Manga Review : Secret Unrequited Love by Kotomi Aoki

Title:  Secret Unrequited Love

Original Title: Boku No Hatsukoi O Kimi Ni Sasagu

Author: Kotomi Aoki

Artist: Kotomi Aoki

Year of Release: 2005

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Mature, School Life, Shoujo, Tragedy

Status: Completed

Chapters (Translated in English): 67

Volumes & Chapters: 

Volume 1 Chapters 1-5.5            Volume 5 Chapters 22-27           Volume 9 Chapters 45-50
Volume 2 Chapters 6-10             Volume 6 Chapters 28-33           Volume 10 Chapters 51-56
Volume 3 Chapters 11-15.5        Volume 7 Chapters 34-38           Volume 11 Chapters 57-61
Volume 4 Chapters 16-21           Volume 8 Chapters 39-44           Volume 12 Chapters 62-67

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

Takuma and Mayu's story began when they were only 8 years old. During his childhood, Takuma was constantly hospitalised due to his heart condition. He soon became friends with Mayu, the daughter of the doctor in charge of his case. Day by day they grew closer and closer. However, the summer when Takuma was 8, he made a promise to Mayu that he couldn't keep... Their story unfolds as they grow older and their bond gets stronger...

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Related to: BOKU WA IMOUTO NI KOI WO SURU

My Thoughts

Review covers 67 chapters 

Hello everyone and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Today I’ll be covering the second drama story that made me cry from the very first page. I covered the first story one month ago, and if you would like to read the review, it’s here.

I believe this story is one of the best drama/tragedy that I have ever read. The plot is not that unique, but how the author describes the feelings and emotions of characters that’s something worth reading! The author describes both Takuma’s and Mayu’s feelings as if it was her in their place. And you understand both points of view. You get why Takuma wants to keep Mayu away from him, I mean, he’ll die when he turns 20. And at the same time you understand Mayu, because she loves him, she wants to be next to the person for as long as she can. You feel the sadness from every chapter, this premotions of something bad to happen. It doesn’t help that the majority of chapters start narrating in the past. The final chapter is also very controversial; I remember that the people who have read this story are divided into two fractions. One says that Takuma is alive and that’s their future, while others say that he died and that was juts his fantasy. The last chapter is titled “Will” and that also gives the confusion. What about me? To say the truth I believe that the author left it for us to decide, and that it’s just Takuma’s hopes, that it will be like that. I mean Mayu is still reading the will, when their kids are shown. However, deep in my heart I want to believe that Takuma lived through the operation and they lived together.

I do not know how the author does it, but all her works leave deep impact on me. I’ve read 3 of her works, (this one was the very first, and I have a fourth one on my reading list), and every time I feel the story pull me into it without any restrain. What really are fascinating about Aoki Kotomi’s works are her story itself and her story telling ability. All of her stories are very deep, especially this one. It covers the concept of death and life. And if in other similar stories you do not really see it, here it just stares at you from every page. All characters are very well developed, and they grow as people though out the story. The manga covers a big part of the their lives. They start at the age of 8 and go up to the age of 18. Sometimes we go from one time to another, and that gives the story more drama.

I can’t really say which character I loved more: Mayu or Takuma. I understand both of their intentions, though I guess I was more on Mayu’s side, as I knew how much Takuma loved her and that for them being apart was similar to death. I think I cried on this story more that I have cried in my whole life, and even though I’ve read it 3 times, I still cried from the very first page. It never lost its dramatism, even if I knew what was going to happen. Another amazing character is Kou. I still wonder when he fell in love with Mayu, but he was the one who finally made Takuma admit his feelings after 5 years of running away from Mayu. His story is also untold, because we still don’t know if he would ever wake up from his sleep.

I could be talking about this manga for hours, but it’s one thing me saying and another you actually reading it. I highly recommend everyone to read it, even if you are not a fan of manga. You will enjoy it for its idea behind the story. I hope you will read it, as it is story, which can happen to everyone. Read a story full of unrequited and at the same time mutual love, death and tragedy lurking in every corner! You still have doubts? Well, I can’t say anything except that you are losing an amazing experience of reading and understanding this story. Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below. Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos! Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga. Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie 

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