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You Will Fall in Love / You Will Drown in Love
Double Manga Review
It could be the kendo uniform in Kizuna or the hakama for archers in the newest series in yaoi manga, You Will Fall in Love and You Will Drown in Love. There is just something about uniforms that everyone just loves. Whether it is the fireman's uniform or a policemen's uniform, it only subtly drapes over the power that can rescue or subdue you. Perhaps a chef's uniform, where it offers you comfort and sustenance for your eyes as well as the rest of your body. Maybe your cup of tea is more sporty like baseball or football, where the fabric of their uniforms seem to barely contain the feral instincts of their bodies? My cup of tea: Simplicity, functionality, elegance, control, power, and above all else, subtlety.
The simple lines that flow up and down the hakama surrounding Tsukasa Shudo was what reminded Haru Mochizuki of why he misses the sport of archery. "The tension of a drawn bow... the quiet, strained focus... the economy of movement... the noble stance..." The power of the arrow as it zips through the air and plants itself squarely and strongly in the bull's eye while the bow hums quietly from the power that is still resonating through its body. He gave all that up four years ago though. He did not want to sully the beauty of the sport with his infatuation with Reiichiro, Tsukasa's older brother. He doesn't want to risk losing the friendship that they had but his thoughts cannot concentrate on anything but him, so Haru chose to run away.
 The Fates decided that he needs a do-over and posts him as a substitute teacher in Tsukasa's school. Tsukasa was surprised to see Haru; he thought that he would never have a chance to tell him that he's had a crush on him for years. Just when he thought he had to courage to tell him, Haru quit archery and ran away to a far off university, devastating both brothers. Now that Tsukasa has a second chance, he's not letting it slip by him that easily. He doesn't care if he's being selfish, hot-blooded, or childish; Haru will be won over by his love, his need, his hopelessness for him. He will tear down the moats and walls that Haru has built around himself whether he likes it or not; he won't force Haru to leave his castle but he will be seen and heard.
 Being the complete opposite of Tsukasa, Reiichiro doesn't even know where to begin to compete with him for Haru's love. All he knows is archery and studying; social skills like tact and graces are no where on his repertoire. When his father threw him into a kimono store to be a store manager, he was sinking more than swimming. The assistant store manager, Jinnai, finally couldn't take it anymore and banned him from the sales floor until he can figure out what to do with him. Luckily for Reiichiro, Jinnai saw him in a hakama and decided that he can have him out on the sales floor pulling in sales just from his good looks. He'll have to teach him slowly how to interact with customers but at least it is a step in the right direction.
 Soon enough, Jinnai's training is working and Reiichiro can handle selling on this own but his own personal life is still an incomprehensible mess. Unable to handle the deteriorating relationship between himself and Tsukasa, Reiichiro finally realizes that he needs to learn how to deal with life and people. Jinnai couldn't bear to see the cocooned prince fumble his way around making things worse despite his good intentions, steps in to offer simple advice and a wing for him to hide under. Twenty plus years of reality setting in at once is quite an onslaught.
Once Reiichiro starts to let people into his heart, how much can Jinnai protect him? Once Tsukasa tears down the moats and walls, will Haru leave his castle to stand by his ardent knight's side? The triangle between Reiichiro, Tsukasa, and Haru is complicated enough already; with Jinnai being thrown into the mix, will things get more complicated or will his sense of savvy and maturity save all four of them? Come for You Will Fall in Love, finish up with You Will Drown in Love, and in the end return, again and again, to the subtle beauty and strength of the two.
Reviewed by Carolyn Whu, November 2009
Below: Double page spreads from the manga You Will Fall in Love (click on each image to see at full size).
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