Octave, Volume 5 (オクターヴ)　is a deceptively subtle volume. On the surface, it appears to be a similar formula to the previous 4 volumes – Yukino and Setsuko have a disagreement stemming from their disparate worldviews about their relationship and we watch Yukino assimilate, deal, integrate and grow. Only…it’s not the same. Not this time. In […]

In Volume 4 of Octave, (オクターヴ) Yukino very nearly damages her relationship with Setsuko again, but doesn’t. This reason this time? She slams up against the “coming out” wall and gives herself a concussion. Yukino comes to the somewhat surprising conclusion that her life dreams now include being with Setsuko forever. At work, she has […]

At the end of Volume 2 of Octave (オクターヴ), I expressed the sentiment that I did not want Setsuko to be hurt, even as I knew that there was no way to avoid it. And indeed, as the pages of Volume 3 open, there is Setsuko, crying. It didn’t help that I expected Yukino to […]

In Volume 2 of Octave (オクターヴ) Yukino continues to deal with the hole in her life left by the absence of everything she thinks she wants. In doing so, she really pissed me off. ^_^; On the one hand, Yukino is an ex-pop idol, studying to be a manager, living a life that is a […]