Hanareta Futari

Taizan-5 really is the underrated master I'm happy is getting an adaptation of a previous work. Kotaro and Subaru are two friends who by pushing each other's buttons try to reach for the stars as football players. Stepping away from his usual themes, Taizan-5 really touches into what makes a friendship thrive. What is it that drives us into stardom? Is it family, ourselves, objectives, simple things that make us human? Sometimes, no. It's a friend who pushes you. It's someone you'd hate winning against you, that one goal they scored, the time they beat you on something you've done way more than them. We'redriven by egotistical things, but then, by nothing short of being a good person, the selfish things we fought for, let us turn back and appreciate that which pushed us. This story will remind you of that person some will think you hated. The person who didn't bully you, but truly knew how to anger you by sheer virtue of knowing so much about you. They know your faults, they know what you may be going through, and they will never give you a break for the things you can do better. It's a friendship you don't appreciate, until it's far from you. The one-shot simply explores that kind of brutal friendship that will always push you to a greater tomorrow, with good and bad times. Will one take the shot, and become better than ever? Or wallow in the despair of being unable to catch-up? It felt like the combo between “Hero Complex”, and a more shonen formula that could make for an INCREDIBLE manga. I've felt the evolution of this author, and this is a great step in the right direction for a more cohesive, safer story that can still hold the greatness of his complex character writing. The art is still great, the expressions on the characters are unmatched. There's something about Taizan-5, he can make a character seem utterly lost in their element. Defeat, the road to rise up, to make something of themselves. Loved this work. 8/10. Very solid. I love this author, and you should give them a chance too. (I feel like I'm the official Taizan-5 glazer)