Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 6, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: 2005

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Yes.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Karin and Kiriya's relationship lies in jeopardy as they fight at Kiriya's school's Club Day. Kiriya's recent aloofness troubles Karin, and the word around town is that her rival Yuka went on a group date with Kiriya's class. Is Kiriya cheating on her? Meanwhile, Christmas is fast approaching, and as much as Karin and Kiriya yearn to spend it together, Karin's father has them swaying to a melancholy holiday tune.

Something Specific:

Quotes:

• "'I’m not going to force you to go out with me if you don’t want to. I don’t want to be loved like that!’” I want more people to realize and think this.
• "'C’mon, these’ll be our memories tomorrow.’”

Review:

There’s just drama drama drama in this volume.

So Karin and Kiriya are nervous around each other, what with staying in a hotel room together and not touching the entire night. Then Takagi, the photographer guy tries stirring up trouble by drawing Karin in to get her earring back, then taking video of her playing the piano and using it in a music video (or commercial? I wasn’t sure). Then Karin and Kiriya have a big fight around Valentine’s Day, both because they’re bothered by something the other person did, not talking about it, and the other person not even really thinking about what it is the other person is upset about, particularly because they don’t know what that is. It’s mainly just that they’re not talking out their problems. By the end of it they make up, but they need to actually talk some stuff out. Particularly because they’re both jealous, insecure types who blow up at small things.

There’s also, of course, more talk of sex. Mostly because, now, Karin believes she’s ready, even if she is nervous, and Kiriya has pulled back. Kiriya’s only pulled back because of a conversation with Karin’s mother. Karin tries getting the sex moving along by putting condoms in with his chocolate for Valentine’s Day. They fight before he gets them, though, and then he almost cheats on her (he kisses another girl after bringing her to his apartment and flirting with her, but he’s obviously not interested; he hasn’t told Karin this yet, though, which hopefully he will soon—also, they were kind of broken up, but that doesn’t excuse it, in my mind). Karin’s father ends up finding the condoms, and instead of this causing more drama, it actually only ends up being funny, which was a nice surprise.

The volumes ends with them, maybe, deciding that Karin wants to stay with Kiriya tonight. Maybe? It could go either way, really.

Drama drama drama. That’s all this series is, really. I’m always comparing it to Mars in my mind, and maybe Peach Girl—it’s like Mars in a lot of ways, but the drama seems to be very similar to Peach Girl, I think. 

Reading the next one, now. Only a few left! How am I so close to the ending already!?