I Hear the Sunspot (I Hear the Sunspot Series)

I Hear the Sunspot By: Yuki Fumino 2014 Manga Review Summary: A story of friendship that starts by accident and helps heal two boys who are looking at what the future holds for them. One struggles with hearing loss and the other is facing the struggles of living on his own. This story shows the beauty of learning to let go of pride, how opposites attract, and how they embrace the different hardships of life, through easy to follow dialogue and beautiful artwork. Theme: Fumino shows us that everyone faces different obstacles in life. It is a story showing us what friendship between two lonely hearts and what could happen if a friendship develops into something more. We get to look into the life of Kohei, who is struggling with his hearing loss and how other people treat and see him. We also get to see his personal struggles through flashbacks and his interactions with Taichi. Fumino also shows us Taichi’s life, whose parents are not in the picture and his is raised by his grandfather. We see Taichi’s struggles of abandonment and how he struggles to make it on his own. Characters: What I like most about this manga is that the few characters that author Fumino introduces us to are very detailed and believable making this story so enjoyable to read. Both protagonists have a realistic background of different trials that we as readers can identify with. Fumino uses flashbacks and dialogue to help us connect to their pasts and what they are challenged with now that they are attending college. Setting: Fumino takes us to the places that Kohei and Taichi are familiar with including their homes and their college. The artwork and dialogue make it interesting and lets us see what world these two protagonists live in from day to day. I look forward to the next book.

I can't express in words how much I love this sentimental and realistic series, and I'm incredibly grateful that it's received such a wonderful English translation! The atmosphere is so gentle and lovely that I find myself reading it over and over again. The sentimentality and natural character development are so refreshing that I'll never be able to hold this book without smiling. Though this volume works as a standalone, I'm looking forward to Theory of Happiness, where the story grows even more complex!

I hear the sunspot immediately sets it apart from other English language romance manga using both its college setting as a unique piece but also a hearing disabled (from a fever in middle school) character with a potentially declining hearing prognosis to its fullest effect. The main characters, while not necessarily new or unique for the genre, do at least avoid the typical bullying or overly popular trait that these characters typically find themselves in, which, in my view, sets it apart from others as well. So, in sum, this is a unique and incredibly intriguing romance manga. The romance itself is kind of subtle and really at times dwells in the land of one’s interpretation for most of the story until the final few pages. This aspect kind of makes me wonder about what happened during the drafting and development stage especially with the author’s afterward and editor’s conversation, and wondering if she planned for romance to come up a bit later in their relationship or maybe not at all(?), I mean there is clearly a continuation and on one hand one could say everything they faced was just each of them experience what real friendship was all about. Kohei never really had friends before and Taichi seemed to have the type of friends who are just schoolmates or there to do stuff with but not the type to really get that deeply involved in his life. Thus, for both of them, meeting the other and getting so deeply involved with each other and seeing what types of things arise in the situations they found themselves in, as well as the jealous feelings of seeing either spend time with someone else or simply to blow off each other’s messages or harbor their deeper thoughts when the other asked, could drive the emotional outburst and tears they felt in the story. Overall, loved this manga and hope to see where it goes and how their relationship deepens further. Taichi never gave any sort of reaction to the kiss (assumed kiss?) in the story or even the feelings after their movie date (?) so it remains to be seen what they are, lovers, friendships, just classmates?

I already read all the books online, but i've been meaning to buy all the physical books so i can re-read. I love them so much, is such a wholesome story. Taichi is just a boy )

This is a slow burn romance where two college aged men trip all over themselves before even confessing feelings for each other. I'm hearing and abled, but the story seems to handle the main character's hearing loss respectfully and from many angles (including calling out the fetishization of disability based on stories just like this one!) But I really want to rave about the quality of the localization and physical release from a publisher I haven't purchased anything from before! The translation really flows, with different characters' personalities coming through. The lettering matches the art very well and it looks like care was given to spacing and aesthetic. The physical edition is a good quality of paper, printing and cover considering this is a smaller title! As a collector of physical manga, I will definitely be checking out future releases from this this company, One Peace Books.

While I first started this series in high school, I started reading the Limit series first 😭😭 so now reading it from the beginning makes things so much clearer. A fun read, and *SPOILERS* doesn’t make you wait volumes on volumes for one to let the other know they’re interested, my kind of speed 💪

I Hear the Sunspot and Theory of Happiness are the first two, followed by Limit 1, 2, and 3. The newest additions are Four Seasons 1 &2. They are lovely, but can be confusing with the titling!

If you love soft boys trying to figure out life without things being airy and purely sex, this is great series. Our main boy lost most of his hearing due to fever. His world flipped upside. Needing help he hired someone to take notes for him. Enter our love interest. It’s a good series that really makes you think.

It came earlier than expected and it had no damage. Thanks.

¡llegó antes de lo esperado y en excelentes condiciones! la historia es muy bonita y expresan correctamente los sentimientos. la edición es muy buena y no es un inglés muy complicado por lo cuál es sencillo de leer.

I miss them already… so having the manga helps

Arrived today in perfect condition and read it all today only lol. Words cant describe just how much I love Kohei and Taichi 🥹💫 its been so long since I've read something that touched my heart so much. Will definitely buy the next volume when its available again. Love this so so much.