"Kimi ni XOXO" Teaser

Here's a short preview of  "Kimi ni XOXO!" The section I am previewing is at the transition from the lackluster sweetness of the middle-beginning (the very beginning is very funny) to the funny and spunky goodness of the second half.  I hope you enjoy it and I hope it gets you to anticipate the chapter in its entirety.  Please excuse any typos or errors you see. This has yet to go under any quality check and is subject to be a little different in the final version.

The truth of matters is that the fairy-like creature name "Echo" salvages this manga.  Her wacko impishness brings out the humor in the main character, Fujita.   I'm still aiming for a June 6th release date, but don't be surprised if it slips to the 7th or 8th because it is a big challenge to clean and edit the images.  I will be translating the second chapter of this series because I do want to know what happens.  After that, I will make the decision about whether or not to take this on as a project.

Orange Chocolate Chapter 13

Here is "Orange Chocolate" chapter 13.  Just a note so you'll be aware as you read this, the narrator changes to Ritsu towards the end of the chapter (pg 37-ish).  It's hard to convey this in English since English has no male or female version of "I."  Anyhow, this chapter starts to give us insight into Ritsu thinking and into Chiro's seemingly surprising confession. 

Link: Orange Chocolate Chp 13 (update 5/31/2010 minor correction from Kuma-chan)

Kimi no XOXO Update

Update 5/31:
Things have picked up quite a bit now that the fairy creature appeared.  The sweetness is quickly going away...yippee!!!!  There's hope for this :).
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I just finished translating the first chapter and it ended nicely.  I can't make the decision whether to pick up this series based on the first chapter alone, so I will extend the trial to the 2nd chapter.
update 5/30:
Next up after this is the "Kimi no XOXO" trial.  I've translated a little over a quarter of the first chapter and so far, it's different from what I expected (I was hoping for a farce...).  First of all, it's extremely verbose which slows the pacing quite a bit when compared to a series like "Orange Chocolate."  So far it takes itself more seriously than I expected and, over all, it seems to be aimed at late "tween"/ early teen audience.  My initial feeling from these first few pages is that, though it is not bad, there may be series that are more suited my and the group's taste than this.  I'll see if it picks up once the fairly-like creature is introduced.  If it stays on the sweet with light humor track, then I will complete the first chapter so people will have an idea of what this series may be like and then move onto some other series that I've flagged. If that happens, hopefully, a more appropriate scanlation group will pick up the series.

New Series: "Kimi ni Kiss & Hug"

"Kimi ni XOXO" or "Kimi ni Kiss & Hug" (Kisses and Hugs for You) is a new series from Mizuno Tohko that debuted in Lala issue 7.  It looks adorable!  Taking a cursory look, the story seems to center around a boy with girlish features who has a crush on confident female friend.  Somehow or another he meets a fairy-like creature who transforms him into a fabulous bishonen.  Of course as this fabulous binshonen he rescues his crush from some bad guys.  The artwork is ADORABLE!!! And skimming the first few pages, though, cliched, the story might not be too bad, so after Seirei Produce, I will do a trial of the first chapter of this series.  I will put out a preview after we finish "Shinobigoto."