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I liked this story even much more than "Vanilla", which was just OK for me. Now, the question is: was Akira's love truly unrequited. This mangaka seems to be really good in depicting the pains and passion of first love. All her characters are fully developed and three-dimensional; she really explains why they do what they do, and shows their inner thoughts and emotions really well. Also, it's a self-contained volume, so it's more action-packed. The sex scene actually surprised me: there's only one in this book, but - for June - it's surprisingly explicit and quite lengthy (only partial frontal nudity, but little else is concealed). All the fans of Riyu Yamakami, the author of "Vanilla", won't be disappointed. This may sound as a typical plot to some, but what makes Riyu Yamakami' story unique is her story telling abilities.
Riyu Yamakami's art is pleasing and cute (if you hate cute-looking big-eye ukes - this is not for you). It's unclear up to the very last page whom Akira will choose. By the way, another Riyu Yamakami's work, "Then Comes Love", which, as I heard from those who read the original, is really good and steamy, was scheduled to be published this month by June, but the publisher canceled it as Riyu Yamakami's works do not sell well. He thinks that it's all unrequited love, feels very lonely and suffers a lot. "Sighing Kiss" is at least as involving and deep as "Vanilla" was, but the sex scene is more explicit. And the sex scene is really hot, with all that maximalist youthful desperation shown very well.
A cute 17-year-old boy (Akira) from a disrupted family falls in love with his supposedly straight classmate. Another classmate, a mysterious, cynical, quite mature and experienced for his age Tanabe, "comforts" him. All those who experienced adolescent unrequited love with all its bitterness and "end-of-the-world" attitude are likely to sympathize with the main character and like this story. It's a pity, and I think this mangaka definitely deserves much better.
Let's face it, "school-life love triangle" is all you really need to know about the plot of this story. I look forward to the publication of more recent works from her, as this one was released in Japan in 2003. The main characters are all distinctly different from one another, and while their looks are a little less filled-in, they are still pretty BL boys.
The main teen's emotions develop and change over time somewhat, and all the characters' thoughts and actions make sense and carry the story forward. I wished the art had a little more depth and the story a bit more complexity. The characters are all serious young men with much on their minds and the stubborn cluelessness that comes with not yet knowing their own preferences.Overall, I liked the story, which does take up the entire book (huzzah).
There is an adult scene or two of typical June quality.I would have rated this book a bit higher if everything about it didn't feet like it was lacking a step. I was left guessing as to how things might work out until the final third of the book. The art is serviceable, with a mix between detailed and spare backgrounds.
Don't get me wrong, compared to many June titles, this one is a solid read, but I have the impression that greatness is just around the corner for this mangaka. ----->Happily, a click on the mangaka's name will let you know that there is a more recent book on the way from her.
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