Blue
Morning, Vol 3
Author: Shoko Hidaka
Publisher: SuBLime Publishing
American
release date: November 12, 2013
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Yaoi/224 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
Akihito is beginning to take
greater control of Kuze family matters, much to Katsuragi’s surprise. All
letters in regard to bank business are to go straight to Akihito. Meanwhile, Akihito
is paying his court to the fifteen-year-old Chikako, of the Sajo family, and
spends their time together playing games with her. He realizes the gap that
exists between the Sajos and the Kuzes, and intends to call upon the —Moriyama,
as well as the Ashizakis. Meanwhile former houseboy Amimaya is visiting with
the retired housekeeper, Kiku. He reveals to her some of his thoughts regarding
Katsuragi, but the older woman makes no direct comment.
Akihito requests that Ashizaki act
as his agent in the matter of his proposed marriage, explaining his reasoning
behind this decision, which Ashizaki concurs with and agrees to help. But that
help will come with a steep price. Is Akihito willing to pay such a price?
Afterward, Akihito goes to Katsuragi, and initial conflict becomes into their
usual method of resolution—lovemaking. Later, Katsuragi thinks on the original
plans he made when he was first put in charge of Akihito’s education, the
revenge he intended to extract for promises made to him but never kept, for
unforgiveable behavior toward him. Has
something changed now?
Akihito is not pleased that
Katsuragi no longer dines with him. He tells the two highest ranking servants
that they will dine with him from now on, which makes them uncomfortable. When
Katsuragi arrives, Akihito informs him that he will be joining them as well.
When Amimaya returns to visit
Kiku, he learns she has returned to her hometown, to his dismay. Furthermore,
she has left instructions for him to clean every corner of the storehouse.
Furthermore, her instructions emphasize papers that he will find there, given
to her by Lord Kuze. Is this significant? Amimaya grasps what he perceives to
be the meaning behind Kiku’s actions and agrees to do as she has requested.
Maybe his lifelong dreams will come true after all.
Akihito seeks Katsuragi’s opinion
on household matters, and as they work together, the butler does something
quite unexpected—he kisses Akihito. A thrilled Akihito responds in kind,
kissing Katsuragi’s hand. But the moment is spoiled when Katsuragi demands Akihito
release him, and he walks away, to Akihito’s dismay.
The next day, Katsuragi receives a
request for him to go to the storehouse, where Amimaya has something to tell
him. Meanwhile, at school, Ishizake searches for and finds a despondent Akihito,
who is no mood to talk. Ishizaki can only imagine what has him so upset, what
is usually the cause of his upset—Katsuragi. Ishizaki knows what is being asked
of Akihito, and he asks can he actually go through with it, but Akihito doesn’t
want to listen and asks, instead, what message Ishizaki has from Katsuragi’s
brother.
Amimaya lets loose some rather
nasty accusations at Katsuragi. Akihito goes to see Katsuragi’s brother, and
learns the former houseboy has made accusations of his own. But the elder
Katsuragi also warns Akihito not to trust Tomoyuki.
Back at the Kuze manor, Akihito
and Katsuragi now dine alone, as the other servants have begged off, due to
their discomfort. Alone, they can talk more freely concerning what Amimaya has
alleged. Will this new information tear
them apart or drive them closer together? What is Akihito willing to do in
order to stay by Katsuragi’s side and raise the Kuze house, as he has sworn to
do?
In this volume of Blue Morning, we learn about Katsuragi’s
parentage, and we also get a glimpse into the boy he was, and the expectations
he was raised to have by Akihito’s father. There are still pieces of that
puzzle that are missing, and if they include, as I suspect, Katsuragi’s sexual
abuse by the older Kuze, that will explain much. At the same time, we see more
of Katsuragi’s own feelings for Akihito, as his tightly wound façade beings to
unfurl at Akihito’s continued tenderness and unswerving loyalty, something he
has received from no one before and certainly did not expect from the target of
his own ambitions. No wonder he’s becoming confused and uncertain, as he never
saw this coming. Will he embrace his feelings for Akihito or deny them in order
to proceed with his plan? I’m leaning toward the former, but I am also a
hopeless romantic. I’ll be very disappointed if this series ends and these two
are not together and very much in love. Guess I’ll have to wait and see.
As usual, the artwork is superb,
the story excellent. Both men are very lovely to look upon, but especially
Katsuragi. I’m looking forward to the next volume.
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