Review: Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 1 | Natsuki Takaya

This review is spoiler free.

“This is the first time I’ve ever looked forward to tomorrow.”

Series: Fruits Basket Another
Published: 2018, by Yen Press.
Pages: 192
Format: Paperback
Genre: Sequential Art, Manga, Romance, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Fantasy
Contains: Neglect, Self-Deprecation, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Mental Health, Mental Illness

‘Fruits Basket Another’ is the long-awaited sequel to the popular series, Fruits Basket. With another generation of characters, we follow Sawa Mitoma, a fiercely shy girl in her first year of high school, adapted to blending into the background… that is, until she makes friends with the President and Vice-President of the student council; the beloved Sohma’s.

Fruits Basket has occupied a small section of my heart for a long time now, being introduced to the series in my younger teens and has only grown since. So, the moment I heard about the sequel to the series, I was both excited and reluctant to read it. However, I’m so glad I did.

Sawa Mitoma makes for a wonderful, Tohru-like protagonist. She’s great representation for those struggling with self-esteem, being often very apologetic and has the tendency to stutter when speaking, yet the respect she receives from the members of the Sohma family is an effective way of handling that aspect of the character. The Sohma’s, especially Hajime, recognise her anxiety and offer support and care, showing readers how natural and okay her struggles are.
Hajime Sohma (son of Tohru Honda and Kyo Sohma) and Musuki Sohma (son of Yuki Sohma and Machi Kuragi) made for nostalgic echoes of Kyo and Yuki. With similar appearances to their parents, their relationship is often as rivals, yet less intense their parents’. Known as “the papa and prince” of their household, their charming and protective natures were a joy to read; their elegance on the pages soothed the tone of the story.
Riku and Sora Sohma (the implied twin children of Hatsuharu and Rin Sohma) however, were a mysterious double act to me. Although, polar opposites, Riku’s personality paled in comparison to his sister’s, their natures fascinate me and I’m intrigued to discover the reasoning behind his blunt ways.

The overall narrative and illustrations are classic Natsuki Tayaka softness, causing me to be immersed back into the tale I love so much. It’s impossible not to become addicted to the story once more, gasping and smiling at the mentions of old characters you were once familiar with. And thankfully, there’s a few more volumes to come.

5/5