thoughts: Seishun no Tamago (manga)

Creator: Nakahara Aya
Genre: comedy, drama, romance, slice of life, shoujo
Volumes/Chapters: 5 oneshot stories


Story 1: Spring Egg
Chika-chan's mother owns a lodging house for college students. The first to come live with them was a boy named Fujimori Tomohiro and since then, it has been love for Chika-chan. Unfortunately, Chika had to learn early on that Tomohiro had no interest in her at all when her mother makes him sign a contract saying that he'll never go after Chika. Not only did he sign the contract, but he also commented that it would never happen.

It has been a year since Tomohiro moved in and three other college students also are lodging with Chika's family. While their relationship is quite close, Tomohiro consistently treats Chika like she's just a little child; even though he knows that she has feelings for him, he openly rejects her time and time again, always calling her "just the lodging house's little brat," in front of others.

After openly offering herself to Tomohiro one night when they are alone at home, he doesn't even show any sign of being moved. Chika is finally set on giving up this one-sided relationship.


Story2: Sunflower Girl
Misaki has a crush on Kurita Kenji and in order to see him all the time, she purposefully eats sweets and junk food to give herself cavities. Kuri's family owns a dental office and upon going in, Kuri is always there hitting on the young girls jokingly or teasing Misaki. Due to summer break approaching, all the girls have the same idea of confessing to the guy they like before they separate and Misaki is encouraged to do the same by writing a letter. Unfortunately, a junior student is also interested in Kuri and has the same idea, beating Misaki to her confession.

In a fit of frustration, Misaki exclaims that she does not like Kuri and even refuses to go to his dental office even though her tooth aches. Realizing that she has been cowardly, the next time she sees Kuri, she breaks down into tears because of her toothache only to learn that Kuri has also liked her as well.


Story 3: Happiness Faces South!
Bon-chan is the type of guy who everyone adores because of a "magic" he creates when socializing. Bon-chan wears untrendy clothes and is extremely cheerful almost all of the time. And Bon-chan fell in love with Sakura at first sight after watching her hit an outstanding homerun even though she was dizzy with sickness from a cold. He later learns that Sakura is the younger sister of a renown beauty at his college.

Sakura had been in love with her sensei from softball and had recently learned that he got himself a girlfriend. Because of this, she got sick and while nursing herself back to health learns that her sister had just gotten a boyfriend. And then Bon-chan shows up and immediately attaches himself to Sakura, claiming that he likes Sakura the most.

But as Sakura begins to fall for Bon-chan's charms after his efforts to chase after her, she knows that she is no beauty compared to her sister. She overhears a few of their mutual friends gossiping that Bon-chan couldn't possible like Sakura and that he might be using her to get to the older sister instead. This occurs not too long after Sakura learns that her sensei and her sister were dating and she is not surprised because in the end, everyone falls for her sister anyway.

But Bon-chan gave his word that he would only look at Sakura and that it was Sakura whom he liked.


Story 4: Prince and I
Mari-chan's neighbor is a boy named Kaoru who is a year younger than her and he does not know how to ride a bike. Ever since she'd met him, she has liked him, and the two are always together, but not as a dating couple. Feeling depressed because even the elementary school kid has a girlfriend, Mari is ecstatic when Kaoru asks her to go to the planetarium with him after she mentions wanting to see it.

But when Kawase-senpai tells Mari that he likes her and wants to go out with her, jealousy takes over and Kaoru tells Mari to go with Kawase instead. After all, Mari had just twisted her ankle and Kaoru wouldn't be able to transport her home on a bike, so it was only right, right? But because of this, Mari has lost hope that Kaoru might care about her.


Story 5: 2 Block Honey
Satoshi and Micchan have been dating for at least a year, but back then, the two matched like such a nice couple. A year into the present, Micchan towers over her boyfriend by at least six centimeters and when she puts on another six centimeters worth of high heels, she is twelve centimeters much taller. And sadly, this affects Satoshi's thinking because he doesn't like that he's so much shorter than his "use to be cute" girlfriend.

Because of this, Satoshi has become irritated to the point that he wants to break up with her if she ever goes out with him in high heels again. But during the date to determine their status, all of the fates are against them when Micchan shows up in the only pair of shoes she can find, the six centimeter heels. They go on their date anyway, but when someone mistakens them for older sister and younger brother, Satoshi decides to end their relationship because of his pride.


Story 6: Spring, Air, Sunday
Sumito died not shortly after getting an agreement from his crush Risa to go on a date with him. At his funeral, his ghost sees Risa who is crying. And then he sees Haruno, his friend who can see him for some reason. Uncaring and cold, Haruno tells Sumito to leave and quit bothering her so he leaves just to find Risa; in doing so, he learns that Risa never really liked him and found it bothersome for him to chase after her. She only agreed to go on a date with him to shut him up.

Depressed, Sumito returns to Haruno's only to find out that she had been in love with him since the beginning even though she acted so cold about his death. And now, Haruno is on the roof ready to join Sumito as a ghost.

***

I really like oneshots, and even though I write a lot for the summaries, I really hope I don't give too much away.

Seishun no Tamago encompasses the greatness that is Nakahara Aya with her interesting characters, her wit and humor, and fun plot devices. This is a collection I enjoyed a lot, though I must say that nothing quite compares to Lovely Complex, not even the fifth story which was almost a direct knock off of Lovely Complex's idea, but with different types of characters and a different storyline.

Of the six stories, I enjoyed the first, third, and fourth ones the most. The third one, Happiness Faces South had one of the most interesting characters in the form of Bon-chan. I enjoyed his presence a lot and wouldn't have minded if the story was a little longer.

Again, Nakahara-sensei's witticisms do not cease to amaze me.

thoughts: Himitsu Kichi (manga)

Creator: Nakahara Aya
Genre: comedy, drama, romance, school life, shoujo
Volumes/Chapters: 4 oneshot stories



File 1: Boyfriend's Secret
Ikeuchi Kana is a first year high school student who can't stand childish boys. At a coffee shop near her house, she met the mature and good-looking Kaneda Kyouichi who, according to her investigations from the shop owner, is a twenty year old college student. She confesses to him not soon afterwards and he unhesitatingly agrees to go out with her.

Of course, after learning that Kana is a high school student, Kyouichi displays strange behavior, expressing that he thought she was the same age as him. The matter is, there is a secret about Kyouichi that the shop owner lied about, and when Kana finds out, it is a matter of whether or not she still wants to date him and if so, whether or not she wants her friends to find out. Also, Kyouichi has the nickname of Kanegon?


File 2: My Own Secret
Haruka Hiroko was walking home one day and by chance saves a boy being bullied. "I want to be a strong guy like you!" the boy exclaims, and by doing so, Hiro-chan angrily tells him that she's a girl-- although she has always been mistaken for a guy since young. Even though she dislikes that, at school it seems she has a reputation to keep as a cool judo club member and so keeps a secret about having a crush on the school idol, Yoshinaga-kun.

At school, she meets the weak boy she saved earlier, learning that his name is Kotake Jun and that he's in the handicrafts club-- he is quite girly as well. Meeting him afterschool at a convenience store, Jun unexpectedly learns that Hiro-chan has a crush on Yoshinaga and agrees to help her become girlier so that she can confess her feelings. In return, Hiro agrees to train Jun in judo so that he can become stronger.

An unexpected twist in the end has Hiro reevaluating her crush for Yoshinaga and her relationship with Jun.


File 3: Girlfriend's Secret
Seiji is the main vocalist to a local band and he is also in love with Eri, the girlfriend of one of his band members, Katagiri. But when he fell for her, it was because she told him she was moved by his singing. He had no idea that she was the girlfriend of Katagiri. By chance, Seiji learns something about Eri-chan and ends up in a complicated mess of secrets in order to help Eri-chan stay with her boyfriend.

But as time goes by with Seiji being the only person who knows this secret, it seems to draw the two closer, causing Seiji to become more and more jealous of Katagiri and his relationship with Eri-chan. In the process, Seiji is also told something revealingly shocking about himself.


File 4: My Secret
Afro Kawashima is thirty-four years old, has twelve years of experience as a performer, and is stuck on doing uninteresting and stupid gags and so he is not a famous actor. He is also the father of Kawashima Emi who is tired of being the lame actor's son. As this is the situation, Emi keeps his relation with the well-known Afro Kawashima a secret, and no matter how dotingly his father acts towards him, Emi can only return indifference.

And then one day, Afro Kawashima shows up to school revealing all the lies Emi had been telling about his family background. Not only that, but now everyone knows that the two are father and son.

***

There's something unique about the way Nakahara-sensei details her stories, even in oneshots. Each oneshot in this collection details a particular secret that each of the main characters has. As the readers, we learn about these secrets pretty early on, but the secret is still kept going up to the end of the short story.

The unexpected twists, especially in the first three oneshots are fun when found out. The second story may not seem to have a secret other than Hiro-chan's obsession with the school idol, but the surprise at the very end will have you rolling in your seat with laughter.

Between her witticisms, her surprises, and the facial expressions and whatnot, Nakahara Aya does not cease to amaze in her delivery of storytelling.

I like her work a lot for these reasons, as there has not been a story in which some part did not make me want to laugh out loud. These are especially found throughout Lovely Complex, but that will be for a different post in the future.

Himitsu Kichi is a fun and cute oneshot collection full of laughs, if not romance. Nakahara-sensei displays her awesomeness yet again.

thoughts: Miss Prince (manga)

Creator: Kurahashi Erika
Genre: romance, shoujo, drama
Volumes/Chapters: 3 oneshot stories



Story 1: Miss Prince
Hisahara Koto started dating Kagawa Tatsumi for two weeks after meeting him at her workplace as a babysitter for his younger siblings. Her main concern about dating Tatsumi is that he is extremely too perfect, and compared to him, she feels like she can't keep up with him. Although she really likes him, she can't help but to wonder if he's okay with having an ordinary and plain girlfriend. Tatsumi-kun is a good guy, representative of the class, and simply great at everything he does. All of the girls admire him and unanimously decide that Koto doesn't deserve to be with Tatsumi.

Complications arise because of Koto's insecurities and interference between the "fan girls" at school. The relationship between Koto and Tatsumi seems to be hanging very loosely, not mattering that Tatsumi has never seen a problem in dating Koto in the first place. When Koto loses the ring that Tatsumi gives her, she decides that she isn't good enough for Tatsumi after all and tells him that she wants to break up.


Story 2: Strawberry Kiss
Izumi Makino spends her days looking pretty and dating a variety of boys. Because of an incident last summer involving Minato Shiraishi who kissed her while she was asleep in class, rumors spread about the two of them and Makino seems unable to ever forgive Shiraishi for this. But in the present, Minato approaches her and tells her that he was in love with her then and is still in love with her now. Though he is the last person she ever wants to see, she knows that she'll never be able to forget who stole her first kiss.

Due to a school committie event involving a tour for dating spots, Makino learns that she has been paired up with Shiraishi. She ends up having a pretty good time with him and accepts that he likes her. Deciding to give him a chance, she agrees to go on a date with him and eventually ends up falling for him slowly before their first official date when he helps her out of a tough situation. But her various boyfriends keep coming to bother her and realizing that Shiraishi must think she plays around, she promises herself that she will go on the date and confess that she has fallen for him. Unfortunately, the two are already getting off on the wrong foot and there is no telling what Shiraishi feels for her anymore because of her dating so many guys.

On the day of their date, Makino trips and falls and makes her late for her date with Shiraishi. Afraid that Shiraishi may have stopped liking her, she forces herself to hurry to the meeting place, even on her bad ankle.


Story 3: White Calendar
Yukimi Kataoka and Junya Fukino met back in elementary school only to learn that Yukimi is a whole year ahead of Junya in school. The fact, however, is that Yukimi is really only ten days older than Junya, but because of the date that he was born, he couldn't attend the same grade as Yukimi. Since their meeting, they've been inseparable and as they live next door to each other, they go to school together every morning and head home together every evening. Everyone comments that Junya and Yukimi are like brother and sister, but the two like to stress that they are the same age, even though they treat each other like kids.

At school, Yukimi is dragged into the cooking club by her friend where all the girls go to in order to find a boyfriend. After all, the cooking club classroom looks right out into the sports field and the aroma of food attracts all the boys to the window to meet the girls. Yukimi is immediately asked out by one of the boys, even though her goal in the cooking club was to show up Junya in cooking skills. On Junya's side, he has a girl attached to him claiming to be his girlfriend and badmouthing Yukimi because she is a rival as well as in the cooking club.

Jealousy unfolds when Yukimi realizes she likes Junya romantically and Junya sees Yukimi being confessed to. Of course, the two can no longer see each other as just kids again.

***

The stories in Kurahashi Erika's manga are usually sweet and cute and this collection of oneshots is no exception. Miss Prince, like any other shoujo romances is a fun read up to the end because of the simplicity of the stories and the adorable factor in the characters and their designs.

I enjoyed these stories a lot, and of the three, my favorite was White Calendar, though it is quite hard to imagine love blossoming at such a young age. It's still cute and sweet and that's what makes these oneshots such good doses of "Chicken Soup for the Hopeless Romantic's Soul."

For short stories with a good cuteness factor, I highly recommend Miss Prince to anyone.

thoughts: Caramel Milk Tea (manga)

When I go, I end up rolling right through without stop. Hopefully this pace keeps up, but I do have a test coming up and a lot of application work to do. That and business at my part-time is picking up so hopefully I'll at least have time to finish up a few review thoughts on some anime as well as all the manga I've been digesting lately.

Just as well, I'm dying to write about my top ten bishounen and the fact that I've been obsessed with bishies in glasses lately.

But anyway, onto the second manga thoughts post... that is if you don't count this month's spotlight for Sheet no Sukima.

***


Creator: Maki Usami
Genre: drama, romance, shoujo
Volumes/Chapters: 1 volume/ 4 oneshot stories


Story 1: Caramel Milk Tea
Okada Miki falls in love at first sight with Sasaki Ryuuji, a waiter at a small coffee shop when he looks directly at her one day. However, upon bravely asking him out, she is immediately rejected with a simple "The exit is in that direction." Unexpectedly, Miki is now a part-time worker at the same coffee shop and on her first day, Sasaki shows her the same kind of coldness he'd done so before, which irritates her immensely. "That kind of guy thinks so highly of himself just because he's passably hot," had been the words of one of Miki's friends. Because of this incident, Miki realizes that she must have been crazy to have fallen for a guy like this.

Now Miki is determined to work hard in order to prove that her being at the coffee shop has nothing to do with Sasaki. As the time goes by, both Miki and Sasaki begin to see a new side of each other. Sasaki accepts that Miki is there at the coffee shop to work and Miki learns why Sasaki had been so rude to her when she'd confessed to him. But as time goes by and the two become closer, Miki realizes that she is still in love with Sasaki.

Story 2: Our Time
Eri and Shirou have been friends since childhood, but were separated for four years when Shirou's family moved away. At present, reunited barely a month ago, Eri is less than ecstatic to learn that "quiet and cute" Shirou from the past is now "somewhat of a smart ass."

In a desparate attempt to make her ex-boyfriend leave her alone, Eri carelessly asks Shirou to be her boyfriend-- although knowing her motivation, Shirou willingly agrees. Somewhat taken aback both by her brutish request and his quick response, Eri questions Shirou to learn that he's been in love with her ever since they were kids. Because of this, Eri feels extremely guilty for what she's making him do and finds herself slowly falling for him.

On top of that, Eri has a secret she's keeping from Shirou, which she absolutely does not want him to know. The present-day Eri is not so much the same Eri that Shirou had fallen in love with years ago.

Story 3: A Sparkling Mood
Narumi has a crush on the school's top student Miyamoto, but unfortunately she and her family will be moving away from the city as soon as the end of the semester rolls around on December 25th. In order to do something to convey her feelings, Narumi is set on knitting a scarf for Miyamoto as a good-bye present, but is found out by Miyamoto's friend Kanzaki. While at first seeming unapproachable, Kanzaki turns out to be a kinder person than Narumi expected when he helps her choose a ready-made scarf for Miyamoto. As an added plus, he even takes her to see beautiful, sparkling Christmas lights when she admits to liking the feel that they give her and that she'll be moving away soon.

Because of this short meeting, the two become closer as they work together to decorate the school's trees and bushes with lights for the holiday. Little by little, Narumi realizes that she has grown more attracted to Kanzaki and has completely set aside her unadvanced feelings for Miyamoto to the point that she has even forgotten to buy the scarf she'd intended to give to her previous crush.

But the fact still stands that Narumi will be moving away soon and Kanzaki is still under the impression that she is in love with Miyamoto.

Story 4: No. 1 Girl
At the age of seventeen, Saiko is a popular model who is in the middle of forwarding her career. Unfortunately, amidst this decision is also the conflict of what will happen to her relationship with her boyfriend Hajime. Because of this, Saiko hadn't been able to bring up the courage to discuss this ordeal with Hajime and the two end up growing tense with their relationhip.

While it seems that Hajime can be understanding of her decision, Saiko is still conflicted. After all, she must either move away to further her career at this point, but lose her boyfriend. Or she can remain where she is right now, stay with her loving boyfriend, but lose out on an opportunity to climb the ladder higher to her goal.

Maybe it's not as complicated as Saiko thinks it is.


Thoughts:
I'm a guppy when it comes to oneshots. I get giddy and excited because oneshots are short and sweet, and present to you an entire romance story nicely packaged within a few pages. There is no long, drawn out-development, and there is no room for overly complicated issues to take form. We pick one simple issue and expand on it into a short oneshot manga story.

Basically, one shot stories make for really good doses of crack for the romance lover's soul. They're satisfying and their sweet and they're conclusive too so you're not sitting on the edge of your seat wondering when the conclusion will come around and why it hasn't already. One shots have their charm like longer series have their charm like ongoing series have their charm.

Caramel Milk Tea is actually a rather sweet title for this series, taking it from the first short story of the collection. I personally really enjoyed these four stories, and my favorite of the bunch was the first, Caramel Milk Tea.

The build up of the romance between Sasaki and Miki was a given, but the sudden declaration by Miki that "I must have been crazy to fall for a guy like you" was a little unexpected it. I had expected her to be a bit of a cockroach and continue on her pursuit instead of announcing that she doesn't like him anymore so quickly. Most shoujo manga females are quite cockroach like and it gets on my nerves so I was delighted to see Miki stand up for herself and say, "Screw him." After all, a lot of men are the type who don't bother with girls who are persistent and will become intrigued by girls who become hostile towards them. Men are men after all... greedy pigs.

But I digress... and almost climbed on top of my soap box. Whoops!

Anyway, Caramel Milk Tea was a cute little collection of one shots.
My preferences were the first and third stories. The second one was good too, and I really didn't care much for the last. I enjoyed it through, and anyone else who likes short story romances will probably enjoy them too. Usami Maki's artwork is quite pretty, but very simple and plain. I wouldn't really classify her males as bishounen, but the girls are drawn quite bishie-like so it's still good.

Overall, though short and sweet, it was exactly that. Very sweet (no pun actually intended). And for one, as a hopeless romantic, Caramel Milk Tea's first oneshot is one that I don't mind reading over and over again.