Sasaki and Miyano: First-Years, Vol. 1: Volume 1

Sasaki and Miyano: First-Years Volume 1 dives into the different backstories of each character. Chapter One (She & Kuresawa.) describes Tasuku Kuresawa’s undying relationship with his physically frail but strong-willed girlfriend, Yuki Fujimi. In Sasaki and Miyano, Kuresawa is portrayed as a devotional boyfriend to Yuki, who rotates in and out of the hospital due to her illness. In the show, it seems warm and cheery between those two, but in this volume, things get realistic quickly. This chapter is told from Kuresawa’s POV. Kuresawa’s middle school group goes on a trip without Yuki, due to her hospitalization, but they visit her afterward. Kuresawa immediately falls in love with Yuki (it’s cute how nervous Kuresawa is around Yuki for the first time), and they begin sharing their hobbies and likes. Kuresawa loves the stars and constellations so much that he takes the Star Test and becomes a part of the Astronomy Club. Yuki is interested in the BL manga that Kuresawa fetches for her. The scenes with them on the phone looking up at the stars at night and the hospital visits are cute. However, things take a turn for the worst when Kuresawa hurts Mrs. Fujimi’s feelings about how sick Yuki had gotten, and he didn’t even know. Shortly after, Kuresawa receives a beating from some idiots badmouthing their girlfriends. When Kuresawa finally gets his head on straight, he discovers his mistake and apologizes to Mrs. Fujimi. Yuki punches him for getting into a fight, but in the end, they make up. Chapter Two (Miyano & Kuresawa.) is told from Yoshikazu Miyano’s perspective. The story occurs at the beginning of the anime, shortly after the bullies beat up Kuresawa, and the mysterious upperclassman, Sasaki, intervenes. After the fight breakup, the story shifts to Miyano carrying Kuresawa to the nurse’s station and Kuresawa giving Miyano his thanks. Miyano worries about Sasaki, who helped save the day. Miyano texts his upperclassman, Hirano, giving him updates and asking Hirano if he can tell the hero thanks. Hirano does everything he can to ensure the perpetrators get punished for what they have done. After all the questions, Miyano helps Kuresawa on his way home. They have an interesting discussion that builds the path for future conversations as friends. After a time, Kuresawa gets close enough to ask about the terms in Miyano’s BL manga. Later on, Miyano discovers Sasaki bending over in pain (due to the previous jerks coming back for revenge). To Miyano’s belief, Sasaki jokes off the pain by asking him out on a date. Miyano can’t understand Sasaki’s actions then and back when he intervened in the fight. However, Miyano is pleased when he hears Sasaki laugh and sees him joyful. Chapter Three (Senior & Junior.) is short and told from Taiga Hirano’s perspective. Hirano is beginning his second year when he gets introduced to the Disciplinary Committee’s new member, Miyano. Hirano and his fellow committee member, Hanzawa, observe how reserved Miyano is but believe he will be a devoted club member. Hirano realizes Miyano is more comfortable speaking to Hanzawa until the fight happens, and Miyano calls on Hirano for help. Miyano begins to open up to Hirano after Hirano pulls Miyano aside to talk. Miyano confesses about his BL manga reading and has a moe discussion with Hirano, comparing Hirano and his roommate to some of Miyano’s BL manga. Hirano is relieved that Miyano’s world is okay. From that point on, Miyano continues to have moe discussions with Hirano. Hirano watches as Sasaki and Miyano begin to have their own conversations. Hirano is happy for them and hopes that they will be a good influence on each other. Chapter Four (Love & Passion.) is expressed by Gonzaburo Tashiro, one of Miyano’s friends. Tashiro gets roped into the Ping-Pong Club by his alleged “friend” Kyouji Shirahama. And the only way to get out of the club is to defeat one of the club members. Shirahama easily defeats his opponent. Unfortunately, Tashiro competes against th