Part of me feels like I’m a bit late to the Ao Haru Ride Party. Then again, it is never too late to get into a good manga, right? I was very excited to start this series because I adored Strobe Edge, which is also by Io Sakisaka. Just a quick heads up, readers: there will be a few fewer images in this review than usual because I read my physical copy for this review. Typically, when writing reviews, I am using digital manga.
The manga begins with a prologue. Where our protagonist, Futaba, admits while she is a junior high schooler that she finds boys annoying. Although Futaba admits this in earnest, it reminds me of an episode of that old show, The Nanny. Where Fran tells Mr. Sheffield to let his daughter go on her first date because if she doesn’t learn to deal with a 14-year-old boy, she’ll never know how to deal with grown men who tend to act like 14-year-olds. Futaba does say that there is one boy named Tanaka who is different. He’s short and gentle, and his voice has yet to change, so he almost seems like a girl.
After sharing a moment with him during cops and robbers at school and waiting out the rain at a local shrine, Futaba begins crushing on Tanaka. He seems to feel the same way. He even asks her to meet at a local park, which Futaba thinks is a date.
Unfortunately, within moments of the two agreeing to this potential date, Futaba loses her temper with another boy and declares how much she hates them. Since Tanaka never shows up at the park, Futaba believes he heard her and thought she meant him too. After Summer break, Futaba learns that Tanaka has moved, and so her first love is over before it began.
Fast forward three years, and Futaba is a high school first year. Her personality also seems to have done a complete 180. It seems like Futaba has been the victim of bullying as she says that during her second year of Junior high, she was ostracized by female classmates when boys began to notice her. Hating the idea of being alone, Futaba purposely acts tomboyish so that boys will leave her be and girls will be her friends. The minute I read this, I thought Oh no! Fake friend alert! I hope Futaba can learn to be herself again. She even hears her “friends,” Asumi and Chie, say that if she were cute instead of a tomboy, they wouldn’t be friends with her. I felt terrible for Futaba when she brushed it off instead of standing up for herself then and there.
Amid all this Futaba has bumped into a boy who looks very much like Tanaka. When she hears him called by a different last name, she thinks her mind must be playing tricks on her. Despite this, she can’t quite get him off her mind
Futaba soon learns that her mind isn’t playing tricks on her and that it is indeed her dear Tanaka now using his mother’s maiden name. She discovers this on a walk home while passing the shrine where they once spent time together.
Mabuchi, as he is now called, tells Futaba that they have both changed and they can’t go back to that time they once had. The time which Futaba, often refers to as the best time of her life. Girl, you’re 15 you haven’t lived even half of the best times of your life yet. Granted, that’s my opinion.
A few days later, Futaba is. In the cafeteria when Mabuchi sticks up for her when she is accused of not paying for her purchases. He sticks up for Futaba even demanding that the lunch lady apologize. Something Futaba’s so-called friends did not do. When talking to Futaba, Mabuchi puts her fake friends on blast. Which, although he is a bit harsh in his delivery, I bless him for opening Futaba’s eyes.
This gets Futaba’s wheels turning about who she has around her and why. At first, Futaba thinks that having friends like these is better than nothing, and at least she is not alone. Soon, Futaba herself puts her friends Chie and Asumi on blast. They are putting down another girl named Makita, with whom Futaba has had a few friendly moments. This causes Futaba to reach her limit.
The moment she finally gave the girls a piece of her mind, I was so proud of Futaba. Like yes, girl! Makita thanks Futaba, and Futaba admits it was for herself, too. When Futaba later runs into Mabuchi, she admits that she and the girls are no longer friends. She is mature enough to admit that it’s not his fault. He just simply opened her eyes about them. She calls him Tanaka for what seems like the 100th time, and he, of course, corrects her. She calls him by his first name, Kou, which he doesn’t object to.
As time passes, they end the semester/school year. Futaba tries to talk it out with her former friends, but it doesn’t work out. The girls say they don’t blame her for being honest, but it means they don’t mesh well. I was proud to see Futaba take this in stride. She declares to Kou that she will take this chance to start over. He seems glad for her. At this time, Kou points out that the teacher, Mr. Tanaka, who Futaba had noticed looked very much like Kou, is actually his older brother.
After learning about Kou’s brother Futaba tries to be nosy about Kou’s living situation. He admits he is living on his own, and his brother has moved out. When Kou and Futaba are on the verge of an argument, Kou apologizes for never showing up at the park three years ago. He tells Futaba that things were hectic at home at the time. Later. When the new semester begins, Futaba discovers she will be in the same class as Makita and Kou. Who had previously been in the honors class. The first volume ends with this new beginning.
Overall impressions? I can see why this series has the word ride in the title. It was an emotional ride where I found myself rooting for Futaba as a person. I like Kou, although Futaba believes he can be a bit mean-spirited. I’m hoping Futaba gets the chance to grow and love herself throughout the series. For the immediate future, I hope she and Makita can become real friends and Futaba can become more comfortable just being herself. I love it! I’ll definitely be coming along for the ride!
