Moon Child #6 - Panties make such lovely hair ties
月の子 # 6 by 清水玲子
Tsuki no Ko / Moon Child #6 by Reiko Shimizu
Rated: Teen
Price: 9.99
CMX - Shoujo - Drama/Romance/Fantasy
Review May Contain Spoilers
As Teruto schemes to separate Jimmy and Art, Seth finds himself falling in love with Shonach. Shonach is unaware of his new friend's feelings and he continues to patiently wait for Jimmy to mature so he can begin his courtship in earnest. When Seth and Jimmy share a prophetic dream of a disastrous volcano eruption, they both run to Shonach for comfort. Shonach theorizes that if Teruto was still with them, they could piece together a picture of the next disaster and possibly stop if from happening. What they don't know is that Teruto will sink to new lows to achieve his own ends. Now Jimmy has another concern; she's changed back into Benjamin, and it doesn't look like she can turn back into her child-like form!
Now that Art knows Jimmy is really a girl, he's out of sorts when he has to deal with her. He's terribly concerned when he thinks of all of the boy clothing he's purchased for her and is appalled at the thought of her wearing briefs. Jimmy is mystified by these new concerns, and is bewildered that Art is treating her differently. What a conundrum for Art! All this time he thought that his new room mate was a boy! He begins to fear for his sanity when Jimmy randomly changes into his mature form, and then swiftly back again, like a blinking Christmas light.
Teruto is busy in this volume. He has some questionable ideas about waking people up to the dangers of nuclear power plants, and his words make Holly's brother, Martin, decidedly uneasy. Approaching Gil Owens for funding for an experiment for fusion reactors, he and his partner are chilled by Gil's warnings about their upcoming trip to Colombia, a trip that's top secret and he shouldn't have known about. He also decides that if there was no Jimmy, Seth can take his place, and he can then break his promise to the witch. Er, I don't think the witch is going to like that very much.
It seems that Jimmy living with Art is causing the natural disasters that are beginning to occur more regularly. Mixing with the indigenous people is fouling the mer-people's spawning grounds. The cycle of catastrophes will continue to shorten, until April of the following year, when the world will be destroyed. Hurry, Jimmy, and move out! Art is not the man for you! He doesn't treat you nearly as well as Shonach. Shonach is gentle and ever watching out for Jimmy's welfare. Sure, this makes him slightly boring, but he's so much better than Art! It will serve Jimmy right if Seth snatches him away.
There are two laugh out loud sequences in this book. The first involves Jimmy and her new under garments. Art, scandalized because a girl is wearing briefs, orders Jimmy to purchase more suitable panties. Home alone with her new treasures, she is simply overcome by their lacy beauty. Deciding that they are much too pretty to used as intended, Jimmy instead uses them for a hair tie. Her giddiness over her new treasures was so effectively displayed here; hands clasped together, a blush of pure delight coloring her cheeks as she stares down at the assortment of frilly fabric. It was really cute.
The next takes place in Art's dressing room, after one of his performances. While Art speaks with his beautiful co-star, Janet, Jimmy gazes into a mirror. Soon she's mimicking Janet, complete with a kiss to the mirror, so engrossed in her activity that she forgets she has an audience. When reminded of their presence, she so embarrassed she dashes from the room. Art, stupefied, is also red-faced by her behavior.
The cover for this volume is stunning. Reiko Shimizu is such a wonderful artist! Featuring muted tones, the illustration is dreamy and ethereal. The title lettering, which look like they were hastily slapped on top, mar the otherwise beautiful cover. I try to ignore them as I wish somebody would license one of her art books.
Grade: B+
This review was written by Julie for the MangaCast. Cross posted to Manga Maniac Cafe.