By Aya Nakahara. Released in Japan by Shueisha, serialized in the magazine Bessatsu Margaret (“Betsuma”). Released in North America by Viz.
I was a little harsh on Volume 16 of this series, feeling that it ended up dragging things out too long (which is the fate of many shoujo romances, to be honest). Strangely, though, I liked this final volume of scattered stories far more, and feel it’s a good final volume to this goofy love story.
These stories appeared a few months after the serialization ended in the magazine, and read very much as if she was trying to construct them for the volume. As such, they tie together really well, drawing on each other’s strengths. First we get a chapter devoted to Otani, in middle school, showing off his determination and compassion. Then we see Risa in middle school as well, and see her cheerful outlook (and tendency towards obliviousness). Finally, we get a chapter with “their first meeting” – when the two of them don’t realize who the other is, due to poor lighting at a concert.
It is particularly hokey – there is not one shred of originality in the entire volume – but then, I never read Love Com for the stellar plotting. It’s pushing your buttons, but it pushes them well, and you find yourself laughing, and going “awww” at just the right moments. There’s also a nice tie-in to all the stories showing a boy constantly changing schools, and how Otani and Risa – at different times – pull him out of his shell.
We then get one final post-series chapter, which mostly deals with Risa having to face up to Otani having a life outside of her. Risa’s always had hideous self-image problems anyway, and is having troubles making friends at her fashion school (as opposed to Otani who immediately gets friends flocking around him like birds), so winds up thinking this is all a reflection on her and spiraling into a depression. Otani, to his credit, knows something is wrong this time, and talks things through with her.
I appreciates the two still being themselves. Otani forgets Risa’s birthday, and for once (I’m used to the manga cliche), it wasn’t a fakeout leading to a big party later – he really did totally forget. And it wouldn’t be Love Com without Risa freaking out, stressing out, and sobbing. Luckily, things end happily and with big grins.
Love Com has always been a frothy ice cream soda sort of series – for all its occasional forays into relationship angst, it’s almost an antidote for more realistic, depressing series like Sand Chronicles or We Were There. (Part of this might simply be the trend of the magazine it ran in – the titles licensed over here from Bessatsu Margaret tends to be fluffy, happy romance, while Shogakukan’s Bessatsu Comic, Betsuma’s rival, tends to have a lot of angst and sadness brought to North America.) I did feel it ran on too long, but this was a perfect way to wrap up the series, looking back on what made it fun in the first place – Risa and Otani.
