Goddamnit why is this series so good?! I just finished Volume 3, and I love it. I'm glad I bought the first 5 volumes on a whim, and I ordered the last four. The story is nuanced, and the characters are varied. There's focus on different age groups—Shion's mother is a pivotal character in her own right and has her own plotline. Although I feel like there's a lot of foreshadowing happening, I am excited to see where it goes. Shion is definitely one of my favorite characters. It's funny to see how people interact with him, but it also makes the story feel like it's philosophical about the nature of humanity. Shion's West Bank friends—who would even hesitate to call themselves that—are focused solely on survival, but I think this book is making a point about the nature of humanity. Life is meant to be lived and experienced with others. He's like the middle ground between the hopeless grim outlook of those outside the city, and the false sentiments of those within.

5/5 how is this manga making me have philosophical thoughts stars