“Tamaki Mishina was getting out. Escaping from the tiny village where everyone loathed her for things beyond her control, especially since her dad—her last tie to the town—had recently passed away. That's why she applied to a high school in Tokyo in the first place. But then she got sent packing from her boardinghouse, woke up in Mr. Playboy Punk Rocker's apartment, and just kinda stayed there because she didn't have anywhere else to go. Too bad Rou keeps trying to kick her out because he's pretty sure she doesn't understand what it really means to live with a guy…” (Yen Press)
Plenty of romance manga blur the line of acceptability, with the genre usually allowing events to occur that would otherwise be frowned upon. Balancing escapism with truths about relationships and societal perception can offer drastically different results, and there is always a concern that romance gets lost in the details. This concern applies to Mitsubachi Miyuki's “Stray Cat & Wolf,” which deals with a partnership built on dependency and a slight age gap, with one being underage to be in a relationship.
The idea of relying on someone for housing and using that to advantage, as well as the repercussions of starting a relationship with an underaged girl (even if it is just a few years), does put the manga at a disadvantage. However, the writing of Mitsubachi Miyuki is thoughtful around the scenario and manages to craft an engaging love story where the participants are aware of the problems and potential misconceptions others would see in their relationship.
The primary way that Mitsubachi Miyuki closes this gap is by writing balanced characters. Tamaki Mishina is certainly sheltered and has some insecurities around her limited experience with the world, but she is by no means dumb or a pushover. Comparatively, punk rocker Rou, is used to women falling for him constantly, and the enigma of Tamaki pushes his character to change his perception and actions. The way the two grow together has its problems, but there is sincerity in the writing that endears you to both, and instantly draws you into their growing relationship. Ultimately, the issue of power dynamics by age or status becomes moot as the reader becomes enamored with Tamaki and Rou.
Visually, Mitsubachi Miyuki shows command over the romance genre, knowing how to capture the beauty of the characters with an emphasis on these romanticized elongated forms. The visuals are sleek, and the characters convey emotions clearly. In addition, Miyuki imbues a lot of energy into the music scenes, making it apparent why Rou is such a romanticized character, with the spotlight shining on the lead singer and the synergy between him and his bandmates.
There is no doubt that Mitsubachi Miyuki is a masterful storyteller of shoujo (also authoring “Cheeky Brat“), and “Stray Cat & Wolf” will undoubtedly please readers of the genre. Guilt-free escapism at its best for those romantically inclined, the series makes a strong impact in its inaugural release and will complement any shoujo collection.
