Relationship, I couldn't stop reading, but was largely disappointed in most scenes. It just seemed so surface and unexplored.
The tension between the teacher and student was awesome. The secondary character in the shape of the other student with the completely different perspective on relationships was fascinating.
The story had great potential - again, it was intriguing. If only all these features were brought together with more depth and impact...
Because it had awesome elements, its failure was more pronounced.
February 17, 2020
The first half was great, getting around some of the big flaws from the first volume, but then it ends very suddenly and there's a side story with different characters that's just angsty drivel. For some reason they thought it was a good idea, but it's literally about some guy not being able to take no for an answer and Jesus I'm so glad we as a society are over that trend. It's...not great, sorry.
September 25, 2010
We last left Morio and Saeki kissing in the rain, on the roof of the school, holding on to one another tightly. Volume 2 of Vanilla begins the morning after, when Morio awakens to find himself face to face with his teacher - and he remembers just what they did the night before.
When he realizes that he has not been home since leaving school, Morio sneaks out of Saeki's bed to phone his mother, so she won't worry, changing the name of the person he had the sleepover with to that of one of his friends. Saeki wakes and overhears him, but he understands the necessity of the white lie. Even while Saeki holds him, Morio admits to himself the reason that he gave in to him - fear of losing him if he continued to hold out. Morio laments that his clothes are unfit to go to school in, so Saeki recommends that he ditch. Interesting attitude for a teacher to have! So that is just what they both do, and Saeki takes Morio to the shop where he gets his infamous Nakamura cutlet sandwich!
While they are having lunch at Saeki's house, there is an unexpected arrival - his housekeeper Yajima. He wants to clean Saeki's room, which is something of a disaster area, so Saeki goes ahead to move some things out of the way, leaving Yajima with Morio, who is a little uncomfortable with the male housekeeper. Morio is embarrassed, trying to think how to explain his presence there, but Yajima puts him at ease, saying that he has encountered this type of situation with others before Morio. Which leads Morio to wonder just how many other guys Saeki has brought home with him - a disconcerting thought.
Morio is enjoying this day off, time spent with Saeki, actually getting to know him, and he begins to relax - a bit too much. Suddenly he remembers they are not alone in the house. He is embarrassed at maybe being seen by Yajima so they take it upstairs, to the bedroom. Afterward, once Morio's clothes are clean once more, he questions Yajima about some of the others that have been there, and the housekeeper admits that Morio is different from the others. Is that good or bad?
Morio is more in love with Saeki than ever. Nakajima is shocked when Morio tells him that he and Saeki made love. Morio is afraid of his feelings, afraid he is opening himself up to be hurt. He returns to Saeki's house, but he isn't home yet, so he gets into another discussion of Saeki with Yajima, which Yajima overhears and isn't happy about. An incident at school the next day between Ohta and Saeki - who has confessed her feelings for him and been scorned in the process - shows Morio only too well the pitfalls of being in a one-sided relationship. Is this his fate? Should he take Nakajima's advice - and his offer? Or should he hold out for what he is convinced is his true love for Saeki?
This volume contains two bonus episodes - Pink Diamonds, parts 1 & 2. This time we are dealing with Nakajima's story. Like Saeki, he is a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy, living for today, never worrying about tomorrow. When he is slipped some dope by a guy he is with, he leaves him, only to find himself falling ill. He reaches out to the first person he sees, and promptly passes out. When he awakens, he is being tended to by that same guy. Nakajima doesn't remember anything, but he hopes he wasn't sick on the man's shirt, or soiled it. He's so worried that he gives him money for dry cleaning, despite the other's protests. When the savior begins to question him about drugs, Nakajima has had enough and takes off.
The next day he tells Morio about what happened, who comments that Nakajima has been sleeping around again. Time has passed since the first stories, the two boys are in college now, and Morio and Saeki have been together for two years. It's been a while since Nakajima has seen his ex-teacher, so on a whim he suggests going over there with Morio. He pretends to hit on Saeki for no other reason than to tick off Morio, but he's just kidding. When he decides maybe he should leave, he runs smack into Yajima - who turns out to be his mysterious savior!
Nakajima leaves, but he can't stop thinking about Yajima, who follows him, to return the drycleaning money, but the youth won't take it. He finds that Yajima's polite and condescending attitude rubs him the wrong way. Later, when one of his one night stands tries to make more of their relationship than exists, Nakajima has to enlighten him. The rejected suitor turns violent, but once again it is Yajima to the rescue! Nakajima is more confused than ever, especially when Yajima asks him his favorite flower and then shows up with an armful of pink tulips - pink diamonds - which Nakajima cavalierly throws away. Is there something between these two, or can there be, or are they far too dissimilar to find any common ground?
You can read my complete review at Yaoi Radius!
When he realizes that he has not been home since leaving school, Morio sneaks out of Saeki's bed to phone his mother, so she won't worry, changing the name of the person he had the sleepover with to that of one of his friends. Saeki wakes and overhears him, but he understands the necessity of the white lie. Even while Saeki holds him, Morio admits to himself the reason that he gave in to him - fear of losing him if he continued to hold out. Morio laments that his clothes are unfit to go to school in, so Saeki recommends that he ditch. Interesting attitude for a teacher to have! So that is just what they both do, and Saeki takes Morio to the shop where he gets his infamous Nakamura cutlet sandwich!
While they are having lunch at Saeki's house, there is an unexpected arrival - his housekeeper Yajima. He wants to clean Saeki's room, which is something of a disaster area, so Saeki goes ahead to move some things out of the way, leaving Yajima with Morio, who is a little uncomfortable with the male housekeeper. Morio is embarrassed, trying to think how to explain his presence there, but Yajima puts him at ease, saying that he has encountered this type of situation with others before Morio. Which leads Morio to wonder just how many other guys Saeki has brought home with him - a disconcerting thought.
Morio is enjoying this day off, time spent with Saeki, actually getting to know him, and he begins to relax - a bit too much. Suddenly he remembers they are not alone in the house. He is embarrassed at maybe being seen by Yajima so they take it upstairs, to the bedroom. Afterward, once Morio's clothes are clean once more, he questions Yajima about some of the others that have been there, and the housekeeper admits that Morio is different from the others. Is that good or bad?
Morio is more in love with Saeki than ever. Nakajima is shocked when Morio tells him that he and Saeki made love. Morio is afraid of his feelings, afraid he is opening himself up to be hurt. He returns to Saeki's house, but he isn't home yet, so he gets into another discussion of Saeki with Yajima, which Yajima overhears and isn't happy about. An incident at school the next day between Ohta and Saeki - who has confessed her feelings for him and been scorned in the process - shows Morio only too well the pitfalls of being in a one-sided relationship. Is this his fate? Should he take Nakajima's advice - and his offer? Or should he hold out for what he is convinced is his true love for Saeki?
This volume contains two bonus episodes - Pink Diamonds, parts 1 & 2. This time we are dealing with Nakajima's story. Like Saeki, he is a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy, living for today, never worrying about tomorrow. When he is slipped some dope by a guy he is with, he leaves him, only to find himself falling ill. He reaches out to the first person he sees, and promptly passes out. When he awakens, he is being tended to by that same guy. Nakajima doesn't remember anything, but he hopes he wasn't sick on the man's shirt, or soiled it. He's so worried that he gives him money for dry cleaning, despite the other's protests. When the savior begins to question him about drugs, Nakajima has had enough and takes off.
The next day he tells Morio about what happened, who comments that Nakajima has been sleeping around again. Time has passed since the first stories, the two boys are in college now, and Morio and Saeki have been together for two years. It's been a while since Nakajima has seen his ex-teacher, so on a whim he suggests going over there with Morio. He pretends to hit on Saeki for no other reason than to tick off Morio, but he's just kidding. When he decides maybe he should leave, he runs smack into Yajima - who turns out to be his mysterious savior!
Nakajima leaves, but he can't stop thinking about Yajima, who follows him, to return the drycleaning money, but the youth won't take it. He finds that Yajima's polite and condescending attitude rubs him the wrong way. Later, when one of his one night stands tries to make more of their relationship than exists, Nakajima has to enlighten him. The rejected suitor turns violent, but once again it is Yajima to the rescue! Nakajima is more confused than ever, especially when Yajima asks him his favorite flower and then shows up with an armful of pink tulips - pink diamonds - which Nakajima cavalierly throws away. Is there something between these two, or can there be, or are they far too dissimilar to find any common ground?
You can read my complete review at Yaoi Radius!
October 11, 2013
In the second volume, they are together, but Moroi cannot overcome his fear of being cast aside like all the others. Again, it’s a ridiculously cliché plot and one of my pet peeves - I love you because you are the way you are but I cannot stand it because it means I can’t have more. I can forgive this type of tantrum only in songs and manga and still end up enjoying the story. Saeki’s character is what makes this story work for me and he stays in his character even when he admits that Moroi means to him more than the others.
April 11, 2009
very uncomplex characterisation, but i'll forgive her as this was her first (published? non-dj? it's a little unclear) series. very sweet and innocent, despite the central couple being a teacher and his high-school student. i'm definitely going to hell.
May 22, 2015
See review book 1.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews