YAGATE KIMI NI NARU SAEKI SAYAKA NI TSUITE

DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

MANGA DramaYagate Kimi ni Naru

REVIEWS

• 

  maewemeetagain

  100/100
  An excellent showcase of how well two creators, Iruma and Nakatani, can understand each other.

  This may sound arrogant, but I've always known that I was talented when it came to my reading ability. It's not something I consider much of a brag, as being able to read your own language well isn't anything particularly difficult, yet I'd spent most of my childhood being told that my reading ability was ahead of my age. Believe me, since it's not a brag, there is a reason why I'm bringing this up within this review; Yagate Kimi ni Naru: Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite is a very well-written novel, completely up to standard with the equally well-written manga it is a spin-off of, Nio Nakatani's Yagate Kimi ni Naru, and twists so much detail into its writing that it even tested the likes of me in trying to take in just how well this side story was handled.

  Hitoma Iruma, author of Adachi to Shimamura, takes the reins on this novel with Nakatani being involved in deciding where she wanted the story to go while leaving the "how" to Iruma, and as somebody who's never read any of his work, this initially made me sceptical before I began reading since I didn't know how he handled his own characters and story, let alone somebody else's. However, my expectations were very pleasantly surpassed, Nakatani left this project in the right hands. Iruma's original story elements were very well thought out, and his handling of the existing characters and plot elements rivals even Nakatani herself.

  Yagate Kimi ni Naru: Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite is a side story of the original Yagate Kimi ni Naru manga series, that focuses on Touko's close friend and Yuu's rival to Touko's heart, Saeki Sayaka, delving into her distant past in volume 1, her close past, her present in the eyes of the manga, and her closer future in volume 2, and finally, her full future in volume 3. While not the most original of ideas, Iruma worked wonders with this formula of separating 3 time periods across the 3 volumes, and was able to tell a very down to earth story within them.

  Volume 1 shows us Sayaka's past; her first and second encounters with love and the emotions she took away from those encounters that would shape her into the strong character that we see her become in later volumes of this novel and second half of the manga. Sayaka's first encounter was completely original content from Iruma, and I believe that was a great starting point as it gave him a way to showcase his original writing first, before fully immersing himself in Nakatani's guidance. Iruma used Sayaka's childhood encounter with love to showcase her initial disposition and confusion around love and somebody's attempt to be close to her, and to fuel later analogies that Sayaka was always running from her emotions, which would be built upon in volume 2 and when referred to the manga's content. The second chapter of volume 1 shows us a much more familiar part of Sayaka's past for both anime watchers and manga readers; Sayaka's junior high school relationship with a certain Chie Yuzuki. Rather than running away from her emotions, this chapter would be in contrast with the first, and show us Sayaka's initial joy followed by hurt and loss by running into her emotions head-on without considering the reality of it all. In the manga and anime, this period of time is pivotal to understanding Sayaka's character, and with how brief this plot element is, Iruma did an incredible job of translating it into this format.

  Volume 2 shows us a closer past of Sayaka's first meeting meeting with Touko Nanami during her first year of high school, and coming to terms with the realisation of her sexuality due to her easy love for Touko despite her previous confusion and sorrow leading Sayaka to believe that she wouldn't let love into her heart again. Given that this period of time is mostly told through Touko's perspective in the anime and manga, it's interesting to see Iruma spin it all into Sayaka's perspective instead. Along with this, volume 2 gives a somewhat "quick" recap of everything that happened in the manga without feeling too rushed at all, giving us detailed reminders of everything Sayaka would go through with the introduction of Yuu Koito and her newfound relation with Touko, and how the final circumstances would affect her. It's not often to see authors pull off recaps of so much content without a feeling that things were moving too fast, though I guess that's more of the result of assuming that the reader has read the manga and understands the original plot from start to finish, which describes myself and many other readers. The end of volume 2 moves into a snippet of the beginning of Sayaka's college life following her heartbreak and graduation in the original series, where she meets a crying Haru Edamoto, and then the fully original plot takes off from there. Volume 2 was the peak of this novel series, with some of the most beautiful writing and subtext I've ever read.

  Volume 3 is where everything goes original and I can't explain much without spoiling this original content, but I can assure you that it's equally as great as Iruma's writing up to this point, just... read it for yourself and get the full experience. It was a beautiful wrap-up to this side story.

  As mentioned prior, though she doesn't do the main body of writing for this novel like she does with the original manga, original series mangaka Nio Nakatani returns to do the artwork for this novel, and it looks just as good as any fan of the series would likely expect. In the years between the beginning of the manga in 2015 and the release of this novel in 2018, it's clear that creating the manga gave Nakatani a great opportunity to develop her skills, and the very detailed and frankly stunning art of Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite stands as a testament to that. Sticking to her recognisable style, Nakatani's art style is perfect in my eyes, there is no way I could comment on anything to improve it.

  Absolutely outstanding. I didn't think it was possible for anybody to handle these characters as well as Nakatani herself, but Iruma understands this series and the characters within very well. He explores the characters Nakatani has already written, expands upon them, shows where recognisable characters ended up in their future in volume 3 (3 years after the end of the manga), and, of course, introduces original characters drafted by Nakatani to keep true authenticity. Iruma and Nakatani's joined skill in character writing was very good despite Iruma's own claim that he's no good at coming up with names. Nakatani understands Sayaka and the circumstances surrounding her life, and she clearly did a great job communicating her understanding to Iruma; somebody who also understands.

  With all of the elements within and how it ties to the original series, it's safe to say that I enjoyed Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite very much, but I'm not the biggest fan of Iruma's inconsistent chapter lengths. It's not inherently a bad thing, but it felt a bit jarring at certain points and subtracted from my enjoyment just a little, but everything else makes up for that.

  Yagate Kimi ni Naru: Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite is an absolute essential for anybody who's a fan of the original series, and even if you aren't yet, I strongly recommend getting into the series for it. If you look at my profile, it's not hard to tell that I'm quite big fan, and as a big fan, I believe that the original series is a masterpiece and can guarantee you that it's worth giving a chance. Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite focuses a lot on Sayaka's realisation of love, relationships (romantic or not) and emotions.

  In terms of emotions, Sayaka's character journey taught me one crucial lesson.

  I don't need to run away anymore.

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• 

  superp2222

  100/100
  A side story so compelling, so real that you hardly realize it's about a different person, by a different person

  Like many of Sayaka's experiences, this series breaks many firsts for me. So much so I often find myself questioning whether or not the previous me was all that mature.

  Bloom into You was the first yuri series I watched and read

  It was the first to make me cry after finishing and not during

  and now, it is the first light novel series I complete and feel so compelled to talk about that I not only waste a good night's sleep reading the entire series but also find myself writing a review about it.

  The stories of Saeki Sayaka were often overshadowed by the main force of the plot that drove Yuu and Touko together. But here, in her own series about her own life, we are shown just how deep Sayaka's true side really runs.

  Before I move on to the actual review, a few disclaimers

  • This is my first time reviewing an LN
  • You literally cannot get through the books itself without finishing the manga first so spoilers for both the original Bloom into You series and this book applies.

  Characters
  At the center of this entire three-volume series stands Saeki Sayaka. This isn't a story about the main plot anymore, its about the girl who believed; the calm and composed rich girl that took massive leaps and bounds outside of her comfort zone to reach for her star. This is her story, and they did her justice.
  Even as you read the very first lines of the novel, you can instantly hear Sayaka's voice. This may sound arrogant, but there truly couldn't have been a better way to represent her. And almost immediately, you're taken to the moment that started it all. Years ago, in the pool that was home to her swim classes, we see the first flowers bloom within Saeki Sayaka, and along with it, her first conflict. This conflict stretches a vast 3 novels, growing alongside the budding flower that is love. We see everything laid bare, just as Sayaka herself believes so. You can feel the tension in her heartstrings, the conflict that pulls her soul. Both sides of Sayaka's coin only continue to grow in the second half of the first volume. Despite not being affiliated with Bloom into You before, Hitoma Iruma painted a stunning picture of a reluctant young girl experiencing her first steps in love, a love that is quickly shattered in manners that both the anime and manga just didn't have the time nor attention for. It's a painful feeling, really. That just when you're beginning to believe, you have that belief wrested away from you. This pain is often what turns away many people from acceptance of their LGBTQ stance in the real world; the pain is simply just too unbearable. However, through the ruins we see a side of Sayaka we never saw before. Her willingness to stand up even in the face of incomparable defeat drove her story into the next volume, and thus, the second part of her trilogy. When in the face of an unrequited love, we see the same curses that held her back return again, despite her active resistance this time. We see conflict as desire clashes against restraint, and as she finally breaks free of her chains, even if it would leave her once again in defeat, she won the war.

  

  The third volume is, by my opinion, the only one that's completely original. In that the only thing it uses from the main series is a single name: Haru. Iruma-sensei took a single name, and stretched it into a compelling, tangible, and very much real character; the guiding hand that took Sayaka from where she lay next to her broken chains and out of the dungeon that has locked her in for so long. Not only did Haru's entire personality feel feasible, it feels like we could've met her a long time ago and we wouldn't have noticed. We see new developments as Saeki Sayaka, the incorruptible, indomitable, and indefatigable woman, change. A new star has appeared in her galaxy, and this time, it didn't shun her when she reached for it, nor was it so far away it was a mere fleeting glimpse, and Sayaka Saeki took her leap.

  Throughout the entire volume, I found myself both desiring to be Sayaka and relating to her on more than one note. She felt human. Her resistance wasn't because of an intangible feeling of void only certain members of our society can feel like Yuu, nor a desire to fill in the shoes of the giants whose shoulders we stood on like Touko. Even though what she dealt with was also technically something only certain (albeit a growing) fraction of our society deals with, it was relatable to everyone. Because why else would I, a straight male, suddenly find my heart shattering when hers did, or bouncing with joy when hers did?

  There was no better way than to describe this spin-off series as providing depth to a character in the shadows. Sayaka has spent enough time playing the background character, and with Touko and Yuu's story concluded, it is her time to shine.

  Plot
  Overall, I like the general plotline of this series.
  As a person who was introduced to this series via the anime, it wraps up the loose ends that Nakatani-sensei deliberately opened up, it gives flesh to the bones that were developed, and we're given the background story that the arguable 3rd main character of the original anime should've gotten, as well as a good glimpse into the future that connected the last 2 chapters of the original manga. Another note that I absolutely loved was the absolutely massive amounts of visualization this novel created, especially in the 3rd volume. We've never seen Sayaka's university, but it feels like we're right there along with her in that hot summer heat, comforting a girl who'd just been through a tough breakup.

  This may sound arrogant, but I knew early on that this series was something else. Looking back now, I can certainly say it changed me. Even though many of us readers may not have the courage it took for many of these characters to take their strides, even though it might be a possibility that many of the primarily teen and young adult based audiences may not have had the chance to meet their sweetheart in high school, this series shows that love sometimes takes careful steps. For Touko, it was finding the person who could see both her shell and her real self for the person she is. For Yuu, it was finding feelings needed to describe love.

  For Sayaka, it was finding the right star. Not one that dimmed when you touched it, not one that was nothing but a fleeting speck in the night sky, but one that was perhaps a bit rushed, but always willing to shine at her brightest when she was there.

  
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