Chasing After Aoi Koshiba vol. 1 by Hazuki Takeoka, Fly Series: Chasing After Aoi Koshiba #1
Published by Kodansha Comics on April 27 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Manga, LGBTQIA, Young Adult
A yuri romance about the intense feelings of youth, and the perspective and regrets that adulthood can bring, for fans of manga like Bloom Into You and Orange. From the creator of Masamune-kun’s Revenge Hazuki Takeoka and acclaimed yuri artist Fly.
Sahoko had lots of friends in high school, so there’s no shortage of people to catch up with at her reunion. But the person she wants to see most is missing: Aoi Koshiba, her old classmate and first crush. Years ago, Aoi was the basketball team’s rising star, and caught Sahoko’s eye as an easy way to score social points. Sahoko later learned, however, that Aoi had long quit the game due to a difficult home situation. When an unexpected kiss pulled the girls closer together one day, it became clear that Aoi was in need of more than just a cynical social climber—and perhaps, Sahoko was the one.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. This does not affect my thoughts on this book or this review.
I am a huge fan of yuri romances and when I came across this one, I knew I had to read it! Luckily, my instinct was right and I adored this first volume!
As this is the first in a new series, I can describe the plot a bit more freely. Chasing After Aoi Koshiba revolves around Sahoko, a woman who was popular in high school after working hard to take herself from a side character to a main character, as she describes it to readers herself. The manga begins at a high school reunion where Sahoko is looking for an old classmate: Aoi Koshiba. Aoi was Sahoko’s first crush and the novel then starts to show us the beginning of their high school romance as Sahoko tries to befriend Aoi for her natural popularity.
This manga was both engaging and sweet, and I felt that both characters had distinct and complex personalities despite this being just an introduction to the series. I really enjoyed the writing and the art style and I think both elements were very well done.
Overall, I am definitely excited to keep reading this series and I really enjoyed it! If you’re a fan of romance mangas and unique characters, I definitely recommend you keep your eyes on this fabulous new series this year!
