Devil and Her Love Song/Akuma to Love Song Volume 1

A student from one of the top prestigious school transfers into the ordinary Touzuka Public High School after being expelled, and stirs up school life from within. On her first day, she makes a bad impression and gets on the bad side of the females(who are very much like pack hounds, mind you). Trying to be friendly but failing miserably, coming off as arrogant and cold hearted, the socially inept – but uncannily perceptive of the human nature – Kawai Maria becomes the prime target for bullying and rumours.

’tis a high school drama galore!

Kawai Maria, a tall, pretty, smart, and vocally talented teenager who has a weird sense of fashion, is termed the “Devil”. Since her first day in her new school, dirty rumours about her spread like wildfire incensed by jealousy and feelings of anger at realising flaws in self characters. She is the “Devil’s” mirror, seeing through masks and lies and responding to the “truth” instead of what is shown. When faced with her, people are forced to notice the flaws and “ugliness” in their own characters. Almost ruthlessly, she tears down these layers where ever she goes and when ever she talks, and as a consequence, earns more enemies than friends. We follow her journey through her high school life in this public school, and watch as she slowly gains support from her scarce, but growing, circle of friends, as they accept themselves and her.

Maria is a self-possessed protagonist, and though her ability to be so perceptive could have been used in a way to control people around her, she doesn’t normally think that far about how her words would affect a person. Only thinking of how to use her perception in seeing and responding to point out what someone really meant (or to use it to help a situation), she always ends herself in a worse position. She seems to not to give a care about how others think of her but in fact, does feel the hurt of rejection – she just doesn’t seem to know how else to express it. Kawai Maria is an interesting character, and quite the special one. She doesn’t go into any overly angst mode, or annoying arrogance, but seems to be quite the opposite. Constant attempts at “lovely mode” by tilting her face (taught to her by a classmate-friend) makes her look absolutely intimidating to her fellow students, and worth a few laughs. Her own character is not without flaws, and can actually be explained by various mental disorders, trauma, or childhood developement. A problem with such a strong character as a protagonist is that you either love her, or hate her.

The manga is enjoyable, even for one such as I, who is a long time avid advocate against dramas. However, the ongoings in the manga are, in my opinion, exaggerated, or at least I’ve never had the misfortune in encountering such a large gathering of such persons. I must say, though, this manga sure does give an insight as to why it sucks to be a female sometimes. The way “battles” are fought…Sly, cunning, deceptive appearances, staged words and actions, ample and proper usage of rumours…

Character depth is mostly here, seeing as this manga does have to do a lot about the different sides to the characters, though I believe the transformation of certain individuals as they leave the proverbial nest of safety, and show their “true” character is a little too abrupt. The change from A to M happens a little too fast. Even if you knew of your true character, but pretended to be something else, habit grows on you. Just because you took a leap of faith does not cast off the mask you have been using over the years in simply a night. In that view, the manga’s characters do get unbelievable even if the mangaka did give reasons to which such actions or reactions were wrought. They get predictable and typical. Nevertheless, the lead characters in the plot or arcs are expanded upon more than in most mangas.

I find the art endearing and bearable enough, though if you’re no fan of big doe eyes that are almost prevalent in all mangas (especially shoujo) and a large-ish forehead, you won’t enjoy the art much. The art is simple and clean cut, and I do enjoy the style of the mangaka in drawing expressions, and in comedic situations.

If reading the introduction makes you think of Kimi ni Todoke and Perfect Girl Evolution(or The Wallflower), you’re not entirely wrong. The majority crowd in these mangas do not see the like-able sides to the protagonist that we do see, and we follow the journey in which that situation starts to change. Devil and Her Love Song, however, takes on a noticeable degree more of seriousness and deviousness. There is less comedy and more slice of life than in Perfect Girl Evolution, and less innocence than that found in Kimi ni Todoke. While Kimi ni Todoke has it’s share of drama with rumour mills, tricking individuals, martyr-ness, the style it is written in is considerably less heavy than what is found in Devil and Her Love Song. In this manga, it pretty much has a basic plot line which I can surmise in a sentence. The beauty’s in it’s developement and characters.

Ratings:
Plot: 6.5/10.0
Characters: 7.5/10.0
Developement: 7.5/10.0
Art: 7.0/10.0
Overall: 7.1/10.0
Conclusion: If you liked something like Kimi ni Todoke, but want something heavier and denser, this is for you. If you want something more light hearted and..happier, well, obviously, this isn’t what you’re looking for. If you’re out for romance, yes, there are elements of romance here, but the developement isn’t one of those in which the attraction becomes blatantly obvious on both sides in just one volume that makes you want to smack both characters on their heads and just ask them to get on with it. Nope. There won’t be those over the top blushing, shy girly moments with Maria (Thank God for small favours). Maria is no tsundere.

Sorry. No picture Conclusion this time round. (:

Thoughts:

Alright, we all know what happened in the latest Naruto chapter. Very unenthusiastic Sakura confession, Naruto calls her bluff: not surprising. However, what surprised me was the large number of people who attacked Sakura for this. Then again that might just be because alot of people hate Sakura no matter what she does. Yeah, it wasn’t the best way to do things, but alot of people were pushing her into this. Let me put out a very broad timeline to put this into perspective.

1) Naruto gets beat up by Raikage escort, then bows to Raikage -

2) Sai tells Sakura that the only reason Naruto is getting beat up and protecting Sasuke is because of her and her promise.

3) Shikamaru and the rest tell Sakura that Konoha cannot protect Sasuke, since he’s a criminal, and they need to preserve the peace between countries-

4) Sakura tells them to let her convince Naruto to stop protecting/chasing him-

5) Sakura tries to tell Naruto that the promise doesn’t matter anymore by confessing to him.

Seems like a logical progression of events to me. Yes, Naruto is not chasing Sasuke solely because of his promise to Sakura, but also because he thinks of Sasuke as a brother. Sakura didn’t think he was either, but than Sai pretty much attacked her about it, and told her it was basically all her fault. Keep in mind this is right after he gets the crap beaten out of him by the Raikage’s people, so she was easily convinced about it. Right after that, Shikamaru jumps in and tells her that Sai’s right, and that Team 7 has to stop protecting Sasuke. She then agrees to convince Naruto, since she now thinks she’s the one who caused him the most pain (thanks to Sai). That leads to this chapter, where she tries to stop Naruto from protecting Sasuke.

Yes, it was a stupid way to do it, but it’s the only way she can think of since Naruto never has been one to listen to reason. Jiraiya, Itachi, and Pain have tried to talk some sense into him but he doesn’t care. Explaining it to him rationally would never work. Being able to protect both Konoha and Sasuke is part of his “Ninja Way,” as he once said himself. So yes, be annoyed at her for her choice of “how” to convince him, but don’t be surprised at why.

Thoughts:

This time we got an awesome fight between Tasha and Lancelot. Nothing much to note here, since the chapter was all action. However, we get some questions since Tasha apparently gets a surge of power so he can match Lancelot… or overcome him. Halloween notes that she’s able to getting alot of mana from him also. The strange thing is however, his hair is still white, so he’s not using “Song of Moraie.” We’ll see what’s happening next chapter, as he seems a little… unbalanced. On a side note, Halloween teasing Aria about her brother complex is fun to watch.

Brother complex much?

This chapter clarified a few things and added a few new elements. First, Yami is indeed, the strongest Espada, or so he claims. The Getsuga Tenshou from Ichigo’s hollow form barely nicked him. It also seems like Ichigo can no longer summon his mask for some reason, which adds an interesting twist to the story. However, one thing that bothers me is constant just-in-time arrivals. If there are done a few times it’s alright, but it happens pretty much every time someone’s in trouble. The Vaizards showed up just as the Shinigami were about to lose. Ichigo just showed up last chapter to save Rukia for god’s sake, at least let him have one more chapter before HE needs to be saved. Also I could’ve swore…

I've seen...

this...

somewhere...

before.

But that’s probably my imagination. Next week we’ll get to see how Byakuya and Zaraki work together.

Letter Bee: Volume 9 Chapter 33 (courtesy of JAC)

Just when you think that a major problem was overcame, we are informed that Gauche may not receover all his memories in Chater 32 (sucks to be him. Twice memory wiped?!), and it is implied that Gauche will be brought straight to the capital when he does manage to wake up. The director is removed from his position (and went on a holiday), Lag and Aria are demoted to the Cold Letter Division (undelivered letters), and Zaji is sent away on a long mission. Things do not look good for our favourite – or not – Letter Bees.

In the Cold Letter Division, Lag is immediately sent off to deliver 140 letters to a stone chair craftsman, Ranower, who previously refused to accept all these letters. Through a series of events, he then heads off the the sender’s address to pass a message from the craftsman, but finds himself caught in another complicated situation! Thus begins the prologue of his work in the CLD!

I, for one, am pleased with the turn in events. Gauche aside, things have seemed to be pretty smooth for Lag in terms of career opportunity. In the beginning, I got the impression that among the Letter Bees, there would be a certain bothersome pecking order, and this has been brought into play this chapter. We are also handed the mystery about what the capital knows about Gauche, and what Garrard knows. It seems that the doctor suspects something about Garrard (who I believe, is not as crass and uncaring as he seems to be). What is Garrard’s purpose? Simply whipping the Letter Bees into shape?

Onto lighter matters, if I had a tail, it would be wagging frantically since the last few chapters. Gauchhheee~~!!!

Niche lovers would be happy to note that Niches’ skills have improved, and the uses of her hair(don’t you wish you had hair like that?) are as active as ever, and so very useful for espionage….

With hair like this, who needs 007?!

Oh yes. Finally but definitely not the least, I would like to make a special introductory of a special guest in this chapter. BEHOLD!

THE DUNG HAIR PERVERT!

Yes, your eyes do not decieve you. It is the much rumoured dung/poop hairstyle. I would like to invite you to take a closer look at the style’s superb finish. The puffy smoothness reminiscent to that of fresh whipped cream, complete with the top notch little curve to end it. Nothing less than magnificent!!! Bravo!

*cough* Now that my quota of bul-…crapping for the day (pun not intended) has been fulfilled with the help of our lovely pervert, I shall return to my snack kingdom. Enjoy your Tegami Bachi/Letter Bee chapter. I certainly did enjoy this though it was a transitionary chapter ;)