Kingyo Sou

This is one of my newest favourites. While there are plenty of highschool romances available for reading, very few have struck me as profoundly as Kingyo Sou - it is the story of a highschool girl, Asuka, who fell in love with a university freshman, Masami, after hearing him play the taiko (a large Japanese drum) during a festival. She later learns that Masami is actually the elder brother of her classmate Taisei, and begs to be introduced. Upon meeting Masami, she discovers, to her surprise, that he is actually deaf - and very unsociable.

Taisei advises Asuka not to make a move if she is half-hearted about his brother, because he was difficult to get along with. However, Asuka perseveres and insists that her feelings are real, and boldly invites Masami out to festivals and such, communicating by lip-reading and writing. She even takes up the taiko in an effort to better understand Masami, who lives in a soundless world. They eventually come together as a couple.
Asuka gained my liking from the first few pages of the manga. She is very sincere, and tries her best to understand and help Masami, opening up his world as she pulls him out of his 'fish tank' of solitude. Masami is also a very interesting character. He is often snappish to hide his embarassment when he cannot read something someone has said to him, and says that 'It is hard for me to ask again.' Asuka replies by saying that she is willing to repeat herself as long as he asks.

On overall, I think that this story is very touching and different from typical shoujo manga. There are only five chapters to date, but if the mangaka develops it well, it will be a very interesting story to read.



Akuma to Love Song

This is another of my recent favourites. Kawai Maria, previously a student from the prestigious St Katria's Highschool, is expelled on the grounds of violence against a teacher, and transfers into a public school, Touzuka Highschool. Maria is a rather unique character - while she does not strike me as someone hateful, her straightforward, seldom-smiling demeanor earns her hatred and the nickname 'Devil Maria' in her new school. Because she doesn't often explain herself or attempt to act nice towards her new classmates, the students misunderstand her to be a snob just because she is beautiful and comes from a high-class private academy. Only Kanda Yuusuke(Yuusuke), the class' most popular and outgoing boy, and his closest friend, Meguro Shin (Megu), slowly accepts her. However, she is isolated by the rest of the class, and even the homeroom teacher, ticked off by Maria's straightforwardness towards him, tries every trick he can to bring her down.

Maria has been told (her past has not yet been revealed, but just a few details are shown) that she 'corrupts people' by someone in her previous school. So she tries to be very honest about everything, but her straight-forward personality and her lack of smiles as well as her uncanny ability to see the truth in every situation earns her enemies all around. She eventually changes another girl, Kousaka Tomoyo, who was being bullied into bullying Maria by other girls, into a friend.

Yuusuke tries to teach Maria his 'lovely transformation' - a tilt of the head, when saying something nice to others to appear 'cute' and 'nice'. Maria tries it on many occasions, but fails miserably - it is comical because she looks to sophisticated to pull of the 'cute' look. However, as the story progresses, I can tell that the 'lovely transformation' is something that is also helping Maria along as she learns to deal with people in her direct manner. It becomes more of a joke than an actual transformation! Another recurring theme in the story is the hymn 'Ave Maria', which links Maria to her previous school. She often sings the hymn (she has a beautiful voice, too) and it somewhat becomes an anchor of hope and salvation.

I find it very heart-breaking to read about Maria's school experiences, but I'm also heartened by the powerful friendship Maria forges between Megu, Yuusuke, Kousaka and herself simply by being very frank and honest with them and herself. She is constantly learning to reach out to people without losing her straightforward personality, and the foursome are an impressive group of friends - never doubting or distrusting each other, especially not Maria, because they know that if she has something to say, she'll say it right to their faces - no matter how harsh it is. Such friendships are difficult to find in our world!

I am very impressed by this manga - it is another unique story in the millions of cliched highschool romances. It focuses on how people often feel the need to cover up their 'ugliness' with lies, and how we often change ourselves to make sure we blend into the crowd. Maria is a very refreshing character, and one that I shall not forget easily.

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Well, that's it for now. Both are high-school themed, but I find them to be very special in their own way. Hope you have a blast reading, like I did!!! >.<