Manga Review: Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, Volume 1, by Chie Shimada

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2018

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Beautiful boy rebels using their fists to fall in love!

Hinako thought she didn't have any family, but on the day she starts high school, her twin brother Hikaru suddenly appears and tricks her into taking his place. But the new school Hinako attends in his stead is beyond unusual. Now she must fight her way to the top of Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents!

Review:

On Hinako's first day of school, where she's looking forward to starting over, she runs into a boy who looks exactly like her. She's manipulated into going to school in his place, only to find out it's an all-boys' school--for delinquents.

I'm intrigued and a little confused by Hinako and Hikaru's relationship, why Hikaru was raised in luxury while Hinako was put in an orphanage. I do think it's interesting, though, that Hikaru is supposed to be the tough man, high up at this school, and yet he hates fighting and fits in much better as a girl at Hinako's school. Hinako, on the other hand, has always been embarrassingly strong, and she hates it.

Hinako finds a mishmash couple of friends at the boys' school, though of course they don't know she's a girl. She also runs into one of her childhood friends, who she lost touch with but has always wanted to see again. This adds some complication, particularly given the feelings starting.

This was an okay first volume. Some things still need explained, and I think that some of the characters need to be expanded on a little; it's a little weak. I'm not feeling too much for any of them yet, but I have hope it'll grow on me more.