Just when I think I’ve seen every possible set up for a “Story A,” someone like Chisako comes along and comes up with a story like ”Yokubou Parade” in a collection like Wagamama Millefeuille (わがままミルフィーユ)

“Yokubou Parade” (Parade of Desires) begins with what is sure to be seen by stodgy old grumps like myself as a superficial young woman selling herself to men for new purses and fashionable clothes. When a rich classmate, Miki, stops her from doing that by offering to keep her in new goods, Minami thinks she’s hit the jackpot. She meets up with Miki – who asks for nothing, not even companionship – and is given nice things. It’s like heaven…for a little while. Minami grows dissatisfied with her end of the bargain – she wants to do *something* for Miki, even if it’s just hang out with her. Minami tries to get closer to the other girl a number of ways,but Miki roughly rejects Minami. Minami, rejected and lonely, finds her usual arranged dates more honest than the non-relationship she has with Miki. But what’s really bugging Minami is that she kind of likes Miki, and would really just be happy doing something, anything for her.

When Miki discovers that Minami has returned to dating men, she’s pissed. Hasn’t she given the other girl enough? That’s not it at all, Minami insists.

Because, ultimately, this is a “Story A” they end up together, of course. But props for a different set-up.

Ratings:

Art – 6, again not to my taste but competent
Characters – Variable, from 4-7
Story – Same as above
Yuri – 5 Stories end with a safe kiss
Service – 2 Some slight Yuricest (in the weakest story in the collection)

Overall – 7

Not all the stories in Wagamama Millefeuille were to my taste, some are much more typical than the opening story and the art is decidedly moe, but I’ve read worse. This is better than most, even if the “Group date gone bad leads to love” is still one of the most overplayed plots in Yuri. ^_^

Sei and Nan meet in school when Sei transfers in, but when Nan learns that Sei commutes on a motorcycle, she finds herself interested in the idea of bikes, as much as she is in her new friend.
Sei encourages Nan to get a small bike of her own and the two of them are off on adventures together.

Girls’ Ride (ガールズライド) by Isomoto Tsuyoshi is an incredibly sweet story of a friendship and freedom.

Right off the bat, the story eschews the normal tropes of transfer-student awkwardness  Tall, attractive, smart and athletic Nan is also completely approachable. In fact, when she first sees Sei on her bike,  she’s the one who casually (like people might actually) asks Sei to call her Nan. Sei, for her part, is also  pretty casual and they quickly become close. No rivalry, no inexplicable tension, just two people becoming friends and bonding over shared experiences.

Nan finds herself a teeny bit jealous over Sei’s relationship with Kitagawa, who also has a much bigger, faster bike, but they all play nice eventually. In a quiet moment Kitagawa admits to Nan that she has feelings for Sei, something that puts a name to feelings that, maybe, Nan is feeling too.

Crisis comes as it must, when Sei is forced to transfer once again. Will Nan and Sei see each other again?  You’ll have to read the book to find out. ^_^

There were many things to like about this book – the bikes Nan and Sei have are relatively small and are the kinds of machines that high school girls could manage without handwaves.  Sei and Nan are totally likable  – I’d have them over for lunch anytime. The individual chapters are sweet, and they add up to a completely enjoyable whole.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Characters – 9
Story – 9 This is my kind of slice-of-life
Yuri – 6
Service – 4 Guys, women do not arch our backs and thrust our butts out to bend over except in porn. Please, drop it. It’s so awful and tiresome.

Overall – 8

I wanted to start 2013 with something that made me feel happy. Girls’ Ride totally filled all my requirements. ^_^

The biggest problem with collections of one-shots that ran in Comic Yuri Hime, is that when collected together, it’s easier to see any structural flaws in the creator’s vision. In the case of Akaneiro Confiture (茜色コンフィチュール) by Kurokiri Misao, the major flaw is that she likes not-particularly happy stories with not-particularly sane or grounded people.

The story that is most memorable has become representative of this book in my mind. Unfortunately titled “In the Closet,” it is not a story about sexual identity, but about obsession and narcissism. It’s also a creepy lesbian doll story. So if that’s the kind of thing you like, you’ll like this book.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story- Variable, but averaging about a 5
Characters – Same
Yuri – 7
Service – 3, for creepy lesbian doll story

Overall – 6

I think it’s time we talked about “I don’t like her, until she’s not here.” This is a common plot complication in Yuri and it’s time we pointed out how dysfunctional it is.

Those of you currently in like with someone or have in the past liked someone a lot, what was the general feeling you had when you were with them? Was it annoyance, irritation, being utterly vexed by their every word and action? No, it was more likely to be “I love being with them, no matter what we do.”

If a person annoys the living hell out of you, how selfish and bizarre is it to suddenly be even more annoyed when they aren’t there? Basically, it’s treating that other person as if they are an accessory to your life.

In Eden no Higashitotsuka (エデンの東戸塚), Kiku, having managed to gain entrance to a good high school, is determined to study really hard and become an elite. So when perfect, rich and all-too-easygoing Hiyoshi-san turns out to be her next door neighbor and in her class, she’s vexed at the other girl’s intrusive overtures of friendship. Even though she resists, Kiku finds herself drawn into Hiyoshi-san’s plans, even joining her in the Manga Research Club.

Just as she’s settling into her life, a doujinshi event pops up, causing Kiku even more stress. It turns out, in sudden plot change, that Kiku is a doujinshi novel writer and feels the need to hide it from everyone. Although the Manga Club invites her to join them, she’s got a table of her own. At the event, Kiku finds herself in crisis when she’s discovered by Hiyoshi-san. Crisis quickly averted as Hiyoshi admits that she’s a huge fan.

Although Kiku still thinks she thinks Hiyoshi-san is annoying, when the other girl goes home, she finds herself at loose ends. Crisis averted when Hiyoshi-san retursn to the dorm. The volume ends, one desperately hopes, with Kiku dropping the pretense of disliking Hiyoshi-san.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7 with a pivot mid-stream
Characters – 6 As they are mostly one-note songs
Yuri – 2
Service – 2

Overall – 6

It’d be nice to see if anything actually develops between the two.