スキップ・ビート! 39

スキップ・ビート! [Skip Beat!] #39

by Yoshiki Nakamura, 仲村佳樹

愛し愛された記憶の無い母・冴菜から、自身の出生の秘密と、母が自分を否定する理由を聞いたキョーコ。母に告げた「諦めます」という言葉の真意とは…？一方、ラブミー部には「怨みを晴らして欲しい」というなんとも奇妙な依頼がやってきて――!?　

Chapters: 231-236

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Contemporary, Graphic Novels, Humor, Drama

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2016

About the author

Yoshiki Nakamura (仲村佳樹) is a Japanese mangaka. She was born June 17. Nakamura made her manga debut with "Yume de Auyori Suteki" in the manga magazine Hana to Yume in 1993.

Reviews

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone with an army of vengeful spirits Kyoko is a very forgiving person. Even after hearing her story I find it impossible to sympathise with Saena. But I'm glad Kyoko can. She doesn't need more hatred poisoning her now that she's begun healing.
Is it me, or has Kyoko and Sho's relationship relly turned into something resembling sibling rivalry?
I love her friendships with the Love Me girls so much. The support and respect she gets from them. I can't wait for Kyoko and Kanae to act together in a proper movie. I guess the girl who wanted revenge will bring the drama for this arc. I wonder if Ren will try for the Samurai part after all.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting family history hear but not a very interesting volume overall. I don't care for the mother. No excuses for her bad choices and how she treats Kyoko. I want my Ren drama back! I loved seeing a softer, forgiving side to Kyoko though.

[Anisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly do feel bad for Saena. With everything she's been through it's understandable why she became the way she is, but it still doesn't excuse the way she has treated Kyoko for all her life. I get that she's been betrayed in the worst possible way and that she was left pregnant and alone and everything she's worked so hard for was crumbling because of a man, but I still don't feel that's an excuse for mistreating kyoko's all her life. To be honest, if she was unsure about her child, she could have given her up for adoption and spare both of them the pain. When we first met Kyoko, she didn't have any positive memories of her mother or her childhood (that's really sad) and for her to be able to forgive Saena and move on shows how much she's grown. That's really nice to see.

[Pflanzis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich bin gespannt, ob/wann Misonoi-san wieder auftaucht. Die Szenen mit Ren und Yashiro-san im Darumaya haben mir besonders gut gefallen, weil sie so entspannt wirkten. Wenn man die Zeichnungen des Mangas mit den ersten Bänden vergleicht, hat sich der Stil ganz schön verändert. Er ist runder geworden. Bei den weiblichen Charakteren gefällt mir das sehr gut. Ren und Sho sehen in manchen Panels für meinen Geschmack etwas zu jung aus, aber daran gewöhne ich mich bestimmt noch.

[Garden of Eden]

My gosh! Kyoko & Ren always connected somehow. And now Yashiro become Kyoko's temporary manager. Lol. But I think maybe because he feels something is not right with Morizumi. Argh! I want Kyoko in action pack drama! Go go girl!

[Michelle Buvoir d'Encre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely some much needed information, but that didn't make it all that fun to read. Getting the back story on why Kyoko's mom was so...horrible and absent. That past is really important for Kyoko's character, and it's referenced A LOT. Obviously it's also why she and Sho are so intertwined as well.
The best part of this volume was seeing how after THIRTY-NINE (like wow how is that many) volumes, Kyoko is really growing up and owning herself. She's not letting others decide who she is.
As for Seana... I feel bad for her, as a woman. And frankly, I think she didn't go far enough getting Kyoko away from herself. I don't know how adoption works over there, but that would have been the best option for everyone. Saved Kyoko a toxic relationship and Seana the constant reminder...

[Dasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 1, 2 de 10 suspenso, lo odio
⭐⭐ 3, 4 de 10 justito, meh
⭐⭐⭐ 5, 6 de 10 bien, no está mal
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7, 8 de 10 notable, me gusta bastante
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9, 10 de 10 me obsesiona, me encanta.

Mis puntuaciones son para toda la saga, en general. No por tomos.

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing the whole back story of Kyoko's mother ,it was such a great add to the story :)

Also loved the little bit of Ren that we got to see :) i want him and Kyoko to get together already ! i mean 39 volumes in and they have barely kissed , i love slow burn romance but even i'm dying for something more to happen .

[DonutKnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

And after all the tension... the reasoning behind Kyouko's strained relationship with her mother is revealed! She's the "result" of some asshole conning her mother in order to get insider information into a lawsuit, and after he got it he just absconded off into the sunset (so-to-speak), with Saena left alone and pregnant (dick), with Kyouko as "a symbol of shame and disgrace" to the extent that she was contemplating abortion, and when THAT didn't plan out... suicide.

This volume got DARK, okay? :|

Though weirdly enough, after Kyouko learned all this background, she and her mother... kinda... reconciled? I dunno. It's weird, but then so is Kyouko. So it kinda works *shrugs*

--

Tbh though, I'm more excited to learn about Kyouko's new (potential) role as Momiji - in a period drama with Moko as Chidori! Seems like Kyouko's going to learn sword fighting and everything, so I'm pretty excited to see where things go next. Would LOVE to see a bad-ass samurai warrior Kyouko ;D

[Anna 'Bookbuyer' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the author has started to really delve into Kyoko's past now. I can't believe what an ass her father was and I now somewhat understand her mother's coldness even if I don't agree with it.

I honestly don't understand but am so grateful that despite her unorthodox upbringing Kyoko is still a happy go lucky girl and I hope we get so see some really good progress with Ren soon. :)

[Starbubbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021: Sanea resolved (more or less) faster than I remembered. I am glad for the set up of more Moko time. Now if we can squeeze in more Maria, it would be perfect!

[Z Mythos · Rating 3 out of 5]

So um...this might be the first volume I didn't really enjoy as much as the previous ones??

The beginning with the culmination of Kyoko's conception/Saena's backstory was fine. I actually kinda appreciated how Kyoko's mother was portrayed as being unable/not ready to feel love for her daughter as a normal parent would because of the trauma related to that whole experience and wasn't really condemned or demonized for it. It felt realistic because trauma is a complex and at times rather ugly thing that warps our ability to be empathetic. Kyoko herself is blameless in this situation, obviously, as a child born of a relationship that was built on lies and deceit. But so many times in fiction and reality alike women are left baring the brunt of these horrible situations and it makes sense that Saena reacted the way she did. She wasn't mentally or emotionally stable enough to bear a child, let alone raise them. It sucks and Kyoko definitely deserved better, but at the same time, there wasn't really any much option other than what happens in the story proper.

The new subplot of Kyoko trying to get a role on the same show as Kanae was okay. I mean, the plot does have to move forward and all. (So much missed opportunity Yashiro made by not accepting the role that was offered to Ren for that drama lololol.) I'm...not sure what to feel about Kanae and that kid Hio who seems to have a crush on her. Just 'cause, I think I recall that there's supposed to be like...actual...romantic framing of their relationship going on? And like, age difference stuff is alright when it's between adults (I mean honestly for me personally, in fiction I can even make exceptions for teenage characters depending upon the context of the story), but this...? Doesn't really work for me. Kanae's like Kyoko's age. Forgive me for thinking she deserves a love interest who's more in her actual age range and not like...a kid. >_<

Poor Kyoko getting her dreams of playing handmaiden to Kanae's noblewoman *winkwink* crushed tho. (Kyoko's exaggerated affections for her do get my bi-dar flashing a bit. Tho even if she is as in love with Kanae as she is with Ren, obviously her fear of romantic love in general would get in the way of that as well. I think she acts the way she does because behaving like that with other women is "safe" in her mind because she hasn't considered the option that she could possibly fall in love with them as well. Just some food for thought.)

But okay, to get to the meat of why this volume didn't do it for me as well as its predecessors. Well, one, there was a lot less interaction between Kyoko & Ren this time and after being fed so well and glutted tf out previously, this one felt rather...unsatisfying. I don't have any better way of putting it. The second big reason was the whole justification given in-story for how Shotaro had been treating her since their childhood. I just...can't. That his utter fuckin' abandonment of her in a strange city where she had no one else is now being chalked up to him wanting her to spread her wings and find something she actually wanted to do with her life rather than depend on the approval of others is...troubling. For so many gd reasons. And no, it's not gonna make me suddenly like and/or sympathize with him. He deserved that bigass kick to the shin. I guess I should've been dreading this coming along since the past couple of volumes were trying to paint him more sympathetically all of a sudden. *grumbles*

So yeah...idk what else to say? I hope the next volume will be better?? I feel bad for coming out of this not loving it as much as I hoped I would, but it is what it is.

[Luana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

L'ho già detto che Kyoko è una tipa tosta, vero? Beh, come si suol dire, repetita iuvant. Nel confronto con sua madre, la ragazza dimostra una maturità non indifferente - a dispetto della sofferenza patita quando era solo una bambina, Kyoko non ha alcuna intenzione di odiare Saena. Anzi, in parte prova anche compassione per lei, dopotutto è stata vittima di un raggiro crudele che l'ha segnata molto a livello emotivo. Si è ritrovata da sola ad affrontare una gravidanza imprevista, la sua carriera stava per essere distrutta. La piccola Kyoko era l'incarnazione di tutto questo: una bambina innocente, ma anche il simbolo concreto di un errore che ha mandato all'aria cinque anni di lavoro. Nel momento stesso in cui si è concessa di provare qualcosa, è stata punita. Probabilmente non sarà mai in grado di provare del vero affetto materno, ma questo non influisce minimamente sui sentimenti e sulle decisioni di Kyoko. La ragazza ha trovato la sua strada da seguire, gli obiettivi da raggiungere: come detto, non odia la madre e una parte di lei continuerà a nutrire la speranza di un rapporto migliore. Ha saputo mostrare comprensione e tanta empatia. Di sicuro, si è comportata meglio di Saena.
Ormai la rotta è segnata: diventare un'attrice in grado di interpretare diversi tipi di ruoli e di rappresentare il Giappone. La strada è ancora lunga, ma la nostra protagonista non è una che si tira indietro davanti alle sfide. Non ha alcuna intenzione di tornare a Kyoto, è pronta a rilanciare la sfida al bietolone biondo e ha messo gli occhi su un nuovo ruolo (certo, non è proprio quello che si immaginava, ma potrebbe ritrovarsi a recitare con la sua adorata Uffina). Vedremo come evolveranno le cose, anche perché c'è qualcosa di strano nel processo di casting di questo nuovo progetto 🤔

[Jae's Manga Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series Review: 3/5
See Skip Beat!, Vol. 01 series review here.

SPOILERS ahead.

Volume Review: 4/5
The last couple volumes have been sad - we've seen Kyoko cry her heart out. This has to do with her mom and this volume has the final bits that are said between her mom and her. You find out the end of her mom's story, which is pretty tragic. In fact, it makes me pretty upset. Kyoko's mom was used by some random guy who was hired to steal information from her. He even gets her pregnant. Kyoko's mom (for some reason, her name is at the back of my mind and I just can't remember, sorry) had a few chances to confront him, yet she didn't. She had an inkling of what was going on, but by the time she realized everything, it was too late, and she was pregnant to boot. You find out that she despises Kyoko because of the circumstances around her conception and birth, and it's so sad. Kyoko, back to her bubbly self, asks her mom to support her, and they leave on (somewhat) good terms (well, at least waaaaay better than ever before). As a mom, this whole part has left me a bit heartbroken. You also get to see Ren's worrying side and it looks like more people are realizing his feelings for Kyoko. By the end, Kyoko is back into her show biz, with the hint that she might get a part on a series with Ren! I sure hope she does. It might move things forward in their relationship.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Skip Beat 39 finishes the backstory of Kyoko's mother, Sanae, and why the two have had such a complicated relationship. Some readers will forgive what her mother did and others will likely always dislike her - but author Nakamura does a good job of avoiding pat resolutions for what has amounted to years of disaffection.

Meanwhile, Kyoko decides to join Moko in auditioning for a new Samurai pictures, Lotus in the Mud. But what she thought was a role protecting Moko's princess character instead turns out to be for the princess' rival. With the role of the Ronin love interest uncast yet, it will be interesting to see who gets the part of the person with whom Kyoko has to pretend to fall in love.

This volume ends one story arc (Kyoko coming to terms with her mother) and starts another (Lotus in the Mud drama). There are some great scenes of Kyoko and Ren as well as a fun sibling rivalry challenge between Kyoko and Sho. Add in a mysterious threatening caller about Lotus in the Mud and Kyouko is going to be faced with some interesting challenges soon now that she's resolved her past. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I now understand why the mother story-arc was brought in - to show how Kyoko has developed and matured emotionally, and although she still has things to work on, she can empathize even with someone who mistreated her so poorly all her life. I think she needs to have this emotional maturity for a relationship with Ren to work later, so I can see why it was necessary to the mangaka t include it. As much as I love Kyoko's crazy outbursts, I think she would look like a kid having a tantrum next to Ren.

I also liked that Kyoko is auditioning for a new acting role, as I love it when Kyoko is on set and the drama is part of the overall story/arc. I hoping there were hints in this volume that Ren will act as the Ronin, because I would love to see how this would help Kyoko develop her feelings for Ren as she fights over him, and that Ren might gain the courage to be truthful to himself and Kyoko about his feelings.

[Moriah Venable · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I feel about meeting Kyoko's mother or the whole arc in general but its my favorite so far. I can't believe that Kyoko found the strength to confront her mother and in the progress learn why her mother acted the way she did. It does change my opinion of her and I hope we see her again. I am also curious if her father will make an appearance as well. Maybe we will finally learn more about him.

With the arc being over, a new one begins and I look forward to seeing Kyoko in a new role with Ren! Will their relationship becomes any closer. I can't get over how they were acting as brother and sister, and Ren coming to terms with things from his past. I hope he talks to Kyoko soon. I was hoping she would finally learn who Corn really was.

[Alejandra Bran (Blue Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was great, love how I though Kyoko and Saenas confrontation was gonna get nasty but instead it was healing for both of them. I wonder if Kyoko's father might show up later on the plot. I think he might have been an actor! but we'll see.

Also I can't deny it anymore... I do like Sho. I feel like they both motivate each other to become greater in a different way Ren does. Through out the story there has been scenes that have show us that Sho has always been the way he is and thanks to the way Kyoko was raised she was only show one dream... to be Sho's wife. I believe their relationship will change to something stronger maybe like a sibling type. (One can only dream)

On to the next volume

[Alicia Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the!

This issue was cut short, what the heck happened to they're training and the actual audition for the fight scene? I know this issue was longer because a read the whole thing and volume 40 starts after that were Kyoko is speaking with the lead actor about Mr Tsuraga. I feel I've been jipped though you did add an additional side story its still not enough. You charged the same as the earlier chapters and this has less in it. Plus 40 wont be out until next year 'nor fear at all'.

[Guylaine Boisvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still interesting after 39 volumes! In this volume, you really feel that Kyoko has matured. It really is a joy to see her become a young adult. She is not afraid of opening up at the risk of getting hurt again. I am happy to see the story progress, because I felt it had stalled in the last volumes. The author also knows how to keep the writer interested : she has dropped hints in this volume about what's to come. Can't wait for volume 40!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the record, I *have* read the entire series before this several times, but the thought of having to go through 38 volumes of this wonderful manga and mark them as read kind of makes me want to weep right now, so for now I'll start here.

Glad the storyline with her mother has seemed to wrap up for now. I know all this needed to be addressed, but it feels like it dragged on a wee bit too long. I am liking where the next storyline is heading - Kyoko as ninja? Yes please! <3

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

2022 Skip Beat! Re-read

Oh no! You had a big bad abusive past?! Sure would be a shame if you were to... perpetuate the cycle?! Kyoko Mogami is too soft and I hate the warped narrative of "love conquers all" when it handles abusive parents this way. Forgiveness is fine and good and can help victims but Nakamura is trying way too hard to sweep the abuse Kyoko endured under the rug. And I especially hate the mentality of "well it's okay cause I'm who I am today" like noooooo that is nto okay!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, il passato della madre di Kyoko è stato effettivamente un brutto colpo, l'amore ahimè acceca anche le menti più brillanti. Detto questo, rimane inscusabile per tutto il resto. Fortuna che accanto a lei ci sono state molte persone che hanno aiutato soprattutto la figlia. Ora che Kyoko si è tolta un peso dalle spalle, è pronta per una nuova avventura: sostenere un provino per poter recitare accanto alla sua adorata Uffina!

[L. J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repeated review.

I am so uninterested in this series, but I want to see it through. I won’t be making proper reviews for it anymore since my thoughts are just generally the same all the time anyway (lots of annoyance/anger for some volumes now); my rating will tell you if I liked or disliked it. You can safely assume, however, that I still despise Sho and Ren, and everyone else, but Kyo and her bestie (who sometimes isn’t around and sometimes is, much like Sho).

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is likely to make American audiences uncomfortable. Not sure how Japanese audiences reacted to this one, but I'm sure many Americans would be very, very upset by it.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one, but I think I accept it as a somewhat realistic depiction considering what I know about Japanese culture (though, I admittedly don't know as much about this topic in Japan).

[Emilou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last couple of volumes I felt that the series was starting to go downhill. It felt like too much drama with her mom. But this one is giving me hope that its starting to pick up again. But this book is just setting up for the next miniplot, so I'll have to wait until next volume to see if it is getting any better.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an (accidental) re-read. I couldn't remember where I stopped... Plus it helped to have a bit of a refresher before continuing. After the cloyingly sweet manga series I've been reading recently, it's nice to go back to a chick that hell-bent on revenge. Though to her, revenge is just living her best life, not that I can blame her.

[Khari · Rating 5 out of 5]

この巻は京子と母の編の最後。

乾燥は微妙？やっぱり理解できない。母が自分の子を虐待する恐怖があれば、その子を別の家族を与えるべきと思う。ただ扱るだけではない。愛してくれるの家族のあげるべきだ。ちゃんと家族の一人のようにするの暖かい場所にあつけるべき。自分の子が愛されないなら愛される人を見つけたあげては責任と思う。京子の場合と他の子の場合、居候の扱いは子供の精神をダメージする一方だ。「自分を愛されたいなら愛を貰うために働きゃイケナイ」。愛は上げるものだ稼ぐことではない。

私は京子の母もしょうちゃんの両親も好きではない。母は責任を取っていないそしてしょうの両親は京子を本当に受けていない。本当に受けたならしょうは彼女の幼馴染ではなくて実の兄弟のようなものになるはずだった。その家で京子と他の人はいつも距離があった。とっても悲劇だと思う。

[FER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, understanding Kyoko's mom doesn't mean I stop hating her. I wasn't sold either when Kyoko set up personal boundaries. She's gonna give up hoping her mom loves her, but she also still wants her approval. Reminds me shes STILL 16 YEARS OLD! I'm looking forward to the Lotus arc. More Moko & Kyoko please.