Banri Hidaka

I love how we keep going from day to day, following the whims of work, hanging out with friends, and a few events and surprises to keep things interesting! Eee~! How charming, charming, charming this all is~! There was so much more romance in this volume than in the others--yet that being said, it was surprisingly minimal for a shoujo manga! *Laughs* But let me save that for a bit later! We have so many fun get-togethers throughout this volume! Ageha, Mamoru, Rei and Shizuya have an epic show more battle where we have the normal fun toying with Mitsu's little brother. And then we have dress samplings at Rosa to check the style and order different types~! AND AND AND. THE BEST COUPLE OF PARTS!! BRIDAL FAIR AND YUKARI-KUN. BRIDAL FAIR AND YUKARI-KUN~!!

I don't want to spoil anything for those of you reading, so all I'm going to say is this: Mamoru is FANTASTIC. I love how she supports Ageha, but at the same time how she cleverly steals Ageha away to spend time with her, using her younger brother (as Ageha-bait~) if she has to! XD And Nagare-kun soooo does not complain. *Smirks* In fact... >83 We're beginning to see the first signs of another man in Ageha's life who is about to start an EPIC rivalry with Arisaka-san! >XD GAH! If you think how Nagare-kun is acting NOW is amazing, WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT HE DOES NEXT!!! 8DDDD I'm serious! This boy and his sister are absolutely THE most fantastic pair of siblings EVER!! Mamoru is so caring! And yet soooo devious~ And Nagare is absolutely sexy. Yes, I said it. He's sexy. He's collected and formidable, and when he's NOT "calm," oh ho~ You'd better watch out. *Smiiirks* Because that boy KNOWS how to play his cards, and he WILL mess you up. >:3!! GOD. I LOVE PEOPLE WITH GUTS! I just LOVE how Nagare comes in and is like, "Well~ I know I have competition, but... that's not going to stop me. *Insert confident, cool smile here*"
Oh but things are SOOO not over, no no! Yukari makes a LOT of progress in this volume. SO MUCH SO THAT~ You'll find yourself squeeing (or maybe it was just me... *Sweatdrop*) several times throughout this volume from the gorgeous, handsome, AMAZING moves he pulls! GAH. IT'S SO HARD NOT TO FALL FOR HIM!!!!! *Flailing and trying to keep herself afloat!* It's amazing how much he's changed too since Ageha came into their lives. He still has his very, very rough edges. *Laughs* But you can see how just the way he treats her has changed. The violence has died down, and instead... *Smiles* Well, you'll see that for yourself. It's absolutely gorgeous to watch, and I never get tired of following Arisaka-kun's progress. He truly is growing, and it's a bit scary in a way, because he's also growing... more vulnerable too. And with the pain that happened before, gosh... *Stays quiet a moment* We get another streak of it in this volume as well, and suddenly you realize just how fragile he is. It's frightening to think what might happen. Because he's so delicate, and Ageha is so emotional that... it could be really, really horrible if they do something wrong, even without meaning to.

Ah! But I don't want to keep pestering you with the serious side of things! Let alone my whirling thoughts~! There is also some PRETTY DARN EPIC STUFF that happens in this volume. So, like I said before... WEDDING FAAAIIIIRRR! It's where you go and get to see a wedding venue host all their lovely assets, designs, and so on! Dude. I won't say anything else, but... IT. WAS. EPIC! >XDDDD Not to mention it's tied into the introduction of a new character. o3o His name is Sekiguchi, and he's... er... well... Weird. '_' Just downright odd. He's way too creepy and mature to be perving around like he does! DXamusing when he's around Yukari. >3> ...plus the way that he, ahem. *Lifts up both her hands and brings them slowly closer together* ...yeah, you know what. Just read it and you'll see. *Coughs* Poor Yukari... ANYWAY~ Sekiguchi is the son of a wedding villa owner, so that's how the wedding fair gets tied in. He's got some history with Yukari and Ririko, and he's DEEEFINITELY a crack-tastic character, but MAN is he funny when he's around Yukari! XD It makes all his weirdness completely forgettable, just seeing the odd hilarious stuff he pulls when around him! >XD

The only other thing I'm going to say about this volume is that I am SO impressed and proud of Yukari! I know, I keep going back to him, but he truly is a character that can fast grow into such a huge love-bucket-- *Random affectionate term* --in so few volumes. The more you read about him, the more precious and cute and wonderful he becomes. Yet he always has that dry, "Whut? =O=?" part of him that makes him himself. X3 He's absolutely lovely! >3> ...but I still like how Nagare-kun freaks him out. >XDDDD

Okay! That's all for the review! Please do enjoy this series~! It's totally fun, and the drama is DEEEFINITELY starting for those of you wondering when it was going to come around. XD I'm afraid from this point on you're going to have a lot of it! *Giggles!* It'll be fun~!! show less

So much major cuteness in this volume! We finally get a somewhat less dramatic and therefore more relaxing volume this time around, which is a nice thing after the build-up of the last couple of volumes! Of course, "relaxing" doesn't mean boring. Not by a long shot. As you should expect from V.B. Rose by now, there's a ton of chaos, many cute things, and some delicious scenes thrown into the mix too! This entire volume focuses mostly on the Bridal Fair that we've been building up to over a show more couple of volumes as well. (By the way, anyone else love how Banri Hidaka-sensei is always so good at planning ahead with things and throwing you curve balls and fun surprises?!
We have a lot of new elements that we're getting used to in this volume again. I am in love with how Hidaka-sensei always knows how to space things out in the plot line and when she introduces new stuff. She can make a volume action packed or full of drama! But she always knows how to level us out in the end so that the story is in constant flux, working and succeeding in achieving balance, without ever losing interest. If you read the last volume, you'll know that this next bit isn't too big a spoiler by now. Ageha and Yukari's relationship is finally steadying too, which says a lot considering how up-and-down it's been throughout the entire manga. We've finally got some success there too though! Hooray!! Not to mention, if you didn't notice from all my "KANA!! SQUEEE~~~!" status updates during this volume, we have Kana interacting a lot more with our characters now. And we get to see more and more sides of her. In fact, she's come far enough to no longer just be that person that we knew about in Yukari's past, or even the threat to the future for him or Ageha. She's become a character that has come into our circle and who even Ageha hangs out with to some extent now! It's so cool seeing someone that at first ticked me off so much, and then who seemed so menacing, become such a great... well... FRIEND! =D

I swear, the changes in this manga are ones you would never expect. None of the characters are ever set in stone. Most mangas have set character types or actions or personalities for their people. But maybe it's the fantastic style that Banri Hidaka has that makes hers different. What you see is NOT what you get. And it's not even the matter of not all of a person's past or history being revealed. It's the simple and wonderful matter of seeing characters change as they interact with those around them. Very, very, very few mangas OR animes have that. Usually you see a character and they're basically the same from start to end. Not in V.B. Rose. Uh-uh. The characters, even and ESPECIALLY the main characters, are constantly changing and growing as they meet new people and go through different things with them. Ageha is not the same person she was in Volume 1, and I know she won't be the same at the end of this series as she is now in Volume 9. The same thing goes for every character, and that's what makes this manga so easy to get into and to enjoy.

I would like to go a little off to the side though for a moment here, just to say this: We've heard about our main couple's agonies forever, but I'm still dwelling on the one mystery to top even that. Mitsu... and Tsuyu-chan. I just... don't know what to make of them. Mitsu showed some very interesting qualities in this volume that have me absolutely... baffled! The way he looks at her when she's not aware of it is... so weird! It's like he doesn't have any expression on his face whatsoever, and yet you can just tell he's thinking about something at the same time as he's studying her! But the moment she looks again, it's back to "Mitsuya-sama" and all that thoughtful pondering and quiet, steady gazing goes RIGHT out the window~! *Facepalms and sighs* What do I do?! And Tsuyu has been so good about things. She doesn't try to burden Mitsu with her feelings for him, though the entire world knows she has a thing for him. Him included. Which is why he torments her so. I just... don't... GET it! Does he NOT like her? Is here merely FASCINATED by the fact that she likes him? Plenty of other girls fawn over him! He's a good looking guy, for crying out loud! So what's up with her?! Is it because they were friends once? But I'm sure he had tons of other friends. >_
Getting back on topic, things are going to be a little bit... erm... weird in this next volume. Volume 10 is the last one I've read before, and then start the ones I've never read. Therefore, I know a little of what to expect. The cliffhanger this volume leaves off on does not make me pleased. And I'm pretty sure that's going to carry over into the next volume's review/status updates. But I'm going to put my best face on it and see what I can make of things anyway. *Is a born optimist* I hope you all come and join me for the next volume! Things are going to be... very weird. And maybe a little unsettling. But, we'll make it through together. show less

Just a warning ahead of time. This review is going to be mostly me ranting. You're in for a fun change from the last reviews~ So let's get started.

There is one theme throughout this volume. Just one. And it upsets me and angers me more than anything else in the series! This volume... focuses on Ran-san: the woman that is Yukari's mother. And I tell you this... my hatred for her cannot be fuller or more complete. Yes, I would even say I hate her. I can't STAND her. And I truly deem her show more unworthy of the kindness shown to her! *Grits her teeth* When I first saw her appear at the end of the last volume, I wanted to shout, "What are YOU doing here?! LEAVE! We don't WANT you here! GET LOST!" And in a way, I did. She's just so...! OOH. You remember the parts at the beginning of the series when we were told about how Yukari's mom treated him and acted?! Well that's not even the HALF of it! No! Horrible as that stupid women was, THIS VOLUME JUST PROVES HOW MUCH OF A TWO-FACED, SELF-CENTERED, ASININE LIAR SHE CAN BE! And still is!

GAH. EVERYTHING ABOUT HER!!!! Everything about her pisses me off!! She comes off so BOUNCY and CHEERFUL. "What's wrong with that?" you say? "It's kinda like Ageha acts, so what's the big deal. You like Ageha." Yes, I do like Ageha! But Ageha is DIFFERENT from this woman! *Points viciously at Ran* THAT woman might act all bubbly and happy, be so nonchalant and excitable and ditsy, but she's being a complete JERK from beginning to end! For instance, when Ageha saw Sakura-chan and had the whole, "How'd you get so small Arisaka-san?!" reaction, it was from honest surprise and bewilderment. When THIS creep did it! She KNEW Aoi-san was dead. She KNEW Yukari was older! YET SHE HAS THE GUTS TO CALL YUKARI BY HIS DEAD FATHER'S NAME! How much of a PRICK can you be?! Can't you imagine how PAINFUL that must be?! What the heck is WRONG with you woman?! And then she goes and completely drags Ageha off without even asking her permission or whether she would want to even come with her somewhere! What the heck?! RUDE LITTLE--! *Cuts self off and mutters darkly, leering at Ran*

Oh but those are just small things. *Narrows her eyes and lets her voice become quiet* ...what really settled my opinion of her is when she tried to suck up to Ageha for sympathy by telling her the story about meeting Aoi-san, how they got married, and all that. You thought she was bad before? Just knowing she was a woman who couldn't keep her promises? Heh. Well you ain't seen nothing yet. What really ticks me off is that her life, her friendship, then her relationship, then her marriage and house and child were all so WONDERFUL. She had a life that any woman would ENVY her for a thousand times over! A husband more wonderful than the stars in the sky! A son who adored her and looked to her like a beacon of light! A home that doubled as a dream workplace for her husband, where they could raise a family together and continue following their aspirations. ...and this STUPID woman, this CRUEL--ARGGGHHHH!!!!!!--WOMAN!!! [Warning: Might be a little spoiler-filled/-hinting from this point on.] ...she threw that all away. She THREW that ALL away! FOR WHAT?! FOR WHAT?! *Shouts and slashes the air with her arm viciously* She wanted to be young and STUPID so she WAS young and STUPID. She broke Aoi-san's heart! She crippled Yukari-kun's hopes and dreams! AND SHE DARES SHOW HER FACE AGAIN, AND TO ASK FOR PITY INSTEAD OF CHANGING HERSELF?! [End Spoiler.]

She even blames how she acted on everything else BUT herself! Oh it was my environment! It was how I was raised! It was because I was young! It was because of this or that! BULL, LADY, BULL! You disappeared from their lives for EIGHT-TEEN-YEARSSSS. And you come back like THIS!? FOR WHAT?! To BLAME all the things you did on OTHER CRAP?! You've got to be joking! Okay, so you ADMIT your faults and whatnot openly. But why are you saying this to Ageha?! Go talk to your SON about it, for God's sake! That's not even the point though. The fact that you're just blaming all your mistakes on a bad personality is just disgustingly stupid of you. And REALLY low. You think I'd buy that? HA! You have another thing coming lady! Take a look at every single character in this series! Not a single one of them hasn't grown or changed in some way! Some of them had some really BAD problems, but they've overcome them. And they've overcome the selves that they used to be to get to where they are now. You had eighteen years to clean yourself up and change your life around. You had eighteen years to look over what you did and work hard to overcome your bad qualities! What did you do? You did absolutely NOTHING with yourself! You became famous and suddenly money was the solution for everything! "If I buy you gifts, you'll forgive me!" "If I buy you gifts, you'll love me!" BULL, LADY! I can't believe you'd think that! ESPECIALLY--and this is the most unforgivable thing--after knowing, loving, and marrying someone like Aoi-san. ...really? You can't change? More like you don't want to, *****. And you probably never will, either.

*Sighs* ...yet for all the bad things you did, you have one thing you can thank God for, lady. And that's that the people you deserted, and the people whose lives you invaded now with your garish stupidity and self-centered righteousness, are far more caring, loving, and forgiving than you are. They truly care about you. And that's more than you deserve right now. That's way more than you deserve. I want you to know this... I'm not happy with you as a person, as a character of significance, or anything else. But I am happy that Yukari ends up happy no matter what B.S. you try to pull. *Shakes her head* ...I hope you change. I sincerely do. Because seeing you in the past, and how you loved Aoi-san and even Yukari-kun, I can tell you would have been a great person. You just need to get your priorities straight, lady. You really do. Maybe it's how all these other characters bring me such hope, but... hate you as much as I do, I'll wait and see what happens. Because this manga has surprised me before, and if it surprises me with you... well then. It'll only be that much more worthwhile.

In the end, readers, this volume too gets a 5 out of 5. As much as I loathe this woman, and really cannot stand her or how the others give her a second chance.... It was a chaotically emotional whirlwind, and that makes for good drama, if nothing else! Plus, we got to see how amazing a man Aoi-san was even more. He will blow you away with his warmth, his kindness and his goodness. There is so much to love about him. But now, as always, I move on again! For those of you keeping up with my reviews, I'll have you know that you and I will both be surprised in the next volume, because this review officially ends the volumes of V.B. Rose that I have read so far! Next stop: Newness and adventure! Let's go! V.B. Rose Volume 11, here we come! show less

ARRGGGSGKHDFO:DGGFDGFDBD! *Messes up her hair and pants like a crazy woman* DID YOU SEE WHERE THEY LEFT OFF IN THIS VOLUME?! DID YOU SEE THAT?! OH MY GOD! TALK ABOUT CLIFFHANGERS! DX GAH! Hidaka-sensei likes torturing us, but THIS! ...THIS IS THE WORST TORTURE YET! AARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! *Falls over; gets up after she's calmed down and continues her review* Okay, considering the fact that we are now almost halfway through the series, I love how things are swiftly and surely picking up. The show more relationships between most of the characters by now are so fleshed out and easy to understand for us that the entire volume was a big ball game of fun and laughs, and a few squeals of excitement at the progress that was made! At the end of this volume, you really feel that things are finally "settling down" into a pattern that we can understand and enjoy all the more fully because we know the characters so well now. ^__^ Even Tsuyu-kun, who we got introduced to only in the last volume is an intimate part of the cast of V.B. Rose too! Things are definitely, I would say, "comfortable."

...just don't expect it to last too long this way. *Smirks*

From having read the other volumes several times, I can tell you that all hell's about to break loose, veeeery soon. And it's going to be EPIC! >XD And let me give you at least one of the reasons for it. Ahem. In this volume we got introduced to yet another new character. The long talked-of, hinted-at, but unknown figure that is Kana-san. I had SO many mixed feelings when she was first introduced! At first I was expecting her to be some weird, fussy girl because of the way Yukari and Mitsu talked about her and the gruff, "RAWR"-like impression they had of her. At the same time, you could tell they considered her their friend, so I thought, "Eh! She'll probably just be another one of those wacky friends that they have. No big deal." And then as we read further we see some signs of her personality being demanding and the loner, and so on. But she does something that I thought was cute! She's fair-minded, seems tough, but overall I felt I was going to like her! Then we even got to see her in person! And she was kinda... huffy. O-o;; And looks like she'd be hard to get close to. o-o!! But even Tsuyu said that Kana-san was one of the few friends she had. And so with all these people we love clearly being good friends with her, I had the same reaction as Ageha did! I was excited to meet her! And she's clearly a talented girl since she does work in coordination with V.B. Rose (the store).

Then Mitsu says something about Ageha to Kana-san over the phone... and when I saw her response, I couldn't help it: I bristled with annoyance! I was indignant! What gave her the right to talk that way without even knowing the full picture! Grrr! She ticked me off from that moment on! *Huffs* I won't say much more. I just wanted to give you my honest first impression of her. And if I say any more, it'll spoil things for later. So this very minimal reaction is what you're going to have to live with for now. I will say this: My feelings for Kana-chan grew a lot since I met her. In ways that may surprise some of you, and maybe not. Let's just say... I got to know her, a lot more intimately. And... Well. You could say where I am now with my feelings about her, in comparison to where I was when I first got introduced to her, is a great distance from where it used to be. And that's all you're getting from me.

However, it should be obvious that it's due to Kana-san that a loooot of things are going to get pretty crazy soon. Though she's not the only one to blame. *Grins* Remember Yukari's competition? Yeah. Keep that boy in mind too! ;D

Anyway, to proceed with my overall thoughts about this volume~ I am absolutely in LOVE with this one! There are so many cool, and tense, and funny parts! In a way, that's what most of this manga is like! Balance, balance, Hidaka-sensei! You truly are a master! Mwah~! *Blows a kiss!* ;D series itself! Maybe it's just me and maybe some of you don't find it as funny as I do, but at the very least, Banri Hidaka's humor is charming and timeless. And unexpected at times too! 8D She has a way of catching you unawares that's delightful and absolutely indulging! XD You've just got to love this woman's talented way of portraying a story! The series is so lighthearted and yet so much fun. It can cheer you up so easily if you give it the chance, and it carries both its characters and its story well! I want to tell you all about how exciting it is, but I can't because everything in here is precious and refreshing somehow! I really must just leave it up to you as the readers to enjoy and experience for yourselves.
And now... ONWARD TO THE NEXT ONE SO THAT WE CAN END THIS CLIFFHANGER! XD show less