Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta

Backflap Summary

Fashionable and upbeat high schooler Aya falls head over heels for an employee at a local CD shop. He’s got an air of mystery about him, great style, and an impeccable music taste. Little does she know—this supposedly male employee is actually her female classmate Mitsuki! Mitsuki generally keeps to herself, but since her seat is right next to Aya’s, she can’t help but be extremely aware of the other’s crush. Revealing the truth is out of the question for Mitsuki—but perhaps getting closer to Aya wouldn’t be so bad…

Volume 1 Review

It took me two years, but I finally read The Green One. And, no surprises here it’s as brilliant as it’s popularity would lead you to believe. Here’s what struck me.

The angles.

If you took a full-length movie and made a cut of just the most intense moments. The grotesque, jarring scenes. A camera placed in such a way that it elicits a physical response.

That’s what it feels like to read this manga. Character art breaks frames and is often from an exaggerated low or high angle giving so much energy to the moments. You can feel the energy and tension just from these choices.

The art really speaks for itself. You can feel the charisma of Koga and the outbursts of passion from Osawa. Visceral. All so visceral.

My favorite thing about Yuri is the raucous, veracity of emotions. There is no regulation and the emotions swing so high you can fly off into the fantasy of their relationship, only to be swiftly slammed back into the ground with a sliver of hope they’ll ever succeed. This is the marrow nurturing us with each turn of the page.

It’s painful, but grounding. Growing feelings turn us away from our rational selves. It opens us to possibility and growth and regression. It is the peaks and valleys we witness while begging for a happy ending that satiate us. It’s the needed reminder that it was never about the relationship or the first kiss. It was always about the stakes and consequences that built the tension.

It’s about feelings making excuses, giving you a path around discomfort and fear.

The payoff 😌 of the sweet release, the sweet relief.

Full Series Review

TBD

Series Information

Writer/Artist/Character Design: Sumiko Arai
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Year: 2022-Ongoing
Volumes: 3
Setting: High school
Ick Factor: None