Page 45 Review by Jonathan
Of I HEAR THE SUNSPOT VOL 1 I wrote...
"Will they?
Won't they?
Are they?
I don't know!
Even after finishing I'm not sure! When they talk about a gentle romantic comedy, this is like being oh so teasingly tickled with a feather duster. You don't know whether you actually like it, but it does feel rather pleasant. Or so they tell me..."
So... after finishing this sequel which, following the smash success of the original manga and its subsequent film adaptation, apparently only came about due to the huge public demand in Japan from people absolutely desperate to know the answers to those questions above... I really can only begin my review of this volume with...
Will they?
Won't they?
Are they?
Well, I guess you can imagine that all those enchanted members of the public weren't after an unhappy ending... so you can probably take a good guess at how this mixed-up matter of the heart ends up...
Or maybe not... HAHAHAHA!!
Yes, volume two is just as teasingly, tantalisingly frustrating for all those who are grappling with Kohei and Taichi's lack of err... grappling... as they continue their "more than friends, less than lovers..." pas de deux routine.
There will be no third volume. I can at least be kind enough to tell you that...!
Meanwhile, Taichi has seemingly grown up somewhat since the last volume and is behaving considerably more like a responsible adult. He's always had a big heart and now he's trying to do his best to help more people like Kohei, who despite becoming ever more independent, continues to struggle in the world at large with his profound hearing impairment. In fact, between Taichi's good works and Kohei's increasing self-reliance, the friends are spending less and less time in each other's company. Plus there's a new friend on the scene...
When they do get a bit of quality time together, once again the hard of hearing Kohei repeatedly fails, or chooses not to see, the subtle yet semaphore-sized romantic signalling of the boisterous, bellowing Taichi, much to Taichi's agonising dismay. Scene after scene of mildly comedic misunderstandings, unfortunate mishaps and missed / botched opportunities for pronouncing said feelings will practically have you screaming at the page. It's like being a love-struck incompetent teenager all over again!!
As the two continue to be like ships that pass in the night, one does begin to wonder if their 'relationship' will ever find safe harbour or end up dashed on the rocks once and for all. Or even just continue drifting aimlessly on and on without actually ever getting anywhere...? For I did also comment of volume one that I never knew non-romance romance was actually a sub-genre...
(PSSST!!! No volume three remember... Don't give up hope just yet!!!)
