Blue - Reviews

This manga won't be for anyone who expects a fast-paced story or anything over-the-top. It has more of a slow burn to it and has many underlying feelings right beneath the façade that everything is okay. Please be aware, there are some slight spoilers ahead.

The story is quite simple, following Kayako Kirishima and Masami Endo, the latter of whom is a social outcast due to having had an abortion. Kayako herself has been suffering from loneliness and the two begin a friendship, which leads to the development of romantic feelings for one another. Once summer break comes, Masami goes on vacation with the man who had gotten her pregnant, leaving Kayako to sit with her loneliness and the uncertainty of her future. Once Masami returns, she tries to lie to Kayako, but to no avail. The two end up reconciling after some time, but they will need to decide what their plans after high school will be.

Blue isn't a particularly happy story, nor does it indulge in much fan-service or catering to more common tropes in yuri. The short length of the narrative leaves some questions unanswered and more of a connection to be desired, but it also evokes the feeling of uncertainty and a lack of direction, which many people experience. It feels like the in-between phase of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, with all of the confusion and inner turmoil mixed in.

I personally enjoyed it and it pops into my mind every now and then, even though it's been well over a decade since I originally read it. It's a sentimental narrative and I recommend it if you're looking for something to bring out a little bit of nostalgia, even if you've never heard of it before.