Happy Hustle High

Meh .... it was all right. It has a very very basic and standard storyline when it comes to shoujou. I mean some of the stand alone chapters are pretty freakin' hysterical and the expressions and artwork is actually staggering at many points. But characters have ... just mediocre character build up. You don't know why one character falls in love with another except because they're supposed to. You get the standard love triangle stories now n then which is allright, but nothing that makes your heart go doki doki. Characters remain true to their personalities throughout though, which is an added plus. The leadbishounen is drawn swoonily enough, as are the supporting cast dudes. Perhaps a bit more on each of them and their motivations would have helped. In one character description, we read "... but behind his handsome face lies... " We never learn what actually lies behind that handsome face. All he ever does is pull a cunning trick here to kiss someone unexpectedly there. As far as reading for shoujo sake, it doesn't make you swoon often enough, the intimate scenes were very few and far in between and their intensity somewhat fizzled after major build ups. If you're reading it for manga sake, then the heroine is refreshingly sincere and not at all the weakling damsel in distress. In fact, I cannot praise this heroine enough. She is so audacious that she demands a re-issue of a first kiss because she wasn't happy with how it turned out originally! Props! Other than that, she is very consentious, helpful, into video games, can hold her own during sports and oozing oodles of fierce thought not unapproachable attitude. The humor somewhat makes up for the lack of moe, but not really. Some situations are utterly inconceivable and therefore incredibly entertaining. All in all, it's an OK read for an hour or two. Nothing you're likely to remember next week or next month though.

“Lots of great stuff is out there, if you just find the guts to try.” This is one of those manga, you’re not sure if to start so you cautiously read the first chapter. Then before you know it you fins the charcaters funny, bold and completely bizarre that you can’t help but keep reading just to see what happens next. That’s how I met Hanabi Ozora she goes to an all girls private school and is known for being a psycho when it comes to the whole justice prevails thing. Don’t worry she doesn’t go around killing people for vengeance. She only hurts them,less time and no cops. Just kidding, sort of, I mean she doesn’t go on random rampages hurting or terrorizing strangers. She’s just dedicated to being herself and has a “won’t take you’re crap” attitude. She’s never had a boyfriend or liked anyone mainly due to her not being so girly to begin with. She’s the girl every girl goes to for help in her class, sort of like a problem solver. Unfortunately for her, her rein is about to be over since her all-girl school is turning coed. This is Hanabi’s story from finding love to kicking some serious butt in the process, all while staying sane. Sort of. The characters are funny creatures in this one. The main cast is honest, they mean what they say and say what they mean. At the beginning along with Habani and some of her friends which don’t really matter much (sorry but true) we are introduced to the student council trio. Three guys who are the top of their school Three sexy guys as Habani says. The humor reminded me of School Rumble (I do miss Tenma), is fresh and not forced. In between the humor and the good looking guys you will see the story of a girl and her first love. Don’t fret though because the love progresses, and not at a turtle slow pace. It’s shows you the couple in the first stages of their relationship and overcoming obstacles the only way they know how, the most awkward and humorous way. It would have been slow to progress had it not had an important factor, Yasuaki. He’s different yet the same from other main characters. I was used to girls pursuing guys and confessing to them, but he’s daring. Has a way about him, the thing about him not liking girls adds to his charm, don‘t worry that‘s not a spoiler. Even though he’s really the same in the sense that he’s next to perfect, can play instruments, and is good at every sport and enjoys surfing, wait is that a sport? He’s quiet but not afraid and he’ll stand up for his girl, even if he loses. The other two members of the council are perceived to be the brains of the operation and the one that’s a male version of Habani. Sense of humor up the wazoo for this pair, even if it’s sometimes dark. Habani, (which for some reason I keep calling Hibani in my head) is cute and somewhat smart. She is kick first ask questions later. But isn’t that bluntly dumb we are shown in other heroines. At the beginning she’s more likable than towards the end. I mean she put herself in some really bad situations, my guess something up there went loose form falling too much. She’s fun though and all the girls look up to her because of her courage (maybe that’s the wrong word). The art style is not of the new version that features really delicate girls and all of them seem perfect. I think it’s because this manga originally ran in 2005 that it’s style is different, which honestly I found I enjoyed it. Nothing stood out so much but sometimes when the light his characters just right (or when the mangaka wants said characters to get attention) some characters look like appealing and faultless, or in the trio’s case, like total bishies ( :/ ). It’s more cute than beautiful for this one as it is more of a comedy than anything else. All in all, you will laugh a lot. Sure the situations are cliché and you see them coming but you can’t help but laugh at the combination of art and dialogue that was put together so well. It flows really well all through, leaving no holes or with moments. Unless those with was because the characters did smoothing so preposterous. Ending was tied up in a pretty bow but it left me wondering about the other two characters and their life as it was more focused on the present story and it’s lead couple.

When I first saw this manga, I knew I had to read it. What's not to love about an awkward tomboy? The fact is, though, that Hanabi is actually a believable tomboy; a girl who likes to beat up boys, sweats, and isn't stuck on herself. But all that changes when she crosses paths with the oh-so-dreaming Yasuaki. His character, however, is a little less believeable. I mean, what teenager boy is "allergic" to girls??? Both characters are fairly well developed through flashbacks and everyday occurances that make the manga seem very realistic. The situations are things thatcould very well happen to YOU. On that note, the story is very well paced. Given that there are only 5 volumes, there isn't much room for filler. Although some stories may seem like filler at times, it all serves to move along the plot as our awkward tomboy and aloof lady killer grow closer together. But I will say this: no surprise endings here. You may like it, you may not, but you will see it coming. It's rather predictable. That shouldn't stop you from enjoying this manga. It has several of what I like to call "OMG WTF HILARIOUS!!!" moments, including a scene involving the PA system (I'm giggling now just thinking about it)! I own every volume and go back to it often.

Despite Shoujo being filled with alot of things I tend to hate - overtly-dependent heroines for one - I still seem to always come back to it, hoping for a change. I definitely thought I found that in Happy Hustle High with the impractical tomboy character, Hanabi, but alas, I was wrong. The art is wonderfully drawn and when they say bishounens, they mean bishounens. The story was okay, not too extraordinary, but a fun, and well-executed for the theme and setting, read. I enjoyed it quite alot until the very last volume, where Hanabi completely threw away her reserved tomboyish self and became a Yasu fangirlall the same. Obviously, she does this over the whole series but she just completely became one of those dependent heroines I dislike so very much near the end. Overall, I liked this manga, it kept me interested with its fun little spin on experiences and Hanabi not pouncing/stalking/latching onto Yasu was a refreshing change. And she had her flaws - the hair one I liked alot more than those heroines who say 'I have no self-confidence' or something of that effect when they seem to want attention to be thrown at them. Its not a bad series but its not an amazing series. I've got incredibly low tolerance for over-exaggerations and people being too clingy and/or expecting to be protected 24/7 so shoujo heroines do easily annoy me.