Today’s releases will bring to a close the first volumes of 3 AM Dangerous Zone and Natsuyuki Rendezvous and Volume 2 of Bitou Lollipop. *Insert angelic “Ahhh” here* This means progress right? Right?
While the first two stories are almost polar opposites of each other, in everything from art style to story-telling, they do have one thing in common: A solid first volume ending on a high note.
With 3 AM Dangerous Volume 1, we followed our aspiring illustrator Momoko, as she struggles at her new job in a pachinko designing office; recuperates from the sight of a co-worker’s hairy buttocks; goes through a weird break-up/make-up sort of deal with her ex-boyfriend who is “tool” enough to say, “You only come here for my bed!” but not enough to keep it a secret forever until they have little tool babies and he goes through some sort of mid-life crisis… *runs out of breath*
Chapter 4 left off with her cutting tool-of-an-ex Tamotsu out of the picture and rushing off to make dinner plans with cute-like-a-teddy-bear-but-not-your-average-hairless-bishie Tagaya-san. Bravo, Momoko! Bravo! We understand that sharing a table with a bowl of oyakodon isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but at least now he knows you’re available!
Download Ch.5/ Read Ch.5 Online
As for Natsuyuki Rendezvous, well, what can I say? I get so emotional whenever I think about how much Shimao is suffering having to watch his wife being chased after by another man, especially one as emotionally vulnerable as my beloved Hazuki. When Rokka first kissed Hazuki, I was a bag of mixed emotions. Always, always, the question that pops up in the back of my mind is: What about Shimao?
Being a much older woman, there’s a lot at stake for Rokka, and after all the times she’s fought off Hazuki’s advances, we know it can’t just be horniness. (Or is it?) (No, no, no.) I really do think she’s starting to fall in love with him. Maybe if I was a few years younger, I’d be really grossed out by the 8 year age gap…but, hey, people mature physically, emotionally, and sexually at different ages, and the naive prejudice I had against older women/younger men relationships seems to have been blurred by the onset of old age.
Our last chapter left off just when Rokka and Hazuki were about to get down n’ dirty. However, the ever-present Shimao decides complicate matters by going ape shit, Poltergeist-style.
And last but not least, we have Bitou Lollipop. While I’m an ardent Iketani fan, I can’t say I’m really invested in the Madoka x Tomoyo pairing. Oh, sure, it’s cute, but that’s not why I read this manga.
I read it because of this guy: 
Come on now, you crazy Tomoyo fangirls. I know you’re angry at Ono for fooling around with Tomoyo’s mother, but can’t you see he’s in love with the woman? If sex with Rumiko-san was just to satiate his overly active teenage hormones, then why does he keep calling her after they’ve broken up? Why does he get angry whenever Madoka mentions his feelings for her? 
DDL Ch.9 here./ Read Ch.9 Online
Message to our Readers:
Lypi: Best pho ever has to contain ox tail & knuckles stewed for hours. I was a major ramen fan for the past 25 years of my life, but now, at 26, I have been converted.
Lilly: Hahaha. You’re so damn evil. I actually think it feels so much better when the person they’re intended for can’t understand what you’re saying. BTW How would you say, “You eat goats!” in Cantonese? Oh, but I do have a story to tell about our new Administrative Assistant…but that will have to wait until our 3/30 release. I swear it’s not because I want to keep everyone in suspense, but if I blurt it out now, I might not have anything interesting to tell next week!
chili: Haha. You have a knack for saying the most awkward things and giving me moments of suspended disbelief as I try to collect myself to reply. But at the end of the day, we (me and Stilletto) pulled lots to see whether we really wanted to have you belly-dance for us while we were sipping coffee, and the answer is, “Heck yes!” And don’t worry about being a rude leecher. (You aren’t.) I was really surprised that it took two years to put out Teke Teke Rendezvous, but it has come, and more will be following it shortly. Just you wait!
xlilim: Good luck on midterms! Don’t forget to tell us how it went!
Thanks for the hard work guys:) I love your projects! Kisu
Okay.. So I was sitting in front of the lappy, vid-hopping in youtube and suddenly had the urgency to go to MAL. And there it was…. Natsuyuki Rendezvous will be animated and it will air in noitaminA block as well… I don’t know really know how to react. I’m still quite shocked, to be honest.
And what’s more? Hazuki-kun’s seiyuu happens to be my fav seiyuu – Nakamura Yuuichi. And Shimao-san’s seiyuu is also one of the best seiyuu – Fukuyama Jun. Oh god.. I don’t know how my poor heart will be able to resist this. It’ll be out in Summer.
[http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=419851] there should be the same news in ANN but I’m too lazy to go there….
Ohhh… I don’t know how to react either… when I sit, I want to walk around the room and when I walk, I want to sit in front of the PC and check out the site again to see it’s really true and it’s still there. XDD
So the seiyuus are great, too? don’t know them at all. I normally don’t watch anime because I prefer the art in the manga, but I’m very happy that a Kawachi Haruka series is getting anime. Her work really deserves it.
I’ve been holding off on starting Natsuyuki until you were done with the first volume, so I’m super excited about this release (though commenting very late…). Happy to see more of 3AM, as well. Thank you 🙂
You have a youtube channel?
I don’t, but should I? Not that I’d know what to do with it, though. ^^;
Ono is not in love with Tomoyo’s mother! He’s obsessed with her and has a twisted attachment because she’s the most irresistible milf he’s seen. -.-;;; He may think he’s in love with her, but it’s as bad and damaging a relationship as between Tomoyo and his mother.
However, I do have to say, although I found Tomoyo and Madoka’s relationship to be cute at first and I was rooting for them, Ono is an interesting person and I’d like to see he and Madoka developed a bit (friends first!).
P.S. Thanks for the releases!
Well to add further thought about Ono’s behavior regarding Tomoyo’s mom, he does seem to have formed attachments to the woman during their relationship and to have become dependent on the affirmation he receives from her. So, I guess he could have fallen in love with her, but it’s still a twisted obsession. -.-
Hey thanks for your releases! esp. Bitou Lollipop hehehehe. xD
I’m gonna disagree with you even though I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times: I support Tomoyo x Madoka! hahaha. I actually like Ono BECAUSE of the fact that it’s obvious he’s truly in love with Tomoyo’s mom. And so sexually frustrated as a result lol. BUT I def. root for Tomoyo more because he’s the “underdog” in this lol. Madoka obviously still has intense feelings for Ono. 😛 I always like the guy in unrequited love with the girl more. It’s just me! But yeah! I do love this manga and how it’s shaping, regardless of what pairing! Thanks for bringing it to us <3
Three of my favorites! I love you! I love you! I love you!
Heyy I’ve been waiting for Bitou and I’m so psyched that the next chapter’s out!! Thanks for the hard work!! ~~
hihi…bytheby,my poor soul needed those words,I always feel something weirdly warm inside (like after eating a sausage), when I get a special message from you :). thank you guys for making my fame even greater again 😀 keep up the random-but-greatly-appreciated-work with those kickass josei manga(s) ((I never know if S is needed…)).
and I will start my belly-dancing-training as of tomorrow,gonna test my performance on puppies first!
*sending my love and a bit of sausage*
Natsuyuki rendezvous will be adapted to anime as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as of July! next they gotta choose a George Asakura work,or I’ll bite a bear.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-30/natsuyuki-rendezvous-manga-gets-anime-in-noitamina-in-july
Oh Gods, it’s been ages since Ive read Bitou… thank you so much for the releases!! And as for the plot twist in Natsuyuki, I just knew it was gonna happen..