Mahoraba eps 22 : Daiji

Posted by reim at 12:16 PM on June 4, 2005 in Mahoraba ~heartful days~ .

No opening theme for this episode, and it could pass out as last episode also.

It's a lively yet lonely day in Narutaki-sou. Everyone is having breakfast, Momono-san and Tama had their witch and wolf fight. Then, Kozue remembered about Asami, did they have good breakfast also ? Of course they did, Asami mentioned that they're in place like hotel. Only now, will they come back to Narutaki-sou ? Megumi stated that possibility. The optimist Shiratori believe they will, because there's the breakfast Kozue makes, and there's everyone in Narutaki-sou, so if it's Shiratori, he will surely come back.

Although so, Kozue is worried. Their heartful days in Narutaki-sou that they thought will continue forever, now after Sayoko and Asami leave, they have to see it, one day, everyone will parts.

At the Minazuki's house, everything also goes like usual. Luxurious breakfast, and Asami not meeting with Sayoko at all.

Sayo-chan is having another talk with her parents. Her father offered to give Asami to his acquintance, a married couple that will adopt Asami. Because Sayoko will marry again and has her own child, it'll be hard for Asami, being the only one that's not related to the family.

Asami knows about it also, that she's an adopted child. When she talked with Mahiru, who's also looking for Sayoko, she told her about her past. Her mother died when giving birth, and her father also died soon afterward, so her grandfather might not be thinking much about her or her father. If so, is it fine for her to be in the house ? What she still don't know is, she's not Kurosaki's daughter also.

After listening to her story, Mahiru decided to help. She take Asami to Sayoko's room. Inside, many photos for marriage arrangement is scattered on the floor. Mahiru is not happy to see Asami crying because of it, she forced her way to meet Sayoko. Tachibana is ordered to keep them from Sayoko, but just listening is okay.

Inside, Sayoko's decision is to not marry again. She doesn't believe that her husband wished her to forget him, because if she died first and leave him, she's wanted him to always remember her. If he ever get married again, she will hate him, hold a grudge and curse him.

Mahiru : Neesama kowai.

It's because of Asami also, because there's Asami, Sayoko can continue living, although everyday without the man she loved felt painful, because there's Asami that called her mother, she continued to live. Therefore, she will not marry again.

Umm... what can i say, best drama episode in Mahoraba. It's actually getting the the sadder story than usual, but still ends well.

小夜ーちゃん は たぶん ダメ人間 かもしれない けど ステキ な お母さん ね

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Futakoi Alternative eps 09

Posted by reim at 12:17 PM on June 4, 2005 .

That night, Soujuu come back alone. They realized what Sara had done, she took everything in her own hand and try to fix it all alone. After that, Rentarou contacted Kunihiko, telling about Soujuu is safe. Kimihiko also told that Sara is fine, and after that, it's best for them to not contact each others anymore. He and Sara, Rentarou and Soujuu.

In that two days, Rentarou and Soujuu tried to get back to their usual life. They tried enjoying their time together, making trouble in the department store, doing crazy things like running with shopping cart fully filled to the top floor then jumps down.

But even if they can go back, and even if they can fly to the sky, will they be happy. If that night he had embraced Sara and Soujuu, will they be happy ? Now, what's left is the life they will "perhaps" live in, and the desired life. Now, there's the harsh reality.

Rentarou's place caught fire, they now both lost place to stay. There's no more things like "if just", because there's no way they can return to that days.

There's no more "if just", only now. But even if it exist, if just they can fly to the sky, and even if that night Rentarou accepted Sara and Soujuu, will they be happy ? So, because that night he can't, this time, while he still can, Rentarou want to do what he can with Soujuu.

The end of dreamlike days, doesn't like this theme -_-

Actually, Rentarou's words and about flying to the sky kind of reminding to Ai and Mai's case. is this what they warned about, that Rentarou can't take the decision, so the girls have to help him or else everyone will be sorry for it ?

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Comics Party Revolution eps 09

Posted by reim at 08:52 PM on June 6, 2005 .

Summer vacation, and that means... no, not the mountain or even the sea, that means Natsu ComiPa and a doujinshi deadline.

Mizuki is not happy of course. She want Kazuki to at least go out in his vacation. They does. Taishi took the whole crew to a camp resort in mountain, named 山中キャンプ場. Taishi brings nothing but games and all other fun stuff, he even don't have any tents with them, or foods. The closest supermarket is three hours driving. Angry Mizuki sent him to space. He returned, with astronaut spacewalk suit and US flag he perhaps stole from the moon's Apollo landing site.

Three hours is an underestimate. The camp ground is located in a booby trap. The forest is made into a labyrinth, so everyone who gets in won't be able to walk out. They're back to the camp ground, out of contact with the world.

A group of サバゲ players found them. They offered a match, if Kazuki and his friends could win against their team, then they will take them down.

Taishi had his plan in three parts, which he's damn proud of it even though he's the first casualty from his team (I guess, Karma does exist).

First plan is the ingeniously Cosplay Barrier named plan. It means, all the girls wore cosplay, and the enemy goes 萌え ! when seeing them, making those pros an easy target. This don't last long, because the pros are well trained to hold back their own desire and stay to their mission. One by one Taishi's team is wiped out.

Second plan is the human cannon. They sent Chisa with her cart filled with don't know what. So fast she's running, the pros can't hit her. But, she keeps running, missing the target and goes to...

Third plan happens to be started when all but one team member is down. Stealth Aya. Hasebe Aya is the phantom circle at ComiPa, she had that ほっとけオーラ which made her comparable to US' F-117 Nighthawk bomber, undetectable. In practice, it's actually more like the Predator, she could become totally invisible and had eyes that see body heat instead of visible light. With that advantage, she easily killed the pro team one by one, giving Taishi team the victory that he's so proud of (despite being the first casualty).

Surprising fact is, those pros are lost also, they're lost in that forest for a week already.

Ayappe is Predator, now that's a news. Next episode, don't know if I should like it or not, the star is Eimi and Asahi. Seems like a nice drama story, although Eimi's attitude still brings to some peoples' nerve.

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Izumo eps 10 : Yomotsu Hirasaka

Posted by reim at 08:57 PM on June 6, 2005 .

Continuing the journey to find Kotono's lost soul, Takeru and his friends, and Takeshi's soul also in him, they reached Yomotsu plains. That place is almost a world in itself, consisting of many fields. This is the place where soul of the death throws away all their worldly bounds to prepare their soul and become the citizen of Yomi country, the land of the death.

First field is filled with flowers, trees and stones. A talking stone told them the meaning of the place. It's the place for peoples who still can't accept that they're dead and still being bounded by their body and appearance. Their soul is changed into deformed human shaped trees and stones. The stone is amused to know that Kotono could walked straight out the field, because she's not tied to her body anymore. But he warned also, that in the next place, the spirits left away things even more painful.

Second field is the feelings. Spirit of the dead screamed their wish and regrets. Amaterasu's magatama saved the girls, sending them back to Ne country, but they breaks to pieces afterward.

Takeru continued to the third field, a city of maze. Here, Kotono's soul is still waiting. She left out the only thing that bounds her to the world, her memories, the memory of her meeting with Takeru. When younger, Kotono stayed in the hospital and has no friend, until Rokunosuke-jiichan takes Takeru as her friend. This is the start of their feeling to each others also.

Last place is the gate to Yomi country, guarded by Gozu (literally, bull head). He told Takeru that Kotono is dead, and by passing the Yomotsu Hirasaka, she has throw away all her ties to the world, now she belongs to the Yomi country. But there is a chance for Takeru. He must walk a hill that goes back to Ne country. Just one he must not do, never look back or Kotono will become citizen of Yomi country, never again a chance to go back.

At the gate, another demon, Mazu (literally, horse head) stopped him. He and Gozu showed a mirror, reflecting Kotono's rotting form. Takeshi warned Takeru that the mirror showed a world in reverse, he should trust Kotono, so Takeru managed to get out and revived.

Back in Himiko's place, Takeshi has realized everything. He think it's weird, that to fight the gods, she needed the soul of a dead hero so much, is there another reason for Himiko to yearns for Susanoo so much ? Either way, he's not Susanoo, so does Takeru. But, Takeshi does want to help her to go through her sadness and make her dream comes true.

Gozu mentioned about reincarnation of soul who reached Yomi no Kuni. IINM, this is different from the original Shinto's belief right ? 輪廻, the cycle of rebirth is concept from the Buddhist. But let's not complain too much about it, after all, even though with someone else's help, he does perform better than his two predecessors who tried to take their loved one back from the land of the death. Orpheus from the Greeks look back at Eurydice midway because of worry, and Izanagi performed even worse, he peeked his wife's rotting form and ends up being chased back to the world of the living by his angry wife instead ^^;

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Futakoi Alternative eps 10

Posted by reim at 03:24 PM on June 11, 2005 .

Not so sure of the translation... might do revision later.

Two weeks has passed since the office is burned down. Kimihiko still send his men to give money and support for Rentarou, which he put down of course. But Rentarou does know that man's words are not all wrong, because he didn't think about ten years later, twenty years later, all he think is for now and think he can do anything by himself.

With no power, he can only say he will take responsibility and protects Soujuu, not really proofing it.

Soujuu doesn't care of course. When they visited the office, Soujuu again asked Rentarou to find her.

He forgot about it though, after working, Rentarou met Ika Fire (the white man sized white squid monster that Ainosuke beat to save the city). Ika Fire beat Rentarou, almost killing him if just Harry is not there and starts shooting. Before leaving, he told Rentarou how worthless he is, not even to his expectation from Ainosuke's son. Feeling defeat, Rentarou go to the the crocquet seller obaasan's house where he's been staying for the last two weeks.

They're mad that Rentarou left Soujuu waiting for the whole day. The grandma told Rentarou how he's like his father. Rentarou goes out on scooter, looking for Soujuu. His scooter crashed on a can and Rentarou's leg is injured, but he still walks on, until in the morning he found Soujuu still waiting by the river for him.

Things starts changing. Niko Tama Shopping mall is going to be built, and it's killing the peoples in the shopping street. They leave the city one by one. Kira and Yura also leave because they're angry to their father. That night, once again Nikotama is turning into city of fire.

He's still alive, and performing Uchiha clan's katon jutsu ^^;

Too dark and sad for me, felt tired watching this episode. Soujuu looks more mature by each time she does without Sara isn't it. The scene by the river is simply beautiful and romantic. Although I can't say it well enough... there's a feeling there.

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Comics Party Revolution eps 10

Posted by reim at 03:57 PM on June 11, 2005 .

The star this time, Eimi and Asahi.

One day while playing in the game centre, Eimi got beaten by someone in a game she's proud of. The person happens to be Asahi, and Eimi said the wrong word, Sakurai Asahi. All Asahi's fans attacked them.

Through ComiPa style misunderstanding, Eimi decided to become Asahi's friend. As proof of friendship, they take photo together in the park and exchanged mail address. Eimi told Asahi a lot, but Asahi can only answer like 私は元気です, short answers and for Eimi, not like a mail from friend.

The days after, they go out together, shopping. But again, once Asahi's fans noticed her, troubles follows. Angered because Asahi is more popular, Eimi decided to proof herself, she want to sell a lot in ComiPa. Same thing happened. When the fans goes out of control, Minami take action by sealing Eimi's place, she's not allowed to sell. Asahi is gone also in that ruckuss.

All this time, Eimi always be the more talkative. She speaks a lot and Asahi is more like being pushed everywhere. When Asahi is gone and Eimi didn't realize it, Taishi said out his theory. Eimi is approaching Asahi so she can boost her doujin selling. Although it's wrong, Eimi know also she had made a mistake to Asahi, and to said sorry she can't find the words.

Asahi also is feeling guilty for ruining Eimi's day in ComiPa. She waited on the roof until Kazuki goes to her. A friend won't need any special way to say sorry, he said.

Well, Asahi is the chara that I learn to like a lot. Her personality is one that's hard to hate. Personality wise, her shy part is almost like Aya, only she's not as dark. While Eimi, yes she's a childish chara, but can't imagine if she didn't, because probably it's because she's childish then she can act like that.

Perhaps I've said this somewhere else, but seeing this one makes me think ComiPa like a reverse of FutaKoi alternative. Futakoi has lots of beautiful drama, and crazyness once in a while. ComiPa had lots of crazy episodes, but pretty nice drama episode.

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Izumo eps 11 : Takeru Inochi

Posted by reim at 09:10 PM on June 16, 2005 .

Kagutsuchi planned the attack to enemy's stronghold, that will be the final battle against Himiko. Takeru joined also, he doesn't want to just guarding their place. They know already that the enemy had known their plan, but that's the feint. Kagutsuchi's plan is to ambush the enemy's force that came to attack them.

Minakata respected Takeshi's friendship with Takeru, when he recognized Takeru, Minakata doesn't kill him when he had a chance, and instead retreated. His force is wiped out also.

At the Akuryou's base, Takeshi is angry for what Takeru had done. He guarded the gate while everyone else escaped behind the barrier.

Kotono, with Seri and Mai came to help. They stopped the evil spirits' movement, giving chance for the human to attack.
Oonamuji warned Mai and Kotono not to disturb them any more. Rin came and warned the four gods also, she made a deal that they, the spirits should not interfere in the battle.

While Takeru goes to fight against Takeshi. Susanoo's spirit then called to Takeru, telling him to kill Takeshi, then his sepparated soul will be completed again.

Unaware of what he's doing, Takeshi almost killed Takeshi. He also killed Minakata, whose sacrifice sent Takeshi back inside the stronghold.

Mai, who had betrayed Oonamuji twice want to sacrifice herself to send them inside. Perhaps because he had raised her like his own daughter also, Oonamuji came out and stopped her. He went on to revenge his son's death, by killing Takeru. But Takeru is saved by Himiko. That leaves Oonamuji fighting Kagutsuchi.

Inside, with their own feeling, Takeshi also wish to have Susanoo's power, to take revenge on what Takeru had done. Things then move closer to Susanoo's time of awakening.

Takeru when he's posessed by Susanoo is definitely a lot different from the image of that person in episode 9, it's that cold blooded killer again from the early episode. He's becoming too... uncontrollable. Now Takeshi became the one that looks more mature than him.

Since both are from one soul, then who's the person fighting Susanoo in Takeru's dream of the past ? That part gave the hint about what Takeshi and Takeru's relationship, which is misleading to some parts.

Too bad that it will end at the next episode, and would most likely not telling about Kaede, Susanoo's spider spirit who had splitted his soul into two persons, or the story about when Himiko, Rin and the four gods still live together before war.

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Mahoraba eps 23 : Momiji no Naka de

Posted by reim at 09:11 PM on June 16, 2005 in Mahoraba ~heartful days~ .

A lot of really cute scenes this episode, especially for Shiratori and Kozue, they're clearly decided to be a couple. Tama does seems sad with it, she seems to realize it, that she can't keep both sepparated as much as before.

At the end, with Kozue's worry if everyone will one day leave Narutaki-sou, there are letter for Momono, and a fax for Haibara, so most likely they'll leave. Don't know about the Kurosaki family, but this will definitely be a sad sepparation story for me -_-

Perhaps this will leave an opening to tell about Kozue's split personality, because it's most likely begin when her grandfather died and Shiratori left isn't it ?

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Futakoi Alternative eps 11

Posted by reim at 10:33 PM on June 19, 2005 .

October 25th 1945, the official of the GHQ, Gen. McArthur came to Japan. One of the thing he do (other than putting that weird unlike anywhere else in the world pornography censoring of Japan) is dismantling the financial group system known as 財閥. This is a system that has run in Japan for long time ever since before the WW2, with family who ruled the economic activity, some even has monopoly power over the market.

But the senior member of the zaibatsu didn't stop. They still has their power and continued with their forbidden research. The research is called the Ikaros project. Hidden behind numerous events, the purpose is to combine human and squid, thus, Ika Fire is born.

Back to Nikotama city, squid is burning everything. Harry defeat him, it seems, but the squid has an undying body, he just keep returning to life. And this time, he want to burn everything precious to Rentarou, the office, the city, the peoples in shoutengai, and finally the girls he loved. Seems like that squid stalks him a lot to know about Rentarou's life.

Angered Rentarou chased him, to protect those that's precious for him. He told Soujuu to wait, because after that, both of them will go to pick up Sara, then they can be together, three of them. He remembered the words from Shimoshima-san (the man whose "elepanth" he grabbed last episode) about how he planned to live in the future, he hasn't. Have he lived the fullest of his life ? that one Rentarou has.

Ika Fire make a bet with him. If Rentarou could outrun him with his bike, then the squid will eat peanut with his nose. Again, Rentarou is defeated, this time with shower of squid ink. But he won't surrender. Even at the worst time, they can always turn things around, that's what a man are, Harry told him.

Remember the 16 years old Rentarou ? That time, he's member of motorbike gang, and his old friends all came back to help. Alone, he passed Ika Fire, he won that fight.

So it seems that the whole things is over, Rentarou is resting in the hospital. He didn't remember, but the squid guy is gone already.

Shimoshima came to visit him again, and he told the whole story of Ikaros project. Wadatsumi group made it for weapon. Kimihiko and Sara's marriage also has something to do with the organization that built Ika Fire. Believing that he has to marry one of them, Kimihiko and Sara had gone abroad to held their marriage.

Shimojima also had his dream, he want to be a baseball player, although he couldn't. He think of his future, and let go of that dream. But seeing Rentarou, he want to try again. For him, Shimojima gave something, an electrified bat, which after beaten with that, the squid won't come back to life anymore. That's the final good bye to the squid, he won't have anymore appearance in the show again (unless the director are pulling something in the last episode).

Of course, the zaibatsu is still there although changed I think. Like Kimihiko's Mitsurugi in this story. Then, there are companies such as Mitsubishi, they're like zaibatsu also isn't it ?

Question, is the scene where Rentarou is chasing the squid on highway, is it parody from FF7 ? Let's not imagine that Ika Fire is parody from SaiKano (nightmare -_- )

Now if just Rentarou's father is an alien, then it's complete (Halleluya II Boy)

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Izumo eps 12 : Futatsu no Tamashi

Posted by reim at 09:29 AM on June 21, 2005 .

Inside the shrine, Himiko and Takeshi are having their talk after she gave him Susanoo's sword. Himiko still persist on waiting Susanoo's awakening, while Takeshi, who loved Himiko doesn't like it, that he's just a vessel for someone else's spirit. In that case, it doesn't matter who win, as long as Susanoo's soul is awakened. It's what worried Amaterasu, because if Susanoo is awakened again, then war will never ends.

When both meet, ending it without a fight and returning to Ashihara is not something Takeshi wished for. He had Himiko who see him as precious, and there are peoples who needs him. But Takeru, he has taken away everything, so Takeshi hated him, especially because Takeru killed Minakata and then now want to kill Himiko also.

It does ends peacefully. Susanoo's spirit asked Himiko to stop all they're doing. The soul alone is too powerful for one person, so his soul is split for two peoples. At first, he's still thinking of Ne no Kuni, but after he goes to Yomi no Kuni, Susanoo has left all his attachment and regret for the world. He asked that Himiko can let it go also, trying to resurrect him. Later, they can together travel to the land of the death also.

Finally, the one that has happy end is Takeshi and Himiko it seems. After all his trying to show his own feeling, finally Himiko will call him instead of Susanoo.

So, the final impression of this title. Izumo is one of the title that I waited this season, and it proven to be satisfying for me. The animation quality is altering, and of course not as high quality animated like Futakoi alternative or last season's AIR, but the story keeps me watching.

It does ends up quick and -although I might be wrong- cuts out some stories I might like from the original game's scenario. But they cover it up well that it leaves no trace of relationship to the first Izumo title. For rating, mine's 7.4/10.

Oh, and I don't like that Takeru killed Rin though.

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Mahoraba eps 24 : suzu

Posted by reim at 11:43 AM on June 23, 2005 in Mahoraba ~heartful days~ .

One day, the princess is having umeboshi together. They sing suppai suppai suppai ! and attracts the animals from the forest. Also, the prince is attracted by the singing also. He's not going on journey to slay dragon nor to defeat evil peoples, it's just a picnic.

They get to know each others and are happy. But rain falls and flood came, drifting away the prince and the animals. Feeling lonely, the princesses fell unconscious.

The prince draw a shark in his sketch book, and the shark came out. The prince and the animals ride on it and returned to the castle. They found the sleeping princess and called, so, umeboshi hime woke up. But only four of them, one stays asleep.

Back at Narutaki-sou, the letters from previous episode is read. For Haibara, his novel is finally acknowledged and he'll become a real novelist. For Megumi, her boyfriend finally had his dream of becoming a movie director, and he also asked her to come and see their dream comes true together.

So, Narutaki-sou is quiet that day. Shiratori also goes out looking for part time job to do. Kozue told him that the shop at shoutengai are looking for someone to help. When Kozue visited him in her shopping trip, she does seems very worried about Shiratori falling down.

Why did Shiratori suddenly look for a job ? The residents look in his room but get over it quickly because it's boring. Shiratori is too easy to understand. He's looking for job because he want to buy present for Kozue.

On his way home, Shiratori had an accident. Hearing the news, Kozue is so worried, she fainted. Although it's not something big. He just fell down and not hurt in any way.

Back then, something also happened. Kozue won the first price of trip from the shoutengai. She had school to attend, so Kozue asked her parent to go just both of them. This ends up tragically though, they died in an accident. Kozue blamed herself because she's the one who asked them to go. Since then, she started having her problem.

When Kozue woke up, everyone showed up one by one. There's Natsume, Saki, Nanako and Chiyuri. But unlike usual, they don't go to Kozue inbetween, instead, Kozue never showed up at all.

Kozue's bells are personality control device ? The most logical answer it seems, because last time when she lost one bell also, her personality keeps jumping from one to another.

When Shiratori is falling down from the tree, the scene showed her bells once, so could it be that it's something from her past also ? If true, that could be the reason why they removed the scene where Shiratori falls from the tree in Natsume's introduction.

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Comics Party Revolution eps 12

Posted by reim at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2005 .

This time, they're going to the climax. Kazuki is offered a career in the pro manga business.

Reiko offered Mizuki to go to the pro cosplayer world together. This is about what they will do after they graduated from university. Mizuki asked it to Kazuki also, will he draw doujinshi forever ?

Just when he's thinking about it, being a pro, Aya asked him if he had time. She asked him to accompany her in meeting Sawada Makiko, the editor. After seeing her work in ComiPa, Makiko intended to ask Aya to start working in her magazine, Comic Z also. And actually, she want Kazuki to work there also.

Before entering the world, Aya asked to see the world of pro, she want to see how they will work later after becoming pro mangaka.

The company is... Kadoyama Shoten (actually, Kadokawa Shoten ^^; ). Makiko took them to look around in the office. The office is very quiet, almost nobody is around because it's still early (around 1PM). They're all still out and won't be back before the evening.

Mizuki and Reiko also came to help one of the editor, who looks like Negima's Takahata-sensei (even his style looks like).

First, Kazuki and Aya got to see an editor, which might be what Taishi will become. He's discussing story with a mangaka (Ueda Yuji ?). Makiko explained that editor has strong influence on what the story will be, they help to think of stories for the mangaka. But Makiko doesn't really like the strong influence from editor to author. It might of course reduce the selling of their magazine, but by letting the mangaka write what they want, they can let out their true shine in their works.

Back at Mizuki and Reiko, they're visiting an author also. Chou-san is coming for the deadline. Reiko and Mizuki works well like a bait to drag the person out of his apartment. He told him that Reiko and Mizuki is newcomer in illustration work, and they're going to look around. That author happily comply with the deadline. If the messenger is young woman, he always close the deal quickly.

After that, went to another place to collect the "debts" and on for some manhunt in Akiba. It's the release day of a super real figure, so Chou-san expected to found some otaku-mangaka who abandoned their work and went for shopping. They found one.

Kazuki and Aya went to a mangaka's place to help as assistant. The person is complaining because the assistant that he got is unusable, they're busy with their own doujinshi and abandon their assistant job. Kazuki and Aya offered themselves to help for a day.

After the work, Kazuki asked Aya if she's doing it for him, asking the editor to look at how the pro's world. Finally, he answered that he still want to work on doujinshi for now.

Next episode, the title would be As Time Goes By, the theme song for Comics Party's game version (DC's version IINM).

Great episode this time. They pictured the work of the publishing company in contrast to the doujinka's world as shown so far.

Both Kazuki and Aya is doing fine this episode also. The way Aya talk about manga is like a new born child and blush, made her looks like young newly married wife ^^

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Sono Mukou no Mukougawa

Posted by reim at 03:44 PM on June 26, 2005 .

by Yoshitomo Watanabe. Published by Mag Garden on May 10th 2004.

ISBN:4-86127-038-3.

Got this one at Kinokuniya yesterday, so thinking of sharing some of the story after reading.

Story summary: one day, on his way home, Kudou Futaba, a 6th grader with small body and the strong wish to grow up heard voice calling him. On that way home, he met a girl who falls from the sky. Halfway down is still graceful, but the last half she fell down, hurt her head and cried hawawawawa...

She introduced herself as Kiara, and Futaba is her master she's been looking for. But the strange sorcerer in black that showed up after called her 常世の花. Seems like Kiara has great power, and the person who gets a hold on her will get their happiness. For that, everyone is looking for her, the Amaranzine.

Kiara soon finds out that she's wrong, Futaba is just a not so fortunate person that she thought is her master. After knowing that, she again fell in despair, crying Hawawa... leaving Futaba against a summoned fish demon. He dragged her away and hide.

Under the bridge, seeing Futaba using his cell phone, Kiara founds a way. Cell phone are great, they connect places that are far away. With that, she threw it in water and opens the gate to another world, 黄金大陸. Futaba woke up in a strange place with a talking bunny-like creature asking him what's that thing she's holding (the cell phone). This creature is a great mage with the name Beruberu, but he's in animal form. Unlike the others, Beruberu know that only Amaranzine's true master can use her power, and Beruberu is not, so she's not so interested in Kiara.

She followed Futaba who looks for Kiara. Beruberu can see into his mind and she also helped Futaba from a dragon monster (with price, it's her job). Kiara is safe and sound though, she's sleeping on the water next to the place that Futaba first woke up.

Now that he's already in another world, Futaba want to help Kiara find her master. He can also get away for a while to a place that his two elder brother, Takumi and Tasuke, and his elder sister Takako can't reach, because they always see him as children.

Overall, the story hasn't yet shown it's really unique plot twist yet, just story about a journey. Some of the characters are not so original also, but if you're not so having a problem with that. While art wise, pretty. although seems like the author got influence from many other mangaka also. Seen mix of familiar styles. The colour illustration of Kiara looks like Shiina You's style.

About Kiara, she's cute, a boke chara, although after a while she seems silly, there's lot of funny scene for laugh. But my fave is Villid Visette Villisian, the younger prince of Villisia that they arrived in. Villid has an elder brother with the same name as him, because they're destined to kill each others so one can be the king. A sad thing, like Futaba mentioned, as if any of them will do and made no difference.
A mad and disturbed chara at first, not worrying about hurting himself nor if he'll die. But after Futaba cared for him, he became really cute and tagged along with him. Gave lots of shounen-ai hints also ^^

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Mahoraba eps 25 : Tsugeru Yoru

Posted by reim at 09:48 AM on June 30, 2005 in Mahoraba ~heartful days~ .

The cricket pulled up a plug on the land. After the plug is pulled off, soon the flood washed away into the hole. Then, the prince can once again meet with the Umeboshi princess.

Days continued. For two days, Shiratori hasn't gone to school. Tama also locked herself in the room, trying to find a way to get Kozue back.

Things aren't the same. Saki got out quite often, and she showed her side that's like Kozue when she found the umeboshi. Not only the side that she likes umeboshi, but also the side that are toughtful of others and want to keep something precious for everyone.

When Saki is helping Sayoko and Asami, Haibara told about Kozue's personality. Ever since the accident, she changed. Saki is when she want to expressively feel happy or mad, to get away from her sadness. Natsume is when she want to close herself in her own world. Nanako is when she want to go back to the happy childhood time.

But this time, afraid of losing someone precious again, this time she might not return.

Tamami finally told about her feeling, she loved Kozue and hate Shiratori, because he just came for less than a year but already he has a special meaning for Kozue. Yet, he doesn't seem to try and do anything with the current condition. Shiratori himself think that everyone should be happy instead of showing so much worry, because Kozue smiled the best when everyone is happy too.

Tama gave up, she admit that she lost to Shiratori. Even if she's been with Kozue since lon time ago and always be at her side, Tama always want to have Kozue for herself, thinking of only herself. Therefore, she won't win, because Shiratori understand Kozue more.

So, how to take Kozue back ? Shiratori tried what he can, draw. Kozue always liked his drawing and waiting to see the storybook he's drawing, so he'll draw.

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Mahoraba eps 26

Posted by reim at 09:49 AM on June 30, 2005 in Mahoraba ~heartful days~ .

Once upon a time, there is a prince who's bored with his life in castle. He went out on a picnic. The shark gave him a sketch book, and the frog count gave him magic crayon. Then, the prince went not to an adventure, or to fight villain, nor dragon, but just a picnic.

In a castle, live the Umeboshi-hime. She had a secret. One day, when she ate umeboshi, her reflection in the mirror want one also. Umeboshi-hime gave her reflection an umeboshi, then something happened. There's now two umeboshi hime.

One day, the two princesses walk in the courtyard. oved the pond, an umeboshi fell down and her reflection on water ate it. Suddenly, there's three princesses.

The next day, her shadow want one also, but she didn't have any mouth. So the three princesses draw face and clothes for her, so now, the shadow can eat umeboshi. Suddenly, there are four princesses.

The four princesses found that there's only one umeboshi left. So they found a way. They have a magic curtain that can duplicate things. The umeboshi jar is now two. But a princess got duplicated also, now there's two of them.

The next, Shiratori hasn't write it yet. But Natsume want friends for the princess, because there's nothing around the castle. So, Shiratori make it, the wolf (Momo), ant (Asami), cricket (Sayo-chan), squirrel (Johnny) and the tree where the squirrel is staying (Haibara).

The prince came after. But after they know each others, a storm came and flood washed away the prince and animals. Shocked, Umeboshi hime lost consciousness. The prince then draw a shark, and everyone is save. The called the princess again, and four woke up. But one stayed asleep.

After the cricket opened the sink and flood is gone, the prince realized. Umeboshi-hime's castle had no gate, nobody can enter or leave. To enter, the prince drew rainbow to the castle, so Umeboshi hime can came out. But one is still inside, she's sleeping. So the prince climbed the rainbow to reach her. Everyone is worried, and of cour, I'm worried also, he said, then the prince gave her a kiss on the cheek. The princess woke up and light shine on everyone.

The four princess become the hero (Saki), the curious fairy (Nanako), the stylish dancer (Chiyuri) and the magician (Natsume)

But this is not the end, because some day, the princess will become all alone again. This is what Kozue is afraid of, so, Shiratori still have an happy ending for her. The prince trained with the hero, played with the fairy, dance with the dancer and the magician showed him her magics. Then, the princess would came with many umeboshi, and everyone will have umeboshi time together. Seasons and seasons passed, everyone lived together happily ever after.

When Kozue is back, they have a birthday party with all the casts, including Sayoko's family. Ushimitsu seems happy to be called grandfather by Asami (but not by Sayoko). Mahiru doesn't seem happy with Sakura stating the fact she's an aunt now.

Momo will stay and wait until her boyfriend come back to propose her. Haibara is not so lucky, many happened and he lost that novel author job.

So, it's happy end. Been a great half a year with the peoples in Narutaki-sou. A great romance-comedy, with very strong family feel.

I'm sure many could've done better wrap up since I'm not a good critics.

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