One of the byproducts of so many Yuri anthologies and manga outlets recently is the pleasure of encountering new names among the familiar ones. Ajiichi has been around a little while, but hasn’t had a collected volume of their own in Yuri. So I was pretty stoked to see Dekisokonai no Hime-tachi, Volume 1 (できそこないの姫君たち) from Ajiichi, collected from Takeshobo’s web comic Storia Dash. 

This story is very much in the style of Morinaga Milk’s GIRL FRIENDS, in that it begins with two classmates. Like Mari and Akiko, Kurokawa Kaede, an unpopular girl and popular Fujishiro Nanaki are opposites – but they are not friends. Kurokawa doesn’t particularly like Fujishiro and their spheres are completely separate. In fact, it’s almost complete coincidence that brings them together and chance that they find they kind of like one another.

In the way of such things, Nanaki is finding she likes being with Kaede, and the two spend more and more time together, until Nanaki’s crowd reacts with resentment. But Nanaki’s not going to bend, much less break under that kind of pressure and she chooses Kaede.

Nanaki takes Kaede on a Shibuya makeover date and, as the volume comes to a close, realizes that her reaction to Kaede’s cuteness is more than just friendship. Volume 2,which will be released in June, will resolve this, but I kind of think there’s no doubt of the conclusion.

If you’re looking for something GIRL FRIENDS-like, this series is a good bet. Ajiichi’s art is reminiscent of Morinaga’s, the set up is similar and undoubtedly, the end will be too.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Service – 2 A teen little bit
Yuri – 6

Overall – 7

The Yuricon Store is back up and running! Yay!

It’s good to see Takeshobo’s Bamboo Comics back in the Yuri game.