Manga Reviews (2010-2019): After the Rain vol. 3 by Mayuzuki Jun (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Manga Review)

A delightful and entertaining manga series, if you want a romantic comedy-driven storyline and a story that is easy to follow and enjoy, definitely give “After the Rain” a try! Definitely recommended!

MANGA TITLE: After the Rain vol. 3

STORY AND ART BY: Mayuzuki Jun

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Shogakukan

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: Vertical Comics

RATED: 14+

Available on March 12, 2019

“Tachibana… What are you doing here?”

The blunt question, even though it was asked innocently, shakes Akira’s heart. As Christmas draws closer, Akira resolves to do a certain something for Kondo, and Yui, Yoshizawa and Kase grapple with secret feelings of their own…

Vertical Comics is currently releasing mangaka Mayuzuki Jun’s hit manga series “Koi wa Ameagari no Youni” (After the Rain) in North America.

Serialized in Shogakukan’s “Gekkan Big Comic Spirits” back in 2014 and then finding its final home in “Shukan Big Comic Spirits” in 2016, the series would receive an anime adaptation and also a live action film adaptation in 2018.

The series revolves around its two protagonists, Tachibana Akira, a high-school student who was a promising track star until a significant ankle injury forces her to abandon running.

Depressed about not being able to train and run anymore, while walking in the rain, she was offered free coffee by Kondo Masami, the manager of a family restaurant.

Taking shelter in the rain, Tachibana would eventually work at the same family restaurant.

As for Kondo, he is 45-years-old and is a divorced father and has a young son named Yuto who comes to visit once in awhile. When he sees Tachibana, she often has an angry look on her face and wonders if she hates him, but in truth, Tachibana is falling in love with her manager.

While Tachibana tries to understand this feeling she has towards Kondo, what will happen if she gets the nerve to tell him that she likes him?

Meanwhile, Tachibana’s friend Kyan Haruka hopes that Tachibana will someday heal and return, while Tachibana’s co-worker, a playboy chef named Kase Ryosuke, likes Tachibana (because she’s not like other girls who falls for him) and sees her as one of his targets. Also, working at the restaurant is Yoshizawa Takashi, Tachibana’s classmate who started working at the restaurant because he likes her.

In volume 3, s Tachibana finds herself falling hard for her boss, Kondo, her co-worker/friend Nishida is falling for Yoshizawa.

And as Tachibana tries to learn and find ways to grow closer to Kondo, we are introduced to a new character, Mizuki, a runner who suffered the same injury as Tachibana and now she wants to let Tachibana know that she can still run, despite the injury. But will she want to run or does she like her life being closer to Kondo at the restaurant?

Vertical is really releasing interesting manga that explores unique relationships. We have “The Delinquent Housewife” about a teenage boy who is in love with his sister-in-law, but finds out that she is a former gangster girl. “Arakawa Under the Bridge” about a businessman who starts living under the bridge with odd characters and falls for a girl who thinks she is from Venus and “My Boy” about a 30-year-old woman and a young 12-year-old boy which started out as a fill-in mom that wanted to teach the young boy soccer but instead starts bonding with the boy, and he with this woman.

With Mayuzuki Jun’s “After the Rain”, the story revolves around two people who have non-interesting lives. For Tachibana Akira, her life was about running and with that passion taken away due to a significant injury/surgery, she has given it up to work at a family restaurant.

At the family restaurant is a 45-year-old man who just works as a manager and never thought anyone would be interested in him because he’s 45 and has a kid. But it turns out that the athlete, Akira, has fallen for her manager. And she intends to let him know.

But will he reciprocate the same feelings? Or will he feel inconveniences because he know that a 45-year-old man with a young woman would be perceived as very wrong?

The third volume pushes things even further. As Tachibana has fallen hard for Kondo and wants to be even closer to him. While Kondo, he knows he’s an older man and feels that it’s not right to be with someone so young. But at the same time, he likes the feeling of knowing that someone has a crush on him and each time he’s with Akira, he is happy. But can an older man be with a younger woman? He no doubt has conflicted feelings. But this volume, what happens when these two trying to find ways to being with each other?

The latest volume also brings in an interesting character, Mizuki. A person from another school who respects Tachibana and suffered the same injury, but she went back to running. What if she can convince Tachibana that she shouldn’t give up her love of running and competing?

For the most part, the manga is refreshing, humorous and delightful. I love the build up of the characters and Mayuzuki does put a lot of time into developing them and making sure their interactions are worth it or have some impact.

For manga fans, I feel that many can easily get into “After the Rain” because it’s not difficult to follow and there are only 10 volumes released in Japan (Note: Vertical releases two volumes per graphic novel, so there will be total of five).

Also, I found Mayuzuki’s artwork to be appealing and well-done, not confusing, chaotic but straightforward and easy to enjoy and appreciate.

A delightful and entertaining manga series, if you want a romantic comedy-driven storyline and a story that is easy to follow and enjoy, definitely give “After the Rain” a try!

Definitely recommended!

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