Reiko Momochi

The first installment of this manga had two shorter stories, but this one focuses on one story, related to the touchy topic of sexual harassment. A gym teacher is always touching his students inappropriately, but he does so in a way that make it seem not so obvious, and he is also very intimidating so girls are afraid to speak up about him, and he also has the girls at his school do weird personal stuff for him like pulling his gray hairs or massaging him. The story is very raw, and the show more endings of 'Confidential Confessions' are not always happy. show less

Confidential Confessions is not always easy to read, especially because not all of the endings are happy ones. But that is what made this manga more real. This one talks about drug abuse and why some kids start on drugs. In Japan, the school system is strict and high-pressure, and when your parents add to it, it only makes the situation worse, making drugs seem like a lovely refuge.

This story deals with prostitution - however, not in the way you might think. The girl in the story does not go into prostitution because she has fallen on hard times and needs money for rent/food/whatever. She is very materialistic, and sees her body as an asset to get brand-name stuff. At first she thinks it's no biggie, but she inevitably goes into a downward spiral.

Second story here deals with bullying, this time from adults instead of peers. Both stories are really good.

This volume deals with rape and AIDS, and is made all more realistic by how bittersweet the ending is. Definitely one of the better volumes in the series, and very poignant.