Mangaka Shou Harusono is back with another wholesome BL shounen-ai series with Hirano and Kagiura, and at the end of Volume 1, Kagiura confessed to Hirano. Now, in Volume 2, Kagiura has to deal with that confession, or rather, the fact that Hirano is completely clueless. Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2 is published and localized in English by Yen Press, translated by Leighann Harvey, and features lettering by Winster.
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In Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2, it’s clear that Kagiura tried to confess. I mean, he did confess after all, it’s just that Hirano just doesn’t really know what Kagiura meant. And no matter what, Hirano just isn’t getting it. Open about his feelings for his roommate, Kagiura regroups with his amazing friend Niibashi and gets all the support he needs. While some of that support comes in the form of supporting the schoolboy crush, the other kind of support Niibashi gives Kagiura is in the form of tough love, pushing him to see if his emotions are only surface level or if it goes further.
The tension in this volume comes directly from the ticking clock that is at the end of the semester. With the reality that they won’t live together anymore, Kagiura feels pressure to make Hirano understand. But at the same time, Niibashi pushes Kagiura to investigate what his feelings mean.
Niibashi never questions if Kagiura is or isn’t gay, but he pushes his friend to dig deep and understand if this is an emotion that comes from living with him day in and day out of does it mean something more. Does Kagiura want to kiss Hirano?Why does Kagiura want to marry Hirano? This amount of pressure is just right and needed to make sure that Niibashi helps protect Kagiura’s feelings because, as far as he can tell, Hirano isn’t interested. While this is a romance, the series has also taken time to explore friendships as well and, ultimately, how a good friend pushes you much more than you think you’re capable of. A good friend isn’t about blind support, but rather they give you the support you need, and in Kagiura’s case, Niibashi’s questioning helps him understand the depth of what he wants in a relationship with Hirano.
Harusano writes relationships between their characters in a very real way, which includes the awkwardness of young love and exploring who you are. As we see Kagiura confess again to Hirano and work to have him understand what he really means, the rejection feels more like preserving what they have than closing a door. Harusano’s ability to write that rejection with kindness and empathy, as well as detail Hirano’s own complicated feelings is what makes Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2 such a standout.
Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2 is a continuation of a stellar series that, while it shares similarities with Sasaki and Miyano, stands on its own completely. The dynamic is different, and this creates new and different circumstances that I hope get the chance to be adapted to an anime like its predecessor.
Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2 is available wherever books are sold digitally and physically.
Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2
TL;DR
Hirano and Kagiura Volume 2 is a continuation of a stellar series that, while it shares similarities with Sasaki and Miyano, stands on its own completely. The dynamic is different, and this creates new and different circumstances that I hope get the chance to be adapted to an anime like its predecessor.
