Simple yet complicated.

Yaru was living proof that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Living in the shadow of famous composer father and top actress mother is never easy. Being alone most of the time due to her parents fame and abandonment left her feeling isolated. Even in school she‘s just known by her parents reputation- she just doesn’t fit in. Things take a turn for the worst when Yaru’s mom announces her divorce from her dad and asks Yaru to move out on her own. Her already cloudy and lonely world just got worse when she witnesses something that will set chains in motion in Yaru’s life into becoming her own person.

Yaru felt betrayed by her mother and abandoned by her father ands she just wants to escape from them. Just as she was thinking that, Mizorogizan saw a spark in her and offered a chance of a lifetime. Beat them in their own game sort of thing. The story follows her through auditions and jobs, the ups and downs of being in the spotlight and falling in love.

Quiet and plain, Yaru, will show her parents that she doesn’t need them, like they never needed her. She will surpass them by becoming famous. I always find it inspiring what a great motivator the “bad” emotion/feelings are. Had Yaru been a little depressed or as people call it, “emo,” she would have never succeeded as far as she did. Having the right people in her life didn’t hurt the cause too.
I have to add that some people shouldn’t be parents. What I mean is that in regards to Yaru’s mom she is one of the few exceptions where her mom should have just swallowed. I know that sounds mean I’ll take it back since had that woman swallowed Honey Hunt wouldn’t have come to be.

To say that there’s a love triangle would be putting something completely obvious like a purple rhino in a room and telling you to pretend it’s not there. Why the need for a rhino, I mean a love triangle? I’m not sure but it’s everywhere these days so why not would be a better question. Though to be fair it starts off as a unreturned love, turns into a love triangle, then it morphs into a love rectangle. Because triangles are so last year.
The main set of characters are interesting and you can tell by the amount of page time where the story is heading. What saves it’s cliché-ness are interesting side characters and their sense of humor and individualism. Which is a mild exaggeration since I have yet to finish the manga and it’s just wishful thinking at this point in time.

Yaru is a simple girl, easy to like and understand. As the story progresses she starts growing more as an actress more so than as a person I think. Not necessarily a bad thing seeing as she just acts her age and sometimes is selfish. Being that it’s told from her point of view we get a close an personal look at how she thinks and feels during various points in her life. I would have actually liked for the story to stay in it’s original course of ; “A heartbroken girl, set against showing the world what she’s made of.” However certain things happen and deviate a little from the story in a romance way. Which is ok depending on how it plays out at the end.

Keiichi Mizorogizan, first go introduced in the beginning. He is exactly as out first impression shows us, stoic and businesslike. Underneath the work attitude is a sweet person and he shows it multiple times to the readers, even if other characters never know about. Mizorogizan’s role wasn’t one you’d think would be so steady throughout but it is. His character was like the curves and hills on railroad tracks, it gives the train some new hurdles and makes it different. Of course the “train” in this weird metaphor is Yaru-chan’s life. He was by far one of the best characters because he has so much potential to change and be anything and you won’t be surprised if he turns out to be an agent undercover. He’s a good looking Jiminy Cricket or maybe fairy god mother…

The art was vivid and being that it was a manga about the idol world in show business the style was great. From the clothing to the grace in the characters. In a way it reminds me of Skip Beat, although Skip Beat was different with their characters. To say it plainly, where Skip Beat was tall (drawing style for male leads), humorous, and peculiar in characters. This one was subtle, calm and swift. Everything just goes well. Like well synchronized instruments in a song. At times the details were a little off like with the eyes not being shaded in giving of an empty feel to the characters, maybe it had to do with light casting or whatnot but overall an 8 in art.

Is it worth a read? Sure. I still prefer Skip Beat, though that one has yet to develop romantically. I’m still only halfway through Honey Hunt but it keeps you interested the characters are cute and it’s a given the ending will be a happy one. How can it not, the heroine has three guys to choose from?