#Sorairo Flutter

[offbeat-manga-ships]

SORAIRO FLUTTER (そらいろフラッター)

That Blue Sky Feeling / Okura (story) & Hashii Koma (art)

Complete, with 23 chapters / 3 volumes

M/M; Shounen, Boys Love, Drama + semi canon, lgbt, queer & ambqueer, queer character, overweight character, atypical look m, glasses m, open ending

SUMMARY: When Noshiro transfers to a new school, he meets Sanada, a loner who doesn't seem to have friends—or want any. The other kids whisper that Sanada keeps to himself because he's secretly gay. But rather than scare Noshiro away, the rumor only makes him more interested. He sets out on a campaign to win over the surly Sanada, embarking on a surprising friendship. A butterflies-in-your-stomach high school romance about two very different high school boys who find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

MAL score: 7.00 AL mean score: 71% MU average: 6.4

PERSONAL SCORE: undecided*

*currently unfinished

[usagisnaps]

Volume 2

Volume 3

[lettieriletti]

Sorairo Flutter – Volume Unico

LA STORIA BASATA SUL DELICATO WEB MANGA DI OKURA IN UN UNICO VOLUME AUTOCONCLUSIVO Noshiro desidera fare amicizia con i nuovi compagni di classe… Assieme a Sanada, Yamamoto, Morinaga e tanti altri, imparerà quanto può essere complicato vivere i propri sentimenti liberamente, vederli ricambiati e accettare se stessi.

[averinna]

🌈 Manga with LGBT theme for pride month 🌈

There's a lot of bl and gl out there but they don't always talk about what it is to be lgbt. There's also manga which, without being bl or gl talk about lgbt theme. I also will add the ones where a LGBT characters is a part of the narrative despite the story not revolving exclusively around it.

I decided to add some I didn't see yet but look promising.

Koi Monogataries/Love Stories by Tagura Tohru

Synopsis:  Hasegawa Yuiji accidentally finds out that his classmate, Yoshinaga Yamato, is gay. Eventually, he realizes Yamato's gaze is directed towards an unattainable love. From a study group together Yuiji finds out that Yamato is a "pretty nice guy," and despite his awkwardness, starts wishing for his happiness...

Why I recommend it: It’s the first shounen-ai I’ve read which goes above with the question of homosexuality. A golden friendship is being built between the main character and his classmate Yamato. Homophobia is touched upon realistically instead of making all the male character gay out of nowhere to make any romance easy. For now, there’s not a real romance which started. It’s still ongoing and it’s hard to tell where it will go but it’s worth reading for the character who is on Yamato’s side and those who aren’t.

Some example: 1 2

Shimanami Tasogare/ by Kamatani Yuhki

Synopsis :  After recently moving to Onomichi, Hiroshima, high school student Tasuku Kaname is thrown into despair at the possibility that he may have been outed for being gay. Convinced his life is over, his despair turns into shock when he sees a woman jump out of a window of a nearby house. Tasuku races to the house in a panic only to discover that it's a public meeting lounge owned by the woman he saw before. Tasuku comes face to face with the woman as she walks past him unharmed, but not before she implies that she had been watching him from afar. Confused, Tasuku follows her up to the top of a steep hill where she offers to briefly listen to what's on his mind. Although Tasuku doesn't go into too much detail, he later accepts her invitation to come to the lounge to meet others with similar troubles.

Why I recommend it: There’s multiple sexual orientations represented here such as homosexuality and transsexuality. Homophobia isn’t hidden either, the characters don’t live in a totally safe haven but they have each other to rely on which is heartwarming to see. The diverse love stories will make your heart melt and want to root for the character.

Some example: 1 2

Kono Koi ni Mirai wa nai/There is no future in this love by Morihashi Bingo and Koko Suwaru

Synopsis :  Manase Yuuji, a university student who is rather popular with girls without his knowledge, taciturn and withdrawn type. In fact, he hides a secret wound that will be revealed during the visit of his sister hairdresser-stylist: he does not feel at ease in this body of a man that he's in.

Why it’s recommended: First, you need to know that the set up happens in the 80′s which make the situation of the main character even more dramatic. The manga, particularly the first volume, turn around the trans identity of the main character. It’s not the only subject of the manga since it also talks about forced wedding for example. Not a favourite but a must read still.

Kiryuu-sensei wa Renai ga Wakaranai/Dousei sensei a renai ga wakaranai by Ono Haruka

Synopsis :  32-year-old Futaba Kiryuu is a manga artist that writes for a weekly shounen magazine. Her latest ongoing manga is a romantic comedy, "Bocchi no Ore kara Riaju no Omaera ni Ittoku" (A Loner Like Me's Got a Lot to Say about You Normies out There) or "Bottoku" for short. It is a best-seller and has an anime adaption on the works. But the truth is, she's completely clueless about romance.

The days go on as she continues on working on her manga with her manga assistants, but soon, one of her assistants, Hiro Asakura (she dubs him as "Assassin" because of his cold and intimidating demeanour), and the anime scriptwriter for the "Bottoku" anime, Kitamura Kyosuke (social media dubs him "The Tactician" for his notoriously clever execution in the anime he's worked in) grow an interest in her and eventually make a move on her. How will Futaba fare in this love triangle when her knowledge of romance is next to nothing?

Why is it recommended: Sound like a very silly shojo manga where the heroine learns what love is through an impossible situation right? Well, truth is, the manga talks about aromanticism and asexuality and it’s also the one I relate to the most in the bunch. It’s worth a read even just for how the heroine reacts to typically romantic situation with confusion or the feeling she have to flee. That aside, society’s view on romance is a constant discussion. It’s the only manga about aroace that I’ve ever found and luckily enough it’s very good with it.

Ao no Flag/Blue Flag by Kaito

Synopsis :  The "youth pure love" story begins when three students in their third and final year of high school meet during a time when they are worried about paths for their futures. Waiting for them are sweet, painful, and heartrending days.

Why is it recommended: Sound like your typical slice of life romance with love triangle but once again don’t stop at the synopsis. If it’s there it’s because the two gay characters who is as important as the other, making LGBT theme inherent to the story. It also doesn’t hesitate to talk about other subjects between people such as boy-girl friendship.

Octave by Akiyama Haru

Synopsis :  Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been infatuated with the “other side”; the world of splendor. Yes, I wanted to become one of those glittering stars. And so, my dream has come true. But now…All I want is to be beloved by someone.” When she was young, Yukino Miyashita wanted, more than anything else, to become an idol. However, after accomplishing her dream, the idol group she was part of failed to sell, and she returned to school, facing alienation from her peers. Now, at age 18, Yukino is living alone in Tokyo, half-heartedly trying to start a new life as a talent manager, while not quite able to put her idol days behind her. She meets Setsuko, a songwriter who also once belonged to a failed idol group. The romance, sparked by her encounter with Setsuko, causes Yukino to re-evaluate her own life.

Why is it recommended : This isn’t an idealistic romance : with misogyny and homophobia our characters go through doubts and fear despite their love for each other. Yukino is faced with thoughts you wouldn’t expect in an easy love story leading her to do mistake which humanize her. I read only the two volume for now but it is promising. 

Sorairo Flutter/That Blue Sky Feeling by Okura by Okura and Coma Hashii

Synopsis : When Noshiro transfers to a new school, he meets Sanada, a loner who doesn’t seem to have friends—or want any. The other kids whisper that Sanada keeps to himself because he’s secretly gay. But rather than scare Noshiro away, the rumor only makes him more interested. He sets out on a campaign to win over the surly Sanada, embarking on a surprising friendship.

Why is it recommended : Despite personally struggling with this story, I find that it still a coming of age story that talk about relationships and interaction. The characters being teens, their behavior is appropriate to with how they are both childish while trying to be more mature. Even if it is a past relationship though, there is an age gap in there. (I don't even understand why the author did that because that's kind of pushback a good rating on this story)

Title I didn't read yet but seem promising :

Boy run the riot by Keito Gaku

Synopsis : A transgender teen named Ryo finds an escape from the expectations and anxieties of his daily life in the world of street fashion. This personal, heartfelt, fictional story from a transgender manga creator made waves in Japan and will inspire readers all over the world!

Love me for who I am by Kata Konayama

Synopsis : Mogumo is a cute but lonely non-binary high school student who just wants a few loving friends. As someone who doesn’t identify as a boy or a girl, however, finding people who really understand can be a big challenge. When fellow student Iwaoka Tetsu invites Mogumo to work at an untraditional maid café, Mogumo is hopeful that things are looking up. Will they finally find friends to call their own—or just more misunderstanding?

10th You and I fell for the same person by Inari Yuko

Synopsis : A manga similar to Blue Flag that treat a love triangle more maturely and with more nuance than what we have usually. The two character are actually a boy and a girl falling for their classmate.

[thenon-fictiondays]

Sanada’s classmates: is Sanada gay

Sanada: bitch I might be

[nothingcasual]

[nerdmeetslife]

MANGA RECOMMENDATION! #1 Just fin reading the 1st volume. My little blurb is mostly spoiler free, mostly re-iterates the book blurb in my own words, read at own risk! So Noshiro (black haired boy) transfers and see’s Sanada (blonde) is always alone and finds out it’s cuz of the rumor and is like ‘Something is wrong with you people who act like this because of rumors!’ and befriends Sanada- who admits to him that he is indeed gay, but this does not break their friendship#

[eyfey]

MANGA REC LIST

I’ve been meaning to update this for a while, and I finally got around to it!

if you’re looking for some new manga to read, here’s my rec list below:

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These are all varying levels of good- some are AMAZING and some are just a fun read.

For the most part I tried not to include REALLY popular series (like yeah: One Punch Man and Detective Conan and One Piece and whatever are good! but also you’ve probably already read them!)

Also, the categories are just for the sake of organization- take them with a grain of salt. Most of the series are comedy, even those not in the comedy section.

Bonus: here’s a post with more detailed descriptions for 10 of these series, including an example page from each.

and you can also check my manga recs tag I guess

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~2/20/21 UPDATE~

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Hey! Comedy! -Hatarakanai Futari -Rojiura Kyoudai -Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu -Nazeda Naitou -Mechanical Marie Fun Times with Monsters and Demons -Yuko Sae Tatakaeba -Mairimashita! Iruma-kun -Maou-jou de Oyasumi -Nicola's Leisurely Demon World Travelogue -Heterogeneous Linguistics It's Romcom! -Futari Ashita mo Sorenari ni -Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu -Koudaike no Hitobito -Soushi Souai -The Story of an Engaged Couple That Doesn't Get Along Chill Slice o' Life -Yugami-kun ni wa Tomodachi ga Inai -Skip to Loafer -Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia -Koi wa Hikari -Boku to Kimi no Taisetsu na Hanashi Watercolor Vibes -Blue Period -Machida-kun no Sekai -Tokyo Alien Bros -Otoyomegatari -Witch Hat Atelier LGBT -Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay (My Son is Probably Gay) -Shimanami Tasogare (Our Dreams At Dusk) -Sorairo Flutter (That Blue Sky Feeling) -Ao no Flag (Blue Flag) -Kimi ni wa Todokanai (I Will Not Reach You) Gender Bender Time -Pumpkin Time (MTF) -Queen Cecia's Shorts (FTM) -About a Lazy Guy Who Woke Up as a Girl One Morning (MTF) -The Villain Discovered My Identity (FTM) -Irregular Empress (FTMTF) The DRAMA of it All -Oshi no Ko -Three Days of Happiness -Inso's Law -Cheese in the Trap -I Will Die Soon ngl These are Kinda Fucked Up  (but like... still really good) -Sachiiro no One Room -I Shaved. Then I Brought a High School Girl Home -Bastard (Hwang Youngchan) -Yuki ni Tsubasa -Hibiki - Shousetsuka ni Naru Houhou Sounds Weird at First but Actually They’re p Good -Ano Hito no I ni wa Boku ga Tarinai -Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru -Otome Kaijuu Caramelize -Mieruko-chan -Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Webtoons that are Good to Read -Homeless (or some sites have it as “No Home”) -Dam of the Forest -End and Save -Please Take Care of Me in This Life as Well -Her Summon Violence! (but like- also comedy) -The Violence Action -Nanba MG5 -Saihate no Paladin -Raise wa Tanin ga Ii -Spy x Family Isekai ~Boyz Night~ -Kamitachi ni Hirowareta Otoko -Maou ni Natta node, Dungeon Tsukutte Jingai Musume to Honobono suru -Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute -Isekai Yakkyoku -Isekai Ojisan Isekai ~Girlz Night~ -Honzuki no Gekokujou -Sengoku Komachi Kuroutan: Noukou Giga (technically this one is time travel not isekai but close enough) -Crimson Karma -Beast with Flowers -The Lady’s Spaceship Isekai but with Food -Dungeon Meshi -Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi -Gensou Gourmet -Isekai Izakaya "Nobu" -Isekai Ryouridou Reincarnated as a Villainess -When the Villainess Loves -Beware of the Villainess! -Villainess Level 99 ~I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord~ -Jishou Akuyaku Reijou na Konyakusha no Kansatsu Kiroku -Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shite shimatta... Lady Knight! (when the lady is also a knight!) -Emperor and the Female Knight -Blinded by the Setting Sun -Bring the Love -Truthfully They Only Remembered Her -This Girl Is a Little Wild Reborn as a lil Babby -Who Made Me a Princess -Am I the Daughter? -Lady Baby -The Twin Siblings -The Youngest Princess More Children, but These Ones Weren’t Reincarnated (Probably) -Chichi to Hige-Gorilla to Watashi -Baby, Kokoro no Mama ni! -Yotsubato! -Dungeon Nursery -The Monster Duchess and Contract Princess Look: It's about FAMILY -Yuzuki-san Chi no Yon Kyoudai -Ohayou Toka Oyasumi Toka -Ikoku Nikki -Mizu wa Umi ni Mukatte Nagareru -A Boy's Scar

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~ORIGINAL LIST: Made sometime in like 2017 or 2018~

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COMEDY my dude -Saiki Kusuo no PSI nan -Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar -Sket Dance -My Name is Zushio -Samon the Summoner Supernatural pt1 (Youkai) -Demi-chan wa Kataritai -Natsume Yuujinchou -Satou-kun no Juunan Seikatsu -Fukigen na Mononokean -Takeo-chan Bukkairoku Supernatural pt 2 (Not-Youkai) -Hinamatsuri -Lookism -Mob Psycho 100 -Spirit Circle -Flying Witch Kinda Old n’ Obscure -Kyuukyoku Choujin R -Kyou Kara Ore Wa -Lucu Lucu -Ocha Nigosu -Yamada Tarou Monogatari Gender Benders/Crossdressing/Body Swaps -Shishunki Bitter Change -Usotsuki Lilly -AKB49 -Prunus Girl -Samurai High School Shounen/Seinen Series with Fighting -Birdmen -Saike mata Shitemo -Vinland Saga -Ajin -To You the Immortal (Fumetsu no Anata e) Shounen/Seinen Series without Fighting -Piano no Mori -3-gatsu no Lion -Hammer Session -Kings’ Viking -Oyasumi Punpun Romance pt1 (a mixed bag) -Love is Hard for an Otaku -High Score Girl -Horimiya -Ojojojo -Hoshino, Me wo Tsubutte Romance pt2 (It’s about the comedy) -Kaguya wants to be Confessed to -Ouji ga Watashi o Akiramenaide -Boku wa Ohimesama ni narenai -Yandere Kanojo -Tsurezure Children Romance pt2 (Very Shoujo) -Warau Kanoko-sama (and the sequel: Koi dano Ai dano) -Ore Monogatari -Last Game -Nekota no Koto ga Kininatte Shikatanai -Akagami no Shirayuki Hime Romance pt3 (Less about the romance, more about other stuff) -Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun -Karakuri Odette -ReLIFE -Pochi Kuro -Akatsuki no Yona Look. Just trust me on these. -Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer -Sumire 16-sai -Fujimi Lovers -Angel Densetsu -Nickelodeon You said it’s about… what? (weird plot but good) -Donyatsu -Shiori Experience -Uchi no Maou Kamimasen yo -Makai no Ossan -Katana (Kamata Kimiko) Warning: Ecchi (but still p good actually) -Mousou Telepathy -Hatsukoi Zombie -Sankarea -Rosario to Vampire -Boku Girl Mostly just Cute -Bird Cafe -Gokicha!! -Odette -Nukoduke -Ryuushika Ryuushika Taking Care Of Children (Extra Adorable) -Chichikogusa -Gakuen Babysitters -Flat -Hisohiso - silent voice -Love So Life Girl + Supernatural Creature = Great -Mahoutsukai no Yome -Somali no Mori no Kamisama -Kuro -Totsukuni no Shoujo -Suijin no Hanayome (by Touma Rei) New Start In Another World (isekais) -Ore to Kawazu-san no Isekai Hourouki -Kumo desu ga, nani ka? -+A Taichi -Moon-led Journey Across Another World -The New Gate RPG World (technincally not isekais? but very isekai-ish) -Tsuyokute New Saga -Good Night World -Sekai Maou -Toaru Ossan no VRMMO Katsudouki -Senyuu 4koma pt1 (Focus on Girl(s)) -Dekoboko Girlish -Love Lab -Tomo-chan wa Onna no ko! -Waratte! Sotomura-san -T-Rex na Kanojo 4koma pt2 (Focus on Guy(s)) -Kuzumi-kun Kuuki Yometemasuka? -Handa-kun -Kao ni Dasenai Yoshizawa-kun -Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge -Tonari no Seki-kun Technically a Harem??? (whatever- don’t worry about it) -Rokudo no Onnatachi -Jitsu-wa Watashi wa -Chikyuu no Houkago -Yamada and the 7 witches -Fujimura-kun Mates

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Also keep an eye out for if these ever get picked up (very few chapters translated or Japan only)

-Moukin-chan -Kawaii Hito (Saitou Ken) -Time Slip Ota Girl

[3starjammies]

I started reading That Blue Sky Feeling/Sorairo Flutter and the weird thing about it is that it’s a manga where the author and artist are different but the author is actually a better artist than the artist is. I really wish the author was doing the art. I guess that wasn’t the case because it’s a physical remake of a webcomic so they didn’t wanna personally redraw the whole thing.

[nonsololibristore]

Bentrovati amici di carta e di inchiostro, ecco le novità del giorno! DYNIT: - ADABANA BOX (1-3) - ADABANA 1 EDIZIONI STAR COMICS: - 1984 - GRAPHIC NOVEL - CARD CAPTOR SAKURA COLLECTOR'S ED.5 - HAIKYU COLLECTION 1 - INUYASHA WIDE EDITION 5 - KAIJU NO.8 VOL.3 - LIVING-ROOM MATSUNAGA-SAN 8 - GUNDAM 0083 N.16 - PHANTOM SEER 3 - TSUBAKI-CHO LONELY PLANET 2 NEW.ED - TOWER OF GOD 5 - UNTIL I MEET MY HUSBAND - BOX - UNTIL I MEET MY HUSBAND - MANGA - UNTIL I MEET MY HUSBAND - ROMANZO PANINI COMICS: - BOY'S ABYSS 1 - DAREDEVIL 4 - LA FINE DELL'INFERNO - DERAIL - LA GUERRA DEI REGNI MARVEL COLL.1 - L'USURAIO 35 - MARVEL INTEGRALE THOR 1 - MORIARTY THE PATRIOT 10-11-12-13 - RISTAMPA - NOBILTÀ CONTADINA 7 - TOPODISSEA - DISNEY DELUXE 36 - OUR TRUE COLORS COFANETTO - OUR TRUE COLORS 1-2-3 - PLANET OF THE FOOLS 5 - RAT-MAN GIGANTE 100 - STITCH E IL SAMURAI 1 (DI 3) - SORAIRO FLUTTER - STAR WARS: L'ALTA REPUBBLICA 14 - STAR WARS TEMPI OSCURI 2 - SW EPIC - THE WITCHER 7 UN BRICIOLO DI VERITÀ - WOLVERINE 425 - X Lives/X Deaths of Wolverine 5 - X-FORCE 27 - X Lives/X Deaths of Wolverine 6 - X-MEN 390 / 9 PANINI COMICS - DC: - BATMAN/SUPERMAN 24 - JSA DI GEOFF JOHNS 3 - JUSTICE LEAGUE 25 - SUPERMAN 37 SALDA PRESS: - FEAR AGENT 3 VI ASPETTIAMO!!! #fumetterianonsololibri #fumetti #manga #comics #graphicnovel #novità #consiglipergliacquisti #consiglidilettura (presso Non Solo Libri - Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfEYiwQN12j/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[keysmashery]

Attaching myself here to drop a few links for the manga:

-the author's twitter, where he posts the updates (there's also a link to his pixiv in his bio)

-you can buy this as an ebook on bookwalker (checkout page can be set to english!), ebookjapan, or your preferred japanese ebook store (just look up うちの息子はたぶんゲイ)

-one of Okura's previous manga (well, actually, the remake) is available in English: Sorairo Flutter/That Blue Sky Feeling is published by Viz!

guys have you read this manga

(sorry for bad quality)

if not what are you even doing

its called "My Son is Probably Gay" (alternative titles include Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gei, うちの息子はたぶんゲイ)

it's abt the relationship between a mom and her son who tries his hardest of not being the adorable obvious fool he is having crushes on boys

consider:

absolutely adorable style (especially the mom omg just look at her)

very new manga, started in Sep 2019 I think? a lot of room for updates in the future!

a mother being so absolutely loving of his son she appreciates everything he tells her and instead of growing up in society's mold of what a "man" is, she wants him to express himself and embrace everything he holds dear to his heart

ohngmy god she is who i aspire to b e

here are two snippets of the series!!

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please support the artist (Okura)!!

[tabooalchemy]

observação sobre o manga my son is probably gay: o autor tem outro manga (sorairo flutter) q o interesse amoroso do menino tem um ex namorado dele tem mais de 30+ e eles tão tipo no ensino médio q se n me engano eles namoraram qnd ele tava no ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL (não que se fosse no ensino médio ia ser melgor) e ele é tratado como uma figura positiva e q tava tudo bem eles dois terem sido namorados -_- e não como um pedo nojento que deveria ser então.... só um aviso

Y I K E S :') obg pelo aviso. perdi 100% a vontade de ler, acho q já ouvi falar desse outro e tinha ficado "a. mais disso. ok." e puts... can't have nice things

[yurianimemangaworld]

Hey! can u recommend me sum goood yuri mangas? there's a lot on ur dash but if u could give like a nice list that would be super great!! thxxx :)

Asagao To Kase-San by Takashima Hiromi

Beloved by Jaeliu

Citrus by Saburouta

Fragtime by Sato

Girl Friends by Morinaga Milk

Hana and Hina After School by Morinaga Milk

The Secret Recipe by Morinaga Milk

Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry-Blossom Pink by Morinaga Milk

Lily Love by Ratana Satis

Pulse by Ratana Satis

Netsuzou Trap by Kodama Naoko

Sakura Trick by Tachi (tabbo)

Sorairo Girlfriend by Rikachi

Secret of the Princess by Morinaga Milk

Bloom Into You by Nakatani

Fluttering Feelings by Ssamba

Tamen De Gushi by Tan Jiu

My Unrequited Love by tMnR

[ljaesch]

VIZ Media's Announcements at Anime NYC

VIZ Media’s Announcements at Anime NYC

This is what VIZ Media announced during their panel at the Anime NYC convention: The company has licensed Okura and Coma Hashii’s That Blue Sky Feeling (Sorairo Flutter) manga, and will begin releasing the series in Summer 2018. VIZ announced that it will begin publishing physical volumes of Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court’s My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (Vigilante -Boku no Hero Academia…

[nothingcasual]

[recentanimenews]

That Blue Sky Feeling, Vol. 1

By Okura and Coma Hashii. Released in Japan as “Sorairo Flutter” by Square Enix, serialization ongoing in the magazine Gangan Joker. Released in North America by Viz Media. Translated by Jocelyne Allen.

When I first saw the cover for this manga on preordering it, my thought was “Boy, that guy sure is excited”. And that’s a pretty good description of the first volume. Noshiro, the guy punching the air on the cover, is just a big bundle of energetic, outgoing “HI THERE”, and you can’t help but be carried along in his wake. Even when he’s being introspective, angry, or doubting himself, it’s filled with big, energetic emotions and movements. This is, of course, to contrast him with the series’ other lead, Sanada, who is introverted, quiet, doesn’t smile much – at least at first – and is the very definition of standoffish. Most of the book is devoted to Noshiro’s arrival in Sanada’s life, and his reaction and actions on hearing the rumor going around the school, which is that Sanada is actually gay. A rumor that Sanada later confirms to Noshiro.

Most of the rest of the volume focuses on Noshiro’s developing reaction to this news, although honestly the book is as much about Sanada as an introvert as it is about Sanada as a young gay man. Sanada’s childhood friend Yamamoto has always come to eat with him (and might have a crush on him), but seems delighted that he’s finally making another friend, and tries to support Noshiro’s attempts to batter his way into Sanada’s life. But Sanada’s introversion and his sexuality aren’t easily separated either, and even being introverted isn’t always black and white. We see Sanada meet some old friends from junior high, and he’s smiling and laughing with them in a way he doesn’t seem to with Noshiro. This leads both Noshiro and Yamamoto to wonder if Sanada is “faking it” in front of them – something which Sanada rebuts, saying that both aspects of him are “real”.

We also meet Hidemitsu in this story, an older man who Sanada describes as “sort of an ex-boyfriend”. The fact that Sanada is still a high school boy is briefly brought up and then shunted aside, but I will hold off on objections till I see how close they actually were. For the moment Hidemitsu functions as an advisor and mentor to both Sanada and Noshiro, having a mature wisdom that both of them lack at this point. It also is fairly obvious that Hidemitsu and Noshiro look a whole lot alike, and that a lot of Sanada’s standoffishness may simply be attraction. Noshiro’s sexuality hasn’t come up much – he finds it difficult to name a specific girl he’s attracted to in a “guy conversation”, and has no romantic experience – but I suspect we may delve further into that in future volumes.

Honestly, the best thing about this ongoing coming-of-age story is simply how well-written it is. The characters are likeable, they have good depth, and you care about them. It feels very real. I absolutely recommend it.

By: Sean Gaffney