With you, our love will work out, Volume 1
Writer & Artist: Chihiro Yuzuki
Publisher: Yen Press (print and digital editions)
Translation: Alicia & Athena Nibley
Lettering: Greg Deng
Publication date: December 10, 2024
Rating: Teen
Genre: Manga (Japan), Romance, Drama, Daily Life
Chihiro Yuzuki’s “Kimi to Boku no Koi wa Succeed” is one of the all-new romance manga released by Yen Press in December. The setting of this story feels familiar because the prequel to the series, Flower and Beastman, has already been released in English. Seven volumes of With You, Our Love Will Make It Through are currently in print in Japan, but readers hoping for the next volume in English will have to wait until April.
© Yenpres, 2024
In contrast to the calm cherry blossoms and beautiful May weather, Mari is late for school and running for her life. She decides to sneak in by jumping over the wall. Then, from afar, he spotted a student who was also late and reached out to him. She was surprised that this boy was a beastkin. He turns out to be her new classmate. Tsunagu Hidaka has transferred in as a student in a special program.
Beastmen were born as a result of experiments and live in areas surrounded by walls. Their population is monitored by the government, and Hidaka had to undergo a thorough inspection before being allowed to participate in this program. Although the beastmen sometimes cross the wall and come to the human side, it is still rare for humans to interact with them due to strong prejudice against their kind. Of course, this is Mari’s first experience getting close to a beastman like Hidaka. But as she continued to question the nature of her feelings, she finally noticed that beneath her, her heart was pounding and her cheeks were flushed feverishly.
With You, Our Love Will Make It Through doesn’t tread any unchartered paths artistically, but the pages are certainly a feast for the eyes. Mari’s delicate, flowing hair and emotional doe eyes look gorgeous. Her character design is adorable, and that loveliness doesn’t come at the expense of her facial expressions. The same goes for Hidaka. As a canine beastman, his ears, tail, and eyes convey his emotions beautifully. Although this volume is not lacking in landscapes and interior backgrounds, the focus of the panels is primarily on faces, moments of interaction between the protagonists, and the transmission of emotion.
© Yen Press, 2024 © Yen Press, 2024
There are a lot of interesting themes, points, and character details in With You, Our Love Will Make It Through, but how they’re handled could make or break this series.
The first thing to consider in “With You, Our Love Will Make It Through” is racism. Beastmen are not included in the total population and are separated by a wall in a part of Saitama. They have no hospitals or doctors and can only go to humans in case of major illness. Humans almost always have fear or outright hatred towards beastmen, and Hidaka suffers from considerable bullying and refusal to be called by his name by his students.
He is a strong-willed and intelligent beastman who refuses to interact with bullies because he fears being labeled as a “dangerous animal.” He does not allow himself to get angry and is intent on fitting in as a normal person to the best of his ability. Fortunately, he has other classmates, Mari and Aida, who get angry on his behalf and openly correct others’ insensitive and discriminatory remarks. However, with the exception of Mari and Ida, throughout the volume he has to “earn” the kindness and basic courtesy of others. Also, one of the main reasons why he was chosen for this program is that he is considered “harmless” because he does not have a heat cycle like normal beastmen.
© Yenpres, 2024
Meanwhile, Mari quickly takes an interest in this new boy on the block and is faced with how ignorant she was about their race, life, and living conditions. I appreciated that her interest in Hidaka was not only conveyed through his otherness. Although they are different, Mari and Aida research Hidaka and try to understand him, but his tone is not as if Hidaka is an alien, and the two of them wonder about this strange life form. I’m dissecting it. She is a lovely woman who is honest about her feelings, and although she is usually timid, she can take action when the time comes.
Another strength of this series is its approach to teenage sexuality. I’m glad that this volume doesn’t run away from desire either. The awkwardness, fear, and thrill that comes with burning emotions. This film is rated Teen, so there are no explicit scenes, but you can definitely expect some physical intimacy, lots of moaning and intense blushing.
This is only the first volume, so we’ll have a final look at the beastmen as a racial minority, Hidaka being deemed “safe” by the government, and the discrimination he faces daily along with Mari. You can’t pass judgment. And Aida’s treatment of their friend’s otherness unfolds throughout With You, Our Love Will Make It Through. We’ll have to read and see if it just adds spice to the story or becomes an important part of the budding romance between Mari and Hidaka and the overall story.
© Yenpres, 2024
I’m even more interested in seeing how Chihiro Yuzuki handles the themes introduced in this volume, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest! Although there are no color pages in the printed version of Volume 1, I can’t help but be drawn to the soft pastel colors on the cover. I thought the small footprints, fluffy tail, and beautiful font of the title on the cover were very cute. Considering the length of the title, I think it was difficult to fit it in without covering Mari and Hidaka, but the result was great.
For readers who are particularly interested in anthropomorphic characters as metaphors for racial differences, who enjoyed reading The Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, or who are ready to begin the sweet journey of youth, With We recommend You, Our Love Will Make It Through. Romance with a little spice! Volume 2 is scheduled to be released on April 22nd, so there’s plenty of time to get to know Mari, Hidaka, Aida, and the world they live in.
With You, Our Love Will Make It Through will be available in digital and print from Yen Press starting December 10, 2024.
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