Manga Mondays (41): Fruits Basket vol. 18 by Natsuki Takaya

Fruits Basket vol. 18 by Natsuki Takaya

Summary

As rumors swirl about Machi trying to kill her little brother, Kakeru figures that the only person who can get the truth out of her is Yuki. But when the two of them visit her, they learn a shocking secret. Later, Motoko wants to tell Yuki her feelings before she graduates and leaves the school--and him--forever. But will their parting be such sweet sorrow?(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review*

*My "reviews" of manga are a combination of a summary and a review. It's hard for me to really talk about a volume of manga without going in depth with the plot. So if you're really concerned about spoilers, beware.

Another volume with lots of Yuki and little Tohru or Kyo. Much of this book focuses on Machi, Yuki's friend from school. Like the rest of the character in this book, her life has been a sob story. She's suspected of trying to kill her little brother. Not true at all. She adores her baby brother. Her parents are convinced that she's horribly jealous and is a monster of a girl. When they saw her placing a blanket over the baby, they assumed she was trying to smother it.

It's interested that Takaya-san goes out of her way to villainize every parent in this series. The only adults that are portrayed positively are Tohru's mother and those adults without children. I wonder why.

The second half of the book is about Rin. If Takaya-san was worried that the reader would pity Akito too much after his/her story was revealed in Volume 17, Volume 18 corrected that problem. Akito nearly killed Rin. He was furious that Rin had the gall to love Haru and that Rin tried to take his beloved treasure box.

The end of the volume was fabulous. Tohru passionately declares her fear that Kyo-kun will be lost if the curse is not broken. Takaya-san does a great job drawing Tohru's anguish.