I have actually first watched the anime first (about four years ago) before reading finally it this year. We all are aware that the anime series and the manga have different pacing and there will be a little tweak here and there when it's finally in its anime form and there will always be this kind of cliffhanger especially if it's still an ongoing manga (which is evident in this case). I liked the heroine, Kyoko--all the things that she went through for the man she thought she loves and loved him back went down to the drain: the pain, loss and sense of revenge to get even with the guy. I liked her fierceness...although she's bitter, heck, her bitterness is actually hilarious but pitiful as well. It was fine...but I guess the thing that I have issues with mangas is its slow pacing. Still, I will read it...although not really religiously just like before. When the mood strikes me, I guess. My review is crap, I know.:D Valentine's Day is such a different holiday in Japan. The girls are supposed to give guys in their life (boyfriends, friends, work colleagues) chocolates. The guys don't reciprocate until March - White Day - when it's their turn to give the girls treats.Volume 24 is sweet at moments but also eye-roll inducing silly at other moments. It's not one of my favorite volumes. The part that I didn't like was the story arc where Reino, the lead singer of Vie Ghoul, blackmails Kyoko into making him homemade chocolates for Valentine's Day. How does he do this? By plucking one of Kyoko's grudges from her and holding it hostage. He threatens to kiss the grudge. Essentially, he's trapped a bit of her soul. This is creepy in some ways and ridiculous in others. I love Kyoko's grudges, but I prefer to think of them as abstract figures. As representations of Kyoko's inner anger rather than physical tiny Kyoko dopplegangers. There are a few moments with Sho. He wants Kyoko to give him chocolates, but can't quite admit it. Even more so, he really doesn't want her to give them to other people. He hates the idea that she might give chocolates to Ren...or to Reino - he's worried that Reino has some sort of hold over her. He's not concerned in a protective sense. Rather, he still thinks of Kyoko as property, as a conquest.I did like the moments with Ren. Ren is worried that Kyoko will get him chocolates just like every other girl he knows. But then he's also worried if she doesn't give him chocolates. He knows that Kyoko doesn't like him in a romantic way - or at least she hasn't admitted that to herself yet. He's worried that she'll never like him. Mr. Yashiro does an excellent job of making Ren hyper-focus on Kyoko's every move even more than he does on his own. In the end, Kyoko doesn't get him chocolates. She knows he doesn't like them. Rather, she gets him a different present. But we don't get to see him open it! What is it?! We'll have to wait and see.The volume does end on a cliff-hanger. Sho shows up with a gigantic, expensive bouquet. What's going to happen?
What do You think about Skip Beat!, Vol. 24 (2011)?
Lol this was a silly volume. I love the Sho drama... I wish he was around more!
—lorevico
These books are way too suspenseful to be read at the rate that I read them...
—alondris
Sho Fuwa, Ren Tsuruga, and V.G WTH?? 3SOME :P
—Cheyenne
I am really enjoying the Valentine's Day arc!
—ny8120032003
