Reviews in Brief: Hinako Takanaga's You Will Drown in Love

Hidako Takanaga's You Will Drown in Love is not exactly a sequel to You Will Fall in Love. Focusing on Reiichiro Shudo, it actually occupies roughly the same time frame as the earlier story.

Jinnai is taken aback by his boss' sudden announcement that he's retiring, but sees it also as an opportunity: he's the assistant manager, and can look forward to greater responsibility and a chance to make his mark -- after all, their shop deals in fine silks and kimonos, and Jinnai has established good relationships with their customers. He is somewhat dismayed to learn that the new manager, Reiichiro Shudo, is fresh out of college, ten years younger than he, and also knows nothing about retail. In fact, it seems Reiichiro knows nothing about how to deal with people at all, but, surprisingly, is willing to be tutored. After some initial missteps, the two settle into a working relationship that gradually begins to move into the personal -- and then it gets more personal still, especially after Reichiro tells Jinnai that he's been rejected by Haru, but they've agreed to remain friends. Jinnai responds that if he's happy just being friends, he was never in love to begin with.

Tsukasa also make a cameo, brief but pointed: it adds a new dimension to the tensions between the brothers, as well as opening up Reiichiro's character still more.

If you've read You Will Fall in Love, the Reiichiro of this story is an eye-opener. We learn that his cold, seemingly calculating exterior is actually a cover for someone who is shy, sensitive, tactless, naive and totally inept at interpersonal relationships. Jinnai begins by being crticial and sometimes sarcastic about his new boss, but as he begins to understand what Reiichiro is really like -- essentially clueless -- he begins to feel somewhat protective, especially after Reiichiro begins confiding in him about personal matters. The story is really about the interplay of these two characters as they learn about each other and grow closer.

Looking back, I'm starting to think that this one may be even better than its predecessor: it's subtle, completely character-driven, with touches of sharp humor illuminating the growing relationship between two strongly independent men. The drawing is just as polished and strong. (It's worth noting that Reiichiro looks younger in this one, and it fits, somehow.) And again, the cover art is beautiful and gives a good sense of the interior drawings.

Takanaga is becoming one of my favorite mangaka, based on the strength of offerings like this one. From BLU.