Some weeks ago, I came across the first volume of a iM@S manga at Book-Off.

Since I wasn’t expecting anything good from it, I put that book way back in my reading queue, and I finally gave it a read some days ago.

As a iM@S fanboy, I had to make a post about it. And well, made already a post about ‘Break !’ (see here) so I had to make a post about this one too.

‘relations’ is a 2 volumes-long manga which as been released last year. The art isn’t as good as in ‘Break’, and it gets 0 service, but I must say that I found the story way, WAY better. Yup, surprisingly enough, the story is rather interesting, making it the best iM@S related manga I’ve read so far.

As I did for ‘Break’, I won’t go for a long summary of the story, so I’ll just throw the usual random scans with comments.

Unlike ‘Break’, ‘relations’ features all the idols from the game, but the main character is actually Miki.

A short time after having recruited Miki, Producer-san decides to make her start as a member of a trio unit, the ‘Namco Angels’, with Iori and Yukiho.
Surprisingly, the author’s choice works and it ends up being a rather cute trio~, GJ !

In this manga, Chihaya is already a top idol, nicknamed ‘the idol who never smiles’. She was Producer-san’s former protégé, but they ‘broke up’ for some mysterious reason, which is apparantly why she constantly has this sad face.

On the other side, Producer-san decides to use her new protégé’s bright smile as her #1 charm point (who said that her main charm point was her breasts ?).

But when the trio finally gets some popularity, Producer-san decides to disband it so Miki can make her solo debut.

Then, Miki starts feeling all lonely, and misses Iori and Yukiho. That was cute~

But after some words from her two friends, Miki finally gets a grip of herself.
M : ” ‘Top Idol’ is the summit, right ?”
P : “?”
M : “It’s the best, right ?”
P : “Well, yeah.”
M : “Everybody will have to do what I say, right ?”
P : “Well… That’s a bad way to put it, but yeah in this business you can have this kind of power…”
M : “Then, I’ll become a Top Idol ! You said that I should have an objective ? Then I’ll become a Top idol, I’ll become famous enough to be able to go against your decisions, and reform the Namco Angels. That’s my objective.”
Man that was kind of cool~
Miki kakko ii <3

The ‘Idol Master Grand Prix’ is approaching, and (original) rival characters start to appear !
That’s all for the first half of the book. You will have to check this book for more~

At the very end of the book, we get to see what actually happened between Chihaya and Producer-san.
Chihaya is a genius who lives only for the music, but because of that she always has been alone. One day, a beginner producer joins the Namco prod., and becomes the one in charge of Chihaya.

This new producer actually has some knowledge about music, and Chihaya finally finds somebody she can share her passion with.
Right page, second panel : CHIHAYA~ !!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Dere Chihaya KITA ! This book gets many win points just with this scene~

But because of Chihaya’s high abilities, Producer-san starts to feel useless, and says to Chihaya that she doesn’t need him anymore.
“To be saved once and then be dropped again, is a much deeper solitude.”
Chihaya~ ;_;

From here starts a race for the Idol Master Grand Prix between the ‘Egao no Tensai’ and the ‘Egao no nai idol’~

That’s all for this book. It gets more goodness so be sure to check it if you’re a iM@S fan. I’m leaving to japan soon so I don’t feel like spending money ordering the second book, but I really look forward to it and hope I will come across it at Book-off~

See ya~

:beer:

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