meganbmoore | manga: Kare Kano Vol 7-11 (Reply)

I have to say, Arima got a bit creepy regarding Yukino for a while there. Like, the bit where Asapin says Arima only “allows” him to be around Yukino because he knows Asapin won’t touch her. I know the series won’t go in that direction, but that’s the kind of thing abusive relationships grow out of. And I don’t like the idea of a pairing where the guy influences who gets to be her friend or even talk to her and she goes on, blithely unaware.

I mean, I’ve liked pairings before with the whole “only she keeps him human”/“she’s the only one he’s kind to” thing before (and hated plenty of others, though) and with characters less “good” than Arima, but it rubs me wrong here in ways it doesn’t elsewhere. Which is sad, because I adore Yukino, and I really want to adore Arima, too, especially with the whole “be super good to make the people who raised you happy” bit.

I also find his evil twin dreamscape boring. And evil twin dreamscapes with feathers and chains shouldn’t be boring. On the flipside, I’m surprised by how much I like Asapin, as his character type usually either bores or irritates me.

And I’m glad that the mangaka spends a lot of time on their friends and their relationships. The storyline with Sakura and Tonami, the boy she bullied/protected as a kid cracks me up, and is probably my favorite thing from these volumes. I also love her bonding with Asapin over realizing that they attract more cute girls together, and he and Yukino bonding/clashing over how they both try to be the perfect students. I think, though, that I just like platonic relationships between extreme characters who are almost the male/female version of each other.

I’d really like the dynamic between Maho and her boyfriend if he weren’t twelve years older than her, and I’m surprised I don’t like Kazuma and Tsubasa’s storyline more, given how much I like both characters. I think it’s the whole stepsibling pseudo-incest wangst aspect. Though I really like that the popular rock star is shy and sweet and earnest.

I really liked the school festival and play parts, and the school trip cracked me up. I hope Risa and Aya get an arc before Arima’s angst takes over!