I've been reading the first three volumes of this five-volume series via a bookbox, and was sufficiently intrigued to want to pick up the final two books so I could find out what happens to our heroes!

Later: Just when things were looking up a bit, this volume introduces poor Ritsuro to more trauma, while Ken and his step-father find that roaming through the Himalayas can be hazardous to one's health (though the twist here is an unexpected one). Will the boys be able to handle these latest trials, and will their love endure? After a lot of personal growth on all sides - including by the various family members and friends and beta couples - well, let's just say I was pleased with the way things worked out! [This volume has a bonus story touching on the relationship of Ken and Kazuyoshi, back before Ritsuro turned up.]

Overall, this series does a very good job of conveying the emotional ups and downs of young love, especially in the face of conflicting feelings, separation, differing backgrounds, unrequited love, and family opposition - but emphasizes a more practical, get-on-with-your-life way of coping with things; this isn't a series that urges its lovers to go curl up somewhere and mope until their beloved comes back! I enjoyed it very much.

The series:

Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5

I'm sending this set of five books out on a bookray (see the forum thread here); they'll be on their way to the first stop, with BCer BMVCOE in Maryland, today. (I'd like the last person on the list to offer the books in the forums again, but if there are no takers, the books can be released as the holder desires.) Hope future readers enjoy them!

The mailing order is in the journal entry of Volume One, here.

Caught in the mail from GoryDetails!

I think GoryDetails summed this book up really well. Some overly dramatic moments, but a lot of encouragement to turn to family and loved ones to ride out the stresses of life. Loved the bonus story with Kazuyoshi, as it really filled out his character.

The king is in the counting house,

counting out,
coming out

This last volume was really too thin to address all the loose ends properly. It almost makes me wonder if the mangaka didn't have a strong enough reader basis and was told to wrap it up. (I hate when they do that on some series)

Ken, has grown up nicely since the first book but he's really kind of boring now. They, for the most part, just reflect how he responds to thing 'maturely' on the outside, without properly reflection of what's really going on inside him... until the very end. Just like I feared, they kind of 'throw them together' at the end.

And here, is where I really feel sorry for Kazuyoshi. Ken too, but in the end, it works for him. While Kazuyoshi gets left 'holding the bag'. The author tries to pawn off him getting a little sister, as a suitable replacement for his love and affection in place of Kitsuro, but I'm just not buying it. Family for him, was needed but he still got whacked brutally with the short end of the stick.

Kitsuro annoys the hell out of me at this point. He went from theorically being the mature strong one, to being a complete wuss that leans hard on everyone emotionally and ultimately other than his spoiled child form of 'angst' gets the best of all and the pick of whatever he wants or where he feels like being loved from. I wanted to kick him.

No, REALLY. I wanted to kick him.

He didn't deserve Moeko.

He sure didn't deserve Kazuyoshi.

And he sure as hell didn't deserve Ken!

ha ha. Can't say the series didn't get a reaction out of me. It was pretty good, in the perspective of when it was written.

Ok, well, this wraps up my ranting. The set is all off to the next reader of the bookring. :D

Happiness and maturity at last! Ken and Ritsuro have both done some hard looking at themselves, and recommitted to being decent people who have much to offer to others in their world. Even bad boy Kazuyoshi gets a humanizing nod with his own story at the end.

I almost stopped reading this series after vol 2. Too graphic and depicting too much hurt and damage to be nicely wrapped up in growth and maturity without major psychiatric intervention. (and a few prison terms). But it was worth getting beyond that volume, and watching the rest play out. Thanks for sending these out, I enjoyed most of them.

Sent off to Hawaii. Enjoy!
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Received today with thanks. Life is a bit hectic at the moment but I'll get to these as soon as I can.

Nice to see how things ended up for Ritsuro & Ken; interesting to find out more about Kazuyoshi too. He turned out to be sort of a hard-luck character, not what I expected from my first impression.

The boys have a long journey ahead of them, but at least they'll have each other for company on the way to Florida.

The boys are here from Hawaii at record speedy. Likely took the first class.

I probably won't be able to get to this series for a month or so though, life is rough, but hopefully Tsjara doesn't have to wait a whole year for it.

A pretty good last volume, wrap things around nicely, mostly happy ending but realistic enough that it's not all rosy and sweet.

This book, along with the previous four volumes, is flying to Hong Kong tomorrow and from there take a nice cruise to Europe. Hopefully they will arrive safely and speedily to Holland.

The books have safely arrived in the Netherlands. Thanks so much Azuki for sending them all the way from Hong Kong (and for the 3 extra wishlist books too!!)
Looking forward to read these, it's been a while since I have read any manga.
Thanks GoryDetails for organizing the bookray. :D

The last volume wraps things up nicely. Ken and his stepfather get into a bit of trouble while travelling. Ritsuro and Kazuyoshi also get in some trouble connected to Ken's past and then the truth comes out about Ritsuro and Ken's relationship.. which his family isn't happy with at all. Ken gets a new baby brother, but instead of staying with his new family in Singapore decides to go with Ritsuro and start a life together.
The drawings are a lot better than at the beginning and I really enjoyed this series.


The books are on their way to okyrhoe. Happy reading! :)

The full set arrived in not-so-sunny Athens. Thanks GoryDetails for organizing the bookray!

This was a rather confusing conclusion...or beginning. The last section's artwork, I notice, is pretty dark, and I don't think it's just because the scene is a nighttime one.

Btw, I don't think I'll see "just" a Corona bottle from now on!

On its way to Andrasthe. Enjoy!

Volumes 1-5 all arrived today, thank you Andrasthe! :)

I read the whole series and really enjoyed the story. Oh the young love! <3 :)
The drawing style was exceptionally beautiful.

This one is finally on it's way to lamilla.

Received today along with the other book. Thank you!

Be aware of spoilers!

The volume has a nice additional story - flashback to Ken's early days. I liked it even better than the soapy stuff with main chars. Also, I wonder why it's called "I shall never return". Even everything turns out to be okay in the end between the main characters

Sent today from the local post office

Thank you for this!

I am somewhat worried that book 1 & 3 haven't arrived (posted together, not long after book 2, which I have had for a while now). I shall give it a few more weeks since I know that post from Belarus can be intermittent in terms of speed - and then start looking for replacement copies I guess :(