yamashita tomoko-sensei isn’t an author that shies away from topics like grief, those who questions what people understand as human nature and what one is capable of doing when faced with the unexpected. and that is explored even more on her latest three one shots
“sugar girl” discusses more about human naivety and how one can be easily manipulated. the “good person” mask that often disguise what they have hidden insane, be it fear of not belonging or the nasty proud of hiding your darker side. what one doesn’t have can be easily obtained if one finds the best manipulation tactic, often disguised as compassion.
everyone craves love and acceptance, and yet everyone uses the same needs to get what they want. could be a woman from another planet with a dark, looming presence, as if she’s going to attack when you least expect, or someone that doesn’t dare say a word after being hit. you have to be smart enough to walk away
“the grim reaper” dives a little deeper on how we often take life for granted. not only ours, but other’s as well. we seek for the one that isn’t here by our sides anymore because we weren’t able to show our true intentions or love when they were once by our side. to wait for a trip, to ignore the one who sleeps by your side, to seek for the death when it’s way too late.
the mysterious and curious undertones are still there. who is that man and where does he comes from? what does he knows about death that we don’t? and what happened to the one who’s still alive, but could be dead for long? why is it that loneliness only appears when we can’t save what’s been lost far too long?
it discuss the way people aren’t afraid of death until they are finally facing it. it discuss how easy it is to be consumed by grief and the idea that loneliness was there far too long. is knowing that you have the power over someone’s life, be it controlling it, ignoring it or reaping it.
the last one, “blink once, cling twice” debates how difficult it is to finally listen to your desires and act on it. talks about how easily it is to just pretend that the looming desire isn’t surrounding you, wishing that something way bigger than yourself could act in your place and spare you from the headache of assuming your own needs.
blink once and you’ll see what you want personified in front of you. but to blink a second time you need to take a step forward. if you’re so afraid of what can happen to you, why not sit and listen to what life has been trying to tell you instead of running away just because you can?
it’s easier to burry one’s need to the ground and let it be engulfed by what one was never able to act one than killing what has been already dead far too long.
yamashita tomoko is a mastermind of creating stories that leaves you wondering about your own understanding of what’s best for you. if you blink twice, would you be able to see your path without whatever is blocking it?
you can find all three of her one shots and one full manga on mangaplaza. please support sensei if you can, the prices are usually very cheap and accessible
