looking at Chinese scans of manga sucks

[insaneneko]

After listening to the wonderful CD dramatization of chapter 2.5 that came with some issue of Ciel this year (Ritsu sounds so sweet and adorable!), I gave in and downloaded the Chinese scans of Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi ~Onodera Ritsu no Baai~ chapters 3-5. They made me want to read them so much more. There were a couple of scenes that just killed me, not knowing what the hell they were saying. Wasn't someone going to scanlate this? Can they skip the first volume and go straight to volume 2 so that I can know what's going on? Either that, or can the publisher come out with volume 2 already?

I noticed there were already two chapters out of the newest couple in the series...Anyone read them? Any good?

Comments

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

The new couple story seems to be over after those two chapters; I don't know if there's going to be more of it or not. :/ I hope so, because just when I was getting ready to forgive the main character for being a dumbass for most of the second chapter, it ended. -_-;; I was not so much in love with these characters, but I want to give them another chance.

I feel your pain with the Chinese scans, I have totally been there before. (And why do they seem to be easier to find than Japanese raws, anyway?)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

What, only two chapters? That seems unnaturally short...I hope she writes more of the Onodera arc so that there will be enough for a new volume soon. Or will this new couple get bundled up with the Onodera arc?

I really wish I could read Chinese since they really are easier to find. I understand that there are waaaay more Chinese readers in the world than Japanese readers and many of them don't believe in copyright (piracy is a big problem in China, I hear), but it's still really annoying.

I almost want to translate the Onodera chapters I have so that others can fall in love then gnash their teeth in frustration with me...

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I suspect that there'll be more about the new couple and they'll have their own manga volume, but who knows?

There's enough material already to put out another volume of manga (since there are 5 issues of The Ruby and only two chapters were in the first volume), so I don't know if they're just waiting on Nakamura writing the extra or what. :/

(I am about to buy myself a new scanner though, so I'll finally be able to scan the chapters for you.)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

On the next volume and why they don't release it: they want to torture people like me? (There's something comforting about making it all about you in such matters...)

(Oooh, that'd be great! I've been telling myself I need to buy a scanner and haven't gotten around to it yet so I wasn't sure if you'd get one anytime soon either. I hate buying scanners and printers. So mundane yet so need to work well.)

Scans!

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Chapter 3:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/go1yi3

(I'm still working on 4 & 5, but I will get them done. I need somebody to share my joy pain joy feelings with about chapter 5. >.>)

Re: Scans!

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU!! I'm so happy to understand! I love how Onodera flails as he tries so hard to deny his feelings. I like him all the more for it. He really works hard at everything.

I look forward to the rest of the chapters, *especially* chapter 5.

Re: Scans!

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

A lot of times I'm annoyed at characters for being in such a deep state of denial (and, I do totally want him to admit to his feelings, but I know it'll be another 200-whatever days, argh), but Onodera is so freaking adorable and ahhhh, it's my love for Misaki all over again, damn you Nakamura!

I LOVE how hard Onodera works. He is just so, so earnest. *flails*

Re: Scans!

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I do want him to admit his feelings, but I can understand his stubborn personality + trauma means much more flailing before we get the happily ever after. *sighs* I did like the flashback to cute Onodera sneaking around and borrowing the same books as Takano in this chapter. The similarities and differences with the current Onodera are fun to see.

I love how Takano uses Onodera's earnest stubbornness to push him at work. XD;

Re: Scans!

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

The flashbacks are so great--they were so adorable it hurts. And yet, so awkward and stupid, you want to just kick them. XD

Oh yeah, Takano totally knows how to manipulate Onodera. Well, when it comes to work, anyway. I think he gets too pissed off and loses focus when it comes to their personal relationship.

Re: Scans! (again)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Chapter 4: http://www.sendspace.com/file/4aa4wa
Chapter 5: http://www.sendspace.com/file/o7hapc

Re: Scans! (again)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

Thank you! But now I want more...;_;

In any case, HOLY CRAP I can't believe Onodera forgot that he'd had sex!! Takano's reactions continue to puzzle me. He's so hot and cold, at times so aggressive and passionate and at other times so...passively accepting. It's very confusing, and I assume it comes from whatever family troubles he's had. I want to know more!

I really wonder how long this series will be (or at least how long the day Onodera finally admits his feelings will come), because Onodera's powers of denial are stupendous but I can't help but wonder how much the story can be stretched without breaking it.

I love that the cat came back. XD

So Onodera has a fiancee? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised considering his position, but it still seems so wrong that it wasn't mentioned at all even in passing...Unless the info is not correct?

I loved Onodera deciding to stay as a manga editor after the call from the manga artist. He's so cute that way. It's a pity he can't admit Takano's declarations inside like he can other things.

I had to laugh when Onodera trips again at the library after that intense scene. So wrong yet so right...

Re: Scans! (again)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I know, AAARGH! His denial is SO severe, just...COME ON. But I forgive him because it totally killed me when he said "sempai." N'awwww!

I kind of understand where Takano is coming from...Onodera is just in SO much denial, he really needs to come to terms with some of his feelings on his own, or whatever Takano says or does won't make any difference. Or maybe Takano was just too pissed off by the sheer amount of denial that morning. (I was pretty pissed off myself.)


I want to know more about the kitty! Does he not live with Takano because he's not allowed in that apartment? (In which case, why is Takano living there?)

The fiancee thing is from an earlier chapter (maybe the first chapter, even?)...I could be remembering wrong, but I'm pretty sure it was just something Onodera made up to keep Takano away. (That worked well!)

What really sucks is based on The Ruby's previous release schedule, I had figured that the next issue would come out at the beginning of June, but I haven't seen any ads or definite dates for it anywhere, so I have no idea when it'll be out next. Need more now! T_T

Re: Scans! (again)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

The sempai thing was adorable! And Nakano's reaction...I love it when he calls Onodera "Ritsu." I imagine it being said softly, lovingly...

Takano is so in-your-face at work, so the contrast with his private dealings with Onodera is distressing. While not exactly a fan of the alpha-male dominance crap in BL, sometimes a bit of aggressiveness (especially against massive wall of denial) can help.

I was less angry and more in utter disbelief re: Onodera forgetting the sex. I assume he'd actually forgotten due to excess consumption of alcohol. I'm hoping his denial will crack in the next chapter when confronted with the evidence of the sex. :P

It is very odd that Takano doesn't keep the cat himself. It makes me feel sad for him, that he lives alone when he doesn't have to. :P

The fiancee thing first came up when Yokozawa mentioned how Takano had totally gone downhill in college after finding out the guy he'd gone out with in high school had had a fiancee. Onodera himself mentioned that he had a girlfriend waaay back when, but not that he had a fiancee.

Speaking of which, Yokozawa is kind of annoying me. I understand that he's Takano's friend (was he more than a friend? He implies it but I have my doubts) and he thinks Onodera is a slimy bastard or something, but he just keeps attacking Onodera constantly. Can't he see that Onodera is just a big mass of FAIL? I hope he realizes it soon...

Beginning of June would be a great time for a new chapter...

Re: Scans! (again)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Ha, you think there could be more evidence than "woke up naked, covered in hickeys, unable to walk"? I think Onodera is just in such complete and utter denial that he needs...um...I'm honestly not sure WHAT he needs to convince him. (For starters, it would be good if they would sit down and calmly discuss the misunderstanding that led to their breakup in high school, but of course, that will happen about one week after never.)

Ohhh, I guess I totally misremembered the fiancee thing. I'm going to have to go back and read it again. (I tend to forget stuff when I read a series as the chapters come out...)

Yeah, Yokozawa is the WORST kind of third wheel. I get that, from his POV, he just wants Takano to get over Onodera already, but from the readers' POV, we KNOW Takano's not going to get over Onodera, so it's like, god, just get out of the way already and possibly find some cute guy for yourself so we can stop hating you. (I see him being the antagonist for a while, unfortunately...)

...It amazes me that Nakamura can continue to use tropes I hate, over and over, and I freaking can't get enough of her manga. How does she do it?

Re: Scans! (again)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I don't know what will convince Onodera, either. I wish he'd just admit it and we can see them be together. They are such odd ducks that even together they'd be quite fun to read about.

I want a chapter from Takano's POV back in high school. So he knew of Onodera before the confession? Did he know Onodera was sneaking around looking at what books he was reading? I suppose we won't find out till way later, tho.

Erg, I was afraid that Yokozawa was going to continue to be annoying...He's useful right now in that he reveals hints about Takano and the past, but I can't stand seeing him act like the way he's been acting for the foreseeable future. *sighs*

I wonder if Nakamura does it intentionally or she just happens to takes really annoying tropes and works magic with them? Normally I'd want to bash characters like Misaki or Onodera in the head, but instead I want to cuddle them...

Re: Scans! (again)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I agree totally...I just don't think we're going to see it. Unless they "get together" before Onodera falls in love, which would probably be even more annoying. (What drives me crazy about the countdown is that Onodera is obviously already in love...so is the countdown until he admits it to himself? Until he says it out loud? Until they get together? What?)

I'm pretty sure that Nakamura just writes the tropes because she likes them. She certainly seems to eat up the crap that...whatshername, Fujisaki? the one that writes the novels...puts out. (I was okay with it when it was supposed to be Usagi's crappy BL books, but I can't see any reason for the Sekaiichi books to also be so incredibly crappy, therefor, I've concluded that she's just a crap writer.)

Re: Scans! (again)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

The speed at which she is moving the story makes me wonder about the countdown as well. I hope she fast forwards quite a bit so that we aren't left writhing in agony after a while...

I'm very sad to hear once again that the Sekaiichi books suck so badly. I enjoyed the badness of the Junai Romantica books, but they were pretty bad. :P

Re: Scans! (again)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Well, for all I know the books might get better...but the first one was so bad I just didn't want to read anymore. And yet, I will keep buying them for the manga shorts. I'm such an addict. -_-;;;

Re: Scans! (again)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I read at least four of the books, I think....They were awful, but I'd read worse...

The best parts were the manga shorts, of course.

Re: Scans! (again)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Oh no, sorry, I've read that many of the Junai books, I meant the Sekaiichi ones. (I think there are only two of those so far.)

The Romantica books are bad, but in a funny "Oh man, Usagi, why are you, an award-winning novelist, writing this crap?" kind of way. (Also, kind of fun to watch the train wreck of how un-Misaki-like the Misaki character will act.) The Sekaiichi ones are just...annoying. In a "Why would I want to read this?" kind of way.

...Then again, I think you have a lot higher tolerance for bad novels than I do. I wouldn't even TOUCH some of the stuff you read. XD;;

Re: Scans! (again)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I keep thinking about Usagi and his editor having fun coming up with things for the Junai Misaki when I read the Junai books. ^^;

Yeah, I have a pretty high tolerance for crap. But I do complain about a lot of them too. XD;

[madamada-chan.livejournal.com]

hoh wow... it's kind of comforting to know i'm not the only one tortured by the wait T___T i want more~!!

Wednesday-san!! sorry but i had to steal the chapters too. hope you don't mind :p makes me adore Onodera so. much. more.

combine that and being voiced by my number one favorite seiyuu in the drama cds... there's just no way i can't love him *sigh*