Fruits Basket heals all wounds.
Creative Staff:
Story/Art: Natsuki Takaya
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: Lys Blakeslee
What They Say:
As summer vacation inches closer, Tohru spends her days in anxious anticipation. Yuki meets two mysterious new student council members…and Uo-chan is in love?! Who is the object of her affection?! Once summer break is in full swing, Tohru and the others take a trip to the Sohma family cottage at Momiji’s invitation. Even though they’re enjoying summer activities like swimming in the ocean and catching stag beetles, Yuki and Tohru have an ominous premonition! Meanwhile, Shigure pays a visit to the main house, where he makes a proposal to Akito?!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
If any doubt remained that everyone in this series has their own baggage of tragedy and/or personal struggle, this volume put that to rest. The book opens with a backstory of Hanajima and a story of Uotani. The backstory describes in detail the pains that Hana had to go through to control her powers, once (possibly) almost killing a boy. The chapter serves as a sign of things to come, with Tohru’s kindness helping Hana to control the electric waves for which she is so feared.
This also serves as a contrast to Akito’s…different nurturing methods as head of the zodiac. Tohru doesn’t mean to do what she does, but she’s kind at heart and spreads that kindness no matter her own thinking or mood. Akito uses psychological torture to demean all the other zodiac members to his side. Only Shigure, who is perhaps better at Akito at his own game, is largely unaffected.
There’s also trend lines in the story that’s pointing in the direction Takaya obviously wants to move. The teacher, Mayuko Shiraki, has always harbored a crush for her best friend’s former boyfriend, Hatori. Yet she could never, and still never, make that move on him. That would be a betrayal of their friendship, even after her mind was wiped of the entire experience. Shigure, meddling as he is, sets them up anyway. To Shigure, his games are both a way to entertain himself, but also to heal his friends’ hearts from Akito’s own grip. Even if just a little, Mayu is healed.
In Summary:
Fruits Basket is a manga that warms the heart, repeatedly (as I’m sure I’ve written that sentence before in another review and just don’t remember). Two additional members of the zodiac are revealed, Rin and Kureno, but not expounded upon as of yet. At just before the halfway point of the series, everyone remains broken in some way. But they’re getting there.
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: September 20, 2016
MSRP: $20.00
