|
AISHITERUZE BABY (VOL. 6) |
|
Thursday, 22 March 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | YOKO MAKI | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT/ BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 200 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | T | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 02/06/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 03/23/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
The penultimate volume of this shojo manga sees angst, angst, and more angst enter the lives of these sympathetic and endearing characters. Kippei and Kokoro have consummated their relationship, yet just when things should be going smoothly and settle down, the arrival of a new transfer student shakes things up. She’s pretty and like Kippei, has a younger child to look after. Her little sister Aya makes fast friends with Yuzuyu, but when Aya overhears her big sister Akari talking about the burden of taking care of her little sister, Aya runs away with Yuzuyu in tow! Plus Akari’s bonding with Kippei on their mutual care giving roles is leaving Kokoro out in the cold right when she needs Kippei the most. To make it all worse, Kippei’s older sister Reiko has been hiding a personal anguish of her own and goes in search of Yuzuyu’s mother. Will this be the end of Kippei’s life with the little cousin who has come to mean the world to him?
Wow, in the second-to-last volume, this series suddenly pours on the angst and doesn’t let up. Reiko’s suffering at being unable to have her own children explains why she cannot understand her aunt’s selfish and reckless abandonment of sweet little Yuzuyu. The suffering and fear of abandonment displayed by both Yuzuyu and her new young friend Aya are heart breaking. With the most recent circumstances Kokoro is now facing, this story is leading up to a very intense dramatic finale.
The title of this manga and the brief description can give the reader an impression of a light fluffy shojo piece, but the manga deals with some hard-hitting issues like child abandonment, a young adult woman having to face a life without being able to bear children of her own, and even the issue of teen pregnancy.
This manga volume includes a bonus story involving Aki and Shin and their quirky relationship. Find out if it is only friendship or something more for these two. The manga also has Maki-chan Q&A and Maki’s Baby Diary.
IN SUMMARY:
Aishiteruze Baby comes out with a bunch of dramatic turn of events for the characters in this penultimate volume. |
