Kare First Love vol 2 - Kaho Miyasaka
Karin has not returned to her glasses. This sums up the aspect of this manga that I don't really like. In one scene, a friend makes her over and lends her some trendy clothes, and the boys who usually refer to her as Four Eyes are so dazzled by her beauty that they fail to even recognise her. Geeky girls can be beautiful without having to resort to stripping away their individuality, and the idea of a "secret" beauty residing beneath a nerdish appearance is a cliche that irritates me. On the positive side, Karin promptly returns to her comfortable casual clothes, and Kiriya likes her just how she is.
Karin's meekness and lack of self-esteem can be irritating at times, but I'm hoping that this just means it will be all the more rewarding when she finally finds herself. Kiriya on the other hand is just the perfect boyfriend -- never angry, polite to her mother, and always ready to make time for her, even if it means ditching his friends. A guy so perfect should be boring, but Kiriya's attraction is reinforced by his mysterious past, of which so far only hints have been revealed.
Just as her drama starts hinder plot development, Yuka retires from the main storyline, leaving it free to move in other directions. Nanri and Karin become closer friends, whilst Karin's mother becomes the new antagonist. This reshuffle of characters refreshes the plot and prevents it from getting tired. The cliche of the over-protective mother who insists upon perfect grades is perhaps just as over-used as that of the manipulative best friend, but in this case it feels more natural and realistic and is resolved before it becomes frustrating.
I still haven't entirely made my mind up about Kare First Love, but I'm sufficiently intrigued to buy the next volume.
Karin's meekness and lack of self-esteem can be irritating at times, but I'm hoping that this just means it will be all the more rewarding when she finally finds herself. Kiriya on the other hand is just the perfect boyfriend -- never angry, polite to her mother, and always ready to make time for her, even if it means ditching his friends. A guy so perfect should be boring, but Kiriya's attraction is reinforced by his mysterious past, of which so far only hints have been revealed.
Just as her drama starts hinder plot development, Yuka retires from the main storyline, leaving it free to move in other directions. Nanri and Karin become closer friends, whilst Karin's mother becomes the new antagonist. This reshuffle of characters refreshes the plot and prevents it from getting tired. The cliche of the over-protective mother who insists upon perfect grades is perhaps just as over-used as that of the manipulative best friend, but in this case it feels more natural and realistic and is resolved before it becomes frustrating.
I still haven't entirely made my mind up about Kare First Love, but I'm sufficiently intrigued to buy the next volume.