It's Just Another Manga Monday: Skip Beat 32 by Yoshiki Nakamura

Today is quite a crap Monday as it is the first time I have been physically in my work building since December 16th.  That means I cannot work in my pajamas and I'll actually had to drive in to work.  I had an accident with my Mini on the 16th on the way from work, too, so I was really stressing the drive in with all the snow and ice on the ground.

What better way to get over a pants day then by spicing it up with some manga!  And one of my favorites to boot!!!

Alison Can Read started a weekly Manga Monday meme which I have jumped on. I've been reviewing manga from the start, but it is nice to have a place were like minded Otaku can meet and share our favorites.

Warning: Spoilers

Book Description:
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he's famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!

Ren’s trademark cool is beginning to crumble under the strain of maintaining his various personas. And the sudden manly attention being directed at Kyoko from fellow actor Kijima and a newly determined Sho aren’t helping matters. Will Kyoko’s good luck charm keep him in check, or will the beast chained inside him destroy them all?!

My Review:
This series continues to be one of my favorites.  Kyoko is a character with just the right amount of naiveté, crazy, modesty and determination.  She never fails to keep me amused.

This volume opens up with Sho waiting for Kyoko at the gate to her school.  With the assistance on one of her schoolmates, Sho abducts Kyoko so he can talk to her.  Sho is angry and disappointed in Kyoko because he believes she let Mr. Kijima flirt with her because she let him dress her up for the Dark Moon wrap party (back in volume 29).  He tells her that when a man buys clothes for a woman, he wants to have sex with her.  Kyoko, being the naïve soul she is, starts to freak out.  He berates her and tells her she'll never become famous and beat him if she is obsessed with men.

Cut to Ren being questioned by Kijima who is wanting to know when Kyoko's birthday is.  Ren tells him, but then gets icy when Kijima taunts him that Kyoko doesn't send Ren any emails.  Ren confesses that he doesn't have Kyoko's email address because if he wants to communicate with her, he'd rather pick up the phone to hear her voice.  Kijima assumes that Ren is saying he likes Kyoko.  Is Ren finally admitting he likes Kyoko?

 Back to Sho, he drops Kyoko off where she needs to work otherwise she would be late.  Unfortunately, Ren sees her in the car with Sho.  She freaks out figuring he will be angry with her.  Once out of the car, Sho realizes Kyoko is worked up because Ren saw them together.  Still trying to manipulate her after all this time, he won't let her leave until she confesses that she doesn't care about Ren.

Sho corners Ren so he can throw it in his face, but Ren doesn't rise to the bait.    Later, Sho broods about Ren and Kyoko,  telling himself that Kyoko is stupid and easily duped.  He assumes Ren is going to take advantage of her eventually.

Kyoko returns to the hotel room where Ren awaits so they can resume their Heel siblings persona.  But right after she gets to their room, her phone rings.  When they are the heel siblings, she turns her phone off so she can stay in character.  So, she is surprised by her phone ringing.  When she sees no Caller ID on the phone, she realizes it's Sho.  Before she can turn the phone off, Ren takes the phone out of her hand and tosses it.  He then grills her wanting to know if the call was from Sho and if she is still in contact with him.  The problem is it wasn't Ren talking to her and it wasn't the character of Cain Heel.  So who is she talking to now?

This volume was so full of tension between the characters and it seems like the series is finally starting to wind down.  I really can't wait to find out what happens to these characters.  The problem is Volume 33 doesn't come out until 09/02/14!  Whaaat?????

Note: Most of the images are property of Mangapanda.com