The Totally Epic HikaGo Reread - Vol. 2

[effex]

It's Wednesday again, which means it's time for:
~Volume 2 of Hikaru no Go~

There's a lot happening in this chapter - new characters, tournaments, new schools, and conspiracies in the rain - what was your favorite part?

Comments

[esmenet]

I forgot just how much Kaga totally is That Asshole Older Friend You Had In College. You spend a good portion of your time wishing he'd shut up and go the fuck away instead of laughing at your hardships -- but occasionally he'll do something that reminds you he actually does care. Kinda.

[zanzando]

Oh man. I'm kind of that friend.

[esmenet]

The trick is to make sure they have a few really, really good memories, then go away for a while and return to remind them how awesome you are when you're not getting them to make embarrassing bets.

[effex]

Wow, he totally is That Friend - I remembered he was kind of a dick but not how much. In an amusing when it's not directed at you sort of way.

[bobrhyn.livejournal.com]

KAGA. Man, so many moments where you're like, WHAT AN ASSHOLE, but then the show is like, BOYFRIENDS, and you're like, .... well.

Seriously, though, I had forgotten/never realized how totally boyfriends they are??? like from the very beginning??? JEEEEEEZ, even their introduction is like, EXES! and there's such familiarity and story and exasperated despite-themselves affection and protectiveness... alkdslkfs. SURPRISE RE-WATCHING SHIP? ... Or perhaps, reaffirmation that Hikago is just... really, really gay. (Except possibly Akari, who, well, OH AKARI, I'M SO SORRY :( At least you have the sense to avoid Inertia? Need more awesome fic about Akari, kthnx, because she just kind of... gets left behind.)

Interesting. I am going back to using ellipses, like, everywhere, a trait mainly from... well, back in the time that I originally watched Hikago/lots of anime. HMM.

[effex]

Seriously boyfriends. Kaga just strips off Tsutsui's jacket like it's nothing and you know he came to the go booth to harass him.

And yeah, the whole manga is Pretty Damn Gay. [pats it fondly]

Akari... yeah, I've been thinking about her. For me, the lack of central female characters is one of the manga's big weak points - we have Akari and then a handful of female insei and young pros and that's... it. I know that Pro go would be/is really hard for women to break into but still. I can't remember if HikaGo even passes the Bechdel Test. [thinky face]

[esmenet]

Akari~ She needs more love, she really does. I'm working on that Akari fic, I swear! Although, I think almost all the non-pro characters get left behind. Hikaru's the kind of person who's very passive with friendships -- he won't make an effort to stay in touch or get together. If you're not a crazy-strong go player, when he doesn't see you for a while you completely drop off his radar...

Ahaha, they totally are. XD Especially the bit where Kaga's trying to get him to put away the damn book.