The Spring 2023 Light Novel Guide

Sasaki and Miyano: First Years

What's It About? 

What were Hirano and Sasaki like as first-years? How did Kuresawa become so dedicated to his mysterious, BL-loving girlfriend? And what's going to happen between Kagiura and Hirano on Pocky Day?! Find out in this collection of stories that reveals how Miyano and Hirano became friends, what the upperclassmen were like when they started high school, and a behind-the-scenes look at their circle of friends. See how the story unfolds from new perspectives, and get more details about what goes on in these beloved characters' lives.

Sasaki and Miyano: First Years has a story by Kotoko Hachijo, based on the manga by Shō Harusono. English translation by Kevin Steinbach. Yen On, $15 paperback, $8.99 digital. Available now.

Is It Worth Reading?

Rebecca Silverman

Rating:

It's not always a great idea to go back and fill in the gaps in already-published stories, but it is in the case of Sasaki and Miyano. This short story collection gives us the perspectives of side characters in the main series and a few pieces that provide extra insight into the main story, narrated by Sasaki, Miyano, Hirano, and Kagiura. Nothing major happens (although I question my phrasing when I think about the Pocky Game chapter), but everything matters. It's a slow, cozy read that, once again, demonstrates that Kotoko Hachijo has an excellent grasp of Shō Harusono's characters and storytelling style.

While the chapter about Kuresawa and his girlfriend receives top billing and provides insight into the book's most stable (and sickeningly sweet) romance, the two Tashiro stories are, in many ways, the most interesting. That's because he's a side character in the main story. It gives a glimpse of how Miyano, and the rest of the protagonists, are viewed by the outside world. Tashiro's mild befuddlement but comfortable acceptance of them makes for a good window into the rest of the class. But what's most remarkable is that he doesn't care – he has his own life and stuff going on. His chapters are a firm reminder that while Miyano and Sasaki are our protagonists, they're not the protagonists of everyone else. Everyone has their own life. We're just following these two. It's a view that fits with the gentle tone of the main series, and it does not detract from it – if anything, it's a reminder that life does its own thing, and we're lucky to get to spend some time in theirs.