Koe no Katachi aka The Shape of Voice

Bumping, for chapters 9 and 10 were released yesterday. And also because just now I've started reading.

Such a powerful story, I think. In the end, it was the reverse perspective in the early chapters, as well as Shouya's personal growth that sold me into the manga. Personally, I really hate when people single out someone as 'bad' without even bothering to understand their perspective or considering if they could change. By seeing things by Shouya's eyes, we could see his word view and his justifications, as poor as they were, and see that, yes, a kid can grow up out of shitty behavior. You can't just judge someone permanently based on things they have done in the past.

Of course, the whole realistic view on bullying is great. It really makes one uncomfortable. Not many have the courage to address it that way. I also liked how it addressed how shitty the "if they stood up for themselves, it wouldn't be that way" by showing Shouya was bullied just as much as Nishima, despite definitively standing up for himself.

Bumping this, after all it is translated till chapter 15.

Read through everything so far. It's great.

The worst of the lot's definitely the friggin' teacher, ugh. He only shouted so loudly telling Ishida to fess up to cover his own guilt. He's the adult here and yet his morals are no higher than the kids', and the kids at least don't know any better.

Ah, you are going to rage so much more.

Why's that? The teacher gonna appear again? >:(

I did read all the way to 15, and didn't see a trace of him.

[up}I have to beg your pardon, somehow my mind skipped "through everything" and I got the impression that you just have read the first few chapters.

But, considering the "on the next chapter" message at the end of 16, I guess this is going to be true.

18 is out.

I... well... just read it.

So have I.

Well played, author, well played.

Doesn't the universe just love to give him the exact opposite of what he wants or what?

edited 11th Dec '13 2:00:59 PM by lgcruz

I have read somewhere, I think through a link in this site, an article talking about bullys, bullied people and bullied bullys (the most messed up of the bunch). Anyone knows which article is it?

Chapter 18... ????

What????

"What" indeed.

That may just be the oddest cliffhanger I have ever seen in my entire life.

Latest chapter is out, and it gives me a feeling so complicated.

Same. I had guessed that she liked him, having reread the first few chapters a few days ago, but that was rather poignant.

edited 24th Dec '13 6:28:49 PM by Crinias

Read spoilers for the next chapter.

Ueno's line about cats last chapter was foreshadowing.

edited 1st Jan '14 9:38:29 PM by Jeorg

So what, she's a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing?

and how

Well, I suppose that it was bound to happen eventually. I mean, not everyone could be regretful over the events that happened. Tell me though, is she out for Ishida, or Shouko, or both of them?

she doesn't really have it out for them, the that may change with how the chapter ends.

So despite blowing up on Ueno this chapter, everything between Ishida and Ueno is resolved with a text message? That's kind of... convenient. That said, her reply in the text itself means we'll be seeing more of her. Hmm.

edited 21st Jan '14 9:56:42 PM by MyssaRei

When a girl is interested, any excuse is good.

Still, as long as she keeps showing up there's the chance she becomes a better person, and that would be worth seeing. Even if the opposite happened it would still be good contrast.

I don't get why it made such a difference him going to the bridge or meeting her elsewhere. Was it really because sending text messages made the conversation easier?

Isn't it because the bridge stopped becoming "their" place after Nishimiya starts to reconnect with Sahara? I mean, even Yuzuru starts to show up there after the karaoke party.

Also, the context: the two of them haven't gotten to meet for a while, especially since Ishida started to clean up his act again (exam period, doing part-time work again), so I suppose meeting half-way away from the bridge, their usual place, just adds the poignancy to the text message.

edited 22nd Jan '14 6:29:33 PM by MyssaRei

The next chapter is titled, "Moon". Have an untranslated spoiler, [1]◊

New chapter!

Oh wow, well, obviously he's going to have trouble understanding that she likes him, but saying that famous line unknowingly? Hah. Smooth.

(The end-notes lack context. The anecdote has it that one of Soseki's students had submitted a very literal translation of the phrase "I Love You". He gave the report back, and told his student that it would be better if he translated the phrase as "The moon is quite beautiful", as it was much more pleasing to read and hear.)

(Incidentally, the proper rebuttal to the above phrase is "I'm so happy, I could die.")

edited 2nd Feb '14 5:52:42 PM by MyssaRei

Chapter 24 out on batoto.

If chapter 23 was filled with sweet moments, 24th marks the calm before one hell of a storm.

edited 4th Feb '14 3:30:30 AM by Styryder