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A review by nawarafra
Strobe Edge, Vol. 1 by Io Sakisaka
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Can I just say that after all this time I am still floored that my dumb ass really thought Daiki was going to be the second love interest???
One other thing about why Ninako's feelings for Ren are important is because it was the first time that she realized something on her own, the first time she's thinking for herself. I know that sounds kind of unbelievable, but much like any high schooler, Ninako is young and impressionable, so yeah; of course she'll believe everyone when they forcefully spoon-feed the idea of her and Daiki down her throat! Poor thing really thought she was leading Daiki on when she was just being a good friend.
Speaking of Daiki, I've had friends in the past say they hated him in the first volume and I was like, 'but why though?' Daiki's antagonistic behaviour towards Ren is 80% immaturity and 20% 'if you hurt my best-friend and/or my sister I will kill you'. Of course he's going to be upset with Ren - he knows how much his sister loves him and to Daiki, Ren's kindness towards Ninako seems like a betrayal to his sister (which it's obviously NOT, but I'll give Daiki this one).
One other thing that I really appreciate about their dynamic is that even though Ren is treated as a celebrity at school, when Ninako interacts with him she's not being uncomfortably awkward even though you can tell he makes her nervous. I thought her trying to get Ren to wake up was a cute scene, and I like that she got all huffy because Ren started teasing her - all of it showed how easy it was for them to sort of just fall into this new friendship.
And I know this doesn't really track, but Ninako's defence of the butterfly charm that Ren got her was truly reminiscent of that one meme (because that's all I think about apparently) where Person A says, "I made you a friendship bracelet" and then Person B's all like "what, ew" and then Person A responds with "you don't have to keep it-" and then Person B snatches it back like "back off, it's mine, I'm keeping it forever" - that is immediately where my mind went.
One last thing - can we just talk about how Sayuri was QUICK to shoot her shot? Because I genuinely forgot her and Daiki became a thing in Vol. 1, I thought that was more a Vol. 2 thing, but my bad I guess.
To everyone who actually read the spoiler section - I'm so sorry, I had no idea that I had so many thoughts and opinions about Strobe Edge.
One other thing about why Ninako's feelings for Ren are important is because it was the first time that she realized something on her own, the first time she's thinking for herself. I know that sounds kind of unbelievable, but much like any high schooler, Ninako is young and impressionable, so yeah; of course she'll believe everyone when they forcefully spoon-feed the idea of her and Daiki down her throat! Poor thing really thought she was leading Daiki on when she was just being a good friend.
Speaking of Daiki, I've had friends in the past say they hated him in the first volume and I was like, 'but why though?' Daiki's antagonistic behaviour towards Ren is 80% immaturity and 20% 'if you hurt my best-friend and/or my sister I will kill you'. Of course he's going to be upset with Ren - he knows how much his sister loves him and to Daiki, Ren's kindness towards Ninako seems like a betrayal to his sister (which it's obviously NOT, but I'll give Daiki this one).
One other thing that I really appreciate about their dynamic is that even though Ren is treated as a celebrity at school, when Ninako interacts with him she's not being uncomfortably awkward even though you can tell he makes her nervous. I thought her trying to get Ren to wake up was a cute scene, and I like that she got all huffy because Ren started teasing her - all of it showed how easy it was for them to sort of just fall into this new friendship.
And I know this doesn't really track, but Ninako's defence of the butterfly charm that Ren got her was truly reminiscent of that one meme (because that's all I think about apparently) where Person A says, "I made you a friendship bracelet" and then Person B's all like "what, ew" and then Person A responds with "you don't have to keep it-" and then Person B snatches it back like "back off, it's mine, I'm keeping it forever" - that is immediately where my mind went.
One last thing - can we just talk about how Sayuri was QUICK to shoot her shot? Because I genuinely forgot her and Daiki became a thing in Vol. 1, I thought that was more a Vol. 2 thing, but my bad I guess.
To everyone who actually read the spoiler section - I'm so sorry, I had no idea that I had so many thoughts and opinions about Strobe Edge.