The Gentlemen's Alliance †, Vol. 2

紳士同盟 クロス [Shinshi Doumei Cross] #2

by Arina Tanemura

From the creator of Full Moon o Sagashite In return for a business loan of 50 million yen, the prestigious Kamiya family gave their daughter Haine away to the Otomiya family. Haine, now an Otomiya, is appointed to the student council of the exclusive Imperial Academy, a private school for the aristocracy. Even though Haine is of proper lineage to be on the council, she finds herself struggling to find her place among the many secrets of its elite members, especially those of the president who holds her heart--Shizumasa Togu, aka "the Emperor."

 

Haine has been introduced to the entire academy as "Platinum," the title granted to Shizumasa's (albeit fake) girlfriend. Haine must now adapt to her newfound popularity among the students, as well as get along with the jealous Maguri Tsujimiya--the boy Shizumasa jilted in favor of her!

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2005

About the author

Name in Japanese: 種村有菜 (Tanemura Arina)
Western Zodiac: Pisces

Arina Tanemura was born on March 12, 1978. She's the author of Full Moon O Sagashite, Time Stranger Kyoko, Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, Sakura Hime Kaden, and more.

Her favorite hobby is Karaoke. One song that she sings is Smile, originally by Myco. She has two cats, named Riku and Kai. She has one elder and one younger sister and one brother. She's the type who hates to lose in anything. She also likes Ribon.

Reviews

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out more manga and graphic novel reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Arina Tanemura introduces her newest manga, The Gentlemen's Alliance †. The head of the prestigious Kamiya family sells his daughter for a paltry 50 million yen to the head of the Otomiya family. Haine now attends the exclusive Imperial Academy as a bronze and accidentally is appointed to the student council where she will face the emperor of the school, Shizumasa Togu, and her childhood crush.

**I ASSUME YOU HAVE READ THE PREVIOUS VOLUMES**

This volume was what the first volume should have been... MUCH BETTER! I suspect the volume of characters means the story just takes longer to get through... Some great twists in this one!

The art was the same... well drawn, lush, too full with some confusing frames... one with a girl who suddenly appeared and I don't remember being introduced but I really don't know... I HATE this kind of random injection...

Turns out there is another main character that made me like this series a whole bunch more. I don't want to ruin this volume but, yeah, the manga is now interesting and worth reading more due to this additional main character. Still disappointed in Haine and Shizumasa though I understand him a bit better and I see that a confrontation has Haine examining herself some, finally!

The side characters still wowed me! They are being developed well and utilized in the story. I loved learning about Maora. I loved what Ushio did to try to win Haine back!! Learning about Maguri's love for Shizumasa was adorable as well as how that conversation played into the main plot!! Even Toya and Kusame had little bit scenes that were cute and showcased their part nicely!!

The relationships are what this manga is ALL about!! They are explored more in this volume and you hope that they will continue to develop in this manner!!

The plot still continued to be a stinker... random, contrived... it keeps this series at a definite 4 stars when it has the potential to be a 5 stars. The false teeth was SOOO NOT FUNNY... And I saw that plot with Ushio a mile away... at least keep it a little different... Then suddenly in the last two chapters of the volume the story took a total right turn and was like WOW!! I don't know if these interactions will be wow from this point but the plot twists at that moment was startling and explained Shizumasa, which we needed!!

Overall the volume was a little better than the first volume... even though I rated both 4 star I felt like if the second volume hadn't improved I would retire this series... so I'll give volume 3-4 a shot...

⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Art

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my manga and graphic novel reviews in a special feature called Saturday Morning Cartoons...

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say that this is the the first manga I've read where the heroine has false teeth. So weird and random...

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diversity! Yey!
Maguri is just a sweet bad boy that loves honesty and I am in love with his character! Mao-chan is adorable like always and Haine's accaptance towards Mao-chan was really cute.


AND THAT PLOT TWIST OMG

[Kereesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second volume in the The Gentlemen's Alliance was definitely a huge improvement from it's likable, but not totally compelling debut volume. The plotline is definitely showing its soon-to-be happenings, and there was some great character revelations and developments. Ushio was a special favorite for me in this one, and Haine definitely brought some grrl power not only physically (yes, she DOES kick ass), but mentally as well. In spite of the fact she's kind of stupid, Haine is surprisingly very resilient and tough. She doesn't break down completely, even when Shizun is being a complete ass, but strives to always think positively and move on with her life.

It's quite inspiring really, even if she is so damn cheerful sometimes.

I also liked the stuff going on with Shizun, especially in the end, since it really did show more of his character, and it kind of proved how less of an ass he is, and how he truly is a lonely and very sad guy.

All in all, I really loved this volume, even if I hated Shizun quite a bit during it. 4.5-5/5

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review in 75 Words or Less: Being familiar with Tanemura's previous works, I was very excited to start this series. The Gentleman's Alliance Cross was almost everything I had hoped for. The premise is interesting.. the characters were fun and hilarious, but I had a really hard time following the plot at times. While the overall plot stays on a main focus, the chapter's scenes seem to jump around a lot. Giving the reader almost a discombobulating experience.

Final Verdict: A fun and exciting read that at times can be a little confusing. The series definitely has more positives than negative. And I am look forward to reading more about Haine and her experiences at Imperial Academy.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Students attending the Imperial Academy are placed in a hierarchical order based on their parents' income and social standing. Haine is in the bronze class and is not even allowed to interact with the highest gold class - yet the gold class is reserved for the head of the school council, also known as the Emperor, who happens to be the one Haine has set her heart on. When chance allows for her to join the school council, she finds that now that she can finally speak to the Emperor, he does not seem very willing to do so.

I wish I could cover The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross with praise - yet if I try to describe it in a few words I'd come up with chaotic, illogical and terrible humour. From the time of its release, it has been my least favourite series (one-shots not included) by Arina Tanemura and has yet held that position. It's a bit of a modern take on Cinderella with a school for a backdrop that could have taken many routes - but it seems to have gone all over the place.

Let's start with my biggest peeve - where does this all take place? Judging by the names and clothing, it can only be Japan - or a pseudo-Japan? Because although it reflects our contemporary time in many ways, many of the social norms make no sense. Haine is given up for adoption in exchange for 50 million yen, the school's hierarchy seems absolute - you can't talk with people in higher classes and you can rise up in class if your parents pay enough money. Teachers barely seem present, it's like the students run the school in which gang fights are a thing. There's a lot of family abuse going on and people can be proclaimed dead without any investigation, there are forced marriages and just so many extremes. If this were a fantasy setting I wouldn't have minded - fictional worlds can have any rules. But in the setting in which it's presented, it just caused too much disbelief in me.

With that off my chest, let's go back to the beginning. Although the school's concept could have proven an interesting story, it's barely relevant. The plot consists of the characters' dilemmas - and boy are there many. There is not a single character with a normal life that isn't frightfully melodramatic. Let's look at Haine; she's cute but also an ex-yankee/gangster who can easily beat someone silly (why are there knife and snake fights at school again?). She became a yankee because she wanted to prove that she's not worth anything - because, you know, her dad sold her and all. In her mind, her new adoptive family doesn't really want or need her, she's just a burden - so what better solution than to roam the streets at night looking for trouble.

Of course, her whole adoption thing proves to have much more to it, her father's just another tortured soul trying to do the right thing. Her mum goes half insane over it which, once again, didn't make any sense! She's had her teeth knocked out during her yankee-time and whenever her now fake-teeth come out, she goes all strangely berserk - hello humour, you almost made me smile.

Anyway, Haine goes into depression-phase multiple times throughout the story. There are many would-be-climaxes that are either resolved too fast or just interrupted so it could be resolved in a later volume. And because Haine's problems aren't enough, the author made sure that every.single.character. has at least as many to whine over.

If this story would have been much shorter, less wanna-be-depressing and either in a fictional setting or one that makes sense in our world, this could have been a decent story. The council was quite a nice set of characters. I like how they were all pretty different and became great friends.

Shizumasa, the Emperor, starts off as your standard stand-offish main guy but he turns out to be pretty interesting. I feel as though he actually had a legitimate reason to be a jerk to everyone and you know, he's the first to get over himself. His backstory is by far the most interesting and it led to interesting conflicts - it was pretty easy to root for him and hope for a happy ending.

So, while I could try to look past the many, many flaws and read on for the good aspects and hope for a happy end - I can say the ending was a happy one for the characters, if not for me. It was utterly unsatisfactory and pretty much cheats its way past the main obstacle that stands between Haine and Shizumasa. Why resolve the story's main conflict if you can simply ignore it and they all lived happily ever after!

Despite all, I still find myself reading this from time to time. Although most of it is spent shaking my head, there must be enough good in it to make me reread it.

[Nazish Ahmed (Nazish Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike most people, I enjoyed the first one more. I really liked that she was a bit different than most shojo main girls back than, since she used to be a delinquent, I thought that was interesting and would have a cool personality, but oh my God is she annoying to Shizumasa. First of all, she has only met him twice when they were little kids and she had already decided that she’s in love with him just because she liked the picture book he made and another time when he got her out of her lowest point in life. I can understand how important that it but she had already told him she loves him before that, which is what I find ridiculous, you barely know the guy!😒 Second, it’s so cringe that she keeps calling him Shizumasa sama, girl have some pride. I never understood why some characters in manga series call the person they love sama, when that is usually used for Lord and Lady (maybe it’s a Japanese thing🤔). But what I find the most annoying is that she doesn’t get the hint. Stop trying to throw your love onto him. Something happens in this volume where she runs away crying but instead of being mad, she just wants to talk to go back to annoying him again. How about just give him some space and ignore him for a while. That way he can have a break from you and have a chance to miss you and come to you himself. The facts that she just keeps going back to him right away no matter what, annoyed me so much that I can’t rate this book higher than 3 stars. Yes I know I love it when the male lover is obsessive with the main character (in both hetero manga and yaoi manga). One reason is because I’m a straight girl, so I love a guy who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to fight for it, also if he is a jerk towards the main character, in some stories, the mcs leave and the jerk realizes how horrible he is and tries to win the mc back. I also love it when the guy falls first, etc.

I would have liked this better if Haine ends up with Ushio, but I know that’s not going to happen. Yes I know I have mentioned that I love reading about toxic relationships and that these two wouldn’t be a toxic relationship but I like them together, sometimes I do like healthy relationships too even though the toxic ones are more interesting to read about. Tbh, I’m not even sure what Haine and Shizumasa would be considered as. I don’t like either of them separately or together yet. I took a peak at some of the chapters in vol. 3 and I am dreading it (so much second hand embarrassment and annoyance). Since I already had vol. 2, which I had gotten used in 2012 from an anime convention, I had decided to finally read this series this year and buy the rest of the series if I like it enough. Unfortunately, so far I have been disappointed. Ariana Tanemura is such a good writer, what happened? I have dnfed one of her series years ago (Sakura Hime), I don’t remember why, so I might reread it and see if I like it this time, since it’s only 12 volumes long I think? Anyways, I do love some of her stuff like the one shot manga ION and the anime Phantom Thief Jeanne, and also finding this main character’s back story interesting, I’m disappointed with how this story is going. I don’t hate it so I’ll keep reading and maybe if by vol. 4, I love it then I will buy the rest of the series, otherwise I will just keep reading it on the Viz app (I can read it without spending too much money and it won’t take up any space in my iPad/computer or on my physical bookshelves). I don’t know when I’ll read vol. 3 because I want to avoid some of those embarrassing chapters as long as I can.


Full review to be posted soon.


Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still very on board with this so far. The only thing I feel weird about is when they show a bit of Main Character's yanki past - I don't buy that these are two versions of the same person, because present Haine is way too soft, considerate of others and grateful to her adoptive parents to take to the streets and do a thing like that.

About the art, this mangaka is so, so good at drawing emotional eyes, by which I mean you can tell exactly how a character is feeling just by looking at their eyes; and there are usually multiple emotions going on at the same time. The art is very detailed - sometimes the panels can feel a bit cluttered because there are so many lines per page - but when it comes to the eyes I think all these details really add a ton of emotional weight.

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ogni tanto si vede che l'autrice è riuscita a creare una storia degna di questo nome. Ma spesso si perde in una confusione totale che fa sparire quel minimo di trama che son riuscita a capire.

E non aiuta certo il fatto che tutti i personaggi sono uguali e non ho la minima idea di chi siano.

Tanto confuso per il momento. Magari è solo l'autrice che ha voluto inserire troppa carne al fuoco in poche pagine e non ha saputo gestirla. Speriamo...

[Magik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much better than the first one. It still feels like it isn't sure what kind of story its telling but it's much more compelling. Though there were some random stuff that was like ?? (like the false teeth was just so random). But the end was very interesting and so was the stuff about Shizumasa. I only have the first two volumes but I think I might get the 3rd.

[Em Mirra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pending.

[Gary Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sarzaminemah!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just as crazy as the first book but I enjoyed it a lot more 😂 Some things happened and I was both shocked and weirded out like what is happening anymore?

[Ancelle Tache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delves more into each characters motivations and has a big reveal at the end that hooks you into the rest of the series

[EyrisReadsTheWorld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très bon volume, on en apprend plus sur les personnages, leur passé et leur vie, et donc, on s’attache plus à eux. J’ai adoré suivre les personnages dans ce volume. Hainé est vraiment trop chou.

[Kaya Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume gets 4 stars for being insane. When I talk about the plot with my friends, it is so fun yet surreal. I'm glad to be re-reading this series lol

[Betz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packende Story, die noch an Tiefe gewinnt in Band 2 - sehr typisch für Tanemura, dass der Band 1 recht kindlich-naiv startet und es dann in die Tiefe geht

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay… this twist really makes me want to read more…

[ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 *

[Kelley Angelica (bookswithbuns) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Actual: 3.75⭐, rounded up) // Full review to come.

[Gabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t care for this volume all that much 🤷‍♀️

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confused why I was committed to this series as a teen.

[Amanda Setasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accidentally read volume three before this one, but now that I've read it, it makes a lot more sense. I enjoyed this one a bit more. It was cute and the background story was great to add in.

[Yoyomaus Die Büchereule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zum Inhalt:
Haine Otomiya besucht die renommierte „Kaiserliche Privatakademie“. Ihr Schwarm Shizumasa ist der höchstrangige Schüler der Akademie und wird ehrfurchtsvoll „Kaiser“ genannt. Zunächst scheint er für sie unerreichbar, doch dann macht er sie zu seiner „Alibi“-Freundin. Haines schneller Aufstieg passt dem eifersüchtigen Maguri überhaupt nicht und schon bald entspinnt sich ein Geflecht aus Eifersüchteleien und Intrigen…

Haine hat es endlich geschafft und ihren lang gehegten Traum, die Freundin von ihrem Schulschwarm und Kaiser des Schulsystems Shizumasa zu sein endlich erfüllt. Doch sie ist nur seine Alibi-Freundin. Als "Platina" ist sie im Rang des Schulsystems nun aufgestiegen und plötzlich ist sie für niemanden mehr Luft. Sie wird überall gegrüßt, steht nun jedoch im Mittelpunkt aller Geschehnisse und wird streng beobachtet. Nicht allen gefällt ihr neuer Status und so entspinnt sich ein Netz aus Intrigen rund um Haine. Nicht nur Meguri, der vorhergehende Alibi-Freund von Shizumasa, der eigentlich wirklich in den Kaiser verliebt ist, beginnt ihr das Leben zur Hölle zu machen, sondern auch die Vorsitzende der Schülerzeitung. Obwohl scheinbar allen klar ist, dass Shizumasa Haine nur benutzt, sieht sie ihn noch immer als ihren Stern am Himmel. Haines beste Freundin Ushio will sie beschützen, auch wenn sie ihr dabei weh tun muss. Doch das ist noch lange nicht das größte Problem, denn plötzlich will Haines Vater sie wieder zu sich holen, obwohl er sie doch einst für eine Adoption verkaufte und dann ist da noch ein Geheimnis, das ungeheuerlicher nicht sein könnte und Shizumasa betrifft. Ein Geheimnis, das Haine noch viel mehr weh tun könnte, aber auch für Shizumasa nicht gerade sehr angenehm ist.

Die Fortsetzung hat zwar ein wenig mehr Licht ins Dunkel gebracht, doch noch immer tappt der Leser in so mancher Szene im Dunkeln, weil sich die Ereignisse überschlagen oder eben die Charaktere so schlecht auseinander gehalten werden können. Immer wenn man denkt, okay, verwirrender kann es jetzt nicht mehr werden, dann setzt Tanemura noch einen drauf. Besonders ab dem Punkt, wo sie Shizumasas Geheimnis für den Leser lüftet. Außerdem stellt der Leser immer mehr die Freundschaft zwischen Ushio und Haine in Frage, denn das Mädel scheint sehr skrupellos zu sein, wirft sich sich ungeniert an den Kaiser. Auch das Hin und Her zwischen Meguri und Haine geht einem auf Dauer ziemlich auf die Nerven. Die beiden kämpfen um den Kaiser und es soll vielleicht witzig sein, aber wirklich begeistern kann mich das nicht. Schön ist jedoch zu lesen, dass Haine im Schulrat jede Menge neuer Freunde findet, wenn auch nur langsam. Dass ihr Vater sie plötzlich wieder zu sich holen will scheint ein bisschen sadistisch und ich frage mich, was er wohl wirklich damit bezwecken will. Auch der Postbote der Schule scheint immer mehr eine tragende Rolle in dem Manga einzunehmen, ich bin gespannt, wer er wirklich ist. Wenn man von den sprunghaften Szenen absieht, liefert Tanemura hier wieder einen solide gezeichneten Manga, jedoch mindert sich der Lesespaß, da man öfter überlegen muss, welcher Charakter gerade auftaucht, da sie sich wirklich so elendig ähneln. Das macht keinen Spaß und obwohl die Details stimmen ist es auf Dauer einfach langweilig. Schade.

3 von 5 Sterne

Taschenbuch: 178 Seiten
Verlag: TOKYOPOP (29. Mai 2008)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3865806724
ISBN-13: 978-3865806727
Vom Hersteller empfohlenes Alter: 13 - 16 Jahre
Größe und/oder Gewicht: 12,5 x 1,3 x 18,9 cm

[Abi Pellinor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was really bad. Nothing really happened and what did happen was confusing and boring at the same time. Really hoping #3 is better

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Rating: B
Synopsis: Written and drawn by Arina Tanemura, Gentleman's Alliance follows 15-year old Haine Otomiya as she starts high school at the exclusive Imperial Academy. Haine has been in love with Shizumasa Togu since she read the fairy tale he wrote as a child. However, he is now the Emperor (top student) at the Academy, and almost impossible to see if you aren't a Silver (second tier student) or on the student council. Haine is only a bronze, and rumor has it the Emperor already has a lover...a man.

I wasn't sure whether to love or hate Gentleman's Alliance when, in one of the earliest scenes in Volume 1, the school's delinquents released snakes into the assembly room (I am terrified of snakes). Fortunately, the snakes didn't look remotely real, and Haine captures all of them (apparently she can do so easily because she was born in the year of the snake). So, I kept reading and enjoyed the rest of volume 1.

Haine was a yanki in middle school, but has since reformed. However, she ends up getting pretty violent a couple of times in the first volume (especially after she becomes the Emperor's bodyguard) and knocks around some of the pretty boy delinquents (who are not what they seem). The only drawback is the series is I keep feeling like I've seen these characters in other manga and anime (Haine reminds me a lot of Tohru's mom in Fruits Basket).

That being said, overall it's a fun book, and I'll definitely be checking volume 2 out to see if the series develops more.

For more manga and anime reviews, please check out Hobotaku.

[Cassiopeia's Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was so much BETTER than the first one!

Many of the characters get a back story and some deep to their characters. (Thank god, because Haine would've become boring without it!) They evolve and you actually have time to learn who is who. There's lot of drama and questionable behavior. Nobody is who you think they are.

The best thing (apart from the art work) is the humor. I LAUGHED OUT LOUD! good thing I'm home alone And I love Haine and Maguri's relationship. I think they'd make great friends (or are they? I'm confused... however, they're great together!).



I'd like to know more about Ushio though. She's hard to understand... and a lot like a female version of Shizumasa. But who is she really? The only thing we know about her is her unhealthy love for Haine. Is it more than friendship? I've got to read the next volume!

What should I say about Haine? She's the main character and, well... she's Haine.

Shizumasa 's also getting some interesting back story and a lot of important, unanswered questions. I'm still not sure what to think about him... or at least... I know kind of but I can't be more specific without spoiling a main plot twist ;)

Maguri I Like. He's a cool gay dude who can be such a sweetheart and dickhead at the same time. He's the kind bad boy.

Maora , gives everybody a chock. I couldn't believe it at first but now I think it's genius!

[Ottery StCatchpole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my God! That is all I can say about Arina Tanemura. Seriously, OMG! Her artwork is beautiful, this goes without saying. I love her beautiful boys, the way she draws those large eyed girls and everyone of her panels looks like a piece of art. She does all the things that other shojo manga artists do but she does them better. Her panels are more detailed, and artistic, they have beautiful detail and her use of tones is marvelous.

But what has me going Oh my God! at the start of this review is all the twists and turns the plot takes. The fact that her story is really funny, which I think all manga, serious, dramatic and otherwise can use an occasional gag or three, helps to make all the dramatic moments more surprising and interesting. Not only does Tanemura-sensei keep the funny going but she also writes a story full of interesting twists and turns. There are revelations about Maora that are shocking, to say the least, there are things that Ushio does that just leave me shocked, though I totally understand why, and lastly, the last revelation in the book about Shizumasa is . . . well jaw droppingly wowing.

Her story is twisting and winding, and going places, I really don't know where they'll take me. I'm laughing, and crying, and gasping at the revelations. Its just adorable and cool. This is a very meaty story manga and the artwork is wonderfully shojo, all of them things I love. I highly reccommend this manga and the only reason I don't give it a perfect five is because I am saving that for the volume that wows me the most.

[Luke Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Chapter 5 was honestly a mess and very confusing because we were bouncing around from group to group, but the rest of the volume picked up from there. I'm really liking all of our character interactions and seeing them in different situations, and it's also clear which ones I like and despise (can that school doctor just leave, though? I hate him).

Haine's enthusiasm is still super infectious, and I absolutely loved her conversations with Maguri and Maora (who is actually a boy named Yoshitaka, surprise!). I wish she would have more conversations with Shizumasa because I'm not really understanding their connection yet, but the chapter about Haine's past did help.

We also found out something about Shizumasa that puts his whole "hating Haine" thing into perspective. It seems like the current Shizumasa is not him but instead his identical twin brother that's in his place until the real Shizumasa gets better. Even with that, his actions toward Haine are ticking me off and I just need them to talk about all of this because they do truly have a connection. This might have to do with Haine realizing that he hates himself more than anyone else, but we'll see.

Overall, I'm really interested to see where the story goes from here. The art is still absolutely gorgeous because Tanemura is a genius, but I also want to see these characters continue to grow. There also needs to be more comedic chapters because those are my favorites.

[✮Octjillery✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read: Somewhere in 2007/2008.
Second read: December 2021

A solid follow-up to all of the exposition of the first volume.

Two major reveals in this one. I have definitely forgotten many details about this series since it's been like 10+ years since my first read, but I remembered both of these reveals because they're so big. In any case, I'm glad the one toward the end happened so early in the series (as I didn't remember how soon the reader found out). There's already so much convoluted Tanemura stuff happening in this series that it helps to know about that particular part as the reader.

Haine has a lot more going on now, but she's taking it in stride. She's still impossibly bright and forgiving, but that's a shoujo protag for you.

I don't remember all of the details regarding Ushio and her motives, but "those parts" in this volume really suck. I like her character a lot, even if her love for Haine borders on obsession. Hurting someone you love because you think you know what's good for them just isn't it, Ushio. :( Not that Shizun's role in the situation is any more acceptable.