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Manga Thoughts: That Blue Sky Feeling 1
On finishing a first cautious effort at trying some "boys' love" manga, I'd supposed I would then get to the lone other title in the genre I'd made previous plans to read and that would be all for the moment; to make too big a deal of this here or anywhere, anyway, seems sort of ridiculous at the very best. The cover illustration of another "Pick of the Week" on Manga Bookshelf then managed to catch my eye, though, in a way that just might have got me thinking "I wonder if it is..." before looking at the description itself and seeing "That Blue Sky Feeling" did seem aligned with boys' love as well. Sean Gaffney's follow-up review had me thinking I could take a chance on reading this manga as well. It took a bit of looking to find a copy in my nearest bookstore, though, as it had been shelved out of alphabetical order.
The manga began with a big enthusiastic guy named Noshiro transferring to a new school, where he noticed a lonely fellow student named Sanada and tried to be friends with him. After his first brushoffs, Noshiro then happened to overhear rumours Sanada was gay (in the context of random students making smirking, dismissive comments about the "boys' love" manga of their sisters), but just kept trying to be friends. That Noshiro took note early on of Sanada having a friend-from-childhood who's a girl in a "that wouldn't be the case if" had a certain impact, but things kept getting worked out.
I admit I took note, though, of an uncomfortable dream of Noshiro's and him realising among several friends he had trouble saying what girl at school he thought the most of, and had to contemplate what I might have been expecting. "You can get along with and understand someone who isn't like you" seems more than important, but in the context of the story this might only amount to "Sanada gets to have a good friend or two, but pointedly not a significant other." In any case, towards the end of this volume there is an "I'm not trying to say you're gay or anything" comment. I'm at least able to also reflect on how often I see someone else making much of slight suggestions and it seems a bit much for me.
While I was able to wind up accepting the comedic mishaps of "Go For It, Nakamura!", the more serious but still easy-going nature of "That Blue Sky Feeling" was satisfying in its own way. It is a number one volume, too; while hopefully, as I said at the start, I won't have to keep making too big a deal of this, I'm willing to continue this story. I do have to admit, though, that should a "girls' love" manga include a consummation scene (crossing the line to "yuri," perhaps) I'd take interest, but should I run into the same thing in a "boys' love" manga (and turn into "yaoi") I wouldn't like it.
The manga began with a big enthusiastic guy named Noshiro transferring to a new school, where he noticed a lonely fellow student named Sanada and tried to be friends with him. After his first brushoffs, Noshiro then happened to overhear rumours Sanada was gay (in the context of random students making smirking, dismissive comments about the "boys' love" manga of their sisters), but just kept trying to be friends. That Noshiro took note early on of Sanada having a friend-from-childhood who's a girl in a "that wouldn't be the case if" had a certain impact, but things kept getting worked out.
I admit I took note, though, of an uncomfortable dream of Noshiro's and him realising among several friends he had trouble saying what girl at school he thought the most of, and had to contemplate what I might have been expecting. "You can get along with and understand someone who isn't like you" seems more than important, but in the context of the story this might only amount to "Sanada gets to have a good friend or two, but pointedly not a significant other." In any case, towards the end of this volume there is an "I'm not trying to say you're gay or anything" comment. I'm at least able to also reflect on how often I see someone else making much of slight suggestions and it seems a bit much for me.
While I was able to wind up accepting the comedic mishaps of "Go For It, Nakamura!", the more serious but still easy-going nature of "That Blue Sky Feeling" was satisfying in its own way. It is a number one volume, too; while hopefully, as I said at the start, I won't have to keep making too big a deal of this, I'm willing to continue this story. I do have to admit, though, that should a "girls' love" manga include a consummation scene (crossing the line to "yuri," perhaps) I'd take interest, but should I run into the same thing in a "boys' love" manga (and turn into "yaoi") I wouldn't like it.