awakeImpressions: A very 'laid-back'-style artbook, involving people mostly eating, sleeping, drinking sake, smoking, drinking tea, sleep--er, going about their daily routine etc. Much love for Masa vs. the Cat. XD
The cover--Ono-sensei, you're such a tease. At first glance you have Masa on the front and Yaichi on the back...
...but when you unfold it, you get a somewhat different perspective. I like to interpret it as Masa intently watching Yaichi from afar, while Yaichi is stealing a glance back at him over the shoulder. ^_~
Good morning Edo~
1. Ume and Okinu shopping, Matsu seems to either be pulling an all-nighter, or got up before dawn to start work...
2. Otake fresh out of bath... and that must be old man Souji making breakfast.
3. Katsuraya's inhabitants sleeping/spacing out/etc and Masa just woke up
I don't think the smexy needs much comment... :3
Masa and Yaichi on a date?
...and more smexy Yaichi~
Masa vs. the Cat is the most adorable comic ever~ And that's exactly what my sister's cat does to me when I sleep at her place... ^^; Are all cats like this? lol. Anyway... this is obviously Masa still in super-shy mode. Cat is fully aware of this... and thus easily wins the staring contest. And the fish. *insert Nyanko-sensei deja-vu in the last panel* XD
More Masa vs. Cat cuteness... Masa dreaming about being more... manly and samurai-like. And again, the staring contest. And again, the cat wins...
Next is... Watermelon's mini-comic... And it's one pervy watermelon, I tell you! It was a short but juicy affair... 8)
And after Melon porn you get... Baked Sweet Potato porn. Or torture, if you like. The smirk on Souji's face suggests the latter, imho. More potatoes to come Masa~~~ >:D
Ume and Okinu some ten years back, setting up the izakaya. It seems that it's only thanks to Okinu he ever got customers. Sasuga scary daddy-slash-Otake's guard dog.
Melancholic Masa. He looks like a lost puppy there... ;(
Yaichi behaving like a cat... *pets*
Finally it got dark... and everyone ends the day at Ume's place. Oyasumi! ^^
Bonus: a couple of postcards--Masa/Yaichi one came with Futagashira vol.1, and Benzou/Souji one came with the artbook. Souji (on the right) surely was a bishie in his young days~
Now, I want to mention another manga by Ono-sensei, Futagashira--I only learned of its existence as I was ordering the artbook, but it piqued my curiousity and I ended up buying it too. And what do you know--it's a story of two young men, Souji and Benzou, who are appointed the heads of a band of thieves after their boss dies. Hmm? Souji and Benzou? You mean those known as Souji the Saint and Benzou the Demon in the Saraiya Goyou timeline? That would make it a prequel/side story to Five Leaves, although it does not seem to be marketed as such. In any case, you can see a preview of the manga on the Ikki Comix website. :)
