Haikei, Arishi Hi ni Saku Hanatachi e - Ch. 20.1

[Amerine]

I'd like to second the raws being cheaper than you think, both on the face of it costing less relative to the translated version but also because you get a lot more for your money against the yen these days so you're probably over-budgeting

Finally got back to some Haruyo fluff, but at what cost? It's such a shame to see Igarashi blame herself, an introspective series like this is going to have trouble reaching a mass audience but for what it is it's been flawless

 

[gimme_yuri_plz]

About this chapter: ❤️❤️❤️

Wow, the author is being too hard on themselves. It's unfortunate that there won't be any more physical releases, but this story is great! You should be proud of your work! We love it!

 

[irrelevance90]

Just bought all the volumes for this and Aizawa-san on Bookwalker, not out of pity or anything but I genuinely think these are probably the two best ongoing manga right now.

 

[rkbrillantes]

GUYS. Its our duty to keep this work of art alive. We should all support the author. I simply cant see this get cancelled cos of poor sales. Its the best story telling and visuals of all the yuri I've seen in the decade I've began reading yuri.

On topic: I love the visual story telling so much, the nonchalant shoulder pull Paruyo does when they got together, its the simplest of all panels but it shows us how she acts when she's in the senpai mode. I think I may take one no dialogue frame and hand it on my wall.

 

[hishokos]

Give the raws a like.
Link to buy the digital volumes.
Link to buy the physical volumes.
Igarashi's comments for chapter 20.1:

Spoiler: me rambling about buying manga

Respectfully I disagree with Igarashi's final sentiment. In regards to western fans that is. No offense but the western manga fandom is held captive by a sense of learned helplessness I've noticed ever since I got into the hobby as a middle school weeaboo. Whenever a manga reaches an untimely end, there's all these cries of "How could Japan let us down?" and "Japan has shit taste!" But did these people buy the manga themselves? Did they give any support or did they push responsibility onto someone else?

And this was fair enough before digital copies when shipping was a much more complicated process. Today a western reader can buy copies of the manga just as easily as Japanese readers, and cheaper than they likely realize. Localized copies run up to 20 bucks per volume but digital Japanese copies can be just 5 dollars and frequently go on sale.

I understand someone as sensitive as Igarashi would feel worse if readers felt obligated over what she believes are her own personal failings, but there remains an inherent obligation on the part of patrons if any creative industry is to keep running. The starving artist isn't a meme. And in this age of overstimulation and AI slop it's easier than ever for artists to slip through the cracks.

I always emphasize to never spend beyond your means. Money's tight for many right now and there's no need to force yourself into unnecessary expenditure. But every sale does make a difference. Manga operate on razor thin margins where the difference between a volume 3 axe and a longrunning series could have been 100 extra copies sold at the right moment. A part of why I do what I do is bringing that awareness to western audiences. I wouldn't translate something I didn't think was worth supporting.

And official localized releases are nearly always too little too late. The truth is they make practically no difference to a manga's success. Either it was already failing and the publisher picked up the license for dirt cheap or it was already profitable and they wanted to ride its success. Their sales go through so many middlemen that little reaches the original author. By all means, buy a localized copy to have something physical you can actually read. But never wait on an official localized release if all you want is to support the series.

Now mind you there is no guarantee AriSaku is being axed. Japan's economy, like all ours, is in a downturn and publishers are turning away from physical copies. It just means success margins are shifting and AriSaku slipped a bit underwater. But this can be disheartening for a mangaka and Igarashi has already wondered if she should just end the manga.

I'll admit this is a bit of hysteria. But I've also been on this rodeo enough times (seriously numb to it by now) to know, if you see a single warning sign a manga is about to be axed, you treat it like DEFCON 2. Japanese mangaka notoriously keep a stiff upper lip until it's too late. The shikata ga nai spirit runs deep and it's seen as shameful to ask for help. So if an overreaction is triggered in trying to be helpful I believe it's worth it. If we're wrong the worst that happens is a good manga sells well.

...Anyway! I guess this topic may dominate discussion of the chapter. I'm really sorry about that.

Haruyo's so precious.

FYI, the link for physical volumes actually redirects to the comic-walker raws.

Also, for people who have access to Kinokuniya, you can request Japanese books via their online store and they do not charge you for shipping from Japan (at least in the US, they will only charge you for shipping from their US fulfillment center). I've bought the first two volumes of AriSaku this way!
US Kino links to AriSaku (mind the store will be closed 8/27-8/28) for maintenance): Link

 

[onedumninja]

What failings? This is one of the best and most thoughtful manga of all time. It's a fucking gem! I bought it, forgot I bought it and tried to buy it again. I wish it was easier to buy this stuff on every japanese website cuz then I'd buy it on multiple sites but I always run into payment issues on the sites that aren't bookwalker.

Trillions for an AI bubble and nothing for masterful art. What a world we live in

I'm gonna go try to buy it again somehow! The artist is so talented and amazing. She shouldn't have to feel like she's failed at all. Most people either have bad taste or good taste and no money T_T

Edit: Liked all the raws on the official site to show support and sent a message of support too. It's in english though so I hope that's okay. I really want this story to make it all the way man. God dammit all

 

[Fluffacorn]

This series is so good I bought volume 1 physically, and it never arrived. and I didn't refund it. then I bought all 3 volumes physically, and then bought all 3 again digitally (twice, because I forgot I bought it on bookwalker). I'm not fucking around, this is a top tier piece of work and if it gets axed before it gets the ending it deserves, I will burst into tears. please buy ts bro 🥀. and if you can't, send it to someone who can. I'm on my KNEES

 

[Gubb]

Yet another beautiful chapter. Thank you once again for the translation, and all the extra context you put in the forum post.

Others here have already expressed my same thoughts on the matter of supporting the series (and I'll probably write my full thoughts on the matter again once volume 4 is out), so I just want to briefly emphasize that it really is very, very easy to buy the digital volumes, even if navigating through a JP site might be intimidating.

 

[strawberrymilk0192]

I want more volumes

 

[zairaner]

Just bought all the volumes for this and Aizawa-san on Bookwalker, not out of pity or anything but I genuinely think these are probably the two best ongoing manga right now.

another me

 

[MechaDaze]

I'm going to be honest. I would love to have an English release for myself, but I don't like purchasing things I'm not going to be able to use. So having a Japanese physical release or pdf would not be something I would want.

Is it possible to donate directly to the author? Or purchase for other people that would want them? I really love this series and would like for it to be able to get to its own conclusion rather than have one thrust upon it.

 

[NightmareWeeb]

If a manga like this gets cancelled for low sales, I think I will lose what remaining faith in humanity I have.

 

[Percy_]

Its nice to get a cute fluffy chapter considering how dark the past couple have been (love it all tho). Also I can never stop looking at these panels, they are gorgeousss

Thank you for the translations, can't wait for the next one

 

[Sekraan]

I'm going to be honest. I would love to have an English release for myself, but I don't like purchasing things I'm not going to be able to use. So having a Japanese physical release or pdf would not be something I would want.

Is it possible to donate directly to the author? Or purchase for other people that would want them? I really love this series and would like for it to be able to get to its own conclusion rather than have one thrust upon it.

Buy digital copies on Bookwalker and consider the improved prospects of being able to continue reading this series in the future as the benefit you are purchasing.

 

[Sekraan]

FYI, the link for physical volumes actually redirects to the comic-walker raws.

Also, for people who have access to Kinokuniya, you can request Japanese books via their online store and they do not charge you for shipping from Japan (at least in the US, they will only charge you for shipping from their US fulfillment center). I've bought the first two volumes of AriSaku this way!
US Kino links to AriSaku (mind the store will be closed 8/27-8/28) for maintenance): Link

The link broke since they updated their website. Here's an updated one.

 

[peacegiant]

I don't even have anything smart to say about it but pages 8&9 with her crying just from being overwhelmed at how much she loves her makes me cry too. And the way Haruyo knows exactly how to bring the letter up without embarrassing or overwhelming her is just incredible.

I do kind of hope that as the relationship progresses they share phone numbers (or email, at least) for like... emergencies. I have a feeling this chapter would have been far far more distressing if Haruyo was the one who got sick and Kasumi was stewing on her own for week trying to figure out wtf happened.

Also, I wonder if Haruyo meeting Kasumi here is happening on the same day as her finding the letter? I kind of hope it isn't, because the idea of a sick Kasumi having to convince someone to deliver a letter to a middle schooler's locker feels so fucking funny

 

[Arqa]

I did my part o7

 

[youkari]

This timeline absolutely sucks. I'm not on social media so was wondering why there were no announcements of a physical volume. I've been buying every volume as soon as it was printed. The collector in me is crying. I was really looking forward to reading it again on paper.


Edit: If you like something, please buy the physical copy immediately. Manga in Japan usually goes out of print extremely fast for those series that aren't popular.


There's only been 2 series I haven't been able to complete in my collection so far. One of them was Hakka Shoujo volume 5. That one never got printed until the mangaka did her own private run of 500 copies. But alas, I was not in Japan at the time.

 

[EchoGirl]

Love the wholesome letter

 

[WeaverTVSC]

bought all the 4 volumes as well