The Wallflower: Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge (manga) volume 1

 <- Hey guys, it's time to play trap or no trap! Whoever correctly guesses whether this is a guy or girl in the comments section gets a FREE e-high five

I managed to get this one in while I was helping run the manga library at this year’s anime expo. This one is the story about four guys who have been given the task of helping their landlady’s daughter become a socially acceptable person,  in exchange for free rent in an awesome house. Sounds awesome, right? Well, it seems like a great idea until they actually meet the landlord’s daughter, Sunako, the girl they are supposed to help transform. Upon meeting her, they realize that she looks fresh out of a horror movie, and is not amused by their shenanigans. In the first book, we get to know some of the characters, particularly Sunako and Kyouhei, while learning just how daunting of a task this will be.

Right off the bat, the first thing I liked about this book was when we first got a look at the “ugly” girls face. Even I was reeling back and saying “augh.” This is the first time I’ve seen a character who everybody says is unattractive, and the book actually demonstrating it. Most books give the character horrible features like wearing dorky (read: MOE!) glasses. If you think that picture to the right is tolerable to the eyes, wait till you see her face >_< Yes, kiddies, this is not some 10 minute makeover these guys have to perform, they are actually performing a Herculean task for their free rent. Also, if you were thinking “Well, maybe she has a nice personality” well, YOU’RE WRONG THERE TOO! She’s rude, abrasive, and hates talking to people.  These guys are going on a journey to turn a jerk who does nothing but lock herself in her dark room and watch slasher movies while talking to model corpses into something socially acceptable.

Initially, I wasn’t exactly sure what to think of this book. I was honestly looking for something to fuel a rant about Japanese ideologies, but was presently surprised. Upon seeing these four guys embark on their quest to make this girl socially acceptable, it actually felt like they were contributing to society. Although I do question why anybody would have their niece board with 4 guys she hardly knows,, the premise winds up being kind of… cute, in it’s own way. I also think this book is quite solid for a first volume, for while we are shown an introduction to the characters, they manage to do things that are interesting, rather than feeling like an introduction.

I’ll probably be checking out later volumes of the series if I can find them at my library or if I wind up manning another manga lounge.

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Being in a harem anime sucks (when you aren't the main)

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Dear Bryanime

Hello, I’ve been having this issue, and I was wondering if you have any advice on it. You see, I’m in a bit of an awkward situation. I’m living next to this guy I like, you see. Unfortunately though, it isn’t just the two of us. About three other girls are living in the same dormitory. I’d like to think he only has eyes for me, but on the other hand, it seems like he’s been looking at some of the other girls in the dormitory too…

Anyway, we seem to be getting along pretty well most of the time, but at other times he seems to be paying more attention to another one of the girls. I confront him about it, and all he does is give me some explanation about “not hurting anybody” or something along those lines. It’s REALLY frustrating sometimes. What really gets me is that I can’t get a straight answer from him about whether he likes me or not. Whenever I try to get something out of him, something weird happens, or one of those other girls conveniently buts in before we get anywhere.

I’m not really sure what I’m doing in this situation. I mean, part of me really likes the guy. We met in one of our classes, and then we really hit it off. On the other hand, he seems to be that way with a lot of other girls. It makes me so mad. Sometimes I want to go off and find somebody else, at other times I want to force him to commit to me somehow.

What do you think I should do?

Sincerely,

Anonymous harem girl

Dear Anonymous harem girl,

Well, it looks like you’re in a bit of a rut. Frankly, it looks like the guy doesn’t care about you enough, and lacks the spinal column to commit. Do you really want to go about your life competing for attention with three other girls, just because he doesn’t want to “hurt” anybody? If he won’t commit now, what makes you think you will ever convince him to commit to you? Obviously, you have more invested in him than he has invested in you, so why do you keep going to him? I know every guy dreams of having his own harem of girls fawning over him, but what do they get in return? Is the guy really THAT great? I think not. I know you could do better than this guy. Like me. I don’t have no harem, and I’m more than enough man for you *starts sparkling like Armstrong*

Sincerely,

BryAnime

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