KIRIO FAN CLUB Vol. 1
by Chikyu no Osakana Ponchan
Available April 28
By all appearances, classmates Aimi and Nami have only one thing in common: an undying, almost feral love for Ken Kirio. Despite barely having spoken to him, the two girls spend their days obsessing over the aloof high schooler in ways that only high school girls can. But not all is as it seems in this parasocial rom-com.
At first glance, this is just a weird story about two girls fighting over an unrequited crush. Would it be a privilege to be close enough to hear his farts? Does loving someone mean loving every organ in their body? If you make the object of your affection have a nightmare about you, does that count as seeing them in their dreams? It's the sort of impossibly cringe musings that only hit a person in that particular part of their lives. And within the first volume of Kirio Fan Club, that's just about as far as anything goes.
I say "just about" because there is something else lurking under the surface, and it doesn't take a course in media literacy to spot it. It's true that Aimi has a crush on Kirio. It is also true that Nami has a crush in which she is very invested, and which she has yet to follow up on. But by the end of this first volume, it becomes extremely clear that the two rivals in love aren't telling everyone everything.
Give Kirio Fan Club a chance. If the bizarre humor doesn't hook you, the stealth drama will. And even if you're watching this season's anime adaptation on HIDIVE, it's absolutely worth it to give the original manga a read. While all the bits and pieces are there, the pacing and order of events are slightly different. The original manga and the anime adaptation makes great companion pieces.
TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
Strong, spicy, and surprisingly sweet, this new cinnamon blend inspired by fairy tales is a perfect match for this manga's mix of comedy and drama. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and more book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!
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