Dengeki Daisy: Volume 10

by Kyousuke Motomi, 190 pages

Teru's friend Rena has resigned herself to her upcoming arranged marriage to a powerful young businessman, but when Teru accidentally runs into and is attacked by Akira at the hotel where she was supposed to be lunching with the happy couple, Rena worries that her fiancé's suspicious behavior may be linked to Akira and the others seeking to force Kurosaki's hand.

Yay, Teru's friends (and former harassers) at school look to be getting some page time!  Although we don't see nearly enough of them, the teen side characters of this series are one of its selling points, as they regularly surprise the reader by not filling the roles their "types" normally do.  I appreciate that Motomi makes the effort to slip in a little unpredictability in the character development of even minor members of the supporting cast.

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 9

by Kyousuke Motomi, 192 pages

Teru desperately wants to find Kurosaki, but he's too guilt-ridden to come back.  She does know one way to convince him to come running, but will she really throw herself to the wolves just to see him again?

Ha ha ha.  Teru's always been a little foolhardy, but she's not stupid.  I like that she can be pragmatic and unconcerned about pride (hers or Kurosaki's) when the result is a healthy smack upside the head and a return to togetherness.  Romantic melodrama is not in short supply in this series (especially that loooong stretch in the middle before everybody admitted they knew what they knew), but that's easily dispensed with in favor of more satisfying progress now that everything's out in the open and everyone's on the same page.

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 8

by Kyousuke Motmoi, 186 pages

Teru has lost contact with Daisy, who seems to have abandoned her out of guilt over his past. She wallows in loneliness, worry, and her own share of guilt, unable to do anything. But once she has some sense knocked into her by a concerned friend, she regains her old self, who doesn't much go for the passive role when it comes to people she cares about.

Finally! We learn the history of Daisy and Teru's brother and all the technological and political intrigue that pulled them together and set them on their paths. So sad! Knowing the source details makes it easier to accept all the melodrama that's followed. This volume also highlights the many little ways in which this series defies expectations and plays with and tweaks the standard shojo formula. You go, Teru! Go rescue your man!

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 7

by Kyousuke Motomi, 189 pages

Teru has a distressing encounter with the mysterious Akira, which spurs Kurosaki to embrace his fears and move forward. But will Akira and the others' plans derail the two's progress permanently?

Both the action and emotional storylines pick up the pace in this volume and leave me eager to read the next one. Who is this Akira guy, really? What happened with Kurosaki and Teru's brother Soichiro in the past? How's Kurosaki going to react to the chaotic events of the last chapter? Despite Teru's tendency to melodramatically obsess over Daisy, she and Kurosaki are interesting, likeable characters who are just unpredictable enough to break away from their traditional shojo roots and draw the reader in despite the hokey premise that sets up their story.

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 6

by Kyousuke Motomi, 192 pages

Teru gets kidnapped by a prime suspect, but things are not what they seem.

These two know things and know that the other knows they know and yet they still don't talk about it. It's a little silly. But at least things are starting to come together and at least one of the big bads' identities is known.

For more details, please see my review of volumes 1-6 on NoFlyingNoTights.

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 5

by Kyousuke Motomi, 192 pages

After Kurosaki nearly gets killed saving Teru from an unknown assailant, rumors start up regarding the identity of the perpetrator. But does suspicion equal guilt? And how far will Teru go to protect what's precious to her?

Teru learns a lesson about not letting selfish emotions get the best of her. She and Kurosaki do a lot of talking around what's really on their minds, but it seems to work for them.

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 4

by Kyousuke Motomi, 188 pages

Teru struggles with how to act around Kurosaki (and text Daisy) now that she knows what she knows. Her friends advise her to just tell him the truth, but she fears that if she does, he'll disappear. Meanwhile, someone is once again causing problems in Daisy's name and dragging Teru into the trouble. What do they really want and how far will they take the harassment?

Teru's hesitation about talking to Kurosaki is understandable, but she obsesses over it a little much, which slows things down. Lack of progress in that department is somewhat made up for by the fake Daisy's scheming and the more outright violent tactics of someone close at hand. And is it just me, or does that guy in the hoody in the foreground possibly resemble someone we've heretofore only seen in flashbacks? Methinks there is more than one plot afoot....

Dengeki Daisy: Volume 3

by Kyousuke Motomi, 192 pages

Teru tries not to let herself question Kurosaki's denial about being her behind-the-scenes friend and protector Daisy, but why? Is she afraid to have proof that he's lying? Or proof that he isn't?

I like Teru. She can play ignorant and then call people on trying to pull one over on her. Is she playing the same game with Kurosaki? We know he has his reasons for doing what he does and for beating himself up, but we don't know what they are yet. Hopefully, it will all become clear soon so these two can both know what the other knows and face their fears side by side.

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.