Otakuism

While searching for any more Bokurano scanlations I stumbled upon another one of Mohiro Kitoh’s works, this one a collection of six short stories. From the description their apparently from different points in his career, which you can kind of tell. The early ones are light hearted and romantic, while later tales are a bit more ” Mature ” though nothing bordering on the horror of Narutaru or Bokurano. The short stories are:

Zansho - Summer Heat - A boy is visited by the ghost of his recently dead sister who has a regret holding her in this world, mostly pertaining to a love letter…

The Girl on the Telephone Pole At the Intersection of 3rd Street - Hideto is a ghost stuck on a telephone pole, who happens to fall in love with the only girl that can see him. However his situation as a ghost isn’t everything it seems…

Bringing Flowers to Kasei Inn - Kyouji is invited to his sixth grade reunion and called by Shinako, the girl who loved him back then, and wants him to keep his promise of going to Kasei Inn, a love hotel. But her reasons for going aren’t that obvious…

Soiled, Beautiful - Yuuko is a perfect rich girl who’s father has suddenly been fired, and she starts being mercylessly bullied by her classmates. Takashi is one of her bully’s, however suddenly his father is fired too, and through circumstances the two begin to understand each other…

A & R - Rakuto is an overworked salesman, however when he see’s a motorcycle he remembers to his highschool days when he had one, and the weird girl he gave a ride too…

Papa’s Song - Takashi and Matsuba are a young married couple, and Matsuba is going to stay with her parent’s while she’s pregnant. On the car ride there a conversation about fathers, children, parenting, and fast cars begins…

Just to note: on the volume release I have it says there should a seventh chapter called Pochi’s Place but it’s not included. Though that story is translated by a different group, but their network is down so I can’t get it.

Of all the stories I probably like ” Soiled, Beautiful ” the best, as it’s more in-line with the longer darker stories Kitoh puts out. However just because these stories aren’t as dark doesn’t mean their not good. Their great stories, each one with it’s own moral and food for thought. Kitoh talks more poignantly about love here, in all it’s forms, to love wished for, love gained, love lost, or the love between parent and child. The artwork is usual Kitoh style, sparse in details and characters looking to similiar, but still you can forgive him for the good writing. His females also always look beautiful, in a demure beauty kind of way. I would say read this if you already know of Kitoh’s works, or read it if you want an introduction to his style. Right now I’m reading another one of his short story collections, Hallucinations from the Womb, that’s not done translating yet. When it’s done I’ll talk about it.

This volume can be found here, courtesy of Kotonoha.