In all my many years reading and reviewing manga, my favorite thing is when someone I have been following for ages breaks out into mainstream publishing. It has been my sincere pleasure here on Okazu to watch artists take their doujinshi career to new heights with major publishers. Today is one of those days.

I have been following Kitao Taki since the early 2000s, when she was part of Sakuraike, a doujinshi team whose work I really enjoyed. We were fortunate enough to be able to include some of their work in ALC’s Yuri Monogatari anthology. In 2010, Sakuraike’s work was collected into a 2-volume series Kimochi no Katachi. Of course I reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 2 here on Okazu. When Kitao-sensei struck out on her own as circle BQ, I continued to follow her work, because I liked her formula of self-conscious butch and outgoing femme. ^_^ Well today, it is my very sincere pleasure to say that her work has continued to mature and grow and in 2024, she has a series published by Kadokawa’s U-NEXT site.

Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikiteimasu, Volume 1 (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています) is an absolutely delightful fantasy series about Laila, a commoner, whose life is upended when her useless parents sell her off probably for drinking money. Laila is not the kind of girl to wait around and see what becomes of her, so while in the forest, she escapes. Lost and alone, Laila is found by the unlikeliest person imaginable – her old childhood friend Eva, the duke’s daughter.

Eva immediately scoops Laila up and brings her home, where the Duchess summarily tells her to get out, despite Eva and the tutor’s testimony. But when Laila protects Eva from an assassination attempt, she is given the position of Eva’s bodyguard and allowed to stay by her side.

It turn out that Laila is not only smart, and resilient, but she has a knack for mimicking what she sees. When Eva’s clingiest friend tries to drive Leila away with magic and cunning, Laila mimics her magic and ends up saving the friend, Lisette. She’s fast and strong, so her role as bodyguard suits her. Of course the leader of the school, a powerful duelist, Touka Remberk, challenges her, Laila is able to make a decent show before she loses. Touka immediately offers her friendship, as well. But all is not perfect in their school of magic. Eva’s cousin Catharine is an old-school Evil Psychotic Lesbian with girls draped all over her as she holds court and she wants Eva…gone. She’s not above deceit and abuse, even going so far as to have her thugs jump Laila. On the positive side, no one likes Catherine, except her henchicks. ^_^

One of my favorite things about Kitao-sensei’s art has always been the expressions on her hapless and helpless butch characters’ faces as they are swept up by the objects of their desire. Here we definitely get some  of those faces, but Laila is neither helpless nor hapless. She is concerned for Eva’s (and Lisette’s and a classmate who is blackmailed by Catherine, Martha’s,) well-being. She’s a tough commoner, and  has confidence in herself, even if a magic school for nobles is out of her depth. Eva is very on Laila’s side and not at all stupid. Lisette, who initially seemed like she’d be an annoying tsundere, is not the enemy she initially seems. In fact, I bookmarked an amusing panel when Lisette is asked if she’s met up with Catherine and her response is to say “bleah” and stick out her tongue. It was very endearing and keeps the character likable.

In a conversation earlier today, I commented that the thing I was enjoying most about Sorairo Utility was how Minami was being taught how to do things, rather than being shamed for not knowing how to do things.  Here too, bullying is not the plot driver. When the Duchess is ready to boot the commoner for surely she will not have the proper table manners, Laila simply mimics what she sees Eva doing and thus passes well enough. At school, Laila has never fought with a sword when she is challenged to a duel – how would she have ever had a chance to hold a sword, much less wield it in a duel? But she watches and learns and does her damnedest to use the skills she does have, earning her Touka’s respect. Catherine is the only real problem, but she will at least give Laila a chance to shine.

There is quite a bit of Yuri sprinkled about, as one might expect from an artist who has been working on Yuri doujinshi for 2 decades. Eva and Laila are almost immediately a ‘ship and undoubtedly set to be a couple. Lisette’s feelings for Eva are very deep admiration/desire. Touka might have a bit of a crush on Laila, and the two are given a really nice balcony scene. Catherine and her henchicks are definitely a throuple – and we know the henchicks are an item on their own. Nothing is explicit, but I expect we’ll see more as the story develops.

Kitao-sensei’s art is the best it has ever been. Action scenes are clear and fun to read. Characters expressions have always been a strength and she really gets to use a range, from Cath’s evil sneer to Laila’s seductive face.  Despite the potential for a lot of gut-wrenching, this series is a whole lot of fun. Congratulations to Kitao-sensei!

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – Laila kneeling over Eva in bed was pretty servicey, yeah.
Yuri – 6, I expect that to go up.

Overall – 9

This is a super fun fantasy story by a long-time Yuri artist. Sample chapters in Japanese are available on Comic Walker, go take a look!  I’m very much hoping we’ll see a collected Volume 2 soon.

Kimochi no Katachi, Volume 2 (きもちのかたち), continues to follow the stories of Satsuki’s relationship with Kano, and Mako’s relationship with Rina. In both cases, the relationship become closer and matures past that “Story A” space.

Satsuki’s story really takes off in what is probably my favorite of all the chapters, which centers around a most common object – a cell phone.

Satsuki’s father is rather strict and old-fashioned and he doesn’t see a business case for his children getting cell phones. So Satsuki has to rely on the family phone, which makes talking to Kano awkward. Kano lends Satsuki her cell phone, but Satsuki’s father hears her talking in her room and throws a hissy fit, assuming she’s talking to a boy who’s up to no good. Scared half out of her mind, Satsuki decides to approach her father directly and ask for a phone. Unfortunately, he’s a shouter, and starts to overwhelm his daughter before she can get started. Like some kind of miracle, Kano shows up, apologizes to Dad for the fuss and woos him into being quiet long enough for Satsuki to make her request. He agrees that she can have one, which becomes their next Sunday date. But that isn’t the point. The point of the scene, as both Satsuki and Kano later comment on, is that Kano sits in seiza, with one hand lightly on Satsuki’s back as she petitions Dad to allow his daughter to have a phone. It’s a beautiful moment. That small gesture claims Satsuki as *hers* in a way that’s unmistakable, without saying a word. Later on, Kano admits that she was terrifyingly close to asking Dad for Satsuki’s hand in marriage. ^_^

Meanwhile, Mako is making herself ill because she really, really, really wants to kiss, touch and do other things with Rina. Unfortunately she’s still horribly gun shy and, even though no one is stopping her, Mako is just not ready to accept her own desire. (As I once wrote in a story, desire is a terrible thing, because you can never go back after giving in.)

Mako’s previous crush doesn’t make it easier by telling Mako that *she’s* ready to accept Mako’s feelings. Mako’s making herself and Rina miserable, but the only one who can release her from her prison is her. Eventually Rina helps Mako see the light, and Mako and she finally are able to move their relationship forward.

For a series titled, “Shape of Feelings,” both arcs really fit the bill. There’s a genuine and heartfelt exploration of feelings and situations that a young woman who finds herself in love (and lust) with another woman might be dealing with. More importantly, the stories deal with the fallout of these feelings into other, completely normal everyday experiences. Mako’s inability to cope with her fantasies about Rina, or even her enjoyment of looking at Rina’s body; Satsuki’s fear that Kano will be stolen from her, or that her feelings for Kano will be discovered by her family are not unusual to anyone who has ever fallen in love with the “wrong” person.

I can’t recommend this series enough. It’s got strong characters and completely real, completely accurate feelings. Something that I’m glad to say there’s more and more of these days. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 9
Service – 2

Overall – 9

Congratulations to Sakuraike and many thanks for their fantastic work over the years!