High School DxD: Dark Knight of Sunshine

December 17, 2024 by Leave a Comment

By Ichiei Ishibumi and Miyama-Zero. Released in Japan by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Haydn Trowell.

I am, frankly, irritated that we have another short story volume with Vol. 15 when we already got one with Vol. 13. I get that this is a Fujimi Shobo series, which means there’s always TONS of extra content written for Dragon Magazine, and that fans want to see it compiled (one story in this book is literally said by the author to be “we left it out, but fans complained, so here it is). But still, we’re ready to begin a new vampire-driven arc, and until the last 3 pages of this volume we don’t get that – which means we don’t get it. What we get is a lot more silliness that I didn’t really care for (the magazine stories) and two very good backstories that were written especially for the volume. I get that this is a series driven by fanservice, and that’s what the fans want, but I like what I like, and I like the action and character development more than the “oh no, they’re wearing a silly and sexy costume” stuff.

The wraparound story has Issei and Ravel, hanging at the pool, still trying to decide on a mage. Le Fay is the obvious choice, but sadly she’s still a terrorist. Meanwhile, we get a number of short stories. 1) Leviathan wants to audition for the live-action Magical Girl Milky movie, and cons the rest of the cast into coming in costume as well; 2) we learn how Rias and Akeno first met, when Rias rescued a 12-year-old Akeno from being murdered by her relatives for being part-fallen angel; 3) Irina tells us about the time she, Xenovia and Asia went to Akihabara to buy what turns out to be an eroge for Issei; 4) Akeno asks Issei to join her in going to the Grigori training institute, and Gaspar tags along, and they then learn what sort of training goes on there; 5) Fenrir tells us about their group’s efforts to untraumatize the White Dragon Emperor after it learned about Issei’s fetish; 6) We learn how Rias and Yuuto first met, which is much the same as Akeno’s story, but with more swords.

I enjoyed the two original stories, which work well with the characters and show off how awesome Rias can be, which is something I sometimes forget in this Issei-dominated series. I also, got help me, loved the Irina-narrated story. I’ve made a joke of the fact that a volume focusing on her is happening any day now, because she has gotten – by far – the least attention of the main cast. But this story shows off why the author may be avoiding it – Irina has always sort of been “no thoughts, head empty”, but here we actually see it from her own POV, and it’s kinda hilarious? Less hilarious are the Issei-narrated stories, which mostly depend on him thinking everyone is gorgeous and sexy (the first one), being stunned at the ludicrousness of the “training” the Grigori are doing (the second one) or being a loud, annoying tsukkomi (both of them).

Next time we should – finally – get the vampire arc. Till then, the good news is I think this is the last short story volume for some time.

Filed Under: high school dxd, reviews

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Vol. 8

December 16, 2024 by Leave a Comment

By Saekisan and Hanekoto. Released in Japan as “Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken” by GA Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Nicole Wilder.

The author, I get the sense, is not only well aware of the reputation that this series has for purity to the point of ridiculousness, but positively revels in it. The start of this volume has Mahiru indicate that she’ll let Amane do anything he wants to her, and both times the closest we get to actual sex is hickeys. Indeed, the joke – both at the start and the end – is that everyone else, including Mahiru, wants something more (never stated, of course, due to pure pureness but implied with her getting very red when he talks about lying in her lap – the last time he did that he was facing towards her, so the implication is there). Amane is made of sterner stuff, though, and he knows very well that the moment that he lets go of his self-control and allows himself to do what he wants with Mahiru, she will somehow immediately be pregnant and possibly homeless. So for now, hickeys it is.

So yes, Amane and Mahiru are now sleeping together. By which I mean she’s staying the night in his apartment, and they sleep in his bed, but again, hickeys is as far as we go. And they’re not even visible hickeys. In the meantime, though, Amane has the future in mind. He wants to live with Mahiru forever, and that means marriage. His parents, who drop by to visit and embarrass the hell out of their son, not in that order, say that they will he,lp with whatever future plans he has – they know he tries to take everything on himself – but he wants to buy the ring with his own money. As such, he asks muscle fangirl classmate Ayaka to help find him a part-time job, and she hooks him up at a cafe her aunt runs for wealthy older customers – one where he can work as a waiter/barrista. That said, Mahiru’s not allowed to see him at work. Yet.

The final scene in the book is essentially the continuation of the first, showing off that them being married is just a matter of a registration – as far as their behavior is concerned, they may not be having sex, but in all other respects they’re soulmates. We meet the co-workers at Amane’s cafe, and they reminded me of the sort of eccentric personalities you might find in some other light novel series, where the childhood friend pines without ever being noticed. But Amane and Miharu are those types as well. In any other light novel, they’d be minor characters, the schmoopy couple who put everyone else in the class to shame and are always shamelessly flirting. Of course, these two flirt without realizing it – even to each other, which can get hilarious.

If you’re waiting for the sex, I’d wait till the end of the series, and get very angry then, as I suspect it won’t be there either. If you’re waiting for the cuteness and the syrupy sweetness, it’s all over this volume.

Filed Under: angel next door spoils me rotten, reviews

Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret, Vol. 2

December 15, 2024 by Leave a Comment

By Soitiro Watase and Ginta, based on the series created by Reki Kawahara. Released in Japan by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Stephen Paul.

So, I’m still enjoying this spinoff, but I will admit that I’m enjoying it despite one of its subplots. Actually, more accurately despite its main plot. When the series is showing off the Asuka Online game, its horror events and the cast debugging things, it’s great. When it’s got them solving mysteries of absent fathers and mysterious support dolls who are not named Yotsugi, it’s also great. When it has its real life subplot about Nayuta gradually moving in with Kurei, making him food, and acting like a wife, while blowing off the fact that she’s been spotted with him and that people at her school are asking questions about it, that’s less fine. Now Kurei spends most of the book insisting he hasn’t done anything improper, which is true, but that’s not the point. The point is that Nayuta is underage and Kurei is in a position of power and we’re both supposed to be rooting for these two to admit their love and get married. Which, eh.

The book is divided into two short stories and one novella. The first story has Nayuta and Koyomi join Klever as he tests a vacation resort that will be used for events, meaning it’s an excuse for the cast to fool around in a luxury hotel. But what’s with the staff… or lack thereof? The second story has them participate in a fun event where you get to snuggle cabyparas, and find the wombat hidden among all of them. This is mostly pure fluff, but also has them discovering an AI android that appears to be part of a part of the game still being argued about, named Onihime. In the final story, they meet a young girl named Mahiro, who is searching for her missing father, who might have gotten called up in something criminal. What’s more, the girl looks a LOT like the android AI they just found…

Koyomi continues to have the depth of a sheet of paper, but she’s fun, and she’s also a necessary ingredient in a cast that otherwise consists of two very serious people. She also has Nayuta’s best interests at heart, and he constant battering of Klever about his “intentions” towards Nauyta masks a very real worry that she could be taken advantage of. Nayuta has an abnormal trust of Klever/Kurei, and while the reader is, I think, meant to assume it’s because they’re destined, it’s still uncomfortable. The other thing about this book is its examination of AI – it seems to be mostly pro-AI, but in the world of SAO I can see why that makes more sense – we already have Yui, for example.

This has one more volume to go, but doesn’t really have any plot points to resolve besides “when Nayuta turns 18 she will simply propose”. Let’s home it’s a little more complicated than that. For SAO fans.

Filed Under: reviews, sword art online
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