Let’s start the week off with an incredibly sweet Yuri manga that I adore, by a manga artist I admire. Today we’re talking Itoshi Koishi, Volume 1 (いとしこいし) by Takemiya Jin-sensei, from Yuri Hime Comics.

Hina is a high-school student who enjoys cooking and is very sweet and kind. Unbeknownst to any of her friends, she is going out with a neighbor – an older woman – named Yayoi. Yayoi works at home and it is Hina’s great joy to make Yayoi food and gently scold her about taking care of herself. Yayoi knows she wants to marry Hina one day, and make this arrangement formal. And when we get the flashback to how they met, we’re not at all surprised that Yayoi needs the help. ^_^

We begin with a summer festival which eases us into their relationship. Yayoi visits Hina at her school festival in order to tease her – gently. A  few chapters are arranged around a recipe that Hina is making for Yayoi.

The story is careful about the difference in their ages. Yayoi is well aware of the gap and takes care to keep them both at a level of emotional intimacy, rather than physical, with an emphasis on comfort and safety for Hina.  It is very clear that Yayoi has drawn some specific lines in her head and she will not cross them.

Hina’s more concerned with her place in Yayoi’s life. Yayoi’s got friends and adult responsibilities and she knows she’s still a kid. She’s worried that Yayoi will leave her behind. But as the story develops, we can also see that they are both very good to and very good for one another. (And, we’ll see Hina becoming more a part of Yayoi’s outside life in later chapters. I approve.)

Overall, I really like this manga. It’s shockingly wholesome and sweet and comes with a bunch of recipes. Food and Yuri – perfect together. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8 YMMV, but I think this is Takemiya-sensei’s best work so far
Story – Warm and cozy and cute, like Hina – 8
Characters – 9 Everyone is likable
Yuri  – 10
Service – 3 We are assured Hina’s chest is large several times.

Overall – 9

I can see myself coming back to this series over and over. It’s nice. I picked this copy up at one of the Yuribu, so I could get the insert paper, of Yayoi embracing Hina and both of them thinking super happy love-love thoughts. ^_^