Sure, it starts out simply enough: Fujimoto is an honor student who decides to shed his nice-guy image, and turns to bad-boy Masaki to help him. On the way they get twisted up in their affections, both emotional and physical. Drama ensues, but everything gets sorted out in the end and they become a couple. Cliché? Sure. But unlike other similar manga, the plot isn’t used as an excuse for nothing but fanservice. As a matter of fact, the story goes on to chronicle the relationship’s progression. Between the not-so-interesting events that happen in every school life manga in the universe (culture fest, anyone?) and of course the occasional steamy scene (highly enjoyable in their own right, I might add) Fujimoto and Masaki struggle with complex emotions. For a while, Fujimoto struggles with his sexual orientation; later Masaki is afraid that his previous lifestyle may have given him AIDS... and nothing is solved with just a kiss and an “I love you”. The problems are addressed with the tactfulness and realism that one would expect in any other work of teen fiction praised by critics (think Rainbow Boys). The characters suffer in a way that’s relatable rather than unbelievable, and that’s why the potential drama works to the plot’s advantage.
That’s also why the characters are key in what makes Yatteranneeze! great. It may star one “experienced” boy and one shy, cute one, but that’s really just another example of how this is a manga that uses predictable stereotypes in unpredictable ways. As the series goes on, the characters develop and grow, influencing each other in noticeable ways. As anyone who has ever been a teenage can tell you, everything that happens to you during your teen years, good or bad, can help to shape you, and Yatteranneeze! really reflects that. This applies not only to the main characters, but also several side characters, most notably Masaki’s delicate brother Chisato and his loose-cannon best friend Kanae. Their story and relationship is also very well-written, and unlike most side relationships has ample time to develop somewhat – but not enough to keep me from wanting more of these two! (Unfortunately, while there is a one-volume sequel known as Yatteranneeze! Gaiden that focuses on Chisato and Kanae, it’s more or less a volume of yaoi-fied business talk and quite disappointing.) I can’t help but wonder how the mangaka of this series are capable of doing things with their characters that other yaoi mangaka can’t seem to grasp, but they do so beautifully.
That said, if I had to name the weakest element of this manga, it would undoubtedly be the art. Not that it’s bad by any means – far from it! – but at the same time it’s nothing amazing. The volume covers are very nice; colorful and with a nice variety of poses from volume to volume, although there’s a lot of text so they’re a bit cluttered. Flow from panel to panel is generally easy to follow, and of course the scenes that keep Yatteranneeze! from being PG-13 look great. Otherwise, though, the art is only above-average: it won’t keep you from reading, but you probably won’t run out to buy the artbook either.
Yatteranneeze! is what you might call a hidden diamond in the rough. It shuns what one might expect from a yaoi title and displays an engrossing story and amazing characterization. It’s perfect for the blasé yaoi fan wanting more from the genre, readers who want to see what the big fuss about yaoi is but are afraid to start, and even people who aren’t necessarily interested in yaoi but like good manga and don’t mind some gay erotica. And unlike certain, more popular yaoi titles, it’s guaranteed not to keep people from coming back!
