I stumbled upon the 'Kinkyori' movies when I was browsing through a website with Japanese TV dramas and full-length movies. Then I read the manga. Though it was different in many aspects, I enjoyed it even more than the screen version. It's a well-known fact that best things come unexpected. I was not aiming for that, but I thought I found another mangaka to add to my top-mangakas list.
Just as the unexpected things are good, the expected things may turn up not quite as you expected.
story and characters
Now promise me you don't mind a lot of crying, especially on the part of men. You don't? Good. Because this story is tear-squeezing. The Hero cries,
Their parents cry very much, too, if you wanted to know.
But the strangest thing is, the author made me cry as well. I just couldn't stop when I reached volume 9, the last one.
I must admit, before volume 9 there were 8 volumes of ms. Mikimoto repeating herself. Yes, again we have a strange girl who doesn't get along very well with her classmates. Yes, she falls in love with a very popular guy who, under his mask of a careless person, has deep wounds. Yes, she gradually develops relationship with other people and makes true friends. Yes, she has a slightly unusual family with a very young mother (who's a cosplay-lover, by the way, in this case) and a caring father.
We even hear some Russian again! ^___^
Okay, it was not the main point...
However, this is where the common points end. I must admit, if you asked me what manga I prefer among these two, I'd name 'Kinkyori', because it was just what I wanted, but 'Kira' would be the one I'd recommend sooner to others. What crossed my mind while reading, was that 'Kira' is extremely educational. In fact, it's like a good story for adolescent girls. It's more decent and slightly less passionate than 'Kinkyori', with first volumes only showing occasional cute scenes. The following important moments in 'Kira' were more about growing up, overcoming hardships, philosophical things like life and death, rather than sheer romance.
And it's kinda educational in many ways
The usual sense of humour of Mikimoto-sensei is not absent in 'Kira', too. Though she doesn't insert any crazy parodies any more, the humour became more lambent, and is expressed in the forms of whole characters - Nino's bird, Sensei, or Rei, her friend. At times, I was astonished at how unusual the reactions of the characters were. Kira decides to work part-time to save up money. What does Nino say? 'Then I'm going to become a girl who looks good in bikini so that your fatigue would fly away!'
This was my favourite moment. Kira says something touching. Nino's reaction - 'hehe, you're so cute...'
I'm not sure if it's just me, but I've never seen such a realistic,
credible reaction in manga. It's just what I would do if I were in her
place. What those girl usually do is to blush and cover her face, or
punch the Hero. Or both.
And I loved those subtle moments when the author described the small happy things that filled the life of Nino. It is that kind of 'everyday happiness' that does not sound like it's the end of an interesting journey and the beginning of dullness.
At first, when I read people say that the characters in this manga make good couples, I couldn't agree. I thought they still lack something to become a solid unit. However with time, I couldn't help being surprised with how much they really complement each other. They were all doing exactly what was necessary to their other-halves at the moment, and in each couple both participated actively in developing the relationship.
Graphics
For somebody it might be a negative thing, but for me it's what I require from a mangaka - not simply showing some fancy tricks or ideal lines, but being able to convey the characters' emotions, even if it may look too obvious and intentional.
Not all frames were equally good, but it's a great progress as compared to 'Kinkyori', and some are just ideal.
language
Again, it's educational even in this aspect. 'Kira' was one of the easiest mangas I've read, and I highly recommend it to girls who started learning Japanese. Maybe boys, as well? It's a story about modern Japan, schoolers, their everyday life and so, the words learnt from it would be more helpful than in other works (like shounen fantasies or manga that concentrate on some particular topic).
conclusion
Comparing ms. Mikimoto's works to others, I have to say her ending of 'Kira' was maybe just too more abrupt than I'd want it to be. But as it is, it's not bad in any way.
Now will follow a big spoiler so don't read it if you mind.
Ask me who my favourite character was and I won't hesitate for an answer. Parting is always very hard. The story of Sensei reminded me of my own experience. Those who have ever had a pet would understand. But I will have to believe in this, too, like Nino - one happy moment is more important that 10 sad ones.
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