wednesday (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wednesday_10_00) wrote2011-07-27 02:02 pm
wednesday_10_00) wrote2011-07-27 02:02 pm
random + review backlog, part 5
Will LJ behave long enough for me to post?? It's like playing the lottery! a lottery where everyone loses
Thing 1. I WANT TO LIVE HERE
Thing 2.
Really, Abe Miyuki? It would take you, what, five seconds with google to look up the correct spellings of "Yukon" and "Whitehorse," but you can't do that, not even, maybe, during your research of the Yukon Quest? I can look past Ren and Haruko's terrible e-mails (yeah, they are SUPER fluent in English, uh-huh), but this is just plain lazy.
Moving on:
Finder no Jounetsu - Yamane Ayano (meh)
Plot, there's a plot? Takaba is following an idol and a stalker who stole some guns or something? Whatever.
Honestly, my feelings about this volume are the same as the rest of the series: plot is boring, Asami's a jerk, hate the relationship, love the funny parts. (The 4-koma gags with Asami's secretary are the BEST.) The main part of the story makes me go, "Why am I still buying this?" but the gag chapters make me go, "Oh yeah, for this." But....I was expecting the extra booklet to be that sort of gag chapter, and...I guess it was? But it also confused the crap out of me. Takaba in a three-way with Asami and Fei Long? Really? Was...was that supposed to be canon? :/
Me wo Tojite 3-byou - Aniya Yuuji (sweh)
Chibana Manabu ("Chiba") has a trick of closing his eyes and counting to three to control his emotions, but it doesn't work to suppress the love he feels for his best friend, Kaji Hiroto. When Chiba's father announces that they're moving, Chiba plans on confessing his feelings to Hiroto, but things don't go as planned.
So, I've been trying to figure out why I like this so much when![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
spacealien_vamp didn't really care for it, and I think it has to do with pining, which I love, and (as I recall from discussion during the 30 days meme) she doesn't really like. Specifically for this book, she said that she hated the parts that were from Hiroto's view, whereas I was totally eating up the tragedy of both of them being in love but unable to say so. (Hiroto was going to confess at the same time! Oh! ;_;) I also love the details in Hiroto's POV, like when he thinks that whenever Chiba does his trick of closing his eyes, he knows whatever Chiba says is most likely the opposite of what he's really thinking. So Chiba thinks he's "controlling" his emotions, but really he's just telling Hiroto "I'm about to tell you a polite lie."
I do have to say that I hated that the characters were separated for four years (There was...some yelling when I got to that part), but I do like that it gives the characters some chance to grow up. (Well, Hiroto grows up, anyway. Not really sure if Chiba changes at all? Though I do like the scene where he's talking to his stepdad. PS I heart Chiba's two dads.) And when you see how much they still love each other after being apart, it's just...;_;
Junjou Mistake - Nakamura Shungiku (heh)
[Note: full summary, as per request. Skip to my review at the end to avoid spoilers.]
Act 1
Isaka Ryuuichirou is 22 and working as an editor at Marukawa, his father's company. He wants to be a writer, but (as Asahina points out), hasn't actually bothered writing anything. Asahina Kaoru has worked for the Isaka family since he was a kid, and is currently Ryuuichirou's...manservant? caretaker? (not sure what the best translation for 世話係 is) When Asahina was a kid, his father's company went bankrupt and (this is reasonable...) he packed them up in the car and tried to run the whole family off a cliff. Fortunately, no one actually died, and Isaka's dad happened along the accident scene, and, when he heard the story, offered to let them come home with him to be live-in servants. So Asahina and Isaka grew up together and Isaka has been in love with Asahina for as long as he can remember...but he feels his love is hopeless, since Asahina is in love with Isaka's father.
At work, Isaka is really good at his job, but everyone thinks he's just riding his father's coattails. (In fact, there's a scene just like the one Ritsu faced in Sekaiichi, where the book he edited is first in sales rankings, but the other editors all say he only got that author by being the company president's son. Isaka handles things a little differently, though--he tells the people off directly, saying the author was a total nobody before he started working with Isaka.)
After work, Isaka stops at the bookstore and spots a book that Akihiko had wanted to read, and decides to take it to him. (Isaka is a friend of Haruhiko, if you recall.) While waiting for (tiny!) Akihiko to come home from school, Isaka stumbles on a book Akihiko is writing. Akihiko is upset when he comes home and finds Isaka reading it, but Isaka tells him he definitely needs to have it published (preferably at Marukawa). On the way home, Isaka is really depressed because Akihiko's writing has made him realize that he has no talent himself. He thinks about how he likes to see Asahina when he's depressed, and sure enough, Asahina realizes right away that something is wrong with Isaka (though he thinks it's a cold, of course, because that's the only thing ever wrong with anybody in Japan). Isaka thinks about how what he really wants is Asahina, so grabs and kisses him. Asahina pushes him away, and then his phone happens to ring; it's Isaka's father. Seeing Asahina smile while talking to Isaka-papa, Isaka gets furious. He grabs Asahina's phone, throws it on the ground, and tells Asahina "If you hate working with me so much, you should just quit!" They argue for a bit more, and then Asahina really does leave.
Some time passes, and Isaka continues to regret his words. Asahina not only left taking care of Isaka, but also left Marukawa's editing department to work as a secretary. Isaka wants to apologize and have things the way they were, but doesn't know what to say, or even if Asahina would want to come back to work for a guy who kissed him. As he's worrying about this, Asahina shows up, saying he's moving into his own apartment (he had been living with his parents on the Isaka family grounds). He gives Isaka a plant, saying that he's "returning" it, not that Isaka has any idea what he's talking about.
Isaka takes the plant into the living room, where his mom and a maid (is this Asahina's mom?) are. Isaka-mama says how much she likes naruko-yuri, but the maid corrects her and says that it's amadokoro. She reminds Isaka-mama of the time she bought an amadokoro, thinking it was a naruko-yuri and got mad, saying it was like a knock-off brand. This triggers Isaka remembering that he took the unwanted plant and "lent" it to Asahina, because the hanakotoba for amadokoro is "cheer up." He says that he can't be around Asahina all the time, so when he's feeling down, this plant can take his place and cheer up Asahina. Isaka realizes that this must be the same plant. Asahina has been taking care of it since they were little kids.
Just then, Isaka gets a text from someone at work asking him if it's true that Asahina is quitting Marukawa? Isaka runs off (in the rain) to Asahina's new apartment to confront him. It's true...but Asahina says that it's because he's in love with Isaka (SHOCK) and feels like he can't be around him anymore. (He was never in love with Isaka-papa; he just admires him and is grateful that he saved the Asahina family.) When Isaka asks why Asahina pushed him away when he kissed him, he says he assumed Isaka knew about his feelings and was teasing him. But Isaka says that he feels the same, and they have sex in the shower (to keep Isaka from catching cold, of course).
Asahina does not go back to the editing department, however; he's realized he's better suited to being a secretary. At work, the chief editor gets on the elevator with Asahina and Isaka, excited about the amaaaaaaazing manuscript they got from Akihiko. (He doesn't say so, but I think hearing this, Asahina realizes why Isaka gave up wanting to write.) Asahina tells Isaka to hurry up and move up in the company so Asahina can be his secretary before Isaka-papa claims him. Isaka suggests he hang a sign around his neck that says "on loan." Isaka settles down at his desk to read the amaaaaaaazing manuscript, but he's not sad anymore, because he got what he really wanted.
Act 2
[Back in the "present"]
Isaka thinks that Asahina is acting strange. One night when Isaka is hanging out at Asahina's apartment, Asahina kicks him out, saying they already spend all day at work together. Isaka, bummed, goes to visit Akhiko and Misaki, but isn't really comforted because Akihiko suggests Asahina has a girlfriend. Isaka thinks there's no way Asahina would cheat on him, but he can't get the idea out of his mind. So when Asahina leaves after work, Isaka follows him. But his suspicions are confirmed when Asahina goes to a flower shop to buy a bouquet, oh noes! When they get to Asahina's apartment, Isaka bursts in, expecting to confront the girl, but of course nobody is there. Asahina explains that the flowers are for Isaka, because it's the 10th anniversary of Isaka confessing his feelings. He also explains that he has to kick Isaka out of his apartment sometimes because he already thinks about Isaka 24 hours a day, and doesn't want to think about him any more than that.
Later that night, Isaka looks up the hanakotoba for pink roses and they can be for someone who's pregnant, and totally freaks out. (But of course Asahina just bought them on suggestion from the shop clerk.)
***
The first story I like OK, although I think it's completely unbelievable that Isaka forgets about giving Asahina the plant. The second story is just dumb. Really? You think your boyfriend is cheating on you because he wants to spent five minutes alone? Oh, whatever. TBH, my favorite part is the shot of Isaka's phone, which looks like an iPhone but has a bear on the back instead of an apple. I would totally buy a sticker for my phone that made it look like that.
Thing 1. I WANT TO LIVE HERE
Thing 2.
Really, Abe Miyuki? It would take you, what, five seconds with google to look up the correct spellings of "Yukon" and "Whitehorse," but you can't do that, not even, maybe, during your research of the Yukon Quest? I can look past Ren and Haruko's terrible e-mails (yeah, they are SUPER fluent in English, uh-huh), but this is just plain lazy.
Moving on:
Finder no Jounetsu - Yamane Ayano (meh)
Plot, there's a plot? Takaba is following an idol and a stalker who stole some guns or something? Whatever.
Honestly, my feelings about this volume are the same as the rest of the series: plot is boring, Asami's a jerk, hate the relationship, love the funny parts. (The 4-koma gags with Asami's secretary are the BEST.) The main part of the story makes me go, "Why am I still buying this?" but the gag chapters make me go, "Oh yeah, for this." But....I was expecting the extra booklet to be that sort of gag chapter, and...I guess it was? But it also confused the crap out of me. Takaba in a three-way with Asami and Fei Long? Really? Was...was that supposed to be canon? :/
Me wo Tojite 3-byou - Aniya Yuuji (sweh)
Chibana Manabu ("Chiba") has a trick of closing his eyes and counting to three to control his emotions, but it doesn't work to suppress the love he feels for his best friend, Kaji Hiroto. When Chiba's father announces that they're moving, Chiba plans on confessing his feelings to Hiroto, but things don't go as planned.
So, I've been trying to figure out why I like this so much when
spacealien_vamp didn't really care for it, and I think it has to do with pining, which I love, and (as I recall from discussion during the 30 days meme) she doesn't really like. Specifically for this book, she said that she hated the parts that were from Hiroto's view, whereas I was totally eating up the tragedy of both of them being in love but unable to say so. (Hiroto was going to confess at the same time! Oh! ;_;) I also love the details in Hiroto's POV, like when he thinks that whenever Chiba does his trick of closing his eyes, he knows whatever Chiba says is most likely the opposite of what he's really thinking. So Chiba thinks he's "controlling" his emotions, but really he's just telling Hiroto "I'm about to tell you a polite lie."I do have to say that I hated that the characters were separated for four years (There was...some yelling when I got to that part), but I do like that it gives the characters some chance to grow up. (Well, Hiroto grows up, anyway. Not really sure if Chiba changes at all? Though I do like the scene where he's talking to his stepdad. PS I heart Chiba's two dads.) And when you see how much they still love each other after being apart, it's just...;_;
Junjou Mistake - Nakamura Shungiku (heh)
[Note: full summary, as per request. Skip to my review at the end to avoid spoilers.]
Act 1
Isaka Ryuuichirou is 22 and working as an editor at Marukawa, his father's company. He wants to be a writer, but (as Asahina points out), hasn't actually bothered writing anything. Asahina Kaoru has worked for the Isaka family since he was a kid, and is currently Ryuuichirou's...manservant? caretaker? (not sure what the best translation for 世話係 is) When Asahina was a kid, his father's company went bankrupt and (this is reasonable...) he packed them up in the car and tried to run the whole family off a cliff. Fortunately, no one actually died, and Isaka's dad happened along the accident scene, and, when he heard the story, offered to let them come home with him to be live-in servants. So Asahina and Isaka grew up together and Isaka has been in love with Asahina for as long as he can remember...but he feels his love is hopeless, since Asahina is in love with Isaka's father.
At work, Isaka is really good at his job, but everyone thinks he's just riding his father's coattails. (In fact, there's a scene just like the one Ritsu faced in Sekaiichi, where the book he edited is first in sales rankings, but the other editors all say he only got that author by being the company president's son. Isaka handles things a little differently, though--he tells the people off directly, saying the author was a total nobody before he started working with Isaka.)
After work, Isaka stops at the bookstore and spots a book that Akihiko had wanted to read, and decides to take it to him. (Isaka is a friend of Haruhiko, if you recall.) While waiting for (tiny!) Akihiko to come home from school, Isaka stumbles on a book Akihiko is writing. Akihiko is upset when he comes home and finds Isaka reading it, but Isaka tells him he definitely needs to have it published (preferably at Marukawa). On the way home, Isaka is really depressed because Akihiko's writing has made him realize that he has no talent himself. He thinks about how he likes to see Asahina when he's depressed, and sure enough, Asahina realizes right away that something is wrong with Isaka (though he thinks it's a cold, of course, because that's the only thing ever wrong with anybody in Japan). Isaka thinks about how what he really wants is Asahina, so grabs and kisses him. Asahina pushes him away, and then his phone happens to ring; it's Isaka's father. Seeing Asahina smile while talking to Isaka-papa, Isaka gets furious. He grabs Asahina's phone, throws it on the ground, and tells Asahina "If you hate working with me so much, you should just quit!" They argue for a bit more, and then Asahina really does leave.
Some time passes, and Isaka continues to regret his words. Asahina not only left taking care of Isaka, but also left Marukawa's editing department to work as a secretary. Isaka wants to apologize and have things the way they were, but doesn't know what to say, or even if Asahina would want to come back to work for a guy who kissed him. As he's worrying about this, Asahina shows up, saying he's moving into his own apartment (he had been living with his parents on the Isaka family grounds). He gives Isaka a plant, saying that he's "returning" it, not that Isaka has any idea what he's talking about.
Isaka takes the plant into the living room, where his mom and a maid (is this Asahina's mom?) are. Isaka-mama says how much she likes naruko-yuri, but the maid corrects her and says that it's amadokoro. She reminds Isaka-mama of the time she bought an amadokoro, thinking it was a naruko-yuri and got mad, saying it was like a knock-off brand. This triggers Isaka remembering that he took the unwanted plant and "lent" it to Asahina, because the hanakotoba for amadokoro is "cheer up." He says that he can't be around Asahina all the time, so when he's feeling down, this plant can take his place and cheer up Asahina. Isaka realizes that this must be the same plant. Asahina has been taking care of it since they were little kids.
Just then, Isaka gets a text from someone at work asking him if it's true that Asahina is quitting Marukawa? Isaka runs off (in the rain) to Asahina's new apartment to confront him. It's true...but Asahina says that it's because he's in love with Isaka (SHOCK) and feels like he can't be around him anymore. (He was never in love with Isaka-papa; he just admires him and is grateful that he saved the Asahina family.) When Isaka asks why Asahina pushed him away when he kissed him, he says he assumed Isaka knew about his feelings and was teasing him. But Isaka says that he feels the same, and they have sex in the shower (to keep Isaka from catching cold, of course).
Asahina does not go back to the editing department, however; he's realized he's better suited to being a secretary. At work, the chief editor gets on the elevator with Asahina and Isaka, excited about the amaaaaaaazing manuscript they got from Akihiko. (He doesn't say so, but I think hearing this, Asahina realizes why Isaka gave up wanting to write.) Asahina tells Isaka to hurry up and move up in the company so Asahina can be his secretary before Isaka-papa claims him. Isaka suggests he hang a sign around his neck that says "on loan." Isaka settles down at his desk to read the amaaaaaaazing manuscript, but he's not sad anymore, because he got what he really wanted.
Act 2
[Back in the "present"]
Isaka thinks that Asahina is acting strange. One night when Isaka is hanging out at Asahina's apartment, Asahina kicks him out, saying they already spend all day at work together. Isaka, bummed, goes to visit Akhiko and Misaki, but isn't really comforted because Akihiko suggests Asahina has a girlfriend. Isaka thinks there's no way Asahina would cheat on him, but he can't get the idea out of his mind. So when Asahina leaves after work, Isaka follows him. But his suspicions are confirmed when Asahina goes to a flower shop to buy a bouquet, oh noes! When they get to Asahina's apartment, Isaka bursts in, expecting to confront the girl, but of course nobody is there. Asahina explains that the flowers are for Isaka, because it's the 10th anniversary of Isaka confessing his feelings. He also explains that he has to kick Isaka out of his apartment sometimes because he already thinks about Isaka 24 hours a day, and doesn't want to think about him any more than that.
Later that night, Isaka looks up the hanakotoba for pink roses and they can be for someone who's pregnant, and totally freaks out. (But of course Asahina just bought them on suggestion from the shop clerk.)
***
The first story I like OK, although I think it's completely unbelievable that Isaka forgets about giving Asahina the plant. The second story is just dumb. Really? You think your boyfriend is cheating on you because he wants to spent five minutes alone? Oh, whatever. TBH, my favorite part is the shot of Isaka's phone, which looks like an iPhone but has a bear on the back instead of an apple. I would totally buy a sticker for my phone that made it look like that.
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THING 2: That sort of thing makes me start contemplating the possibility of intentional satire, but I guess maybe Japanese Engrish spelling is just that bad.
Yay, reviews! I will hopefully have more thoughts when LJ decides to let me stay online for more than 30 seconds.
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was that supposed to be canon?
No, not even a little bit. You didn't find the last volume to be weirdly love-love compared to the rest of the series? Oh! What about the CROSSOVER with the Koisuru DNA kids? (I didn't actually like the story, but I felt that Yamane was reaching out to acknowledge my faves.)
is this Asahina's mom?
Oh, good question. That hadn't even occurred to me.
Isaka looks up the hanakotoba for pink roses and they can be for someone who's pregnant, and totally freaks out
Because Isaka's afraid he's pregnant now?
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That's a valid criticism. A lot of my shelves are like that, and I does take longer to rearrange things. Better support, though; shorter shelves are less likely to sag.
No, not even a little bit.
Well, that was my guess, but...honestly, when the actual author of something writes something to be taken as not-canon, I want that to be explicitly stated. Especially when I find it so disturbing.
You didn't find the last volume to be weirdly love-love compared to the rest of the series?
Since Takaba spent the entire time thinking about how he didn't want to be with Asami, not especially.
I did think the crossover was a cute idea, but honestly by that time I was so bored I was pretty much just skimming. I really should stop buying this series, even if I do enjoy the funny bits. (The dads being on their own onsen trip, for instance, made me laugh.)
Because Isaka's afraid he's pregnant now?
That's what I thought at first, but it just occurred to me that he might suspect Asahina knocked up his supposed girlfriend. It doesn't say specifically, but the last narration box says that Isaka doubted Asahina's explanation that it the shop clerk suggested the pink roses, so I think that makes more sense.
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This was the last volume, yes? No?
I had no idea Takaba was thinking that. I made no effort to translate at all, and spent most of the volume obsessed with the origins of the tattoo he had removed. Doesn't he make dinner for Asami at one point? Or is that a funny side story and not chronological canon?
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Was it? I have no idea.
the tattoo he had removed
...Wait, what?
Doesn't he make dinner for Asami at one point?
He does make breakfast for him, I think? But I think it was because he wanted something. I can't remember.
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Or I'm making this up? My head!Finder is probably a thousand times better than the real thing.
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la la la comment necromancy
Don't feel unbrainy; I tried to reply to this entry a bunch of times before simply to say the bookshelves look dreamy in that person's house, but would really just beget spiders and render all my wall art useless so I didn't want them. :P I also (!) like long uninterrupted planks the most, but I hate saggy shelves too, so... evil evils, must decide. ;)
But I think the more books the more aesthetically pleasing. ;) (I want to live in a castle like Belle and have THAT library!)
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Love the room of bookshelves. Of course, if it was mine it'd be crammed with books and wouldn't look so aesthetically pleasing.
I am so with you on the misspelling of English thing. While entire sentences make me cringe, I realize it's hard (though if it's a story with a lot of English being thrown around I wish they'd either find some native speaker to check it or just write it in Japanese with the understanding it's supposed to be English). But misspellings? Ugh.
The Finder series puzzles me. I rather enjoyed it when it was serious and angtsy. This semi-fluffy thing throws me off. The extra booklet REALLY threw me off. It feels like an AU doujinshi.
I'm intrigued by Me wo tojite 3-byou as I do like piping most of the time...
Reading your summary of Junjou Mistake actually makes me not really want it. I like snarky confident Isaka. He makes a great side character in the other series. Not sure I care enough to want to read about his troubles....
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I think this sums up my problem with Junjou Mistake. Isaka's great when he's confident and careless and manipulative. I didn't see the point in making him faux-helpless 10 years ago just to highlight how much he needs and loves Asahina. (I suppose it's supposed to be a story about how confirming their mutual love helped turn Isaka's life around so he could become the awesome snarkster he is today, but wouldn't it be fun to see the person he is now fall in love?)
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It's sort of funny to me that Isaka and Asahina both go on and on about how Isaka doesn't need someone to take care of him, and then as soon as Asahina's gone, he almost drowns in the bathtub. Yeah, Isaka, you're doing just great on your own.
(Somewhat related: liking Miyagi better as a side character is a big reason I'm not a fan of the Terrorist pairing.)
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Hrm. I think Miyagi is interesting comic relief as a side character because he pushes Hiro's buttons without all the tragic backstory angst of Akihiko (wouldn't Hiro be unbearable if all his interactions were with doting Nowaki?), but I think Nakamura did a great job tying that personality to his Love Terrorist conflicts. I mean, the guy who falls in love in Love Terrorist is the same guy who tortures his assistant professor. I'm not sure that's true of Isaka in Junjou Mistake/the series proper. Even moping around Usagi's place because Asahina wanted some time alone seems (I can't believe I'm saying this. I hate it when people say this) out of character.
But I do admit I didn't like the Love Terrorist couple at all until I saw the anime.
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But wasn't our first meeting of Isaka him whining at Usagi (+ teasing Misaki) and then Asahina dragging him back home? That seems consistent with what we saw in Mistake. (It's been a lot time since I read that scene, though, granted.)
re: that book--I don't own it, but from the description it looks like a combination anime artbook/episode guide. If you pick it up, I'd love to look at it, because I've waffled over buying it before.
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Thanks (belatedly) for the summary, by the way. I tried, unsuccessfully, to read and comment on this entry like 5 times during the LJ weirdness but always failed, so I only just got back to it now. Sad that I missed all the junjo talk in the meantime though!
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It was really extra-sucky that LJ died while we were all being so manga/anime-chatty. I mean, a few weeks (months?) ago, it would have sucked but not been nearly so annoying.
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because i want the excuse to talk about miyagi too
I also love how he pushes Hiro's buttons! I pretty much love his whole overall character and attitude, though. It's part rough, part vulnerable, part hiding behind a wall, and I love all of those faults. But I als can relate to him just about as much as Hiro, so.... call me biased maybe. (Meme-ammendment time: If you could mash up Hiro and Miyagi, you'd have *exactly* the character I am most like.)
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I can relate to that because I tend not to like side characters becoming main characters, especially if I'm attached to the original main characters. But I didn't read Egoist so I never thought of Miyagi as a side character. XD;
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This is what I thought Mistake was about. It would've been awesome! *sighs*
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See, I think that would look more aesthetically pleasing...
I wish they'd either find some native speaker to check it
I know, ugh! I wish manga publishers would realize there are lots of fans out there who happily do this for free. Barring that, yeah, just leave it in Japanese. I mean, when the English is so bad I have to read the Japanese "translation" to figure out what it's supposed to mean anyway...
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*laughs* Not the way I cram my bookshelves. Very messy, and probably not that great for my books either.
I know, ugh! I wish manga publishers would realize there are lots of fans out there who happily do this for free.
Yes, many many many people would volunteer as a service to mankind.
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See, I think that would look more aesthetically pleasing...
Hear, hear! Books are inherently the best looking things imaginable^^
(Also, I have been trying to make a comment on the house since you put this up... my only complaint is that is just isn't big enough - can I get that super-sized please?) =)
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(and I wouldn't envy my collection in any case; it's more that I refuse to throw away any book, much to my despair when I'm trying to find room =/ I ended up having to put almost half of them in a storage unit ><)
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I feel your pain. :( I should take a picture of my closet sometime. It's...pretty sad.