 Booklist starred review
Sara's Rating: 10/10 Suitability Level: Grades 7-12 Publisher: Yen Press Publication Date: October 22, 2024 ISBN: 9781975399689 (Paperback) Tags: Rating: 10/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Romance, LGBTQ+, Friendship, Music, Mental Health, School Life, Yen Press
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Ken Kanashiro, a fierce yakuza second-in-command, has his life turned upside down when he's introduced to a K-Pop band by Megumi, the boss’s daughter. He becomes transfixed by one of the band’s members and launches into super fandom with the help of Megumi. Ken begins collecting rare merchandise, joins social media to post elaborate fanfic and amasses a following, attends many concerts, and finds other yakuza super fans.
At the welcoming ceremony of their high school, Himari falls in love with the vocals and guitar playing of Yori and becomes her biggest fan. With her confession of love, Yori falls in love with Himari, but in an actual sense of love, rather than an admiration of fandom. The other band members thinks this infatuation is the perfect fodder for Yori, who they have tasked with writing a love song. Yori isn’t sure she can be close with Himari and not continue to fall more in actual love with her. Himari, on the other hand, starts to examine whether what she's feeling is just admiration, or can she actually reciprocate Yori's feelings.
The band has secured a live gig, but that means Mafuyu needs to finish some lyrics! The band practices a ton, but the writer's block persists, so Kaji actually suggests they take a break from practicing their instruments, to the shock of his bandmates. On the ride home Kaji tells Mafuyu that he needs to come to terms with his past and allow himself to feel whole moving forward. The next day, Mafuyu and Hiiragi talk in a park about the previous band Mafuyu was in, and the tragic end for Mafuyu's former love interest, Yuki. As the live event comes up, Mafuyu still doesn't have lyrics written, then his guitar breaks again, but the show must go on. The band prepares to go on as an instrumental number, but to everyone's surprise, Mafuyu starts singing from his heart as he relives tragic memories in his mind.
Kanade is a normal high school girl with favorite banda she likes to listen to. Her friend, Otoha, one day invites her to a music festival because one of Kanade’s favorite bands is going to be playing. Otoha has been to many festivals before, but Kanade has no idea what she’s in store for. She turns out to love every moment of it, including discovering other bands she's never heard of. Otoha’s older brother, Gaku, also loves going to festivals and often goes with his employee and friend, Ritsuru. Gaku can be a lot to handle, and Ritsuru can be pretty self-deprecating. The four decide to go to an overnight festival where there will be camping involved, as well as several days and many stages. Ritsuru reluctantly agrees to go with, if for no other reason than to save innocent Kanade and Otoha from Gaku's perfectionism in setting up the campsite.
Aoi is starting middle school, and he is supremely sensitive to sound. He's just moved to town and will start middle school with the new term. While exploring his new city, he is drawn to the sound of the choir for his new school during their practice, and he knows he has to join them. Some of the other students, however, resent Aoi’s beautiful soprano voice and his innocent faith. Aoi is also approached by the band's sponsor to join the local Opera association. Her thought is that Aoi needs to show off his beautiful gift before his voice changes and its lost forever, but members of the choir see it as a betrayal, especially because the competition falls on the same weekend as the Opera's performances.
Kaori signs Arima up for his first piano competition in two years, and she coaches/berates him into practicing and getting back to the level he was once at. She tries to get him to put his own emotion into the pieces, but this is something Arima has always struggled with. Similarly, it's time for all the sports tournaments, with Tsubaki competing in softball and Watari competing in soccer. Tsubaki becomes jealous of how close Kaori is to Arima, and she relives some of their childhood memories when she supported him through physical and mental anguish, including carrying him home after he hurt his ankle. She's pleasantly surprised to see Arima come out to support her in her tournament, and even more pleased when he carries her home after she hurts her ankle.
Kōsei and Kaori head to the competition, despite Kōsei’s incredible nerves. The two begin their competition piece, and all is well for a little bit. There is lot of audience commentary questioning Kōsei being the accompanist instead of the soloist. But, the same problem Kōsei has been experiencing happens during the performance - he can’t hear the piano, the notes disappear from the page, and he becomes lost. They stop their playing, which disqualifies them, but when Kaori starts again, Kōsei plays from the heart and what he remembers the piece to be. The audience still erupts when they’re done, even though they won’t get to move on in the competition. Afterwards, Kaori faints and ends up in the hospital for a few days. As part of her “gift” for leaving the hospital, she tricks Kōsei into agreeing to enter a solo piano competition.
Uenoyama has found the perfect napping spot at school, but he’s miffed one day to find another guy sitting there. This new person is clutching a guitar with broken and rusty strings, which morally offends Uenoyama, a serious guitarist. He fixes the strings and reluctantly gives it back, and the newcomer begs Uenoyama to teach him guitar. After wearing him down, Mafuyu finally gets Uenoyama to teach him. Uenoyama dreads the task until Mafuyu sings, and Mafuyu’s voice pierces Uenoyama. He introduces Mafuyu to his band mates, Akihito and Haruki, who are both also stunned by Mafuyu’s vocal talents. When a classmate tells Uenoyama that Mafuyu dated a boy in junior high, and that the boy committed suicide, he must figure out what he thinks and feels about Mafuyu, or decide to ignore this information completely.
Kōsei Arima was a child prodigy on the piano until one competition where he froze entirely. Now, he can’t bring himself to play the piano. He’s still drawn to music and often transcribes sheet music of popular songs for karaoke or other things. His friend makes him tag along on a pseudo-double date and it turns out, the girl they’re introduced to plays the violin! Kōsei is tricked into going back to the very hall he froze in to watch her in a violin competition. She plays the assigned piece brilliantly, but not at all like she’s supposed to. When she puts together that he’s the Amazing Arima, she begs him to become her accompanist, but Kōhei is extremely scared and resistant.
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About MeI've been reading manga and comicbooks for years. Now, I write reviews and other helpful things for School Librarians, teachers, parents, and students. Search this site
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