Updated! Kuro Lala One-shot: "The Desert's Requiem" by Junko Ike (Version 2)

I have mixed feelings about this one-shot.  On one hand I understand the message and the metaphors, but on the other hand, as an American, there is some cultural imagery associated with what happens at the end of this one-shot that really upset me.  There's the obvious sensitivity I would have as a black person and then there's the matter of how the dead are treated.  Given this, I apologize now if this one-shot offends you.  You have to understand, though, that the Japanese do not have the same historical context and, therefore, their cultural viewpoint is much different. Realizing that was the only way I was able to appreciate how this one-shot ended.

That said, onto the release!

Updated 6/14/2012 -- moderate changes to the translation of a handful of pages. If you are keeping an archive, you should download the new version.
Link to "The Desert's Requiem" (version 2): (PDF) Updating file...

Your feedback on this one-shot is welcomed.  Please let us know how you feel about it.

Next up will either be "Red House" or "Noeoto"

"The Ghost Apartment Manager" Chapter 4

 

Yep! We do have two releases today!  I hope you all will take the time to read both "Yukarism" and "The Ghost Apartment Manager".  "The Ghost Apartment Manager" isn't typical shoujo, but I hope if you've never read the series you will give it try, because it is a series with lots of heart and humor.  Here's a link to the first chapter. 

Chapter 4 involves dealing with the death of a pet.  It may cause a few of you to sniffle.  Personally, I always get a little misty whenever I see guys of any age cry.  Anyhow, like the previous chapters of GAM, Sekka is a downer while the ghosts around him are rambunctious and funny.

Links to "The Ghost Apartment Manager" chapter 4:  (Zip) (PDF -- for mobile and tablets)

Spoiler Alert!  Spoilers Ahead!

My Thoughts on the chapter:

I'm very worried about Sekka.  It seems that he's slipping back toward his shut-in tendencies.  It's also clear to me that Sekka is a character who is suffering from depression.  I wonder whether his thinking about tomorrow not coming is a little suicidal?  Hopefully, the ghosts will pull him out of that funk, though, I imagine people who are actually diagnosed depressed would tell me that it's not that simple.

Kago and his dogs are funny!  This dogs seems really likeable and friendly.  I normally don't like dogs, but when they are happy like this, I can tolerate them.

Sekka's situation -- he seems pretty much resigned that his own life isn't worth him living, but at least for now he's thinking about helping somebody else instead of being a 100% self-absorbed depressive navel gazer.  I hope now that he's agree to being possessed that some part of his consciousness remains present so he can experience "life".

Looking Ahead:  I've peeked ahead to the next few chapters and, of course, Kiyariko's regret has to do with unresolved feelings for a teacher.  Boo!!!  This is, of course, complicated because Sekka and teacher are male (let the hilarity and misunderstandings ensue...).  It looks as though the story line is handled with care, so although I hate this kind of plot line, I'm willing to give Fujieda-sensei the chance to play it through.

Speaking of Fujieda Toru, I'm reading her other series "Dragon Girl".  It's about a girl, Rinna, who wants to follow in her father's footsteps by joining a cheering squad at a specific school.  The first volume isn't all that spectacular, but once the drama gets started, it's quite compelling.  It's available from Yen Press in two omnibus collections.  Here are links to get more information about the books and to make a purchases.
Dragon Girl Omnibus 1 (Volumes 1 - 3)
Dragon Girl Omnibus 2 (Volume 4 - 6)
Both omnibus collections are currently on sale through Amazon.
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Next up!
Next up is the one-shot "3 Hearts" followed by our Halloween in May surprise one-shot "Twelve O'clock Bell Rings".  After that is the long awaited resumption of "Junketsu + Kareshi".

One-Shot: "Nanairo no Mukou" ("The Other Side of the Rainbow")

Finally!  Here is our big spring one-shot "Nanairo no Mukou". I've been wanting to translate this one-shot since it came out, but 74-pages seemed way too daunting.  I'm very proud that we were able to complete this one-shot in a timely manner.  A big thanks to all the Omari's Sister volunteers who worked on this :).

This one-shot is not all that it seems.  Don't be fooled by all the rainbows.  Like "World End Garden", this story has a range of emotions.

Oh!  Here's a little explanation of the English title I chose.

"Nanairo no Mukou" literally means "the other side of the seven colors".  In Japanese there is one word, "Nanairo", that describes the 7 prismatic colors.  I though it would sound kind of goofy to call the one-shot "The Other Side of the Seven Prismatic Colors", so I chose "Rainbow" because that's what we call the 7 prismatic colors and rainbows are a key thematic element in this story.

I really love the easy and fluid drawing style presented in this one-shot and felt inspired to make a wallpaper.  I made is all watercolorly.  Right click on the images below to download the wallpaper.

1600x1200 pixels

1920x1080 pixels

And now on to the links!

Links to download "Nanairo no Mukou": (Zip) (PDF -- tablets and mobiles) Updating files...come back in 15-minutes.

My thoughts on this one-shot:

I really wanted Ryousuke to find his sister in Nijigahara.  I wanted him to know that she was all right and for her to forgive him.    But, I guess that would have been kinda cloying. Moving on...this story reminded a bit of "The Wizard of Oz", or should I more precisely say the song "Somewhere over the Rainbow".  I always thought that was a song for very sad people because only people not satisfied with life in the real world dream of a better life in a world far away.   In this story Ryousuke is probably near the lowest depth of childhood pain.  His sister just died and his parents are splitting up and there's nothing Ryousuke can do about it. Consequently, he decides to run away from home and hopes that his parents notice.  I don't like the message let at the end of this story that running away from home will bring families back together.  Divorce is a hard thing, but it never has anything to do with the children and children can't do anything to bring their parents back together.  I think, though, that importance of his running away is that Ryousuke did something.  Good or bad, he made a statement and his parents finally took notice of him.

I really love the easy and free drawing style in this oneshot.  Almost every page in this one-shot has the manga equivalent of beautiful cinematography.  I want to spend the weekend relaxing in Nijigahara sleeping under trees and eating peaches.   Nijigahara looks like the embodiment of spring to me.

Next up!

Next up is "Akagami no Shirayukihime" chapter 24 followed by the one-shot "3 Hearts".  "3-Hearts" is a really beautifully drawn one-shot.  I'm looking forward to releasing it :).