Furuba vol. 21 [Tokyopop edition] (short version)
I've had Fruits Basket 21 for about a week now, and I kept thinking I'd sit down and write one of my usual reaction posts about it (which usually involves comparing it to other versions I've read [well, Shadow's version], for interest's sake), but I don't really feel the need with this one. No big differences (or small changes in nuance) jumped out at me, which may just be because it's been so long since I've read these chapters.
[Credits for the Tokyopop edition: translation by Alethea & Athena Nibley, English adaptation by Lianne Sentar; this is also the first volume that credits Alexis Kirsch as the editor (the series' third).]
An awful lot happens in this volume, and on rereading, the thing that stands out is still what made me happiest the first time around, during its Hana to Yume serialization: it reminded me that I love Yuki, and gave the payoff for all the months (or years ^^) of grumbling every time there was a new student council-only chapter. Vol. 21 Yuki is a thing of awesomeness.
For the most part, then, my feelings about this chunk of the story haven't changed: Kyo is a bit of an emotional idiot, but that's not new; Arisa and Saki teasing him is fun, although they take it a bit too far; Yuki and Kyo's fight is beautifully done; Akito is (for me) kind of creepily sympathetic; Haru is there entirely to break the tension (within the story as well as for us)... So much good stuff. I love seeing the things that come acround again, like Momiji's story.
I'm still kind of dumbfounded about Yuki confessing his feelings to Machi without so much as hinting about the curse. Yes, it's great that he's cutting his unhealthy connections to the family, but you're still cursed, Yun-Yun. *sighs*
Anyway, I might come back and do a more thorough reaction post at some point, but for now this is what I've got. It being short doesn't change the fact that I've always happy to hash things over, though. ^_^
[Selected original chapter-by-chapter posts: Ch. 120 (scans & summary), Ch. 121 (scans & translation), Ch. 121 again (on "the question of forgiveness", which is no longer exactly what I think, but is still something I'm turning over in my head, even after three years and the end of the series), Ch. 123 (scans-only), Ch. 124 (scans & translation), Ch. 125 (scans & translation).]
[Credits for the Tokyopop edition: translation by Alethea & Athena Nibley, English adaptation by Lianne Sentar; this is also the first volume that credits Alexis Kirsch as the editor (the series' third).]
An awful lot happens in this volume, and on rereading, the thing that stands out is still what made me happiest the first time around, during its Hana to Yume serialization: it reminded me that I love Yuki, and gave the payoff for all the months (or years ^^) of grumbling every time there was a new student council-only chapter. Vol. 21 Yuki is a thing of awesomeness.
For the most part, then, my feelings about this chunk of the story haven't changed: Kyo is a bit of an emotional idiot, but that's not new; Arisa and Saki teasing him is fun, although they take it a bit too far; Yuki and Kyo's fight is beautifully done; Akito is (for me) kind of creepily sympathetic; Haru is there entirely to break the tension (within the story as well as for us)... So much good stuff. I love seeing the things that come acround again, like Momiji's story.
I'm still kind of dumbfounded about Yuki confessing his feelings to Machi without so much as hinting about the curse. Yes, it's great that he's cutting his unhealthy connections to the family, but you're still cursed, Yun-Yun. *sighs*
Anyway, I might come back and do a more thorough reaction post at some point, but for now this is what I've got. It being short doesn't change the fact that I've always happy to hash things over, though. ^_^
[Selected original chapter-by-chapter posts: Ch. 120 (scans & summary), Ch. 121 (scans & translation), Ch. 121 again (on "the question of forgiveness", which is no longer exactly what I think, but is still something I'm turning over in my head, even after three years and the end of the series), Ch. 123 (scans-only), Ch. 124 (scans & translation), Ch. 125 (scans & translation).]