harrysoung's Blog

Anime Relations: Kimi no Iru Machi

As you may or may not know, I stopped reading all the mainstream manga back in June 2010 just to finish them all in one sitting without having to wait. I was reading KNIM nonstop for the past two days because I heard it was getting nowhere now, and this bottled up emotion I've been keeping in my heart needs to be unleashed.

Now don't get me wrong by the title, KNIM is not a bad manga. The premise, albeit a bit cliche, was interesting enough to get me started. The drama was intense, and it had me on the edge of my seat for most of the ride. I even had to open up tabs to Youtube and watch funny sh*t to calm me down. It really was THAT intense.

But there are two problems in this manga that just stick out like a separated asshole. That is Haruto (Indecisive sissy Drama Queen) and Eba Yuzuki (Ultimate Drama King). What's worse is that these guys are the main characters, so we have to see their ugly faces every chapter. But that's besides the point.

What's so "rage - invoking" about this manga are the decisions that these two made.

For example: This was Haruto's romance. Kanzaki -> Eba -> Kanzaki -> Eba -> "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore" -> Asuka -> Eba.

I kid you not, this was how it went. It was tolerable in the early stages because Haruto was less of a douche. We start hating him when he goes to Tokyo to fetch Eba, because that was when Kanzaki started liking him. After he fails, he broke things off with Eba and said that he wouldn't be in love for a while. Next chapter: "Ima date Asuka."

This decision actually wasn't too bad. Asuka was a likable character, the interest went both ways, and there was no sign of any trouble. Enter Eba yet again. Apparently, she still likes him. She confessed to him at the festival.

"I like you, but I have to move forward." *throws precious necklace in lake*

Okay thats fine. Both Haruto and Eba need to move on from this. They've been through a lot, but its about time to let go of their past and move onward.

"No! Stay by my side" *goes in lake to fetch necklace*

...... Not what I expected, but that's okay. He just needs to not find it.

"Here it is!" *finds necklace*

Thats okay. Haruto can't swim, he just needs to drown.

"Don't leave my side!" *hugs eba*

It's all good. If Eba has ANY dignity left, she will push him aside, stay true to her convictions, and push him aside. While pushing him aside.

"Let's break up, Asuka."

I will kill somebody.

You see, Asuka has done nothing to deserve this. Unlike Kanzaki and Eba, Asuka wasn't giving Haruto a hard time at all. She was very lenient with him, forgiving him for lying to her on MULTIPLE occasions. And yet, she gets this.

Haruto is also one of the most wussy sissy indecisive guy I've ever read about. Just when he starts like Kanzaki, he starts flocking to Eba. Just when Eba rejected him, he doesn't want to date. Just when he doesn't want to date, he dates Asuka. Just when he thinks things are going well with Asuka, he likes Eba.

And also, people have been wanting this development for the SOLE reason of Eba and Haruto being on the front covers. I would have preferred if he stayed with either Kanzaki or Asuka. What people fail to realize is that she had served her purpose when breaking up with Haruto, by making him grow a little and pushing him towards Asuka.

And the manga is getting nowhere now. The first 130 ~ 140 chapters are a roller coaster ride of emotions, but the last 80-some chapters are easily forgettable. There are a few noteworthy parts that took place in that window, but it could have been summed up in only a few. KNIM is just a money cow now.

Dwell on that