Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 28 (楽園 Le Paradis) does not have a lot of Yuri. In fact, this issue has one chapter of one story that can be in any way considered “Yuri.” But this one chapter is worth taking a look at.

Over the years, Rakuen Le Paradis magazine has shown itself open to including Yuri as part of it’s eclectic jousei lineup. Several artists have drawn Yuri stories for the magazine, including some of my favorite Yuri artists, Hayashiya Shizuru and Nishi UKO. Additionally, artists who don’t usually create Yuri have had a Yuri story or two. In recent issues, Nakamura Asumiko, who is best known for BL (and whose Maiden Railways which is a bag of treasures will be released in English in 2019 by Denpa Books,) has turned her pen to a Yuri story, “Mejirobana no Saku.”

Another artist who does not traditionally create Yuri, Unita Yumi (probably west known her in the west for Bunny Drop,) is trying her hand at it. “Moco” is a “girl likes girl at school” story. But what Unita-sensei brings to the page is always a deft touch with the small things – body language, interpersonal relationships – that make their characters pop. “Moco” is the only Yuri in Volume 28, but it was very interesting for several reasons. 

Back in the meh-old-days of Yuri, these kinds of “jousei artist-does a Yuri short” weren’t at all uncommon. My historical collection is full of books exactly like this. A great many of them fall into the “Death or Marriage” trope, in which a character leaves an otherwise happy lesbian relationship to be married for reasons of family obligation – or to “free” her lover to marry – or one character dies, leaving the other “free.” Such a delight to read, as you can imagine. ^_^; Rakuen Le Paradis artists are not immune to this, At least two collections I had mostly forgotten by contributors to this magazine fall into this always dire trope. 

Nakamura-sensei is taking the melodramatic private girls’ school trope as her approach, but Unita-sensei is going for what appears to be a straight up, public school story. 

Kumiko, an average girl, is half-obsessed with Yuki, an unconventional  girl in her school. Kumiko is friends with Nataa-kun, who is Yuki’s friend. 

In this month’s chapter, Kumiko admits to Nakata that she like Yuki; as she does, Yuki walks into the room. Mortified, Kumi runs out, and then spends the next few days avoiding Yuki. Finally Yuki catches up with her and makes Kumi talk with her.

This scene was…lovely. Out on a playground, Kumi pours out her heart, while Yuki, always on the move, is swinging around a pull up bar, finally standing on top of it. When she jumps down, Yuki leaps forward to embrace Kumiko, and accepts her confession. 

Yuki admits she has no idea how she feels, but figures they’ll go out a bit and see what happens. When Nakata catches up to them, he asks if they are going out, and when told yes, says, “Thank heavens,” then looks adorably embarrassed about his relief.

I don’t know where this might go, but this may well be the very first of it’s kind, mainstream jousei-artist-takes-on-Yuri and doesn’t punt. That is worth noting. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9 Unita’s style is very specific; simple, but not simplistic. I really like it.
Story – 7 Typicalish, but not on the bad-trope side
Characters – 8 Yuki is charming. One can easily imagine that a number of girls and guys have crushes on her. Kumiko is sweet, and thank heavens for Tanaka-kun.
Service – 0
Yuri – 6 Goodbye “Death or Marriage,” we won’t miss you.

Overall – 8

We have a bunch more amazing stuff to review before end of year list time, but I think I am ready and willing to face all the Yuri 2019 is going to throw at us! ^_^