| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
7 |
| Art |
9 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
A song that has connected us using this tender red string of fate. With your eyes that reflects the beautiful budding leaves, I want to see you again.
Nakamura Asumiko, known as an author of many stories with cognitive storylines, once again breathes new life into the shounen ai genre with her replenishing and distinctive art.
Doukyuusei
The story follows the life of Kusakabe, a student who is whimsical and has an easy going attitude. One day, he notices his classmate, Sajou Rihito not participating during a choir practice. He seems surprised but ignores it. That afternoon, during dismissal, he forgets his lunchbox, returns to the room and
hears someone who was singing the practice song. He discovered that it was Rihito behind that voice and voluntarily tells him that he can be his practice partner. The days where the two of them bond with the lyrics and notes has given Kusakabe a chance to know Rihito better. What more awaits at the end of the road the two are taking?
Comparing with the other works of Nakamura like Double Mints and Coponicus no Kokyuu, Doukyuusei is more compassionate in nature. It strokes the slice of life genre and platonic romance.
Nakamura’s art style has a grotesque attitude on it. It’s somewhat strange, deformed and surreal but is absolutely beautiful. The character contours and backgrounds are made most of copious emotions. It lacks shadowing but keeps up with the lining. The art is near to extravagant and far from average.
The boy meets boy plot is simply mediocre with the usual developments. Repeating to what I have said earlier, the plethora of emotions makes up the most of the mainstream story. Flowing naturally with the current of the sequence of events.
As for the characters, the myriad of discourse and feelings makes it complicated. The lines of the poem from the classic class and the Budding Leaves song not only matched the atmosphere but it denotes the main events as well. The delivery of the innocence of their uncommon relationship without chasing skirts is also impressive, pointing out a vast of flaws in a relationship, jealousy, rivalry, love and the like. Hana-sensei’s personality is also note worthy. Suffering from an unrequited love with Sajou and with the discovery of the relationship of the main cast. It tells us that love isn’t always of happy moments. It is imperfect, unjust, and prejudiced.
As far as I can tell, Doukyuusei is one of the best works of Nakamura and is indeed another promising title. The superiority of art and the balanced stream is something worth reading for. read more
