Socrates In Love By: Kazumi Kazui

Title: Socrates In Love
Author: Kazumi Kazui
PAPERBACK
Publisher: Shojo Beat
Amount of Volumes in Series: 1
Amount of Pages: approx 200
Geared Towards: Older Teens
Extra Info: This manga was adapted from the story by Kyoichi Katayama.

"In a world without Aki...

I was truely alone"

Summary: Sakutaro Matsumoto and Aki Hirose had been friends everysince they were paired up as Class Reps in middle school. Aki is a very shy girl, but when she is around Sakutaro, who she lovingly calls Saku-Chan, she becomes very outgoing.

After Aki's favorite teacher dies, and she opens up herself to Saku-Chan, Saku finds that his feelings for Aki aren't friendship but more towards love.

They spend many memorable times together, but without warning, Aki falls ill with lukemia, and this sweetly/funny manga turns to bittersweet. Saku wants them to have just one more moment; a moment in Australia.

Wdebo's Review: I first heard about this manga from Diana's review of it. This manga was bittersweet, but amazing at the same time.

This manga, just twisted my feelings all over the place. The first part of the manga was all happy and silly, showing the friendship blosom between Saku and Aki. Then it gets sweet, when Saku finds out how much he loved Aki, and confesses. Finally, it makes you super melancholy after Aki is diagnosed with lukemia.

I knew exactly what was going to happen in the end, she dies, since it said it in the very first page of the manga, yet, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Well, I actually did, because I was riding the train, so I think I might have scared the riders around me if I started bawling, but I did get teary eyed, so I had to set the book down, from time to time to make sure I didn't cry.

I loved all of the characters, well mostly just Saku and Aki, cuz all the other characters aren't all that developed. Saku is so awkward and shy and sweet to Aki, and Aki is just adorable. So, I guess that's why it hurt so much when she died, you see her go from this upbeat girl then all of a sudden you see her on her deadbed, and Saku's tears just made me teary-eyed.

The storyline totally made me think about A Walk to Remember, guy falls in love with girl, girl dies, guy is heart broken. Except what's diffrent is *Spoiler Alert* Saku gets married to another girl, which is diffrent from A Walk to Remember, cuz he never gets married, since he's already married to Jamie. I wonder what it would be like to be the girl Saku gets married to. What would I do if I knew that my husband who I love deeply is in love with a dead girl, he might love me, but most of his heart is given to the dead girl. I think it's sweet how she understands so well, and still loves him so whole heartedly. That my friends, is true love. *Spoiler Ended*

In the manga, there was an excerpt for the english translated version of the novel. I read it, and it was yucky, the writing felt more like it was geared towards elementry school students, yet you know it isn't cuz what happens in the story. I seriously wish I could read Japanese, because this story is a bestseller in Japan, so it much be a lot better then the english version. A lot of times, the translated version just isn't as good as the original one.

All in all, an amazing manga, for those who don't mind heartbreak, in the midst of happiness. Even though I am a total comedy/romance manga lover, I immensly enjoyed this manga, and I hope you will too!!

Grade: A

Wdebo :)