Current Reads November 2021:Fruits Basket Another

I love Fruits Basket. But this is not the sequel I was hoping for. Okay, so I know these three volumes have been out for quite some time, but I’ve been avoiding reading them for the reasons I’m about to explain. So let’s talk about it.

Fruits Basket was my introduction to manga and the shojo genre. It holds a special place in my heart, and coming into this manga, I was looking forward to seeing how the children of the zodiac characters would turn out. Perhaps even the family dynamics the Shoma’s created now being parents.

Instead, Fruits Basket Another follows a chick named Mitoma as she works to build her confidence. She gets involved with the Shoma clan by chance and becomes friends. She appreciates their seemingly perfect family as her relationship with her mother is trash (relatable lol). The story sounds okay on its own, but not attached to Fruits Basket!

I’m sorry, this is the worst way to introduce the plethora of characters and information. I found it difficult to follow who was who, and my eyes strained with all the dialogue. The manga shines when they take on a character discussing their relationship with their parents and the charming art.

I’m halfway through the third volume, and sadly, I’m exhausted from reading this. I’ll see it through. If you are interested, be prepared to wonder why this manga exists.