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I’ve always known that this manga would be a tragic experience. I’ve been putting this on hold for quite a while, but now, I’ve come terms with my fear that I finally found the courage to read this masterpiece. I don’t know what’s got into me that one morning I decided to read it once and for all.

It wasn’t an easy read. But if you manage to overcome the fact of how sad this manga could get, you’d see how this story can be so liberating like the title of it suggests – Our Happy Time. A story that will make you realize that no ... matter how hopeless it gets you’d still find a reason to want to continue living and that we would always have our fair share of regrets in life.

The story is about Juri, a woman who tried to end her life thrice, a scarred woman who’s full of anguish about her mother and being a pianist that she once loved so much if not for one incident that made her despise it. And Yuu, whose life has always been a living hell and who’s carrying a heavy burden of those lives he took. Together they found happiness on Thursdays, the only day they are allowed to see other, thus, making it their most treasured moments.

This manga is adapted by Yumeka Sumomo from a novel made by Gong Ji Young. I didn’t read the novel but I’ve read a couple of manhwa to say that as always, there’s something about the quality of Korean stories. The images and words they formed in your head and engraved to your heart continue to haunt you and won’t leave no matter what. It creeps and it stays there. It’s mind-blowing and I think Yumeka Sumomo did an excellent job putting it into a manga. Her art fits the tone of the story. Eight chapters may seem short but somehow she delivered the whole thing unhurriedly. My admiration goes to her for that. Only a few mangaka can deliver a powerful material in such a short story like that.

The story, the art and the characters are all of high qualities. The plot is solid. The story has no intention of making you cry but you’ll cry anyway. It was simply telling a story about two people who are alive while dying every day inside and how they somehow found the reason for wanting to live. And that where this manga was so painfully real you can almost touch them and feel their pain. Seriously, it was bad for my heart, I was teary-eyed the entire time. I had to take in deep breaths to calm the emotions that were building up but I lost it in the last chapter. I broke down. It was tough. Really tough.

The entire story was an experience I had to experience in order to fully grasp how is it to be alive, to feel your heart beating, to feel the pain each and every time and muster the courage to move forward and continue to fight every day of your life. Surely, no matter the reason is, taking a life – yours and someone else’s – can never be justified. In the end, we pay for our sins. The world we live in is cruel. It happens every day, some experience it themselves, others witness it. We see it on the news, in papers, in the internet. For most of time we ignore it. We tend to look away from things that can hurt while obliviously enjoying our lives. I do that every day.

Words are powerful. I think all readers must have realized it by now. Stories have the power to transform lives. Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan did its wonders to me. No one can change overnight but after reading this manga, I feel that maybe, just a little bit, I’ve become a better person than I used to be.

For some reason, out of all the countless yaoi manga that I've read, Jin to Neko wa Yobu to Konai will be the first one I'm writing a review about.

(Please note that I'm giving review on the main story only, not the three one shots in between.)

This isn't the best yaoi out there. Truth be told it doesn't really stand out, however, there are emotions this manga was able to draw out in me - very subtle yet bothersome.

Jin's a cat. I'm not even referring to his role in bed whatsoever. His restless hunt for love makes him hungry and overwhelmed that he ends up ... in a mess. I can only imagine what's going on his head. Somehow, I know people are like that - always contradicting, confusing and just don't know how to do things right at times.

And then there's Mari. The ever-patient 'wife', ruthless and yet a masochist when it comes to Jin. I, also was feeling a lot from and for him. It was frustrating to see him go through rough times and yet I can't blame him. I just couldn't. When you care for someone that much leaving them is almost impossible to do. No matter how it pains you, you can't just let go.

Jin sleeps around. With different people. Mostly for work. Some were for fun. But there are times that he falls in love and he falls really hard. Still, with the lifestyle that he has it has never been that simple to just love. Oftentimes, it wouldn't last. And Mari's always there to pick up the pieces.

Love is universal. Wanting to love and be loved is the most basic desire we have. Though sometimes we can't express what is it that we really want from the people we love, we tend to go blind and just follow our hearts ending up foolish and stupid enough not to realize what is 'enough'. Just how far and how long would you go for the one you love? I wonder.

I may be biased on this since admittedly I'm a yaoi fangirl but I really do think that yaoi is one of the most emotional love stories ever told.

"Cruel man. Everyone has to pay the price one day. It never lasts long. You'll pay the price."

What a price to pay, indeed.

Shiki is a difficult anime to watch for me not because of the killing spree but mainly because it poses the never-ending question, "what is the boundary between good and evil? of life and death?"

Shiki, also known as corpse demon is a story about a whole village turned into vampires. Strange things starts to happen in a small village of Sotoba when the Kirishiki family arrived. People slowly dying from one disease to another until the numbers became alarming that Dr. Ozaki Toshio starts to investigate the cause of the seemingly epidemic that slowly eating the villagers away. And he was about to get the ... shock of his life when he got to the bottom of it.

Seriously, I almost dropped this after the first half. Why? Because I was having a terrible headache watching things unfold. It was painfully frustrating for me. When it was still a mystery, I was really excited as to how things would turn out but when it did, I was like, "So, that was it. Then what?" Don't get me wrong. I think the series managed to deliver what it was supposed to deliver. No romanticizing, no sugarcoating whatsoever of what shiki is. They are bloodsuckers. They feed on humans to survive as humans feed on chicken, cows, etc. However, since shiki's are previously human it was a little bit hard to decide what course to take.

I must say that Dr. Ozaki Toshio and Muroi Seishin are two pivotal characters since their course of action has lead things to conclusion. While Dr. Ozaki has been decided since the beginning, Muroi was taking his sweet time deciding and I wasn't surprised when he choose what he choose. Because he was like the man in the novel he was writing, trapped and wanted to be free.

My favorite character has to be Natsuno. Let's just say, for most of the part I agree with him and probably would do the same thing if I were him. I almost feel bad for Tohru but changed my mind, anyway. I don't sympathize with the shiki's as I don't with humans. It isn't a question of who's the monster and who's not. Who's good and evil. Because we are both. Regardless of who and what you are, you are both good and evil. It just a matter of deciding what to do with it.

Who wouldn't be afraid of dying? Something unknown and vague as death is dreadful. That's why we try to live while we're alive. Because we'll never know when death would claim us. Regrets? Lingering feelings? We all have that. But death is absolute. Once you die, your time is up. Game's over, my friend.

Shiki is shiki. Human is human. Shiki hunts human to survive. And humans fight for their lives. Both have reasons to fight. If coexisting is impossible, then one must fall. Sure, I understand where the shiki is coming from but it doesn't mean human would just stand there and do nothing. We decide and fight for what we think is right for us.

But surely we are imperpect. Always confusing things. Fighting our own demons. We hurt people. We hurt ourselves. We make half-hearted decisions. That's human for you.

In the end, I still don't have clear view on shiki. And I still have headache. But it was something worth watching so you should probably give it a try, too.

To be honest I want to watch this series till the end before writing a review, however, after watching 12 episodes with the finale remaining I think it's fair to make a judgment this far (although knowing Hachiman, Yukino and Yui, we really never know what might happen).

***

It's finally come to this. Oregairu 2 has delivered the final blow and has left us hanging like before. My my, I wonder how long can they keep this up.

Whatever. I liked it so be it.

Oregairu is something that I wouldn't usually like. High school romcom, club activities, cultural festival, valentines day, etc. you name it you ... have it. So I keep on wondering the entire time I'm watching it, "why? why do I like this anime? what makes it special given the cliches it presented so far?" Then it dawned to me, it's Hachiman after all. Because it's him. Funny how he think of himself as nobody when almost everybody is so into him. Ironic, isn't it?

The story is just like your ordinary high school romcom with harem-like set up. I say harem-like because although there's quite number of girls compare to our main man Hachiman, it didn't feel like harem, at least to me. So basically, Oregairu is about a disillusioned boy whose views about people and society are somewhat negative. That's why he choose to be alone and do everything on his own at his own pace. That was until he met Yukino and Yui. Following after where the first season left off the story continues for them.

So what makes this anime special for me? I say, the characters. And the way the story develops is like a cozy afternoon on a weekend. Hmm. So nice.

Hachiman is my favorite character of all. You might say, well of course, he's the mc after all. That may be true, but I like him because he's awkwardly adorable. He may appear to be a tsundere but I think he's not. He's just painfully realistic. His methods may be low but as long as it woks I think it's fine. He may look self-sacrificing but hey, someone's really got to do the dirty job, right? It's not something everybody can do. Because those people are willing to take the blame, be the scapegoat, and be hated just so something is done. I like really like his guts.

Yukino is someone I really had difficulty understanding. But that doesn't stop me from liking her as well. Cool and collected. As expected of someone from a distinguished family. For most of the part she's prim and proper. But she was known for her witty argument with Hachiman. You can't help but find it interesting.

Yui maybe isn't as witty as the two but she has her own place in between. She keeps them together. Her personality is of an ordinary cheerful and bubbly character. But normal isn't bad. Everyone shines on their own. I feel that Yui being nice is genuine.

As for the others, well, I don't dislike Iraho, she's like a catalyst for something. And Hayato might be like any popular guy, but popularity can also cost you much. Sure there are expectations, even so it can't be an excuse to be vague. And oh, I don't really like Haruno, she likes to pull strings with people around her. She may have good intentions so as to push Yukino, maybe it was her way of looking out for her, but she's her sister, I wish there was other way. Well, I think the relationship between siblings with the same gender and opposite gender are different.

Oregairu is interesting to watch. High school is a stage where everything is possible and unexpected things can happen. Youth is like a roller coaster ride. You can be stupid and foolish. You can make mistakes and treat it as part of growing up. You can love with all your heart and cry your heart out when things didn't work out. And then you learn. You sharpen your values and you become wise.

Hachiman may be tough but it comes with a price. He'll speak his mind when no one else would want to take the fall. And he takes pride in it.

"Everyone has something they hold dear, something they never want to lose. That's why they pretend. That's why they hide the truth. That's why they lie."

~ Hikigaya Hachiman

And with that, Oregairu is definitely a must-watch.

Akatsuki no Yona has been tagged as one of the strongest shoujo ever made not because it deviates from cliches but rather took these cliches on account and reinvented it.

Having said that, the premise where Akatsuki no Yona is based has been used already over time. Girl travels to find allies in order to take back what is rightfully hers, she meets them and grew accustomed with each other. However, it takes great mastery to turn something not original into something that is refreshing and that is where Akatsuki no Yona proved to be the strongest.

What would you do if you were betrayed by ... the one you loved the most?

This question sparked the start of Yona's struggle and adventure. When she witness her father died by the sword of her beloved Su-Won her world fell apart. Being the princess that she is, she's been sheltered her whole life and knew only happiness. Having a loving father, a caring special someone, a loyal friend and a whole kingdom supporting her contributed on how trusting and simpleminded she is. But her perfect world crumbled before her very eyes and thus marked the beginning of her painful journey.

While it seems that everything has been taken away from her, Hak, her ever loyal friend protected her, helped her, and supported her. You can see the feelings he held for Yona all this time. With flashbacks of their time together, Yona, Su-won and Hak made the strongest childhood friendship so much that it hurts watching things unfold for them.

Akatsuki no Yona is full of interesting characters that will make you watch out for them. Even the supporting ones did a good job to make Yona stronger and fiercer where the situation calls for it. You can see the strong emotions play on Yona's face as she deal with her inner strife. It was fulfilling to watch her grow you can't help but be proud of her.

"No matter how foolish or incomprehensible, some love cannot be discarded. You may try to stop your heart, unable to forgive yourself, but there will be times when you lose hope and your heart is moved again." ~ Ik-soo

Romance and love play an important role in shoujo anime, however, Akatsuki no Yona pulled it off in a subtle way. While the story didn't dwell on romantic relationships between the characters, you know that it's definitely there. You can feel how strong the feelings are. All the tension, hesitation, despair and love that is beyond comprehension. All these are present and were portrayed beautifully.

Akatsuki no Yona managed to deliver shoujo with dignity. In a genre where often the princess is swept off her feet by her prince, Yona, on the other hand, will prove to you that a real princess will not stay behind his prince but rather stand side by side with her knight to fight - for herself and for what she think is right.

So much to say about that one great first love. Since time immemorial, first love has always filled our hearts with longing and nostalgia and that is where Hotarubi no Mori e hits home.

Ever had the feeling when you want something so bad even though you know that it's never ever gonna be yours? We all did. No matter how futile it is we still hope for a better future with the one we love. But reality isn't gonna babysit us. Sometimes it has a cruel way to wake us up.

Hotarubi no Mori e is a romantic-fantasy anime filled with memories of summer and unadulterated ... love. Six year-old Hotaru met Gin, a mysterious being, when she was lost in the mountain during her summer vacation. They played in those summer days and agreed to meet the next summer. And the next. And the next. Hotaru grew up from a child to teenager with Gin by her side. Making summer the most special season in their hearts.

How do I explain this? The simplicity of the storyline made it hard for me to believe how it was able to draw out the feelings I forgot. Or maybe it was the simplicity that made my heart ache to the memories of a first love. The story was relatable, at least the feelings were. And that what made Hotarubi no Mori e beautiful. You will smile in spite of your tears, you will love in spite of the pain, you'll believe though it's hopeless. It's liberating, somehow.

Hotaru is one of my favorite characters ever. She's innocent but not ignorant, she clearly knew what being together with Gin entails but faced it anyway. Surely she knew that it was hopeless but never for once did she lose hope. She wanted to be with Gin and for that she's willing to do everything that she can but she's not oblivious to the fact that it may end one day. Gin was just as hopeful as she is. He loved Hotaru. Cared for her more than anything else. He wanted to be with Hotaru just as strongly as she wanted to be with him. They patiently wait for three seasons to pass and for summer to come. The agony was almost unbearable. But the feelings they hold for each other are much more powerful than that.

To put it simply, Hotarubi no Mori e tells a story about one's unforgettable first love in the blush of summer days. A fateful encounter like no other.

When I finished watching this I was left with feelings that I somehow lost along the way. Feelings that were buried and forgotten resurface once again. It felt good like washing all the pain away with tears so I could smile once again.

"Time might separate us some day. But, even still, until then, let's stay together." - Hotaru Takegawa

And with that, this anime holds a special place in my heart.

This review may contain spoilers.

At last, after procrastinating for so long I was able to finish watching SAO II! Since the first season of SAO, I'm a fan. I've watched it several times while falling in love with Kirito all over again. Hoho. But that was in season one. Season two changed my heart a bit.

Let's do this.

Season two was divided into three Arc.

First part is about the game GGO. Kirito was hired by the government to observe and if possible uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of some players. He met Shinon, a sniper and together they worked hard to defeat the culprit. ... The end. Hoho. I was really bored and annoyed by Kirito’s ability to make a girl fall for him just like that. With this and that happening, Shinon became a part of Kirito’s harem in real life. *clap clap clap.

The next three Calibur episodes were okay. Another quest conquered.

And so Mother’s Rosario Arc came and SAO II was saved! Lol.

Seriously, it was lifesaver! It was no nonsense. I wonder what would have been if Yuuki was with Asuna and Kirito in SAO. Or maybe it was for the best that she wasn't, she has her own issues after all and the feels would be too great to handle. *sob

Needless to say, Mother’s Rosario was the best in SAO II. I cried even though I've been warned. T.T Yuuki was so strong and Asuna was very supportive till the very end. Kirito’s harem was set aside for bit since Yuuki was not interested in him.

My thoughts on SAO II were very simple.

Virtual world is a lot real than what it seems. Especially nowadays when we rely heavily on technology to fulfill what we think we're lacking. It gives us satisfaction for things reality can’t provide. I think if there is VRMMORPG I will definitely try it. Who wouldn't want a world where you can be anything you want to be? A world where you don’t need to hide your true self and follow the rules that has been set for you. Then again, maybe not. When the two worlds collide you just have to decide your reality. And besides, why choose, if you can get the best of both worlds? Lol.

And oh, my love for Kirito came back when he told Asuna in the end, “I don’t know what the future will hold. However, Asuna, I want you to be with me forever. And I want to be with you forever.”

Since the first SAO, Kirito x Asuna shipper here.

It was good watch, indeed.

For the longest time since I watched Tokyo Ghoul I've been re-watching it over and over again (even now I'm writing this review while listening to unravel, I just can't get enough of this anime, gomen. xD). And oh, please take note that I haven't read the chapters of which this anime was adapted from so I will review it based on the anime itself not on the adaptation from manga to anime (hope we're clear on that. :p)

So first allow me to say this, Tokyo Ghoul is simply amazing. The story, the art, the character. Zenbu. As for sound? That did it. Words fail ... me. The moment I listened to the song, I was hooked. The song fits the anime perfectly. Needless to say, I really enjoyed it to my heart's content. *sigh

So let's go down to the details.

We have Kaneki Ken, a shy and bookish university student. He was a regular customer of Anteiku (a coffee shop run by Yoshimura, a ghoul, which serves as a refuge for fellow ghouls in 20th ward) where he met Rize, the binge eater, he instantly had a crush on her but he was about to have the surprise of his life when she attacked him after their date. One thing lead to another, he woke up feeling strange. Thus, his nightmare began when he discovered what he'd become.

I love tragic hero stories because I sincerely believes that those who have experienced the most painful things are the ones who are capable of deep understanding of life, that is if they stick to their values, have the wisdom to endure and the courage to protect the most important thing to them.

Honestly, all the characters have their own story to tell. This is the reason why it's painful to watch because you understand where they're coming from and it's hard to ignore. Although it's almost impossible, I hope they come to understand each other and break the chain of revenge. *sigh

However, I must say, even though I haven't read the manga I feel that the pacing is a bit fast and rushed. Somehow, I know there are many skipped chapters I can understand the disappointment of those who read the manga.

After watching this I read the manga as to what happened next. I can't help myself. And so I'm so ready for season 2. Bring it on!

And oh, I haven't mention that aside from Kaneki, one character that I really love so much is Hide. I kind of know the feeling of having a best friend since childhood so my heart really goes for Hide for being such the best best friend Kaneki could ever have.

*I'm currently reading Tokyo ghoul:re, I wish Hide is somewhere alive, please.*

So much feels. Amazing.

This is my first time writing a review for an anime I watched. I just want this out of my chest. I feel it’s imperative to share what I thought of Shinsekai Yori so I’d give it a try.

This will contain some spoiler, sorry. xD

It started slowly, with bits and pieces of information. From past to present. Back and forth. Giving clues without revealing anything. The premise? Six children, a special friendship, an unspoken love and a twisted town. People have this ability called cantus, the power of telekinesis which is awakened once a child reached ten years of age.

Saki, Satoru, Shun, Maria, Mamoru and ... Rei were classmates and friends. However, due to some event, Rei disappeared, leaving no trace in the memories of the remaining children.

The turning point of the story happened in their summer camp when they were twelve years old. Five of them accidentally stumbled upon information that shouldn’t be available to them, thus, their bloody and painful adventure begin.

We live in a cruel world, indeed. Shinsekai Yori is a mirror of our world. From standpoint of society and norm, the concept of right and wrong, safe and dangerous, of what is acceptable and what is not. It made me see myself as part of society in a different light. Society always justifies its deed saying it’s for the greater good. Sacrifice a few to save many. Surely it works. Even I cannot deny that. *sigh*

When I started watching Shinsekai Yori, I had no expectation, whatsoever. Although I read the plot beforehand, I didn’t remember it much (since, as I said utopian and dystopian world aren’t new nowadays). First few episodes didn’t impress me, if I were to describe what I thought of it, I’d say it was strange, so strange. Surprisingly, as strange as it was, it kept me looking forward to the next episode. While I was trying to figure out the story, I was hooked beyond recovery. No words can explain how strange it was and how I was captivated by its beauty.

The story was mesmerizing. It challenges your belief, questions your sanity, confronts your inner self, and dare you to be free from what is accepted by norm and society. Wanting to change but unable to change. And because there will be always fear of the unknown, we tend to stay in our comfort zone.

I’ve always known that Satoru and Saki will end up with each other. I just knew it in my heart. But I also knew that there is something between Saki and Shun, a deeper bond that no one could break (even when Shun is gone, their soul is still connected). It was a red string of fate that transcends even afterlife. But I must admit I NEVER ever for once did see it coming for Satoru and Shun, Saki and Maria. It shocked the hell out me. Happiness, indeed (hahaha.  Please excuse the yaoi fangirl in me). I was lost in that brief moment. It’s like I died and reborn again. I feel twisted, happy and satisfied. Why? Because it tackles love in the most indiscriminate way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl, or what gender you prefer your partner to be. You just love a person regardless of gender. It’s really liberating. Almost refreshing.

Satoru loved Shun, Shun also loved Satoru but he also loved Saki and Saki loved him, too. Saki loved Maria, Maria loved Saki too but she also loved Mamoru, that’s why she cannot abandon him when she needed her most. And after everything that happened, Satoru and Saki grew to love each other too. It was a slow but sure love. I believed that the love the five of them have for each other is beyond comprehension. But somehow, I understood. In the end, I realized that maybe, just maybe it’s really true that we will end up with the person that we’re meant to be. No matter how painful the road we would take.

I’m sure Satoru and Saki will name their child Shun if it’s a boy and Maria if it’s a girl. Because deep in their hearts they still long for them but still they are happy with each other and that the heart is really capable of loving more than one person…

So I say it was the most beautiful love triangle in the world.

Will I recommend it? Of course. Although, I think it isn’t for everyone. But if you would want something with a different touch, you must watch it. Dystopian world always has this mood that is melancholy. There were moments I needed to take a deep breath to control the emotions that was building up in me. Guess you really have to take the good with the bad, so they say. I couldn’t agree more.

Another gem of a shoujo manga and that is Strobe Edge. Sakisaka-sensei did something so enlightening here. Something that explains why some works while others don't.

Again, typical story - girl meets boy, fell in love first, confession and rejection. Or maybe not typical as it seems to be. Strobe Edge have much more to offer and things to ponder.

Admittedly, the characters were not the reason I was drawn to it. Protagonist Kinoshita Ninako is not a strong character to be begin with. Innocent and bubbly. Easy to get along with and a good friend. She fell in love with the silent Ichinose Ren, a popular ... boy in their school when they happen to rode the same train going home, at least it started there. There's Daiki, best friend of Ninako who confessed to her and rejected at once and being confessed to by another friend of Ninako, Uehara Sayuri. While the boy in question has a girlfriend Mayuka who happened to be Daiki's onee-chan! To make things more complicated, Ren's best friend Andou Takumi fell in love with Ninako. It's tangled! Teehee. xD

Basically, it's a love war. Clashing of emotions, holding on to a promise, unspoken feelings, accepting changes, letting go and starting anew. That's where you'll find Strobe Edge's strength. The story is so compelling because it's so real I can feel the agony of working so hard and yet in the end you have no choice but to accept the fact that there are things that will change no matter how you try to stay the same. It's inevitable.

This is actually the first time I couldn't wholeheartedly support the main couple. Probably because it meant accepting that there are feelings that really do fade in time. It must be fate but who knows. Although one thing I really do like about Strobe Edge is that in the end they have no regrets because they gave it all. Each have done their part. Good job.

I cried, I laughed, I fell in love, got hurt and fall in love again. It's almost magical. Oh, love. xD

Lesson? It's good while it lasts. Have the courage to move forward. Embrace change and fall in love because it will be worth it.