It’s a decent read, although the realms are really confusing to get a grasp of. I might have skimmed passed through it, but the realms of his world could be classified as Steps— Star— Transcendent (up to my point in the story). So yeah, I was really confused about the steps and Star because the are both classified as awakened realm and is used interchangeably so that really confuses the reader, or at least me.
A gentle and heartwarming tale of friendship—and jealousy. A young boy discovers two watersprites residing in the river close to his grandmother's countryside home. These sprites can only survive near pristine, unpolluted water, and they usually live solitary lives due to their territorial nature. Yet, an unlikely bond forms between the boy and the sprites, turning into a fast friendship.
The narrative is straightforward, with no elaborate explanations about the origins of the sprites or the complexities of the spirit world—just simple, engaging storytelling. The artwork complements this perfectly, being soft and uncomplicated yet stunningly beautiful, lending the story a pure, refreshing quality. Given that people seem to encounter the sprites only during childhood, there’s a sense of nostalgia tied to the innocence of youth. The sprites themselves possess endearing, childlike personalities. Moreover, their dependency on clean water adds a poignant layer: when water becomes tainted, the sprites are forced to leave. As pollution threatens the rivers, there’s an underlying sadness about growing up and saying goodbye.
This manga could be seen as mildly shounen ai, but to me, it felt more like a story about friendship—the rare connections between sprites who wouldn’t normally interact, and two schoolboys who befriend them. There’s also a touch of jealousy when friendships appear to wane.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet and invigorating story. It spans just two volumes, and I wished for more! But much like a children's fairytale, it’s brief and concludes far too soon.
Popular Reviews
The narrative is straightforward, with no elaborate explanations about the origins of the sprites or the complexities of the spirit world—just simple, engaging storytelling. The artwork complements this perfectly, being soft and uncomplicated yet stunningly beautiful, lending the story a pure, refreshing quality. Given that people seem to encounter the sprites only during childhood, there’s a sense of nostalgia tied to the innocence of youth. The sprites themselves possess endearing, childlike personalities. Moreover, their dependency on clean water adds a poignant layer: when water becomes tainted, the sprites are forced to leave. As pollution threatens the rivers, there’s an underlying sadness about growing up and saying goodbye.
This manga could be seen as mildly shounen ai, but to me, it felt more like a story about friendship—the rare connections between sprites who wouldn’t normally interact, and two schoolboys who befriend them. There’s also a touch of jealousy when friendships appear to wane.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet and invigorating story. It spans just two volumes, and I wished for more! But much like a children's fairytale, it’s brief and concludes far too soon.