Manga Maniac Cafe For the Geek in all of us

Title: B.O.D.Y. Vol 1

Author: Ao Mimori

Publisher: Viz

ISBN: 9781421518022

May Contain Spoilers

Here is another title that I tried a number of times to read, but just didn’t connect enough with the story to finish.  I finally sat down and made myself give it another chance.  Though a little generic, I enjoyed the book this time around. 

Ryoko has been admiring Ryunosuke from afar, and none of her friends can understand why.  His sense of fashion is questionable, he’s unapproachable, and he hardly ever talks.  Ryoko likes his quiet demeanor, thinking that it must mean that he takes his studies seriously.  A chance encounter after school shows her how wrong she is about him, and she learns that Ryu works at a host club.  Her illusions may be shattered, but she can’t stop herself from being attracted to him.  Will she fall for his flirting, or will she be able to resist when he turns on the charm?

I think the biggest barrier for me to overcome was Ryoko’s personality.  She is one of those hum-drum, quiet girls who daydreams about finding Mr Right, but in reality, all she turns up are frogs.  Ryunosuke seems perfect to her; he’s quiet, his book bag is filled to the brim with books, and he wears glasses.  Whoa, boy.  Those are all of the qualities I look for when I’m scoping out a new boyfriend.  In Ryoko’s mind, this makes him very serious about his schoolwork, so she thinks he has a bright future ahead of him.

The reality is that Ryu is a popular employee at a host club, and his out of school persona is radically different from the image he portrays at school.  He is like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.  At school he is quiet and keeps a low profile, but once the final bell rings, he’s Mr Studly.  Older women love him and he’s raking in the cash keeping them happy.  When Ryoko discovers his secret, she is disappointed that her dream man isn’t as noble as her imagination has made him.  When he starts playing mind games with her, her whole life gets turned upside down.

The element that set this story apart is how much of a jerk Ryunosuke can be.  He loves to tease and taunt Ryoko, and he is constantly keeping her off  balance.  He feeds off of her compassionate nature, manipulating her emotions and pushing all of her buttons.  All he’s looking for is a reaction from her, any reaction, and he’ll stoop to some very low levels to get her attention.  Ryoko doesn’t come across as very bright, because she keeps falling for his lines over and over again.  You would hope that after he has tricked her two times, she would stop taking his verbal bait.

The story at this point isn’t very romantic, and I can’t help but feel some sympathy for Ryoko.  She has let Ryu consume her every thought, and she is clearly no match for this guy.  He plays her like a fool.  Being his girlfriend would be traumatic at this stage of the game because she can’t defend herself against his teasing.  Ryoko couldn’t tell when he was being straight with her, and neither could I.  There are glimpses of a kind, decent guy hidden under that mocking exterior, but they are almost instantly covered back up again. I am hoping that Ryu has an interested background story that has shaped his personality, and will stick with the series for a few more volumes until I learn why he is a little warped.  Poor Ryoko – she has no clue how to deal with this guy!

Grade: B

Review copy provided by Viz