Strobe Edge by Io Sakisaka
Here are my individual reviews/thoughts for volumes 1-10 of Strobe Edge! Think of these reviews as a notes app thought dump. I had the time of my life reading this series and could not! Wanted to share my immediate and unfiltered thoughts.
Volume 1
Rating: 4/5★
Read: 9/26/22
Ok, I trust anything by Io Sakisaka 🫡 Volume 1 HAS ME HOOKED! I’m SO excited to see what happens next! Right off the bat, all the characters are super likeable (the only thing that bothers me is that Ninako makes a duck face ALL the time; I’m like, why? lol). The biggest cliché: girl and guy are long-time friends. Guy likes the girl, girl falls for someone else. Poor friend. She finds something out about the guy she falls for, and when I tell you, I was SHOCKED! LOL, I WAS NOT EXPECTING IT! Ren definitely gives me the “I’m cold on the outside, but I’ll be soft for that one girl” vibe, haha. I’m excited to see more of his and Ninako’s character development, as well as get to know the rest of the characters more. I think this is going to be another cute story about what it feels like to be in love for the first time 🥰, and those moments are super cute and special! I’m excited to see what happens next in the story.
Volume 2
Rating: 3.75/5★
Read: 9/26/22 – 9/27/22
I have mixed feelings about this volume. I almost gave it 3 stars, but the bonus story about how Ren and Mayuka met and started dating saved it, so let’s talk about that first. Their little story was so cute, and I really liked it! Understanding how they got together makes their relationship feel super special. I already liked Mayuka because I thought she was nice, and seeing how Ren treated her made me even more fond of their connection. Love it! He tried to act more mature so she felt comfortable sharing her feelings 🥹. I think they’re so cute, and this just made me even more annoyed about why I was bothered with this volume in the first place, lol. I hate how Ninako is still acting, even though she knows Ren has a girlfriend. I know she isn’t necessarily making a move, but I feel like she’s trying to play the victim, being upset all the time because he has a girlfriend. It’s like??? HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND, LIKE MOVE ON. I don’t know, that just really bothers me, lol, and Ren kind of continuing to entertain it. I do, however, like the added mix of Ando. I hope Ninako just goes for him because I’m a sucker for the reformed playboy, but I think Ando is going to end up pushing Ren to break up with his girlfriend and go for Ninako. I don’t know, I have very mixed emotions lol.
Volume 3
Rating: 4/5★
Read: 9/28/22
Feeling: conflicted, lol. There are so many things going on, I’m like AHHHH. First, Ren. This boy is soooo CONFUSING. He has a girlfriend and just needs to distance himself from Ninako. Even his friends made a comment that Ren acts different around her. He lets loose and acts more like his true self. I feel bad, but c’mon 😵💫. Second, Ninako is kinda dense (sorry, lol). She needs to stop being upset with Ren when he spends time with his girlfriend! Like, YES, I get it. You love him, but you know he has a girlfriend, so you’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak? I feel really bad for Ren’s girlfriend, Mayuka, because I think she senses something sigh. She’s so nice, but I can see that her relationship with Ren is VERY surface level. They’re both very different and don’t seem compatible. Third, ANDO. HE IS SO CUTE, HAHA. I love the whole reformed playboy trope, and I know he’s the second male lead, but I love him. He SCREAMS Toma from Ao Haru Ride because he’s “the guy she’s using to get over the first guy,” so I know this isn’t going to end well for him, lol. He’s a very sweet guy, so I hope he gets a nice ending. I’m interested to see what happens in the next volume! Side note: Sayuri and Daiki are SO CUTE. I LOVE the little snippets of them 🫶.
Volume 4
Rating: 5/5★
Read: 9/28/22
Wow, this volume had ALLLL THE DRAMA. I feel like I’m facing an inner battle of what’s wrong and what’s right, lol. I love Ando, tbh, hahah. I feel like his character has changed really nicely, and even though it was kinda insta-love, I like where his feelings for Ninako are at. He’s really sweet to her, and I love it! Very much “I hate everyone but you,” hahah. I like that he’s jealous and willing to fight for who he loves! We love that 🤭. He made sure to tell Ren how he feels, because EVERYONE can see that Ren feels some type of way for Ninako. In this volume, you definitely see that he notices the effect she has on him as well. He’s trying to distance himself because he knows it’s wrong to feel this way when he has a girlfriend. He definitely acts more free when he’s with Ninako, and it seems like Mayuka kinda holds him back. This just gives me weird feelings for Ninako, because, yes, I know she likes him, but I HATE when other girls can’t respect that the guy they’re into has a girlfriend, idk 😭. I don’t know where her intentions are. I just feel like they’re a mess, lol. But other than that crazy love square going on, I ADORE Daiki and Sayuri 🫶. They’re so precious, and I love, love, love their relationship!! They make such a great addition to the story. I want more of them :)).
Volume 5
Rating: 3/5★
Read: 9/30/22
Tbh, I didn’t know what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t THAT, lol. Ando is definitely giving major Toma vibes from Ao Haru Ride, and I love him 😩😩. He’s so fun and so cute; I want Ninako to choose him! But her feelings really confuse me, lol. Every time she talks about Ren, she says how she shouldn’t love him but can’t help it and just cries. Like, girl, you know he has a girlfriend. I don’t know why you’re that upset 😭. Anyways, I’m curious to see what will happen now between her and Ren. Overall, this volume was okay—nothing that really kept my attention—but I LOVED THE BONUS STORY! 🫶 Team Ando, fr 🥺.
Volume 6
Rating: 4/5
Read: 9/30/22 – 10/2/22★
Okay, this definitely made up for the last volume! I feel like I enjoyed this story so much more now that SPOILER ALERTRen is single. It makes me feel like I have a clear conscience, lol. One of my favorite things was Ren and Ando’s friendship. I hate how a girl ruined it in the past, but in this volume, they seem to be creating a path to becoming good friends again. I’m honestly hoping we get to see it happen because I love their dynamic! There were also tons of cute Ren and Ninako scenes! I feel so much better now that he’s single, but I’m wondering why they both won’t admit anything now?? Nothing’s stopping them from going for it! I still feel bad for Ando, though, lol. He changed his player ways to try to be with Ninako, but she could care less about him romantically—poor Ando! Also, Manabu is so cute! I literally love him, and I need a one-shot for him! And the ending?? What’s the tea there?! This volume left me with a ton of questions! On to the next volume 🫶.
Volume 7
Rating: 5/5★
Read: 10/2/22 – 10/3/22
OK, I THINK THIS WAS MY FAVORITE VOLUME SO FAR, OMG!!! The school trip chapters are ALWAYS MY FAVORITE! I love how Ren asked Ninako to be in a group, and their friends did whatever they could to give them alone time, heheh 🫶 love supportive friends! I also really liked how comfortable they are with each other. Things just seem to flow so nicely for them, and I love seeing them get more comfortable and develop a close bond. It’s just so sweet, I love it! Ren is DEFINITELY coming out of his shell more, and it makes me so happy to see how much he likes Ninako. SO WHOLESOME!! I also like how we focused a lot on Sayuri in this volume. I LOVE HER SO MUCH, and I’m so happy there’s no trouble in paradise for her and Daiki. I love them together so much <3 I really enjoyed learning about her past. THE BONUS CHAPTER OF HER AND YU! So, so, so cute. I literally love her so much. But I can tell there’s going to be trouble for Ren and Ninako—I feel something coming 😩😩 need to read the next volume NOW. Side note: THEY MENTIONED THE KIMI NI TODOKE ANIME, AND I FREAKED OUT JAJSJSJSSHSJ <3333.
Volume 8
Rating: 4.5/5★
Read: 10/3/22
This was soooo good! I feel like in the last two volumes, especially this one, we get a new side of Ren, and I LOVE IT! He’s very assertive and explains his feelings a lot more. I feel like he’s making more of an effort to go after Ninako, and I love it 🤭 Him listening to a song just because she hummed it, sticking up for her in front of the class, taking her to the nurse’s office—SO CUTE! The only thing is, ANDO IS CUTE TOO. I love how he talks about Ninako and just puts himself out there! He helps her with cheer (and says the cutest things) and IS SO DEFENSIVE WITH HER, I LOVE IT. He gives me “touch her and I’ll kill you” vibes. On top of that, I really love Ando and Ren’s friendship. So, I can definitely see why Ninako is acting the way she is. She’s putting their friendship first over her feelings. I’m feeling so conflicted because that’s very nice of her, but I want her to be with someone, but I also don’t know who I want her to be with 😩 This is so hard. A good love triangle makes it so hard to choose who you want to be endgame, and this is definitely one of them. Lastly, SCREW ANDO’S EX, I HATE HER 😄😄 lol Onto the next volume <3.
Volume 9
Rating: 4/5★
Read: 10/3/22
GIRLLL, BYE! THIS VOLUME GAVE ME WHIPLASH, WHAT THE HECKKKKKK. Ninako, what are you doing?! REN, OMG, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU FINALLY DID IT 😭😭 And Ando… STOPPPP, HE DESERVES EVERYTHING. I WANT HIM TO BE HAPPY 🥺 I’m feeling so conflicted right now. I JUST WANT A HAPPY ENDING FOR EVERYONE, PLS. I’m starting the next volume now. I might add onto this review later, HAHA, BUT I’M SO INVESTED. THIS VOLUME JUST MADE ME KEKJEJEJSH, BYE.
Volume 10
Rate: 4/5★
Read: 10/4/22
I immediately had to start this volume after finishing Vol 9. The cliffhanger?! Overall, I really enjoyed the ending to this series. Seeing them together felt like a long time coming and such a great grand gesture. I loved how their friendship developed from the beginning to now. Plus, I think everyone got their own happy ending—Sayuri and Daiki 🫶 and even Ando! I loved seeing everything wrap up, and the bonus stories at the end were a great touch. I’ve loved Manabe from the start, and his bonus story was so enjoyable hehe. Overall, I’m pleased with how Strobe Edge ended and really liked the series, though I do prefer Ao Haru Ride hehe.
