High school libraries and public libraries should get this for their teen collection to help protect teens. Teens might not realize when an adult is grooming them and this could help victims realize what is going on.

I am so impressed by this manga and the author’s ability to shed light on topics like CSA , grooming, eating disorders, alcoholism and doing it in a very tactful way. The characters are adults with jobs, families and real life problems, that is something that we rarely see now in manga. It was an unexpected 5 stars for me and I will continue reading this series as it is published. This manga hits home and I would love to see how these two women help each other.

"I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko Watanabe

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read the advanced copy of this manga volume.

All I can say is WOW.

That was an excellent start to a series.

It wasn’t fast paced, nothing adrenaline inducing, however I found myself unable to stop reading. I gobbled up each chapter and finished it in less than an hour.

While I’m not quite at the age of Akane, who is forty, I am old enough to relate to her AND her struggle to understand past relationships while reflecting back on situations with mature lenses. She was too young to fully process the inappropriate relationship between Yukari and their teacher but now she can do something—even if it’s just support.

I was baffled by Imai’s wife and how she could excuse her husband without batting an eye. To protect him and his image and ignore the evidence presented that he was involved with a minor. Gross behavior, honestly. I think the mangaka did an excellent job with showing the reality of how artists are protected—especially if they’re men.

I will definitely continue this series and look forward to the next volume. I need to see justice! Or at least see Imani sweat. 😤

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️