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Want to Depend on You is a single volume containing 2 unrelated stories that have complementary themes: beginnings, endings and reunions. More than anything, these make volume feel complete.
The volume’s namesake, is about a college student, Yamato, who falls for Onodera-san, the former assistant of his late father. It seemed to me that the story was long over before it should have started. The reprise, “You, My Beloved” made up for the flat ending of “Want to Depend on You,” but that's all it did.
The second story, Slow ballad (Parts One and Two), tells the tale of Yuuya and Arata, former lovers who reunite. I couldn’t tell if some of the dialog was meant to be instances of misdirection or if she was just as confused writing it as I was reading it. Before the truth about the past was revealed, rather than being kept in suspense, I felt more like I was waiting for someone who spoke primarily in parenthetical statements to get to the point. A conversation at the beginning of the story was revisited at the end. This is usually works to bring the story full circle, but with nothing much going on in between it was a failed attempt.
Though disappointed, I don’t feel this is simply a bad manga; rather, this is the work of a good mangaka on a bad day and that under better circumstances it would have been a collection worthy of her name. But it isn’t all bad. For example, a good moment in “Want to Depend on You,” is when a question that's often asked in jest is turned into a sincere, guilt-tinged contemplation. Later, in the same story, Onodera-san wants nothing more than to hear Yamato call his name, but as this desire is fulfilled, not once, but twice, he realizes how much it can hurt to actually get what you wished for. Kinoshita does this very well,; a way to show conflict with the perfect balance of subtlety and transparency.
I've read several of Kinoshita's titles, but it wasn't until I read Kiss Blue that I understood that she is a good storyteller and that her skills really shine when she’s able to write ate length. For that reason, and despite that I said that the reciprocal themes made the volume feel complete, I think the stories would have gained more from being released as separate, 1-story volumes.
Even after all of that, I do recommend this title. Thanx to DMG and BLBangBang (the localizers, who did an awesome job by the way) for granting me the opportunity to read it for free. And guess what... I'm still going to buy it. Don't let my disappointment stop you either. I want both fans and newcomers alike to read this story and then go read another title by Kinoshita-sensei. I recommend Kiss Blue, for starters. Read both and learn to appreciate a writer for their successes as well as their failures. Also, this is a way to support the mangaka and the localization initiative which needs continuous support in the form of sales and encouragement from the manga, and more specifically the yaoi-reading community. Buy it, read it and tell someone about it. Supporting the mangaka through this work may make it possible for more polished works like Ikusen no Yoru to move down the digital pipeline quicker and cute & fuzzy stories like Uchi no Ouji Irimasen ka to be licensed as well. So decided for yourself if it's worth it.
Anonymous
Posted February 16, 2012
Me's first!!!
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Overview
Want to Depend on You (Yaoi Manga) - Nook EditionBe it a sudden, painful revelation or a slow ballad, second love carries the hope of happiness again. Two tales of love experienced twice unfold in Want to Depend You.
A professor of literature has died, leaving his son Yamato and his assistant Onodera to put his affairs in order. To Onodera, Yamato constantly echos his beloved professor; his grief grows desperate. Will Onodera’s past memories consume his chance for future love and break Yamato’s heart in the process?
Ten years ago, friends Yuuya and...