In Asagao to Kase-san (あさがおと加瀬さん), we met Yamada, a pleasant, average and friendly young lady who is very dedicated to the school’s Environmental Committee. She finds herself interested in the track star of the school, Kase. And, almost unbelievably, Kase returns her feelings.
Volume 1 is a slow, gentle story, as the two of them start going out, growing closer as they struggle with just exactly what “going out” means.
In Volume 2, Obentou to Kase-san (おべんとうと加瀬さん), they gently, cutely and realistically figure out who they are and what they mean to each other. Yamada has the higher hurdles, as Kase-san is super popular and Yamada doesn’t have the confidence to stand by her side. But Kase’s feelings are sincere and together they work it all out.
The drama here is small, the resolutions are equally as small, and I find myself wanting desperately to hug both of them and invite them over for tea, so they can see that sometimes we do get a happily after, after all. ^_^
Ratings:
Art – 8 It grew on me
Story – 8
Character – 8
Yuri – 8
Service – 2
Overall – 8
As “first love” stories go, this is definitely one of my favorites. It’s a strong candidate for this year’s Top Ten. I hope we’ll see more of Takashima Hiromi’s art in the future.
I agree with your review very much. However, I found that some of the art related to the re-write and/or chapter extension for the tankobon edition was, I would say mixed, as far as my feelings. Some of it I liked and some of the original Hirari versions I liked better. In any event, I very much hope to see this continued.
This is an absolutely wonderful Yuri manga, my favorite from the past year or so. And what is fascinating is that Takashima sensei has a related 4-Koma Yuri series titled Raibaru to Kase-san (‘Kase-san and her Violently, Viciously, and otherwise Highly Motivated and Pumped-Up Rivals’) that was running in Hirari magazine as it ended publication, in which Kase-san engages in sports competition with several new characters, but with Yamada-san nowhere to be seen. A parallel universe? No…a different manga, with some of the same characters. Very sweaty, very determined characters. Maybe not the character we expected to see with Kase-san, but what – life isn’t confusing?
I also would like to see more of Takashima Hiromi’s work in the future.
Yes, I noticed that she went with the side story in the final volume, perhaps so as not to complicate the release of Obentou with a meaningful “final” chapter that would not get included in the collection.