Kinda want to keep talking about this series? I already yapped a lot (w/o much spoilers) in my (Spanish-written) sideblog, and I might repeat myself, so.
The Long Summer on August 31* (8-gatsu 31-nichi no Long Summer) is a series I recently picked up in Spanish, because, man, the covers REALLY caught my attention, and luckily of all, it's a bimonthly series that Panini MX is releasing (given the fact it is incredibly recent, and it only has 9 volumes released right now in Japan) and I kinda tend to be a sucker for interesting time loops stories, which is the basic premise of this series, lol.
So, that's basically the concept behind the plot? Two teenagers happen to be trapped in a Groundhog's Day time loop, the last day of summer. They didn't know each other up until a moment where Suzuki (our main guy) did something different on a TV report and that caught the attention of Takagi (our main girl).
They ignore the reason why they are trapped in a time loop, but Suzuki suggests that he might be the culprit, as a typical horny male teenager, wanted to finish the summer getting laid with a cute girl, and lose his virginity (I'm pretty sure this isn't as simple as that, but bear with me - also, this being published in Kodansha's Morning magazine means it's actually a seinen, surprise). Takagi, obvs, calls him out, but, promises to help him to help each other to give the time loop an end.
...except, like I mention I don't think it's as simple as "hey, maybe I need to get laid to end this"?
So, it's basically adventures of a pair of strangers-turned-to-friends to finally, FINALLY make it to September 1st, as they go back to school the next day. But, as they try to figure out a way out, they start to get interested into each other (in more ways than one), and it's kind of fun... but Suzuki is incredibly awkward with girls, not to mention, quite... a fool.
You see, Suzuki goes to an all-male high school and, as streotypically this tends to happen in other media, they often idealize women. So, many of the things that Suzuki is going to do (especially with Takagi present) are mistakes. And, oh boy... this guy.
I think the reason I like this series, in a general sense, making me buy all of the four available volumes there are now in Spanish, it's because I'm hooked? In the development of Suzuki and Takagi's relationship? And while I try to not spoil much, I feel... slightly? nostalgic? towards the vibes this series gives?
(not to mention that I am trying to wonder why there has been such a surge for time loop stories a la Groundhog Day... which, tbh... I do feel it? but I kinda blame the pandemic? maybe?)
Like, on one instance, I feel there's something nostalgic about the series as a whole and I cannot pinpoint on what it is exactly? There's a lot. Like, the art for starters feels too 80s, maybe early 90s vibes. I have been too into looking at old manga art from that specific era and it does feel something like I may have already seen or read (also the way Ikkado manage too much repetition in panels, could be intentional given it's supposedly giving you, the reader, déja vù or an style choice -ie, have seen it sometimes in Hojo Tsukasa's City Hunter and Angel Heart?- to get the point of the gag.
If it wasn't for the use of smartphones, the internet, and streaming sites... or mention of parody artists (Thrice, instead of Twice) you could easily think this is actually situated in that era, as well, not contemporary times.
The covers also feel quite intentional to give you nostalgia, especially since they look inspired in art made by Eizin Suzuki (hey, maybe even Suzuki's name was intentional on that side?)
And... honestly? Dare I say I feel somewhat nostalgic? towards the way we are presented Suzuki and Takagi's relationship?
Like, teenage romance, right? I am in my 30s right now. I sometimes look at shoujo romances featuring teenagers and it's cute and all, as always. I follow a few newer series with high schoolers, then there's the more comedy oriented ones I have at hand (like Kamisama Hajimemashita, Witch Watch, maybe?) and it's not the same, lol. I tend to try and go for more adult choices or weird/realistic ones, I guess? That are far and between. But... there's definitely something about Suzuki and Takagi that feels somewhat... nostalgic? and it ends up bothering me a bit (in my Spanish post I actually use the phrase "me cala más")?
And I think it's because their "teenage romance" is... isolated. And that's because they are in a time loop, and they only have each other. Not even as lovers, but strangers that end up being as friends. So, I think... it kinda hurts? when Suzuki makes a mistake (too early in the series run! by the way!) because he has this idealized idea of a woman, and then starts realizing he was quite an idiot to make a move, to say something he shouldn't have? because, of course, it also hurts Takagi and all that. And she also starts developing such an interest in this guy? And if they don't work together (leaving aside Suzuki's "possible" reason of being the time loop's culprit), they... become isolated. They will never get out of the time loop. They would never "grow" (improvement!) with each other, either. And there's the time loop tragedy as a whole, I feel. One thing is when there's one main character, but here we have TWO that actually remember stuff and bond together... screwing up happens, teenage romance can be like that... but here?
And, man... I have been enjoying this a lot, regardless. The art is appealing. The dynamics of them both is nice (and they start knowing each other! which is cute). You start knowing side characters that also are going through a lot in their last day of summer, and it's a shame they have to keep repeating them given the nature of the time loop (and that both Suzuki and Takagi CANNOT solve/save everyone's problems)... there's HILARIOUS gags that I'm all "??? LMAO"... not to mention interesting aspects of the time loop itself ;p
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*(actually called "The Long Summer of August 31st" in English, as released in Kodansha's K-Manga App, and by Seven Seas. I'm not sure WHY Panini MX chose "on" over "of", but probably stuff about incorrect English grammar from Ikkado Itou themself and the inconsistency on how Panini chooses titles if in ENG or in JPN... or translating them)
"The Long Summer of August 31 (8-gatsu 31-nichi no Long Summer)" manga vol. 9 cover by Itou Ikkado
Romcom about two high school students who repeat the same summer day on August 31 again & again. However no one but them seem notice this. Could a proper romantic experience stop this eternal loop?
