Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 9

フルーツバスケット [Fruits Basket] #9

by Natsuki Takaya

Secrets of the curse revealed! Dive deep into the twisted relationship between Akito and Kureno, the most elusive member of the Sohma zodiac. Tohru tries to help, but finds herself in even deeper trouble. Good thing she has steadfast friends who will save the day! Elsewhere, something is going on with Machi! When Yuki and Kakeru pay a visit to her home, will the secrets of her past be revealed? And trouble is on the horizon when Hatsuharu finally learns what Akito did to Rin. Will anything be able to stop his wrath, or will he do something he can't take back?!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Comics, Shojo

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Name (in native language) : 高屋奈月

Natsuki Takaya (高屋 奈月 Takaya Natsuki, real name Naka Hatake) is the penname of a Japanese manga artist best-known for creating the series Fruits Basket. She was born on July 7, 1973; (Tanabata). Takaya is left-handed and once revealed that she wanted to be a mangaka since first grade, when her sister started drawing.

She was born in Shizuoka, Japan, but was raised in Tokyo, where she made her debut in 1992. She enjoys video games such as the Final Fantasy series or Sakura Wars, or working on her different manga series, such as Fruits Basket, which is the second best-selling shōjo manga ever in Japan, and the top selling shōjo manga in North America. Fruits Basket has also been adapted into a twenty-six-episode anime series.

In 2001, Takaya received a Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga for Fruits Basket.

According to Takaya (in a sidebar of a Fruits Basket manga volume), she enjoys drawing girls (girly ones) more than she does boys. Takaya also enjoys electronics and music, but dislikes talking about herself. Also revealed in a sidebar of Fruits Basket, Takaya broke her drawing arm (left) after Fruits Basket volume six was published. She had to go into surgery, and as a result, had put Fruits Basket on a brief hiatus. Takaya made a full recovery, but complains that her handwriting had gotten uglier, due to the surgery. During her hospital stay, she gained an interest in baseball.

Reviews

[Avani ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed both the volumes, I wish the physical books weren't this expensive lol

[Lucía Cafeína · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perrrrrrrdona QUÉ ?! QUÉ?!?!?!
Me ha estallado la cabeza con este tomo

[Max Freese · Rating 4 out of 5]

what started off as a whimsical romantic comedy has now become a deeply disturbing psychological trauma

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/PWLz8dQBW1Y

I do believe this is the best volume yet in the series.

I feel there has been a turning point and I think mainly because Tohru feels much more of a relatable character to me. We're seeing her happy facade crack in places where I feel relieved to see her as a real person.

I do not like Akito and never will. Maybe that sounds horrible, but there is no kind of justification that will ever make their actions excusable.

I really ship Rin and Haru. They are an incredible and powerful ship.

Another really good volume!

[Nea Poulain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todo con los Sohma queda siempre en familia.

Yo siempre quiero hablar de Akito, así que vamos a hablar de Akito: creo que la fuckearon de niña, una porque es el dios del zodiaco, porque nació para ser el centro de todos ellos, porque le dijeron que el zodiaco la amaría sin importar qué. Porque Ren es infinitamente cruel con ella, porque le dice las mismas cosas que en un círculo vicioso de mierda Akito le dice al resto. Es una narcisista llena de enablers y la gente que la quiere proteger acaba metida también en el juego (Kureno acostándose con ella porque no puede negarselo a esa niña que llora, Shigure acostándose con Ren en venganza por lo de Kureno porque es un celoso de mierda que le echa en cara a Kureno que haya profanado algo que, per se, considera suyo. Toda esa escena de ah, para lo mucho que niegas tu feminidad, no dudas en usarla contra mí, porque Shigure sabe que no puede negarse, porque la ama y esa es la verdad de su vida. Amo las relaciones de gente horrible.

Es impecable ver que Kureno también quiere protegerla, que nadie sabe muy bien cómo y que donde unos no dudan en lo más absoluto en usar a los más jovenes sin piedad (Shigure, que sí, los quiere, pero los usa igual porque quiere deshacerse de la maldición, no quiere compartir a Akito con nadie), Kureno le re cuerda que todavía hay bien y mal y Hatori la cuida, a su pesar. A pesar de todo el daño que les ha hecho, para ellos es esa niña con los ojos llenos de lágrimas que les pregunta si la aman.

Y sí, a pesar de todo, la aman.

Akito, plis be my most beloved toxic wife.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like giving any volume of this series a "low" rating, but it's at the point that it's more annoying than affecting, sometimes. There are only so many unthinking, self-destructive decisions that these characters can make before I'm inclined to shrug and say "what else were you expecting?"

And I really, really hate Akito. I could only sympathize with a character like this if they both realized how harmful their behavior was and stopped behaving that way.

This manga isn't as committed to a depressive vortex as some others of its length (i.e. KareKano). Still, I'm thinking the try-hard humor from earlier in the story would be a welcome relief. Only three volumes to go...

[clarabella ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Bec (becklebooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5 stars.
It had a lot of backstory filled in which I liked. A plot twist surprised me cos I'd forgotten about it from my initial read-through years ago.
But it delved into side characters that I didn't particularly care about. It was also very soul-searchy which showed how alarming the cycle of abuse was. It made me feel extra sorry for the characters and it renewed a particular someone's fear and determination.
But it wasn't especially gripping. I could see it building foundations for the last three volumes, though.

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy huge bomb dropped! Thanks for that! Gosh I love this series!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Ulrika C: · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
Events from the previous volume gets followed-up already in this volume. There was no coincidence that Akito kept Kureno away from the others - Akito did that to prevent the risk that the other members find out that Kureno is free from the curse! No-one knows how it happened but the fact that it is possible is making Akito desperate to hold on the power she has over the other members.

We also learn that Akito has a tragic upbringing, being forced to pretend to be a boy by her own mother. However, as Kureno tells Akito, there are right and wrong things to do even by Akito. The members have let Akito do wahtever she wants but this time Kureno finally tries to say no and a line for Akito's behavior. Akito takes the abuse to the next level on Rin...had the abuse not be discovered by Kureno it could have meant the death of Rin. However, Akito sees Kureno's limit-setting as betrayal as Akito thinks that she is allowed to do whatever she wants to the members and still be loved by them.

We also get followed-up on events that happened many chapters ago such as Hiro feeling guilty that Akito hit Kisa, the reveal to the other members when Akito pushed Rin out the window, why Machi acts they way she does and even the president of the prince Yuki fan club gets a follow-up when she pray for happiness for Yuki and thank him for their time at the school.

At the very end, Shigure reveals to Rin that their curse will be lifted eventually. This should be happy news but Tohru is not satisfied with the answer. She knows the fate of Kyo and seems to come to a realization that Kyo means something extra special to her.

[Imane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooof that last chapter... my heart! Also Akito should drop dead, PERIOD.

[Davina Herondale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didnt actually READ this, more like skimmed it but episode 9 just aired and I'm emotional and I need to know what happens so let me have this

[Flor ):) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los quiero mucho a todos (menos a ti Shigure tú te puedes perder)

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Question: How did Kureno carry Rin without her turning into a horse?

[Michelle N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel sick. 5 stars.

[~tea~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart=💔

[Laure Hittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheeeeeesh i read this whole volume in a single sitting and it messed me up. The first two chapters alone are so heavy, and then it kept coming. Akito’s reveals… Shigure’s i don’t even know what to say. And then there the Rin and Haru development and the Yuki development and the Machi development… i am exhausted. Not even to mention Tohru, who feels weighted down by the doom waiting for Kyo.

Thankfully i have the last three volumes waiting because holy cow this is a lot. But not now. Decompression and sleep first. Shew.

[Sarah✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with this series. I love everything about it! This volume was so intense and things are coming to a head. I’m so excited to see where things go and Tohru is finally starting to realise her feelings for Kyo and I’m just living for it! 🥲

5/5 stars! ✨✨✨✨✨

[Yuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this volume completely jumps the shark. Many choices made, especially the ones regarding Akito, bothered me. Also, I don’t feel as invested in this characters as I was at the beginning.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
As I've mentioned before in this series, I really like certain characters and don't care for others. This was a mix. Haru gives this the extra half star because I really liked him finally confronting Akito and leaving on his own terms. Things I learned about Shigure...kind of taints him. I need more Kyo and Tohru. Hopefully, they will be featured more in that last three volumes.

Content: some language and sexual content

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5.

I felt this this collection was more scattered and dealt with more of the outside characters. But it had one big reveal that was unexpected. Still looking forward to how this series will come to the end.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how much more of this series I can take. My heart is breaking 😭. If these characters don’t get a happy ending, I don’t know what I’ll do.

(Also, seeing Haru pop off on Akito was so satisfying)

[Zadie Micajah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may or may not currently be screaming.

[BeckyisBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brb...in devouring mode.

[Mélanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This keeps getting better and better❤❤

[Rachel Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shit's getting real

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just 🤯 with this! That plot twist omg, I literally ate this volume, enjoyed it a lot that I didn’t even noticed 😅

[Lochlyn ✩⋆⁺⋆₊♡₊✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars bc i needed more kyo yuki momiji tohru ??? the last volume had minimal KYMT and this one had even lesss lawd i need them!

also akito can literally go die i do not care about THEM

[Chesney Infalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This focused on more minor characters, but I’ve come to care for their stories too!

Contains:
-Abuse