I've finished "Strobe Edge Vol. 1" by Io Sakisaka.
Product Description
15-year-old Ninako Kinoshita has never been in love until an encounter on the train with her school's most popular boy, the quiet Ren Ichinose. As she grows closer to Ren, she falls in love with him, but must learn to cope with the unfortunate fact that Ren already has a longtime girlfriend.
Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.
About the Author
Born on June 8, Io Sakisaka made her debut as a manga creator with Sakura, Chiru. Her works include Call My Name, Gate of Planet, and Blue. Her current series, Ao Haru Ride, is currently running in Bessatsu Margaret magazine. In her spare time, Sakisaka likes to paint things and sleep.
Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (November 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421550687
ISBN-13: 978-1421550688
My Review:
15 yr. old Ninako Kinoshita is a very kind, gentle and caring girl who falls in love with Ren Ichinose the male school idol who is good at everything he does. He keeps to himself though he has a close group of friends and is admired by all the female population. He has a strong passion for math and he has an older girlfriend Mayuka who is the older sister of Daiki (Ninako's childhood friend).
As Ninako becomes closer to Ren she realizes he is a very kind and caring person. When she learns he has a girlfriend she decides to just be friends and keep her feelings to herself.
Ninako first meets and talks to Ren in the subway when he accidentally steps on her cellphone charm and breaks it. He tells her he will replace it and asks her what classroom and what year she is. She tells him along with her name and then he gets off on his stop.
The next day when the girls announce that Ren is on is way when he passes by he turns and looks at Ninako. Her friends think he is looking at them (that was funny) and later on he gives a charm to replace the one he broke. It's girly which she isn't really one but she puts it on her cellphone and her friends remark that she doesn't really like girly things. Later on she gets one of her friends to paint her nails a nice color.
During PE when she goes to take a drink she runs into Ren and he asks her what activity she is playing and she replies she's playing volleyball. He says he's playing basketball and she tells him she will cheer for him. He replies he will be waiting for her support. Then we see Ren's class is playing against her class and when he catches the basketball and goes charging to the basket Ninako stands up and cheers him. Everyone looks at her and Ren calls her you goof (she realizes he was sending a message to her).
One day she trips and falls down the stairs and she is sitting on the sidelines when she senses someone behind her. She's shocked it's Ren and that he saw her fall down the stairs. They have a nice conversation and then he has to head back to class.
During these encounters she realizes she has fallen in love with Ren and she becomes awkward whenever she sees him. When their eyes meet she turns away and walks away quickly. At lunch one day she goes to buy drinks for herself and her friends when she notices Ren is at the vending machine. When he walks by he looks at her and she turns her head away. She turns back and realizes he is still looking at her and he's waving to her with his can of Black Tea. She waves back and she gets a Black Tea for herself and leaves.
Meanwhile Ren is walking in the hallways when Daiki shoulder checks him and says, "he didn't see him there." Then we see Daiki with a weird expression on his face and then we see that Ren's can of tea has fallen on his foot.
Later on, when Daiki tries to convince her to go out with him, she
rejects him, saying that being in a relationship with someone she does
not love is not right. She wants to remain in her feelings of liking
Ren, even if they are not reciprocated, because that is whom she is in
love with.
4/5
Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!
Manga in series:
1. Strobe Edge Vol. 1
2. Strobe Edge Vol. 2 - January 1, 2013
3. Strobe Edge Vol. 3 - March 5, 2013
4. Strobe Edge Vol. 4 - May 7, 2013
5. Strobe Edge Vol. 5 - July 2, 2013
6. Strobe Edge Vol. 6 - September 3, 2013
