Product Description: Student and teacher. Man and... man. Taboo upon taboo is what Hikaru and Shima have to overcome if they want to pursue their feelings for one another. In this final installment of the two-part "Passion" series, Hikaru and Shima's relationship takes on a more serious tone when the pair begins to see each other regularly every weekend. They agree to have this arrangement until Hikaru graduates. However, Shima eventually seems to tire of it. As Hikaru's graduation draws near, will his relationship with Shima, his teacher, end as well?
Should have been titled, 'To Sir with Love' I was really looking forward to this after reading the first one, and I'm happy to say I loved it! It IS kind of a weird love story, but it's great nonetheless! And I've learned not to try to rationalize things when reading yaoi because, well...it's YAOI! :)
Oh, and I loved the extra 'Valentines Day' story - too cute...
Enjoy!
Satisfying As I said with Volume 1, the art can take some getting used to and the translation is sometimes awkward, but the fascinating story makes up for any shortcomings in these areas. (This series is complete with Volume 2, though the author of the story talks about the possibility of a sequel.)
One of the things I really enjoyed about this series is the way it challenges assumptions. Also, seeing the characters grow and become more mature people makes the story more entertaining; I think it is particularly easy to see how Hikaru has "grown up" in the "Valentine Side Story." Eh... it's hard to talk about this manga without giving anything away... The ending is extremely satisfying. How's that?
For further reading I recommend: Our Everlasting (yaoi) Kizuna - Bonds of Love (yaoi) Loveless (shonen ai-ish)
A Darker Look at Some Manga Themes Its hard for me to understand why I like this series so very much, when the plot is actually more twisted than I think even a lot of people who've read it realize. Passion Volume 1 and Passion Volume 2 are about the love affair between a student and a teacher, a line that should never be crossed. Albeit, Hikaru is an 18 year old (or at least I hope 18 year old) senior, it is still wrong. In the first book there is a scene where Hikaru's mom orders him to take a shower. He's sleeping with a man probably a decade older and wiser (or at least should be wiser) than him, but his mother is still telling him to take when to take his showers and asks him where he's going to be and who he's going to be with. Its not that the age difference is to great, or a big deal, its just that Hikaru is in high school, and Shima is his teacher. Shima, if you look very closely at how he acts in the manga, is mentally unbalanced. His ex broke up with him because he copied everything his ex did, conforming his wants, likes and dislikes to his. And in the begging of volume 1, Hikaru rapes him and Shima does . . . . nothing. A clear thinking person would have called the police, or, at the very least, avoided his attacker. But Shima encouraged him. Also in the first book. there is another scene which points to Shima's lack of emotional stability. Hikaru had just finished his finals and is hanging out and talking to some friends. Shima is gazing at him through the window. Jealous , he calls Hikaru and makes him chase him all throughout the city, forgetting his friends. Even if it were a normal relationship, this is not something rational person would do. Hikaru may have crossed the line, a person should NEVER force themselves on another person. But in this new volume, the reader discovers that Shima, was in fact, the one who crossed the line first. Volume 2 sheds new light on Shima. Instead of cold and unfathomable, he turns out to be very emotional and very, very human.
Not so good. Another of DMP's Yaoi Manga, it's not like most Yaoi Manga having the teacher as the Uke and the student as the Seme. It wasn't necessarily DMP's fault for my low rating of this Yaoi Manga but it simply the fact was I disliked it. The art didn't catch me and neither did the story. So if you are a true Yaoi Fan get it but if you only collect the good stuff, pass by this one. After all, two of the main characters get girlfriends and that's not my cup of tea when I prefer reading boys boinking.
A HEARTWARMING ENDING TO A STRANGE TALE Passion Vol. 2 picks up with student Hikaru and his beloved teacher "Sir" Shima, continuing their pretend "playing lovers." Shima has helped Hikaru study hard for his University acceptance and Hikaru has been able to go out and stay in with his love. But graduation is drawing near, and Shima's ex-lover Amamiya is suspicious of Shima's behavior. Will he find out their secret? Will they stay together after Hikaru graduates? And does Shima really care about Hikaru? All these questions are asked and eventually answered in this conclusion to a strange yaoi tale. I was impressed that the translation work was improved in this volume, and that the ending was not as pat as most series wrap up. The emotions of the characters became surprisingly real, and the drawing as always was unique and lovely. The novel also includes a touching after-story bonus tale that makes you happy about everyone's fate in the end. This is a must-have for all yaoi fans. WARNING-Vol. 2 does contain an explicit shower scene, whereas the first volume's love scenes were relatively tame and hardly warranted the parental advisory. The graphic nature of the plot however is not recommended for children.
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