Dengeki Daisy: Volume 2

by Kyousuke Motomi, 192 pages

Before orphan Teru Kurebayashi's computer genius brother Soichiro dies, he gives her a cell phone with just one person's email address in the contacts list: DAISY. Soichiro, worried that the dangers plaguing him will follow his sister after he's gone, tells Teru that he has entrusted this mysterious Daisy with taking over his role as her family, counselor, and protector. After Soichiro dies, Teru follows his advice and starts up a correspondence with her unknown benefactor who provides her much-needed emotional support. When, soon after, a new, cranky young janitor is hired at her school--a janitor who seems to know an awful lot about computers and who just happens to be around to help whenever Teru's in trouble--she suspects her brother's stand-in may be closer than she'd realized.

In this volume, Riko, the beautiful new counselor at school, turns out to be an acquaintance of both Daisy and Tasuku Kurosaki, the prickly janitor to whom Teru has been indentured since volume 1. Will she make Teru's life easier--or just complicate things even more? And will Riko's added help be enough to save Teru, and a troubled childhood friend, from the forces that once pursued her big brother?

One reason this series works so well is that Teru instantly connects Kurosaki with Daisy and asks him about it upfront rather than stretching the suspension of disbelief beyond credulity by ignoring the obvious. When he denies knowing what she's talking about, she accepts it but, in the back of her mind, doesn't really let go of the idea of them being one and the same.

Both Teru and Kurosaki display characteristics that pleasantly deviate from stereotypical shojo patterns. The story takes some refreshing spins, too, and the leads are likeable, well-realized individuals, which makes their growing bond that much more believable.

Recommended for anyone looking for a light yet involving romance comic.