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Suzue Miuchi — Witch Media

美内すずえ (Suzue Miuchi). 魔女メディア (Majo Media). Genre: Shoujo, Supernatural, Drama, Mystery

Publication Date: 1970s

🕷️ Story Overview 🕷️

Witch Media is a supernatural shoujo manga by Suzue Miuchi, famous for deeply emotional storytelling (she’s the legendary author of Glass Mask).

The story follows Media, a mysterious girl with witch-like powers who appears in the lives of different people, often when they are struggling with emotional turmoil, injustice, or deep desires.

In Witch Media, every bad feeling you’ve ever shoved under the rug? Every petty grudge you thought no one noticed? Media clocks it immediately. And instead of giving you therapy, she gives you… consequences.

🕷️ She’s not here to punish you. She’s not even here to save you. She’s just here to watch you reveal exactly who you really are. 🕷️

Media’s cool, calm, and always a few steps ahead. She doesn’t need to make a scene. She’s the kind of witch who turns your world upside down with nothing but a whisper — and leaves you wondering if you were always meant to unravel this way.

 Life with Media is anything but boring. She’s a phantom of fun, and you never know what she’ll do next. She haunts your thoughts, your conversations, and the places you’d least expect. Once she’s in your world, there’s no escaping her unique brand of chaos and charm. Media’s ghostly power is to turn every dull moment into an unforgettable spectacle, and trust me, you’ll never be the same after you’ve been touched by her spooky, mischievous presence.

🥀 My Thoughts: 🥀

Witch Media is such a ride! The MC is just your average girl, trying to live her life, when bam, a ghostly whirlwind of magic and chaos swoops in. She’s got this perfect mix of reluctant hero who was orphaned too young and dealing with her own toxic relatives. And while she may not ask for the craziness—it’s like her life just got way more exciting.

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Masako Sono — The Mask Never Sleeps

Kamen Wa Nemuranai (仮面は眠らない) by Masako Sono (曽祢まさこ). Genre: Psychological suspense / gothic horror / dark fairy tale.

🌸 Story Overview: 🌸

The Mask Never Sleeps tells the haunting story of twin sisters, one of whom is kept hidden away from the world—forced to wear a mask and live in confinement. Deprived of freedom and affection, the masked sister endures a cruel and isolated existence. However, when she begins to experience love, a spark of rebellion and longing for life ignites within her.

The story unfolds as a dark, psychological fairy tale filled with themes of identity, confinement, vengeance, and twisted family dynamics. What begins as a quiet, eerie tale gradually descends into something more chilling and emotionally charged, as the masked twin seeks justice—or perhaps revenge—against the fate forced upon her.

Masako Sono weaves a tale that is both tragic and unsettling, blending gothic imagery with psychological intensity in a way that is both disturbing and strangely poetic.

🥀 My Thoughts: 🥀

This story broke my heart in pieces. She wasn’t just hidden — she was erased, turned into something ornamental, disposable, unreal. And yet she felt so much. That’s what hurt the most — the depth of her emotions in a world that pretended she didn’t exist. The only time she only ”existed” to them is when it’s to serve them.

Even when love entered like a crack in the wall — fragile, almost unbelievable, it didn’t save her. It simply showed her what she was missing. What was stolen. What she might’ve had if the world had been kind. And in the end, she didn’t wait to be saved — she became her own reckoning.

This story didn’t offer comfort. It offered truth — bitter, cold, and strangely beautiful. I walked away not knowing whether to mourn or admire her, and maybe that’s the point. Maybe some stories aren’t meant to make us feel better. They’re meant to linger with us.

The mask became its own character. Not just a disguise, but a sentence — a symbol of everything she was denied. I think what stays with me most is the hunger of it — not for food or freedom, but for recognition. For someone to say: “You were real. You were wronged. And I see you.”

And in the end, she made sure they saw her — even if it was too late. Maybe especially because it was too late….

The book includes two side stories, maybe I will talk about them in another time. This was my first Masako Sono book~ let’s say I will probably visit her other works in the future.

Thank you for reading~

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Johann, The Villain You Are! — My Friend Frankenstein

Get a hold of THIS guy! The main villain of the story.

Johann is the kind of villain who looks like he reads Latin insults before bed for fun. I swear he doesn’t even walk—he glides like a cursed ballerina in clerical lace. You could tell him he’s wrong and he’d just smile creepily and tell you you’re possessed. (He’s an evil priest…help)

TBH? He’s terrifying in the way that makes you want to punch him and ask where he got his coat. Like—yes, he’s the worst, but he’s the worst with taste. You almost forget he’s ruining lives because he looks like he stepped out of a baroque fashion magazine titled “Blessed but Dangerous.”

And that lace? The embroidery? The sheer villainous elegance?? I can’t stand him, but I have to respect the aesthetic. He’s the kind of man who’d burn down a village and then ask if anyone needs spiritual guidance—with a smirk.

He talks like he’s saving souls, but you just know he practices those dramatic monologues in the mirror. I genuinely hate what he stands for… but if we’re talking charisma, menace, and flair? He understood the assignment. (Even though he’s a gremlin)

He’s “the church’s” drama department and PR problem in one. I fear him. I loathe him. I’d absolutely watch a spin-off just to yell at him weekly.

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Wada Shinji — My Friend Frankenstein

わが友フランケンシュタイン (Waga Tomo Frankenstein) by 和田慎二 (Wada Shinji)

Volume 1:

🕷️ Story Overview 🕷️

This is a heartfelt story that reimagines the classic Frankenstein’s monster as a gentle and misunderstood soul named Cyrus. Set in 19th-century Germany, the series follows Cyrus through four interconnected stories where he forms bonds with people who are struggling in different ways.

In the first story, a young noblewoman named Mia finds Cyrus buried under debris after a storm and brings him to her estate. Despite his towering figure and intimidating appearance, Cyrus’s quiet kindness slowly melts Mia’s own emotional barriers. After he courageously saves villagers from a wildfire, he quietly disappears, leaving behind a legacy of compassion.

In the next story, Cyrus helps a spirited girl, who lives in a valley haunted by strange sounds, a mute orphan named Hilda, who’s caught up in a village obsessed with hidden treasure,

and then Christine, a noblewoman facing her own personal struggles and illness. Each encounter is a journey of healing and self-discovery.

🥀 My Thoughts: 🥀

I came in expecting monsters and melancholy, but instead I got soft gentle hearts, quiet kindness, and a giant man who makes you want to cry and bake everyone who is nice to him some cookies. It’s not horror—it’s healing in disguise. A story about being brave, kind and standing for what is right. *sniff*

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Ikeda Riyoko — Sisyphus at Peace

『シジフォスは憩う』 (Sisyphus wa Ikou) — by 池田理代子 (Ikeda Riyoko).

Volume 1:

🌸 Story Overview 🌸

It all begins with Kyōichi, a regular exam-prepping guy who accidentally walks straight into a suspense drama he did not audition for. He meets Kyōko, the mysterious beauty with serious “don’t trust me” energy, and from that moment on, it’s like fate just laughs and tosses him into a spiral of murders, secrets, and rich family drama.

But he’s not alone—Wada, his loyal (and slightly over-it) friend, is right there beside him. Wada starts off just trying to be helpful, but the deeper they go, the more he’s like, “Why am I involved in this? I came over to borrow notes.” Still, he sticks around, side-eyes and all, and ends up being a caring person.

Together, they stumble through this eerie, intense rollercoaster—one’s confused, the other’s concerned, and both are in way over their heads. But you know what? That’s what makes it fun to read.

They will make you smile with their Pickering.

The mysterious woman who started everything:

Kyōko is effortlessly captivating. She’s got this calm, composed demeanor that hides a lot more than she lets on. There’s a quiet strength about her, like she’s seen more than she lets people believe. You can’t help but be intrigued by the way she carries herself through all the chaos.

🌸 My thoughts: 🌸

The relationship between Kyōichi and Wada is what really pulls you in. Kyōichi starts as a regular guy, but as the mystery deepens, he’s forced to face much darker truths. His growth, from confusion to emotional conflict, adds depth to the story.

Planning on getting Volume two at some point~ ✨

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kihara Toshie — The Older Sister I Hate

『わたしが嫌いなお姐様』 (Watashi ga Kirai na Oaneesama) — by 木原 敏江 Kihara Toshie

This work is part of a collection adapting three classic Kabuki plays into manga format. The specific story, Watashi ga Kirai na Oaneesama, is based on the play “Kagami Yama Kokyō Nishikie”. 

🌸 Story Overview 🌸

This story is drawn and written beautifully by Toshie Kihara , emotionally layered story about a girl trapped in the shadow of her perfect, adored older sister figure. Set in the rigid world of historical Japan, it explores how admiration can twist into jealousy, and how the roles we’re forced to play can turn love into silent rivalry.

It’s a short but powerful manga, filled with quiet drama, longing glances, and the kind of poetic tension that makes you wonder who’s truly the villain—and who’s just hurting in silence.

🥀 My thoughts: 🥀

Reading this story felt like holding a delicate porcelain cup filled with quiet emotions. It’s dramatic, yes—but also soft in the way it explores jealousy, admiration, and the ache of wanting to be seen. I expected a sharp rivalry, but what I got was something more tender: a story about misunderstood hearts and the silent ways people reach for each other, even through resentment.

It made me want to gently pat both characters on the head and say, “Hey… it’s okay to feel that way.” Wholesome in the most dramatic, kimono-wrapped kind of way.

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Shō Amano — The Devil Never Sleeps

柿崎普美 (Kakizaki Fumi) — 悪魔は眠らない (Akuma wa Nemuranai)

Shō looks like he’s permanently on the verge of tears, like someone just whispered a tragic poem in his ear—but guess what? He’s the emotional glue holding the whole chaos together. While everyone’s losing it, he’s out there saving lives, exorcising demons, and doing it all with that soft, sorrowful bishounen face like he’s the one who needs a hug. Honestly, he’s the show’s emotional support prince.

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Kakizaki Fumi — The Devil Never Sleeps

柿崎普美 (Kakizaki Fumi) 悪魔は眠らない (Akuma wa Nemuranai) – Published in the Shōwa era

volume 1:

🕸️ Story Overview 🕸️

Kazumi Nanase, a second-year high school student and member of the newspaper club, once suffered from a severe illness during childhood, leading her to a near-death experience. Since then, she has been haunted by visions of a pale, beautiful ghost. Her life takes a dramatic turn when Shō Amano, a new transfer student who bears an uncanny resemblance to the ghost, joins her class. 

Soon after Shō’s arrival, a spectral woman named Maria emerges from within Kazumi. Maria reveals that during Kazumi’s near-death experience, she entered Kazumi’s body to bring her back from the dead.

🥀 My Thoughts: 🥀

The Devil Never Sleeps is like a wild ride that you didn’t expect to be so intense. I thought I was signing up for a spooky, slightly eerie ghost story, but nope — it’s a full-on supernatural emotional meltdown.

Kazumi’s got a demon inside her pulling all the strings, and it’s not a vibe you want to deal with. Add in a transfer student who’s just mysterious for the drama and I’m over here like, “Can someone PLEASE get a grip?!” (He’s actually the highlight of the story!!!)

It’s chaotic, it’s dark, and honestly, it’s like if your feelings and your demons had a party and no one was invited to leave. But honestly, I can’t stop watching the drama unfold. Would I survive it in real life? Absolutely not. But do I want more? Oh, 100%.

I’m excited to get volume 2 for more!

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Yumiko Oshima — Goodbye, Fellow Women

さようなら女達

Yumiko Ōshima, 大島弓子 🌸 Story Overview 🌸

The story follows Mari Tatenbayashi, a 16-year-old high school student aspiring to become a manga artist. She lives with her father, a doctor, and her mother, who has a weak heart. Mari’s older brother, who shared their mother’s heart condition, tragically passed away after secretly participating in a marathon.

Concerned about Mari’s health and her intense focus on manga, her father challenges her: if she wins first prize in a manga contest, he will support her dream; if not, she must abandon it. Mari works tirelessly on her submission but accidentally loses the final page. Her mathematics teacher, Mr. Uekusa, assists by delivering the manuscript to the publisher, leading Mari to develop feelings for him. 

Meanwhile, classmate Mei Kaidō, the former class representative, criticizes Mari’s work, calling it a mockery of humanity. Despite this, Mei’s actions stem from genuine concern for Mari. Mari eventually discovers that her work received an honorable mention, and she gains encouragement from her favorite manga artist, Sumida.  

My thoughts:

Sayonara Onna-tachi is quiet but deeply emotional. Mari’s struggle to pursue her dream while carrying the weight of family expectations and grief felt incredibly real. The story doesn’t shout—it lingers. It’s not about big drama, but about all the little heartbreaks girls live through and rarely voice. Subtle, raw, and beautiful in its simplicity.