What I like about this book: everything. From the cover, to the chapter illustrations to the smallest panel. Seriously.
I've been waiting for this booWhat I like about this book: everything. From the cover, to the chapter illustrations to the smallest panel. Seriously.
I've been waiting for this book ever since reading the "after 9 hours" etc. doujinshi online directly after reading "Doushitemo furetakunai" for the first time, and even more so since it was announced it was actually going to be a thing. And since my stay in Japan coincided with its release, I was able to buy a copy (actually two because of the extras...) on the first day, and I read it (even though I was SO tired, I still remember that) in my hostel in Osaka the same evening.
The volume contains the five previously published stories - the four doujinshi as well as the short story "Yasashii uso wa minoranai" that appeared in CRAFT recently - as well as the new title story.
"Soredemo, yasashii koi wo suru" is set before all the other stories and is told from Deguchi's POV. It's basically the story of how he and Onoda met and how Deguchi ends up falling in love with Onoda (Onoda is my FAVOURITE, by the way). I love the way Yoneda Kou includes Shima here, too - or rather, Deguchi's thoughts on Shima and his behaviour and situation. Especially when he thinks how stupid it is of Shima to fall for a straight guy (and by that time, Deguchi has long since fallen for Onoda). Actually, I've been there - as someone who's gay (or bi), falling for someone who's not pretty much just sucks, especially if it is a close friend. This is probably why I love "Soredemo" even more than "Doushitemo" - not only does it focus on Onoda, but it combines a "friends-to-lovers" story with a "I'm in love with my straight best friend" story and it does so in Yoneda Kou's perfectly realistic way. Ah, I love everything about this ~
The four doujinshi are set after "Doushitemo furetakunai" and are their "getting together story". After Onoda tells Deguchi about his crush on Shima, Deguchi thinks he might have a chance with Onoda after all, and kinda confesses to him. Since he isn't very good at it (seriously - also Onoda is way too clueless for that kind of roundabout way), Onoda doesn't get he's serious right away. And honestly, I love how this develops - there's Deguchi, who's been pretending he feels nothing but friendship for Onoda, and who cannot bear being friends with him any more after his confession. There's Onoda, who doesn't want to lose Deguchi, and who's surprised by the side he hasn't known of Deguchi. And then they have to figure out their new relationship and it takes a while to get it right, but in the end it's all good.
The last story is set a couple of months after "After 9 hours", and the two of them are still trying to find a balance. The fact that Onoda was straight before Deguchi is actually difficult for both of them to handle, and I loved that you can see both sides of the problem.
Like Yoneda Kou says in her afterword - it's not a particular dramatic story. But the normalness of it feels refreshing, and the characters are wonderful, and the pacing is perfect, as is of course the art. Seriously, how is she so amazing... there is this one panel, where Deguchi is suggesting to Onoda they should go out together, and he is holding the calender Onoga gave him and you just see his thumb clutching that calendar. That's just one of many tiny moments I loved. (And all the kisses. They are so lovely.)
So yeah, definitely one of this year's highlights for me (and immediately among my all time favourite manga). ...more
![それでも、やさしい恋をする [Soredemo, yasashii koi o suru]](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396092947l/21797268._SX98_.jpg)
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