Monstrous Beauty Of Young Master Li

info on the story was really detailed...it was narrated perfectly

excellent writing

Ahiru no Sora may initially seem like a series akin to Haikyuu, featuring a diminutive player excelling in a sport dominated by tall athletes, but that's really the only similarity. Ahiru no Sora is undoubtedly a distinct narrative from Haikyuu, and if you dive into it expecting the same experience, you might be let down.  

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What captivates me most about this story is its unique take on passion and dedication. It's uncommon for a manga to recognize that not everyone can possess the intense passion that drives characters like our protagonist, Sora, especially when they're just getting acquainted with the sport. Even more commendably, the series doesn't judge characters for lacking the same level of commitment as the more passionate ones. Instead, it's remarkably empathetic, striving to make readers understand and relate to these characters. That's not to say it refrains from critiquing its characters—when they falter (and they do so spectacularly), the series isn't shy about delivering harsh consequences. However, it prioritizes compassion and never belittles its characters. Its criticism often carries a melancholic undertone. This series is as much about delinquent redemption as it is about basketball, which becomes evident throughout.  

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I also appreciate how the series fully embraces the dynamics of the sport. Many sports series avoid having characters switch positions, but since basketball doesn't strictly enforce positional roles, this series cleverly allows players' responsibilities to shift dramatically depending on who's on the court at any moment. This adds an exciting energy to the matches and prevents them from becoming monotonous—a crucial aspect given that the matches can sometimes be lengthy.  

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Ahiru no Sora is a series that, despite creatively playing with the structure of basketball in a natural and engaging way, consistently prioritizes character development over the sport itself. Some readers might view this as a flaw or even a deal-breaker, but for me, it sets the series apart, making it one of my favorite sports series to date.

This review section is flooded with 9s and 10s, which might tempt you to pick this up. However, I strongly advise against it because this manga is far more than just a little terrible.

Story: (3/10)  
The story occasionally shines, particularly when the main character experiences some growth. But these moments are insufficient to compensate for the numerous issues. Like many others, this manga attempts to emphasize 'realism' over entertainment. Notice how I placed realism in quotes? That's because the author only embraces realism when they should be building excitement. Early interactions, motivations, and non-tournament matches feel utterly unrealistic. The only time the author opts for realism is during tournament matches, where it becomes an exercise in making the experience as painful as possible. Are you reading this to suffer? Are you a masochist? Or do you find depth in characters struggling and consider yourself a critic now? If any of these apply to you, go ahead and 'enjoy' it—I can't stop you from deceiving yourself.
{spoiler: They don't win a match until extremely late in the manga—around 180-200 chapters out of the current 220+ available in English.}

Art: (5/10)  
The art is unremarkable, nothing stands out. Everyone seems to have duck-like lips, perhaps fitting the title.

Characters: (2/10)  
Oh boy, these characters are truly atrocious, unrealistic messes. The highlight of the cast is the main character (MC), but even he has so little backbone and is such a simp for Madoka that he isn't good either. Regarding the romance, it qualifies as NTR (Netorare), and no argument will convince me otherwise. MC builds up Madoka as the best girl, yet after her moral degeneration, she ends up with someone other than him. I've written a whole blog post about this, so I won’t elaborate further here. The second female lead likes the guy, but he's dense, and she’s bland, with clumsiness being her defining trait. There's also the delinquent who's secretly nice and the 'I was hiding my true power all along' trope.

Enjoyment: (1/10)  
This manga kept me awake at night, pondering why and how I inflicted such damage upon myself. If you're looking to have fun... don't bother. Stay far away from this. It's unholy.  

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I read it more than 30 times, bought 40 volumes, and even the entire online edition. As a fan who has explored thousands of Japanese mangas, I firmly believe that Hinata Takeshi is one of the greatest Japanese manga artists, and *Ahiru no Sora* is undoubtedly the best basketball manga since *Slam Dunk*.  

I'm unsure how *Ahiru no Sora* fared in other languages, but the Chinese version provided an exceptional reading experience for me. The content from volumes 35 to 38 rivals the most thrilling parts of *Slam Dunk*.  

I adore every character in *Ahiru no Sora*. Takeshi Sensei's portrayal of emotions stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest youth manga. Coming from East Asian culture, the world depicted in *Ahiru no Sora* feels utterly authentic.  

I have played basketball in the past. Though I never aspired to become a professional player, I did undergo some professional training during my youth. Among Japanese manga artists, Takeshi Sensei demonstrates the deepest understanding of basketball. His creations—both players and games—are imaginative yet grounded in reality, thanks to his high school basketball experiences.  

I highly recommend *Ahiru no Sora* to readers who enjoy sports manga and coming-of-age stories.

I'm French.

In life, sometimes that is a disadvantage. In the case of Ahiru No Sora, which isn't fully translated into English but is available in French, it's a blessing.

I think a quote from the manga that summarizes and explains its themes the most is made by the author himself and Toby: "The future doesn't exist." This applies to both the perception of the world, the story, and the characters. Many times, the manga will do flash-forwards, showing us the future of these characters after the end of the manga's story. This shows us that, clearly, the result isn't the important part of the manga. It's the journey.

Nao, the manager, says it well herself during a flash-forward: This isn't the story about an underdog team that topples the nation. It's about boys doing their best to redeem themselves. To become athletes, to become good persons. And these characters, these boys, are exceptionally well-written.

This is, yes, a basketball manga. But it's also about love, interpersonal and otherwise. Loving a sport, loving doing your best. It's incredibly beautiful and it takes its time.

Now, don't come into this manga expecting players that are top-tier or insane basketball plays. This manga is about a no-name school that, yes, performs well to a certain degree, but will inevitably fail in their pursuit of the Interhigh. This was never put into doubt. They'll lose, maybe even before making it to the main tournament, the nationals.

But it's not a bad thing, it's good.

It's good because it helps the realism of this manga. It's good because it shows us that even though they will lose, them doing their best and striving toward a goal is what's important. Winning is cool, sure. But striving to accomplish something is big, especially for so many delinquents, depressed, yips-touched people.

So read it. The art is great. The story is magnificent. The characters are among the best you'll ever see in a sports manga. It's great. One of my favorite mangas ever.

Read

Just read the manga. In my opinion, this is the second best Basketball Manga after Slam Dunk (excluding ones with superpowers, of course). The story begins with the main character, Sora Kurumatani, who enters high school only to find out there's no official basketball club. Undeterred, he personally gathers a team together. Some members are former gangsters who can't play and are just starting to learn, while others are experienced ex-players who are reliable and cool.

By the way, the main character is only 149cm tall (Sora, The Wingless Duck), yet he plays basketball and becomes the heart and soul of the team.

What truly shines in this manga are the characters.

The story revolves around their struggles as they aim for the Interhigh tournament. Along the way, they welcome new members and face off against other basketball teams, all of which have cool aces.

Just read it up to the Interhigh Elimination arc, maybe around Volume 10 or 11, and you'll be surprised.

Just a quick note before we begin: I want to clarify that I have no ill feelings toward the mangaka, nor am I suggesting he's anything less than a great person. Honestly, I don't know much about him, so I hope he's truly wonderful.  
This is purely a critique of the manga and why it didn't resonate with me.  

When crafting a realistic-style manga, there are several approaches you can take. You might delve into heavy themes or lean more toward the lighthearted, cute aspects, following a typical slice-of-life structure. *Ahiru no Sora* attempts to blend both styles, but unfortunately, it doesn't succeed very well.  

The manga has far more flaws than strengths. When its best quality is the artwork, that signals a significant problem—and I'll outline the main issues below.  

First, the pacing. The manga suffers from terrible pacing. A single match can drag on for over 40 chapters, and the time between matches feels wasted. Instead of advancing the plot, most of this time is spent on abrupt character development during games, which happens repeatedly with little substance.  

Second, the realistic approach. While the series aims for realism, it falls short in execution. The concept of a newly formed team, composed of individuals with little prior training or teamwork experience yet possessing remarkable natural talent, feels overly convenient. Although the mangaka emphasizes their underdog status, having them lose narrowly at the end of every game becomes repetitive and unrealistic. There’s no sense of overwhelming defeat; all matches remain close, which contradicts the supposed realism.  

Third, the characters. Off the top of my head, only three characters stand out positively: Sora's mother, Sora himself, and Nao. The rest range from mediocre to outright unlikable.  

For the good characters:  
Sora's mother shines as a well-developed figure, while Sora and Nao are compelling due to their dedication and emotional depth. They're portrayed as hardworking individuals striving toward meaningful goals.  

For the bad ones:  
Chiaki and Kenji are stereotypical "genius" types whose personalities revolve solely around their innate talents, with minimal growth throughout the story.  
Madoka represents an awkwardly written romantic subplot—she randomly shows up, kisses Sora, then leaves after revealing she already has a boyfriend.  
Kaname is bland, defined merely by his height and calm demeanor without any distinguishing traits.  
Even Momoharu, who isn’t entirely unpleasant, comes across as a watered-down version of Hanamichi from *Slam Dunk*.  
It seems like almost every character is confined to rigid archetypes, lacking nuance or complexity.  

Fourth, the romance. Discussing the poorly executed romance could fill pages, but suffice it to say, it mirrors my description of Madoka—an unnecessary distraction that adds little value.  

I invested considerable time in this manga, watching 29 episodes of the anime and then turning to the manga for continuation. However, the experience was deeply disappointing. By the end, I found myself skimming through chapters just to escape the tedium, eventually dropping it altogether due to its lackluster quality.  

In conclusion, I’d rate the manga a 3/10. It had potential to become a classic but ultimately failed to deliver. I wouldn’t recommend it, even to die-hard sports or basketball manga enthusiasts.