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Sawako, Volume 15 (2013)

by Karuho Shiina(Favorite Author)

4.29 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Kana

series

Kimi ni Todoke

review 1: This volume deals with the changing relationships of three couples after an eventful school fieldtrip.Sawako is our main character for the series, a shy, socially awkward girl who is gaining friends and working towards losing her nickname of Sadako (the long haired monster girl from the horror movie, The Ring). Sawako is dating Kazehaya, who, despite being one of the most popular boys in the class, actually is very self conscious. The dynamic between the two of them is distant throughout the novel due to an almost kiss in the previous volume. In Japan, a kiss is taken much more seriously than it is here in America and the characters do not know what to do about the new awkwardness between them.Ayane is most worldy girl of the group, recently breaking up with another boy, M... moreoji. A popular, smooth talking guy named Kento is trying to get Ayane to open up and talk to him, but she is resisting his advances. Through the novel we witness her gradual warming towards Kento, and Kento is revealed to be far less shallow than expected.The center stage of this volume is taken by Chizuru and Ryu. Ryu confessed his feelings to Chizuru in the previous volume, and Chizuru reacted badly. The two are childhood friends, and Chizuru does not want that to change. The novel delves into some of their backstory, revealing the death of Ryu’s mother and how Chizuru and Ryu became as inseparable as they are today. Chizuru struggles with her feelings and Ryu confronts her at the end of the novel telling her “I wanted what we had to end” and expressing his feelings once again asking her to start something new with him.I recommend the Kimi Ni Todoke series to anyone wanting a closer look into interpersonal relationships. Despite the characters attending highschool, the books attach some tough issues such as bullying and how relationships don’t go the way you expect. The series has made me laugh, cry and even very angry at times, and that to me is the mark of an excellent narrative.
review 2: This is one of the most emotionally moving volumes of the series and one where you really have a pay-off for all the build-up that the slice-of-life aspects bring.The class is back at school. While Ayane, Chizu and Sawako remain friends, they don't tell each other what has happened on the school trip as yet, which means that even Sawako realizes the awkward differences at school, especially between Chizu and Ryu. Chizu just has no idea how to handle Ryu's confession and is trying to ignore it and him. She pouts a whole lot, too.Ayane gets to meet the Kento-girls. Who would like to welcome her among their ranks... And this leads to Ayane's eye being opened to his general kindness and appreciation of girls, he doesn't really play them, he doesn't treat them like a harem - he seems to build them up to be whatever they want to be... but on the other hand there's no girl whom he seems to treat more special and no one he can't do without. It makes Ayane feel particularly awkward that Kento seems to be looking after her (and realising she's been avoiding him), and when he tries to address this in his very low key way, she basically escapes by taking the next train, trying to avoid hearing what he's hinted at.By far the biggest part of the volume addresses Chizu and Ryu. We've mainly had him be her supportive brother, the guy who always knew where she was when she was sad, the guy who know she loved his older brother Toru. And now Chizu (and Ryu) reflect on what made them be so close and while there is a lot of ordinary friendship involved, it is the way that Chizu understands Ryu when others only see a totally taciturn opaque guy (I loved seeing more of Chizu's and Ryu's parents). The occasion which had the most impact was what happened when Ryu and Chizu were both in elementary school and it was winter. This event clearly changed the whole family dynamic between the two families - which we wouldn't have known because we only saw the families AFTER the event so far. I totally understand why Chizu is now so shaken from her security, which was hard earned anyway.But Ryu is simply at the point he needs things to end as they are now. To have a chance to grow something new. less

Download links for: Sawako, Volume 15

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