Asumiko Nakamura

"Enamorémonos, pero sin prisas y en condiciones"
Es cierto que Asumiko escribe una historia con clichés, con cosas que seguramente todos hemos visto hasta en la mas simple de las novelas, pero lo diferente es la forma en como es contada. Aún cuando ambos son completamente opuestos y eso también cae en un cliché, tienen personalidades que te hacen encantarte, amarlos y sobre todos desear que nada malo les pase. Este es uno de mis mangas favoritos en el mundo, para mi leerlo es evocar show more recuerdos y en algo tan simple y dulce como el amor adolescente. Como este crece, se vuelve maduro, avanza como montaña rusa, te hace vivir. Este manga es mas que una historia de dos chicos, es una vida que pasa frente a tus ojos.
A pesar de que escogí un mal día para leerlo (no me encuentro en mi perfecto estado emocional) me hace sentir alegría que estas cosas si pueden ocurrir en la vida real. Que el amor aunque cueste, te hace crecer y madurar, siempre agradezco a Asumiko por entregarme esta historia show less

I wanted to wait a few hours and think about a review for this volume because of how different it was from the previous ones.

Disclaimer, I did not read Volume 4 I had no interest whatsoever, my biggest gripe with this series is the student teacher dynamics, and if you read any other review of this series I've done then you would know I want to be a teacher.

Now I thought I would skip a few stories, but I read them all. I was only really iffy with Arisaka/Hibiki and Hara/Sorano. I think I show more like Sorano as a character, but his relationship with Hara just creeps me out because Hara is just creepy. Arisaka doesn't make sexual advances on his students, at least from what I saw unlike Hara, and that is what I think makes Arisaka/Hibiki a more tame and to some acceptable.

If we were to talk history these relationships are not uncommon. Older men with younger men has been seen through out history. Young adult men would have sexual or romantic relationships with older men in part because of how small the community was, in some cases the only other gay man you may have met could have been at least ten years older than you. This is also seen in history with straight couples. Age gaps are not abnormal or inherently wrong, what is wrong is an adult in a position of power having a relationship with a younger person that they have power over. In other words, a grown ass adult and a child is just wrong.

Teacher/student relationships are a terrible and old trope that needs to disappear. It also can be extremely harmful as it puts in the minds of readers that these relationships are normal and that it is normal especially between gay men. It could be used to silence victims of child sexual abuse or give an out to their abuser. While Nakamura creates a story that is amazing and really makes me feel wonderful, I think she could have left out Hara or made him simply a supportive gay teacher, that may not be out, but could guide his students, instead of a creepy pervert.

The other stories though were just fabulous, I don't have much to say about them. I do wish though that Kusakabe and Sajo did end up taking a bath together, I mean it was set up and everything. You can definitely see how this series has become more adult since the boys left high school, and I like it. I think the stories with Sajo and Kusakabe portray a fairly health and stable relationship. Also the art is just so magnificent. I love slender long limbs, and pointed edges in my manga. show less

That volume was honestly the best one so far and it was just so beautiful and made me feel so good. I had Covid last week when I got the copy and I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to read it. I’m glad I did wait because this was not a story I just wanted to just speed through immediately.

I would be totally content if this had been the ending, so I did do some skimming of future volumes to just get an idea of where it goes and if I want to read it.

I will definitely skip the next volume as show more it focuses on their teacher, and I can’t stand him and he is also a pedophile. I think I will read volumes 5 and 6. show less

Classmates is about the blossoming of first love between two boys at an all boys high school in Japan. One is outgoing, and the other is an introvert and sickly. This story has potential but there seems to be many holes in the plot. The yearning and the developing relationship between the two boys seems rushed. There's no motivation to their actions.

The main character, Rihito, is sickly and passes out often on the train but it isn't clear why. Are they panic attacks? Does he have low blood show more pressure? There's also a subtext that the relationship that two boys have aren't real, but just an experimentation because they go to all boys school and that they'll grow up into traditional heteronormative relationships once they go to college and meet girls. On the one hand, the boys don't experience any homophobia or gay bashing but the way their homosexuality is dismissed as a phase without further exploration is troubling especially to a questioning or queer teen picking up this title. There's a hint that Rihito may have been sexually involved, or, at the very least, groomed by an openly gay teacher. Finally, it isn't clear why Rihito is so hesitant to kiss or show open affection to his boyfriend. As it is written, the heistancy doesn't come off as him being shy but somehow traumatized. Perhaps, I missing something in the translation. show less