Manga Review: That Blue Sky Feeling

That Blue Sky Feeling
Okura|Coma Hashii

That Blue Sky Feeling is a gentle slice of life manga centering on the lives of two high school boys: Dai Noshiro and Kou Sanada. The title of the manga isn’t self-explanatory like other titles I’ve seen, and lets readers take from it what they want to experience, much like the story itself.

Good-hearted Dai has just transferred into a new school, something he’s used to doing since he’s moved around a lot, when he sees Kou sitting by himself. Dai learns about a rumor going around saying Kou is gay, and now no one wants to sit with him. Rather than letting the rumor scare him away, Dai is only more interested in becoming Kou’s friend.

That Blue Sky Feeling makes no apologies about the fact that Kou is gay, and this is revealed within the first chapter. But, as with most manga, there is a second layer of meaning to every interaction between the two boys that they must parse out.

Dai appears to be the principle character, everything is told through his eyes save for spare moments of reflection from one or two other characters serving as atmospheric vignettes in the manga. He initially struggles with accepting Kou, and has to reconcile how he sees “being gay”  as more than just a “one size fits all” identity. Especially when it comes to Kou and his behavior at school. He neglects to consider that though Kou is out to him, he still isn’t out fully to anyone else at their school, and so that also has an effect on how Kou wishes to be perceived. And it makes him feel “weird”.

“Weirdness” is a filler word that characters use often in the novel. Sometimes “weird” is a stand-in for feelings characters don’t have the words for, or it’s for the ones they’re aware of and are trying to avoid. It adds to the drama in some scenes, and lends a gentle tone in others. My favorite character to employ “weird” so far is the mentor/older brother type Hidemitsu.

I found it troublesome to have an adult portrayed as an ex of a teenager, regardless of the cultural differences between Japan and America. Based off the first novel though, I think this was meant to give a more plausible reason for Hidemitsu to be a part of the story because of the important role he plays. The more I got to know Hidemitsu, the more I saw how he is a confidante, or advisor to the two youths. Sometimes stirring the pot a little. I think he has an inkling that Dai might not be straight, and he uses “weirdness” as a catch-all phrase for helping Dai sort out his complex feelings for Kou. In a way, he is a guide for the two of them into what “gay” looks like as an adult.

Kou (left) and Dai (right)

Additionally, I loved the fact that there is more than one body type present. Dai’s body is shown to be strong, due to his regular practice of judo, but not lean. He has a larger body, and that’s a welcome relief from either “lanky-and-made-of-skin-and-bones”, or “MY-MUSCLES-HAVE-MUSCLES.” Their depiction of feminine bodies could use more diversity, but I’ll take this as a start.

 

This is not a story strictly about coming out, or being gay, or making friends. It’s about the balance of earning someone’s trust and learning how to navigate one’s own complicated emotions. But being gay and coming out and making friends are certainly part of it. It is warm, and nuanced, and feels… special. I hope you give this manga try.