insaneneko

How did I not remember that Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi volume 7 has a limited edition version? It looks like the usual suspects have sold out!!

It's sad how distressed I am about this. ^^;

More distressing is that my right arm is in a brace thanks to a "golfer's elbow" type condition. It's made using a mouse and typing rather unpleasant, especially at home where I have no ergonomic set-up and really no way to get one. So....not much intensive typing going on right now, and thus no posts. I'm currently typing this at work where the set-up is slightly better (and I'm waiting for someone to check something so that it can be sent out...). A couple of things I've been wanting to talk about:

First, anime. Finished both Tsuritama and Sakamichi no Apollon and enjoyed them both. I had issues with both (some things were just lame), but in the end I'd become quite fond of the characters and thus was happy with how things turned out. I thought Sakamichi was going to be A LOT more depressing, which was a pleasant surprise. And the soundtrack piece that played when Kaoru was leaving on the train? I liked it out of context as it's super pretty, but LOVED it in the scene. I'm behind on Kuroko no Basket, but have heard and am a bit disappointed in the second opening. It's just not as good a song as the first.

Bought a whole crapload of manga and books and really liked a bunch. The ones I remember off the top of my head:

Saiyaku wa Boku wo Suki Sugiru 1 and 2 by Kannagi Satoru (writer) and Ninomiya Etsumi (artist), story about two high school kids who are the lucky ducks from their respective families tied together for a year of misfortunes. The art is beautiful and the characters are fun (well, except the "older brother" dude whom I find a bit tiresome), and I love how one guy explains why he sticks like glue to the other one by openly confessing his "love." I assume it'll be somewhat BL-ish since it's a Chara title, but I'm fine if it remains suggestive if the story actually goes somewhere good.

Shizuku Hanabira Ringo no Kaori 3 by Kawai Toko keeps the awesomeness of this series going. Sadly, this is the final volume but the end was wonderful. I love how sex-positive the uke is in this, and how the seme is the silent brusque type but not so much so that he won't do his best to respond to his much more open and direct boyfriend.

Honto Yajuu 5 by Yamamoto Kotetsuko feels a bit like she's coasting, but as I love the characters I don't have much to complain about. Plus, we get "yakuza" Ueda!!!

Mad Cinderella 2 by Yamamoto Kotetsuko is the second volume (duh) of a series about a poor boy and his rich neighbor who is at first his best friend but becomes his boyfriend. It's *really* adorable, IMHO. There's a distressing trend of not letting them consumate their (openly accepted!) love, but otherwise I am enjoying this one.

Junjou Romantica 15 by Nakamura Shungiku...Is it sad that the thing I remember the most is Ijuuin coming onto Misaki and Misaki sensing it and running away but trying to make Ijuuin seem less skeevy because he is such a fanboy. So adorable! I was rereading an earlier volume where Misaki meets his "Za Kan" soul mate at university the
other day... XDXDXD

Ha, all manga for now. Will someday talk about the novels.

Yay! I managed to rip the tracks! It was a hassle, but now I can listen to it at any time on my ipod. XD; There are two tracks, one about Aki's first amusement park visit (SO CUTE) and a seiyuu talk track (which I didn't listen to as I don't care for talk tracks).

Megaupload
Mediafire
Sendspace

( quick summary of the first track )

BTW, I didn't realize that the limited edition and the regular edition have different yet complementary covers! I feel like I need to own both! GAR!

Thanks to madamada_chan I checked out the CD dramas of the wonderful policeman x yakuza manga Honto Yajuu (my happy post here). Oh, it is good. GOOD. The narrative becomes a bit choppy in the CD drama, but it is more than made up by the fabulousness of the voice actors. Kakihara Tetsuya as the yazuka does a great job doing both the old-school deep-voiced yakuza thing AND the cute "I'm so in love" voice. Nakamura Yuuichi is also great as a generally genial and composed policeman who learns of his more passionate side thanks to the yakuza. The rest of the voices are also excellent. I loved the voices of the rest of the yakuza clan. They are as gruff and tough as they look in the manga, even as they fanboy the uke! XD;