It starts with friends recommending their manga books. It quickly turns into a reflection on the power of storytelling and how manga can some times get you through hard times. Dive into this anime related book club and appreciate manga with us! New episodes available from August 2022.
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Is this the final episode of ‘We Appreciate Manga’? I guess we will have to see… Either way James has an announcement to make but first we give a quick review of Godzilla minus one and talk about side chapters of Petshop of Horrors. Skip chapter summaries @ 15:01
In the additional chapters, young Chris Orcot treks out into the labyrinthine back rooms of the petshop to find out Q-Chan’s human form. Unlike the rest of the Pets in Count D’s shop, who appear as human to Chris, Q-Chan only appears as a Wolperdinger, a horned rabbit like creature with wings. As Chris explores the hidden rooms, he meets a grim looking figure who obliges him but unfortunately for Chris, the remedy he acquires has no such desired effect on Q-Chan.
Another chapter shows a Totetsu (a mixed goat and tiger creature) by the name of T-Chan. T-Chan is looking down in the dumps before Leon finds out that it is because he is in love with one of D’s new pets. Leon and the gang help him pluck up the courage but because of T-Chan’s proclivity to eat the one he loves it results in T-Chan being rejected. It becomes a bonding experience for both Leon and T-chan.
The Flowers and detective chapters feature the police detective Leon Orcot, D does not trust Leon enough to take care of pets so he gifts him a gatolatto plant. The plant grows well thanks to Leon’s appreciation and care but eventually Leon is wounded from a gunshot and is hospitalized. On his miraculous recovery he asks D to water his plant for him, only to be told that the flower has already bloomed and withered to death in his place. Was it really the plant that saved Leon? D has given people stranger things.
Part two, has D playing matchmaker only for Leon to interfere and end up winning the affection of beautiful creatures. What Leon does not realise is that he is being used to pollinate women. Like a honey bee!
Part three includes a strange kimono arriving at the pet shop. With the Kimono’s colour representing Sakura (cherry blossom) but being made from the blood of insects. And in the last chapter that we speak of today, we see Chris sent on an errand but D and Leon spy on him using cameras and disguises, very much like the Reality TV show ‘Old Enough!’ (a.k.a. its literal translation ‘My First Errand’) Afterwards they spend the night gazing at the full moon and D tells Chris of the rabbit in the moon, and the princess whose kingdom has become extinct. Chris tells D that maybe the rabbit princess is still on the moon and is just hiding.
Topics:
· Thoughts on Godzilla Minus One and Hollywood.
· Pareidolia, do you see a rabbit, a woman, or a man when you look at the moon?
· The future of the We Appreciate Manga Podcast.
Historical, scientific, and cultural references:
· The cherry blossom looking dye in one story is often used as a food colouring can trigger allergies, look for anything labelled carminic acid, carmine or cochineal on red coloured foods.
· Unlike the west Chinese and Asians countries tend to say there is a rabbit in the moon, not a man in the moon. Some when they look at a full moon, say the image is a silhouette of a rabbit hunched over and is mixing herbs, creating an elixir for immortality. (Personally, I like to think that its churning butter but some Japanese may say it is pounding rice cake mixture - J) Depending on the sun’s position and your position on the earth if you were to Look at the dark spots of the moon you will find that the sea of fertility and the sea of nectar are the tips of its ears.
Osamu Tezuka retells the origin story in the first volume of his 1972-1983 manga ‘Buddha’ where an old man asks three animals to help him find food. One of the three animals then dives into fire and gives its life so that the old man does not starve. Because of its sacrifice it is then honoured by the God Indra and immortalised by having its image drawn on the moon.
· The rabbit princess or moon princess also has similarities to princess Kaguya, the main character who appears in ‘The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter’ a late 9th of 10 century story with no attributed author. Sailor Moon is also based on this character and because of the tale’s use of space travel, it is considered an early form of science fiction.
· The story of the shamanistic princess Himeko is not necessarily pre-historic as Will states but certainly an ancient Japanese one, having dated back to years between 220 and 270 (Yayoi period). As a legendary figure Himeko appears in the first volume of Osamu Tezuka’s ‘Phoenix’ and the Yoshiki Okamoto (Buroson) manga ‘Lord’.
Author Matsuri closes out the final chapters and leaves no stone unturned, Chris speaks, Q-Chan shows off their human form and a climatic meeting with D’s father finally happens. In a clever way, Matsuri switches from an episodic structure to a serial form, bringing the narrative home!
The story advances to its conclusion when Chris Orcot’s extended family arrive. Chris knowing that he is adopted by his aunty and uncle forgives them and his cousins, but in a moment of crisis he learns to speak up and call for them, Chris’ voice is heard by his cousins and he is taken home, even if the pets at the shop did not want Chris to leave them, Chris makes his own decision to live in peace with his real family. When Chris looks back at what he had with D in the pet shop he finds they no longer resemble the humanoids he once had a relationship with, they truly seem like animals now.
Afterwards D mysteriously leaves and closes shop upon getting heat from the FBI. Agent Vesca Howell teams up with Chris’ older brother, the detective Leon Orcot to track D down. The two share what they know about D before they go their separate ways. Afterwards D appears to Leon and leads him to a high-rise penthouse to discuss things over tea and sweets. But Leon is not fooled since the imposter is Count D, the father of the missing D. Although this raises many questions as to why he looks like he in his twenties and is the spitting image of his son. Leon however falls for Count D’s trap. And like in previous chapters, Leon must once again fight in the wilderness of a mythological dreamscape.
126 - Petshop of Horrors vol. 1
Épisode 126
samedi 21 octobre 2023 • Durée 42:05
It is horror season on our book club podcast, so it is horror manga time! Today’s manga is about a pet shop in Chinatown, where the mysterious manager sells mythical creatures and cryptids for pets, but the people who get their pets here cannot help but see these creatures as more human than animal; a mistake that will lead them to their downfall! Skip plot summary @ 7:05
In the heart of L.A.'s chinatown rests a pet shop owned by the mysterious Count D. The grandson to Count D, (who we shall just call D for now) is a mysterious, somewhat effeminate, and eccentric person who acts as the store manager whilst the count is away on business. When the wealthier clientele ask for exotic and rare pets D takes them to the back and sells them cryptids and strange supernatural, sometimes mythological creatures that resemble humans. But before he sells them D has them sign a contract with specific clauses. Something more akin to rules that if broken have dire consequences that D himself refuses to be liable for, but D will on occasion offer advice to those who are troubled enough to have broken them.
Often the rules come in threes, with one mostly telling owners only to feed their pets with fresh water and vegetables, but a rule that almost always occurs tells them to never show their pets to anyone.
Each chapter tells a tale about the owners that sometimes revolves around a moral. Such as the husband and wife who buy what D claims to be a rabbit, which then replaces their dead daughter. Only for their parents to repeat the same behaviour that led to their daughter's demise.
036 - Sundome vol. 7
Épisode 36
samedi 25 janvier 2020 • Durée 01:05:50
More ero themes on the penultimate volume. Kurumi becomes sexually aggresive but gets modest when she has a cold. We talk condoms, be them femidoms or glow in the dark and why it's important to have a test run with them. Skip synopsis: @ 13:11
036: Sundome vol. 7
By Kazuto Okada
Translation by Christine Schilling (now Christine Dashiell)
With Lettering by Abigail Blackman
Topics:
Oldboys hiring a girl to have sex, (that’s not right)
The whole bathroom/toilet break to get characters separate.
character development between Kyouko x Katsun.
Kurumi’s sexual aggression and modesty towards Hideo.
Condoms, why it’s best never to go cheap and to have a draw full of them for your boyfriend and yourself.
Manga sutra (a.k.a. Futari Ecchi by Katsu Aki)
Synopsis:
During their date at the summer festival, Hideo Aiba is separated from Kurumi as she goes to the ladies’ toilets. When alone Hideo meets the older man in Kurumi’s life, Hideo proudly confesses that he drinks Kurumi’s pee and the older man responds by saying it is the reverse case for himself. When Kurumi returns, she sees that Hideo is made to feel uncomfortable and Kurumi makes it clear that the man ought to not bully Hideo. Hideo and Kurumi meet with the rest of the roman club whilst the older man watches on, the man is not alone. A woman arrives at his side and sheds a tear when she sees Kurumi is happy with friends.
The next day, Hideo decides to stay over at Kurumi’s and act as her personal pet. He’s ordered to be a good boy and stay seated within his cardboard box. Although once Kurumi leaves him alone, he needs to pee, but he can’t disobey and leave his box. He chooses to wet himself and although nervous at first, Kurumi is able to forgive him and give him a wash.
035 - Sundome vol. 6
Épisode 35
vendredi 17 janvier 2020 • Durée 54:18
For a lewd ecchi style manga we get a really artsy first chapter a la french cinema and tasteful panty shots. We also talk about how people do the come-on a.k.a. invitation attack method! And why girlfriends have the bath water too high a temperature! Skip synopsis @ 11:53
Sundome vol. 6
By Kazuto Okada
Translation by Christine Schilling
With Lettering by Abigail Blackman
Topics:
Podcast making and possible plan for the future of our podcast.
One of the most tasteful and artfully done panty shots in manga.
The “I love you” moment. (And the ways lovers can get primal and territorial at times)
The “Invitation” attack method, otherwise known as the “come-on” as evidenced in the bathtub scene and the Kyouko n Katsu scene. Sexual Tension. It’s a thing.
Sumidagawa (Firework festival among the the sumida river)
(It’s a custom to wear a yukata)
Synopsis:
Hideo Aiba spends all his summer holiday pining over Kurumi Sahana, He arrives early on his return back to school in he hopes that he is the first to see Kurumi. His plans don’t work out when the roman club members put him into a trap hole. At the end of the school day Aiba gives Kurumi a ride home but when their bike crashes both Hideo and Kurumi are sent flying. Both gain no injury but for a moment Kurumi was spellbound, her eyes were closed before she fell, when she opened her eyes, she could see that she was flying, if only for a moment. From this point on Kurumi gets a car ride home but she leaves her bag behind.
034 - Sundome vol. 5
Épisode 34
vendredi 10 janvier 2020 • Durée 55:58
Is it okay to be called daddy? Healthy kink or just plain creepy? How about mommy? We talk about it and more on our review of this (very lewd) coming of age comedy. Skip synopsis @ 10:03 email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com
Sundome vol. 5
By Kazuto Okada
English Translation: Christine Schilling
English Lettering: Abigail Blackman
Topics:
The formula of Sundome
Boy is curious/anxious about girl friend
Curiousity/anxiety creates tension as he oversteps his boundaries.
Not to worry as girl loves boy and has sexy time with him.
Note how the love interest, Kurumi, seems to be escaping her problems and masking her issues with sex. Meanwhile the sex scenes are used as filler or as the main action set piece.
Kyouko x Katsu
The mystery of Kurumi / hospital encounter
Calling your lover mommy/daddy
Changing the lightbulb cliché.
Synopsis:
Hideo Aiba sees that Kurumi has a cold and hopes that it will pass away from her and over to him. As expected, Hideo gets sick and luckily Kurumi is over it. The roman’s club ex-president visits Hideo and is all too excited to give him suppositories in order to make Hideo feel better, yet the ex-president, being the pervert that he is, gets kicked out. When Kurumi visits Hideo she nurses him. She finds the suppositories and puts one inside Hideo, bringing him a new sexual experience.
Another time, another day, Hideo takes the ex-president to the hospital and ends up encountering Kurumi there. She asks him why he is there but Hideo senses anger in her voice and cowardly runs away from her. He can’t help but think of her, even at his workplace, Kurumi arrives to return his bag that he left behind and it seems she is not angry and is as affectionate to Hideo as ever. But Hideo can’t help but have nightmares about Kurumi whilst at that hospital.
033 - Sundome vol. 4
Épisode 33
samedi 4 janvier 2020 • Durée 58:05
EXPLICIT CONTENT BTW! A lot of firsts begin to happen, such as getting your first job and bringing your date home to the parents. Originally recorded on 03/12/2019 hence all the xmas talk, ho ho ho! Skip synop: @ 13:00 email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com
Sundome vol. 4
By Kazuto Okada
Translation by Christine Schilling
Lettering by Rob Flores
Topics:
Sex scene recount:
The rope bridge – Hideo’s food is stuck in the rain and Kurumi pees on him.
The game of darts – for every dart, Hideo gets a few seconds to touch her, penalty is he goes for days without masturbation. He eventually gets a sympathy touch, but loses feeling in hands.
Kurumi jerks off Hideo in the middle of class.
James realises this is a “coming of age” story
Hideo vs Peeping Tom
Kyoko vs her ex-boyfriend
First job/ pay check
Bringing a girl/boy home to show off to your parents
Pop culture references/Product Placement:
Yukata, a summer dress given to Kurumi.
“Nami no hana” Nami no hana (波の花), or “wave flowers,” is a phenomenon that occurs along the coast of the top of the Noto Peninsula, particularly around coasts of Wajima and Suzu, during the winter.
032 - Sundome vol. 3
Épisode 32
samedi 21 décembre 2019 • Durée 59:08
Poor Kyoko! We ask ourselves if it's ever cool or attractive to be a virgin and talk about why boys can be so cruel to girls, especially when it comes to sex, not for the faint hearted! contact: WeAppreciateManga@gmail.com
Sundome vol. 3 (Yen Press)
By Kazuto Okada
Translation by Christine Schilling
Lettering by Roberto M. Flores
Topics:
Kazuto’s improved cheesecake pinup style.
Shame in relationships.
Why boys treat girls like garbage, the Kyoko pathos.
Hideo’s Self-improvement.
The high school experience of sex and is it ever cool to be a virgin?
Synopsis:
Rumours of Kurumi Sahana spread around the school and she is assaulted by one jealous schoolgirl. Kurumi becomes absent from school and Hideo Aiba begins to set the record straight on the rumours. He meets with the leader of the music club whom is able to trick Hideo into thinking Kurumi is in the same room as them, having sex. Of course, it being a trick, the boy simply has a talent for miming, and calls it an air-blow job. It was how he was able to fool his girlfriend who spread the rumours. He even goes so far to suggest settling things with Hideo through an air-fight. Hideo visits Kurumi afterwards and she tells him that she’ll return to school tomorrow. All would be well for Hideo but he finds a pair of men’s shoes at her home. Hideo assumes it’s a deterrent for burglars and thinks no more of it.
After school, Katsun takes Kyouko home by his bike and Hideo takes Kurumi home on his. Kurumi notices that Hideo has become more stronger, this is because Hideo wanted to exercise so to alleviate the sexual frustration from their relationship but now, he does so because he wants to be able to carry Kurumi.
031 - Sundome vol. 2
Épisode 31
samedi 7 décembre 2019 • Durée 45:14
Kazuto Okada relies too much on the saucy cheesecake spectacle of panty shots and cleavage when in reality he shines with comedy. skip the synopsis @ minute 9:00 contact: WeAppreciateManga@gmail.com
Sundome vol. 2
By: Kazuto Okada
Translation by: Christine Schilling
Lettering by: Roberto Flores
Topics:
Criticism and disappointment.
Has Kurumi and Hideo done the sexy yet?
Censorship, comparing “Honey Room” to Sundome and the “Barrier kink”
Further reading: The Art of Censorship in Post-war Japan ( by Kirsten Cather)
Appreciating Kyouko!
Synopsis (and first impression):
Hideo runs errands for the sick Kurumi only to almost get ran over whilst crossing the road. Soaked by the crush water bottles he was carrying, Kurumi lets him into her apartment, where apparently, she lives alone. Since his pants are wet, Kurumi let’s Hideo wear her gym pants which ends up giving him an erection.
The next day Hideo sees that Kurumi is wearing those same gym shorts, hot and bothered by this distraction he gets his arse kicked by his gym teacher. The alumnus of the Roman Club (a.k.a. an Old-Boy) visits the club members and helps them in strength training at the dome. He also wears a mask to protect his identity, it’s straight up a gimp mask.
The Oldboy has been monitoring the club members, and when Kurumi is cryptic and asks him if his connections have given information on her, he responds by saying “in a way yes”.
030 - Sundome vol. 1
Épisode 30
samedi 30 novembre 2019 • Durée 01:01:07
James and Will talk about Incels, what it feels like for a woman to challenge (or belittle you) as a man and also clavicle sucking! Skip synopsis @12:56
Sundome vol. 1
By Kazuto Okada
Translation: Christine Schilling
Lettering: Rob Flores
Topics
Kurumi as instigator, enabler and Machiavelli
Being tested in a relationship/dating
Will’s Clavicle sucking girlfriend
The love interest’s potentially disturbing backstory
Synopsis
Hideo Aiba’s sexual desires awaken when he meets the new girl in class, Kurumi Sahana. The first of many struggles begin when she puts her table up to his. Aiba gets paranoid when trying not to bring attention to his erection. He decides to quit his geeky school club, the roman club, whose only rule requires that members be virgins. However, Aiba is promoted to club president since the previous leader is kicked out for allegedly losing his virginity. Soon Kurumi decides to join their club, being the first girl to join the club, the boys seem apprehensive. Except for Aiba who is willing to go through masochistic feats in order to humour Kurumi.
The school’s martial arts club invades the roman club’s territory as their own. Kurumi wagers a battle between the two clubs. If Aiba can last long enough in an arm lock then they’ll keep the club room and have Kurumi but also the martial artist will serve to protect the boys. Kurumi prevents Aiba from tapping out, by being close to him during the wrestling, she traps his hand from under her crotch. Poor Aiba can’t hide his erection whilst he gets his arm broken.
Meanwhile Agent Howell confronts the real D and loses the fight to apprehend him. D realises that Howell is only after his lookalike father and so he takes him to Count D. Both agent Howell and D arrive in time to help save Leon. It is at this point that D’s personal pet, Q-chan transforms into his human form, revealing himself to be D’s grandfather. Just in time for the existential crisis that is Count D’s plan to spread a virus that causes human extinction. However, Count D is shot dead and Howell dies in the confrontation, The OG Count, Grandfather D takes his son’s remains so that he can reincarnate him and Leon takes a leap of faith with D to safely escape the tower. Soon afterwards, D parts ways with Leon.
Eventually after twenty years pass, the pet shop is re-opened and mysterious deaths occur. Detective Orcot makes his way there to meet D, but this is not a reunion, in fact this is a meeting between the adult Chris Orcot and D’s son, the reincarnated Count D who died twenty years ago.
Topics:
· Aino Matsuri’s switch from an episodic style of storytelling to a serial one.
· Chris’ dilemma
· Chris’ unrealistic form of mutism.
· Is Count D human or not?
· The Misanthropic villain.
· The final chapter relies heavily on specific tropes so to create a feel of finality. The Tower itself is symbolic, appearing as a Tarot card after the Devil card. The Tower is almost always depicted having been struck by lightning or facing some sort of explosion or fire at the top. It represents, divination, to reach heaven and God and to experience a great revelation but one with an arduous cost. In many stories it is the protagonist’s greatest challenge before they confront the truth that waits for them above, and usually by defeating the villain above it causes the tower to collapse, this is symbolic of a return to status quo, to humble and “ground” the heroes but also render the challenge of ever climbing it again to be mute. Also, like the biblical “Tower of Babel” anyone who attempts to climb or build it always comes to a misunderstanding when they meet someone at the top.
· Another symbolic scene is Leon becoming trapped in the forest, like “Jonah and the whale” Leon must face penance/consequence for his lack of faith and suspicion of D, it is a purgatory and womb like state that once he escapes from, he gets more purpose. It is also a traumatic instance of being isolated from society and one’s tribe and in such stories those who survive the proverbial whale get a chance to better themselves or do better in the next life.
Historical, scientific, and cultural references:
· The Mountains of Kunlun China is specifically a belt of mountains that stetches through the centre and around parts of China, from the Tibetan plateau to the Tarim Basin, bordering on the Gobi Desert. It has mythical properties and is analogous to the Greek’s Mount Olympus and the Tower of Babel, in that many creationist stories revolve around the mountains, which are deemed as the birthplace of China as a nation.
After numerous episodes of owners losing control of their so-called pets; it sparks an investigation from the detective, Leon Orcolt, whom suspects D of using the petshop as a front for drug or human trafficking but Little does the detective know about the surreal nature of the monsters inside the shop.
· Petshop of Horror being a Josei manga, not shojo, implies it is a story for women and not young girls (perhaps young adult, teen audience) Tokyopop publishing gave it 13+ age rating.
· Originally published 1996 in Japan and 2003 in English by Tokyopop, although today Tokyopop is known for its Disney Licenses and manga aimed at young girls, the publishers have not been the same since losing the License to Kodansha manga in 2008, with Kodansha seizing control of their English publication instead of outsourcing it through Tokyopop.
· The spin offs/sequels to the manga include shin petshop (2005), Passage-Hen (2013) and Ark Adrift (2018) It had a short 4-episode anime adaptation in 1999 by the Production studio Madhouse. At the time of this podcast episode being uploaded, Petshop of Horrors: Ark Adrift is still being made, with Akino Matsuri having worked continuously on the franchise from its inception.
· Episodic stories only work when focused on character, but you can also have the recurring character fit into a basic monomyth like template and just have your recurring character take a base role. In this case D is almost always the supernatural aide or the sage role. As the pets he gives are guised in being remedial to the episodic character's problems but are in fact tests of character.
· Episodic plots tend to have a gimmick in this case, it is the pet which acts as a monster of the week plot.
· Female power fantasy aimed at a more adult audience tends to have men be servents to the female protagonist and the male figure is an extension of the woman's power and influence. The woman is defined by her cabality, or lack of cabality to romantically love such a character whilst maintaining power and influence. At the time of the manga's release the Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner movie, The Bodyguard (1992) was popular. That movie is also like the relationship dynamic seen in Chapter 4 with Dreizhein (a.k.a. Dora-Chan) and Karen. At first Karen feels disrespected and being overly protected by Dreizhen she feels her identity and independency as a mature woman is threatened, Dreizhein is a sexual threat since he is an overprotective man. In such stories the woman learns to accept the man, love him, and trust him, whilst at the same time another suitor betrays her trust. And as often the case, the mythical protector is unable to or at least struggles to love the woman back as it creates fear in the man that it will diminish his ability as a bodyguard. Sometime, in love stories targeted to males, the male figure is only around long enough that so the woman can learn something about herself and the male then goes on to new adventures. Petshop of Horrors has a more fairy tale approach. By having the man become a literal doberman dog by the end of the story the male figure loses their sexuality, it is as if the woman has tamed the man, but only after eliminating all her threats. The bodyguard is no longer seen as a sexual threat and the woman remains virginal for the time being, or at the very least remains motherly to her new pet who has saved her life.
· The store manager has his own animal companion named Q-Chan. Q-Chan is a Wolperdinger (written as Valvertinger in the 2003 English Tokyopop translation). This animal is from German folklore and is a hybrid of a squirrel or rabbit combined with horns and wings. Interestingly Q-Chan looks more like Moogles (or Mogs) from the Final Fantasy videogames, due to having bat like wings. An American version of this creature is the jackelope, a jackrabbit with antelope horns, and unlike deer, antelope do not shed their horns. Hunters and Taxidermists have made ornamental Jackelopes and Wolperdinger. So just because you see one stuffed and on the shelf of a pub does not make them real.
· One of the pets is a reference to Medusa of Greek myth, Medusa was cursed for her vanity, when the jealous goddess Athena decided to make it so that Medusa’s gaze could turn people into stone. One interpretation could say she was cursed with good looks prior to this, as to not blame Medusa since in myth she did not accept the advances of the god Poseidon. Now Medusa is seen as a feminist symbol of female rage. Her head is used as an apotropaic symbol (a magical charm to ward off threats) especially on the accessories by Versace.
· Alice is named after the protagonist of Lewis Carol's “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Notable for entering a surreal world by chasing a white rabbit.
· Dreizhein (Dora-Chan) has his ears clipped and explains this is standard procedure for those who serve the military (he never explains more than that). There is a history with Doberman dogs being cosmetically altered, having their tails surgically shortened and their ears cut. It is thought that the ears would help them hear better but due the illegality of doing this there has not been a thorough study.
Katsun takes sick and ends up in hospital. The Roman club makes an effort to visit him although Hideo is apprehensive in taking Kurumi there. On their way back Kurumi thanks Hideo for arranging a holiday with her, as they part, he steals a kiss from her. It becomes their first kiss together. Hideo is surprised that instead of punishing him for being forward, she blushes and kisses him back. Hideo goes through some penance, as Kurumi makes it clear that he can’t touch her until Katsun is out of hospital or else she’ll refuse to speak to him. Katsun eventually does recover but the one who is most glad is Hideo, who stayed up all night praying at the shrine. Katsun himself plans to lose his virginity to Kyouko when he buys condoms, this sparks interest in Hideo, who ends up buying himself his first condoms.
It’s on a camping trip that the Roman Club decide to go UFO spotting, amongst other things. That night Katsun finds out that Kyouko is a Roman Club assassin, on a mission to break Katsun’s vow of celibacy. Both Kyuoko and Katsun discuss their circumstances and resolve that no matter what happens with Katsun’s virginity, his intelligence will be enough to get him into university. Whereas Kyouko would prefer to full fill her mission to so gain roman club privileges. Yet their love making session is completely interrupted when they spot a UFO. It’s a little oddly shaped, but it’ll do. Besides, they don’t know it was Hideo’s glow in the dark condom, too baggy on Hideo, a jerk off session with Kurumi sent it flying in the air.
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Hideo can’t help but feel another man in Kurumi’s life is making things worse for her and for him but after dwelling on it, he decides to return Kurumi’s bag at her home, and when meeting her he draws her a warm bubble bath. Hideo chooses to stay at Kurumi’s whilst she takes her bath alone, but Kurumi invites him into the bathroom. She has a sore bump which Hideo kisses better. When he goes down on her for more, he ends up burning his eyes out due to the soapy water. Yes, Hideo just had to catch a peek!
The roman club including Hideo and Kurumi are sent on another ghost hunting activity. This time it leads them to the old ruins of a hospital, the Ex-president of the club and Yatsu are forced to spend the night in the hospitals most haunted room, the red room, and Kyouko and Kurumi find nurses uniforms to wear and tease Hideo and Katsu with. Eventually a loud booming voice scares the club members out by booming the “Get Out”. Kurumi and Hideo find a place to hide and spend the night together. At Sunrise it becomes clear whose voice it was at that night. Looking at the camera the club members set up it becomes clear that the ex-prez took advantage of Yatsu whilst he was sleeping.
Hideo and Kurumi are crestfallen when the rainy weather prevents them from enjoying the fireworks festival. But they do somehow manage to open a vent and light sparklers in the bathroom, which also triggers the alighting of Hideo’s firework package. Hideo quickly puts Kurumi into the bathtub and shields her from the sparks. Their date is put on halt when Kurumi’s guardian arrives. Hideo choosing not to go home, instead hides and feels powerless. Once the man leaves, Kurumi finds that Hideo has resorted to self-harm, popping his earlier attained blister red raw.
Kurumi bandages up Hideo and Hideo begins to cry, tears of happiness as if the pain from before has now gone thanks to Kurumi. Kurumi tells him that she loves him and with the bandages covering his eyes, Hideo can’t see that Kurumi is crying too. Katsu and Kyouko’s relationship also develop too, as during one ghost hunting night, Katsu gets a stomach ulcer from the sexual tension. And once again the ex-prez is up to his pervy antics. Even with a chastity belt on to protect the sleeping Yatsu, the ex-prez somehow gets his hands caught in it, surprisingly Yatsu can sleep right through it.
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Eventually, the ex-president and Yatsu get suspicious of Kyouko and Kurumi since, Hideo and Katsu always spend time with them when they divide into groups. This is not a good thing due to the club rules being to remain virgins and that club alumni will send an “assassin” to test the boys. To remedy this issue the two, decide on another activity. To play at night during after-school hours, Yatsu and the ex-president spend time alone with the girls whilst Hideo and Katsu dress as Shinigami so to find and scare them. Unfortunately, it only takes less than 2 minutes for Kurumi and Kyouko to be scared out, not by the Shinigami costumes but by the perverts that are Yatsu and the ex-president.
When Hideo’s mother finds Kurumi’s underwear in his room, she demands answers. In an act of defiance Hideo runs away from home. It’s only when Hideo stays the night at Katsu’s He finds that Katsu is stashing away a soiled photo of Kyouko.
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Gatchapon (and Panties in vending machines)
Synopsis:
For the first time ever, Hideo Aiba brings a girl home, specifically Kurumi Sahana, who has come to pick up a recorded video tape of a special she missed on TV. Kurumi makes such a good impression on his family that Hideo’s mother offers her own Yukata as a gift to Kurumi. However, Hideo is taken back by finding out that Kurumi is an orphan. Later on, he apologises for his dad having asked about it only for Kurumi to claim that she was lying. Hideo takes umbrage with her lie and in turn Kurumi apologises to him, albeit she is surprised by how quick Hideo reverts back to his submissive self.
Eventually Hideo and Kurumi ditch school to go on a date. Afterwards Kurumi asks Hideo to take her to “Namino flower” someday.
When Kurumi gets hit by a car, he finds that Kurumi is inside with her guardian of sorts. The man with the distinct shoes. The man takes Kurumi and Hideo out for dinner and whilst alone with the man, Hideo takes the chance to explain his sexual relationship with Kurumi. The man is calm and unfazed by this. Hideo is emasculated by this man’s presence and although he wishes to pay for his part in Kurumi’s and his own meal, he sadly can’t afford to.
Hideo decides to work part time at a convenience store. The roman club believe he is seeing a sophomore girl behind their back. But they soon learn about it his workplace and treat it like as their new hang out! Kurumi is proud of Hideo, so much that she gives him her panties and goes full on commando. But when a peeping tom lurks around the shop this causes Hideo to defend the demure qualities of Kurumi and confront the perv.
Hideo saves up enough money to pay back for the meal and buy Kurumi a gift. But the roman club impose on Hideo and force him to treat them to a karaoke night together, in the end Hideo can only afford so much but he does get a gift from Kurumi. With help from a Gatchapon vending machine he buys Kurumi a capsule that, oddly and conveniently contains panties.
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Kyouko’s ex-boyfriend arrives at the Roman club house and makes it clear that he wants to spend time with her. Kyouko is happy to ditch her karaoke plans and join him but it becomes all too clear to her that she is being used for sex and nothing else. When she returns to the club house, she finds that the boys have left without her. Kurumi stayed behind in case she returned and Kyouko finds solace in having Kurumi as a friend.
The rest of the club happen to walk by the ex-boyfriend of Kyuoko and overhear his disrespectful conversation about her. Katsun, the one who is always quick to call Kyouko a moron is the first person to defend her honour. After the geeks get a beating, they deduce Kyuoko and Kurumi are available and regroup for Kareoke with them.
When Kurumi falls sick again Hideo manages to look after her and shows initiative by cleaning up after her and carrying her. One evening, whilst leaving Kurumi’s home, Hideo bumps into an older boy and almost gets in to a fight until a much older man comes to save Hideo. Hideo recognises the shoes are the same ones he found in Kurumi’s home. After this hideo is no longer sexually aroused by Kurumi and is found in the library researching on erectile disfunction. The Roman club attempt to solve Hideo’s problem, including the well-endowed Kyouko who sadly fails to excite Hideo much to her own dismay. When alone with Hideo, Kurumi finally succeeds in getting rid of Hideo’s anxiety and arouses him once again.
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Throughout her exploits, Kurumi is able to tease and seduce Hideo. She says to him that she was once a boy in order to get him to stop masturbating but later retracts her statement. During a Roman club sleep together, she touches Hideo, Hideo feels guilty but she lies to him, and tells him that it was a wet dream, “an act of god” and that he couldn’t help it. The terms of the relationship are clear. Hideo can’t touch himself to the point of orgasm unless Kurumi tells him to.
Where ever Kurumi is a spy, sent by the Old-boy’s to test the Roman club’s strict policy of no sex or girlfriends, is something that remains a mystery.
(Although this was a disappointing volume, the page flow is good considering how much dialogue there is and how it’s not an action manga. Moments of physical comedy prove to be Kazuto’s best, such as the drop kick to the ex-president being a good example. – James)
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Through the following days, Kurumi tests Aiba, who is willing to go to dangerous lengths to get her number but he is fortunately safe with the protection of the martial arts club. Another girl, Kyouko, gets jealous of Kurumi and steals a voodoo doll from the roman club but ends up enjoying her time with the roman club so much that she makes herself a member. When Kurumi falls ill, Aiba can’t help but blame himself and think that in someway her distance is a way of punishing him.
