kei_k's manga / #Shoujo(441)

Ch 16 // hmm nice concept. The thought about revealing the truth which won't make anybody around her happy or just keeping things as they are is interesting. For a second, I thought, what if I'm faced with a similar dilemma? If I happen to know a truth that will destroy everyone's happiness and making me look like the bad guy, would I still reveal it? Or should I just keep a blind eye and let people be happy? Well, in the story, leaving things as they are isn't good because it's not like they won't do bad things again. If left as is, there's a chance that more people will suffer. Is it selfish to take away their short-lived happiness for the good of many, even if some of them are those we consider "family?" Doesn't it feel hypocritical if for instance, I knew that a family member did a crime and I turn him in? Others may say that as a family, we're supposed to protect one another, so I'm supposed to help him evade the law. However, I personally think that if I don't let him take responsibility, it will only get worse. I mean, of course I worry. For example, if it's my husband and I have to hand him over to the police. What if he's abused while in prison, or worse, killed? I worry about such things, especially because I know that other officials can give up their honor for fame or money. I find it hard to trust even those people who are supposed to protect us. So anyway, I may appear cold-hearted, but well honestly, maybe it would depend on the situation and the gravity of the sin? Anyway, back to the manhwa. I liked how it talked about the tale of the glass slippers... How pretending to be someone else or taking advantage of others for selfish intentions would only hurt them in the end.

I loved and hated this manga at the same time. There were a lot of moments that made me so frustrated to the point of wanting to smash my keyboard, though there were also cute moments that made me root for the characters. Okay, let's start with Sumi. Sumi, Sumi, Sumi. Oh, the ever innocent Sumi. From the start, I kind of found her annoying. She was innocent yet arrogant. You see, she has decided to sell herself involuntarily to save the children and she even almost went along with an old guy who offered. And here comes Souichiro who offered to take her instead, as long as she fulfills her end of the deal. In retrospect, she's already achieved something better than selling herself outright. It may be the same, because she also sold herself, but at least, with Souichiro, she wasn't forced to that level. Since she agreed with their deal, to be his wife, the least she could do was respect Souichiro as a person. But what did she do? She just couldn't hide her lovestruck face for Nozomu. I mean, even after the kidnapping/fire incident, how could she "innocently" follow him to his house? This girl. Did she want to be forced that much? She knew the guy had hots for her and it's impossible not to notice that his obsession wasn't normal, and there she goes following him along. Like really, did she think that by not rejecting him firmly, she's being kind? Ugh. Even at that party, when Nozomu announced that she's his fiancee and Souichiro crashed looking haggard and dirty... Even if she didn't mean it, the way she treated him publicly was just too much. Even if it's true that she married for money, how could she disgrace both him and herself like that? I hated how she had to say those words. They crush men's pride and faith much, you know. It's a low blow. Of course, I pity her too. I mean, I sympathized with her, feeling helpless when all she wanted was to provide for the children they took up... I mean, that was her purpose, right? I know that falling in love can't be helped, but I wish she was wiser at least. Also, she's too naive and very easy to fool. I'm annoyed when presented with a female MC who seems to be kind and trusting only to be betrayed later on because she misjudges people a lot. Haaah. Really. She's the character I disliked the most in this manga. I mean, hey, sure, she was talented in more ways than one. Like in cooking and in shogi. She's also deemed beautiful. But other than that, she's just too st*pid. She didn't think things thouroughly and just jumped into action, as if confident that she'll always be saved. Ughhhh. As for Souichiro, well, he may look really tyrannical in the beginning, but hey, they made a deal and she agreed to it so I guess it gave him the right to act intimate with her. He was moody and he schemed a lot to gain more by using Sumi, but honestly? Sumi benefited a lot from it too so they're just quits. I admired how he became more responsible after choosing to be with Sumi though. And I can see how painful it was to be left like that despite swearing to each other. Ugh. He's been hurt too much in this manga. Tsk. Nozomu. The prince charming who took the yandere route. He was certainly charming in the beginning and I could tell he truly cared for her. However, one can only take too much jealousy. I say Sumi is to be blamed partly though. Even though they clearly agreed to be husband and wife, she still went ahead to get close with Nozomu showing her lovestruck expression. Erk. Anyway, his obsession was truly excessive, as even the revelation of the blood ties didn't bother him at all and still wanted to claim her. Poor you. You were a victim, too, but I sincerely hoped you at least atoned for all the mess you made. As for the story, the ending was too rushed and dissatisfying. The story had a lot of loose ends and questions left unanswered. For a poor girl x rich boy story, I guess this was pretty good because instead of a scheming female rival, we get a male yandere instead, which is kind of rare in my case. So yeah. Hmm, art was inconsistent but beautiful a lot of times. Especially with Sumi. Maaan. I don't even know how to look at her anymore. She's had too many hairstyles and even her face changed a lot from mature and childish. Like sometimes, she just really looks elegant and classy, then sometimes she looks just her age, 15. ps. It was hard reading bec of the LQ scanlations, but it was better than nothing. pps. This was re-read on: 08/12/16. First read around 2014, I believe. Didn't enjoy much this time around.

Ch 19. Wow, it's very interesting in a way that it''s pretty realistic. I like how certain emotions are incorporated to the characters... Honestly, the 'twist' was quite predictable, what with that Gotouda lying about lying. Err, I just had the feeling that Murase was really Gotouda since I saw him (even when he changed that face). I mean, even with the story he came up with, I didn't believe his BS 'coz it's just too coincidental and his previous actions contradicted it. Also, can we talk about how they didn't bring up him being called as "Gotouda-san" in the plastic surgery clinic? Err,, Anyway, this manga just made me broaden my perspective on this subject. I can see how unfair the law really is. I can quite understand how some people no longer believe in it and want to take justice with their own hands. But anyway, it's really interesting. I want to see how the story would develop from here on. Anyway, about Nobara taking Kotori's place, from the beginning, I thought it was a bad idea. If we think about it in the long run, it would've been better for her to admit their lie sooner than living like that and constantly being scared of being exposed.. Especially since she went to court as Kotori when she was Nobara. She'd also be questioned with the DNA test she cheated on. I mean, sure, if she admitted it in the beginning, it's possible that she'd be blamed again, but c'mon, she just heard how her mother didn't deny her anymore. And it was foolish of her to think that she'd rather be the one to die. Anyway, that wouldn't change the fact that one of them died, so why make the pain heavier? She just added more lies. She should've just been honest. So yeah. I'm also interested on how things will go for Yuuwa, too, of course, especially because he lied for Nobara now. Ahhh Nobara, she should've planned it better you know? But I guess in her state of mind, it wasn't possible to think logically anymore. Hrrrr. Anyway, personally, of course I resent that guy. Sure, he couldn't bring back Kotori and all that, and I would've considered forgiving him a little if he really did change but he didn't change at all. Lying and pretending.. I guess it's true that she didn't expect Hime to be Nobara's friend (or he forgot, bec you know, he practically stalked Nobara before so it's possible to have seen her) but it's hard for me not to think that he intentionally let Hime fall to have miscarriage since he didn't really plan to settle with her.

Ch 4. Ahhh this is seriously disturbing and frustrating! I mean, how can those girls bully like that and get away with it? I can only imagine how the bullied feels. No wonder suicide incidents in both middle and high school increase.. Err. It's actually translated until Ch 7 already but I feel so frustrated to continue...

Well, I can see he liked her even before she lost weight. I didn't like how she used him as an excuse to lose weight bec later in the relationship when something goes bad, she might use it against him even though he didn't urge her at all.

hmm nothing really special. would've liked to see more character development. i mean, what's with Haru's character? she's just basically there. would've liked to see more of her present personality aside from constantly chasing after Dongha.

1. Yuma x Suwa (unrequited love for Kajima sensei, who already has a fiancee.). Yuma liked being on the same train as Kajima despite being risked of having men grope her because it was a time when they "share the same aura." She went out with Suwa but she wasn't really satisfied because the one she really liked was Kajima. She went on pestering Kajima, but he was resolute. He already has a fiancee and didn't consider her. She ends up just asking regards to the fiancee since she realized that there are a lot of girls like her who could only crush on him (earlier she was wondering why not a lot of people notice him when he stands out for her a lot). She goes back to Suwa. 2. Kanna x Haruta (Kanna x Haruta are childhood friends who ended up being friends with "friends since middle school" Asami x Mayama. Kanna liked Haruta but she was insecure about how he truly felt for her because he continued flirting with others, and when a convo about the motorcycle went like this, H: I'm going to let the girl I love ride on it. K: But I'm scared of motorcycles... H: Who said it would be you? So yeah, that made her feel like maybe he didn't really feel that way for her. So when Mayama asked her out, she went with him and kissed him. But then Haruta died the same night when he was hit by a truck while riding his bike, texting Kanna that he's coming (bec earlier, Kanna said not to barge into her room suddenly, and should at least send a text).. So yeah, Asami liked Haruta and confessed during the fireworks (this is also the time when Mayama made a move on Kanna) but he rejected her because he liked Kanna. Basically, they were going around in circles. Asami liked Haruta and knew he liked Kanna, but she pretended not to know and wanted Kanna to feel that things with them 4 shouldn't change... Mayama liked Kanna and knew Haruta liked her, too, but he pretended not to know, so when he knew Asami liked Haruta, he kind of pushed them to be together so he can get Kanna. Kanna felt that Haruta liked her because it was natural for them to be together and he was giving her sweet little kisses, but she was conflicted because he doesn't confess to her and instead goes on flirting with other girls. It's a heavy case for all of them so it was hard to move on. After he died, they just went on their separate ways because they felt like they were at fault. Eventually, they got together as friends again. 3. Mizuki x Kajima. The story of how Kajima met his fiancee. Started in hs. Mizuki was a 3rd year, who had unrequited love for her sensei who was getting married, while Kajima was a 1st year. They ended up being together, but since graduation was near and she's going far away, Kajima didn't want to be in and LDR. Mizuki asked him to come see her only if he's really serious about her. Six years have passed, he never once came. Mizuki came back and Kajima became a student teacher in their alma mater. They were somehow reunited by her niece. Seeing a guy with Mizuki in the hospital when visiting her dad, he assumed she had a bf so when asked, he told her he has a gf (w/c was later denied by her niece who liked him). After seeing Mizuki's guy friend (whom he thought was her bf) with another girl, he realized he misunderstood her and comes to her while she was sharing her regrets of letting him go just like that before. Anyway, they voiced out their concerns about that and went to his house to "see his dog" just like when they first did it. 4. Ai x Mayama. This is the same Mayama from #2. He was in her neighbors unit, taking care of his friend's goldfish while he was away. Anyway, they had sex, but Mayama couldn't completely get serious because he hasn't completel gotten over their past. It was implied in the end that he was conflicted of being with Kanna since they shared the same past but at the same time, wanted to somehow forget and move on. It's like he's a bit ready to move on with Ai, but he can't, at least until Kanna becomes happy with someone else again.

Ch 18 //