Strobe Edge, Vol. 10

ストロボ・エッジ [Strobe Edge] #10

by Io Sakisaka

Ninako loves Ren, but seeing Ando get hurt while protecting her makes her feel sad and confused—to the point where she turns Ren down when he confesses his love for her! Has Ninako lost her chance with Ren? Or will they find a way to be together?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comics Manga

184 pages, ebook

First published December 4, 2010

About the author

Io Sakisaka (咲坂伊緒) is a Japanese manga artist. She also designed the characters for the anime movie HAL. Her works are:

-Call My Name (2001)
-Watashi no Koibito (2002)
-Bye-Bye, Little (2002)
-Blue (2006)
-Mascara Blues (2007)
-Strobe Edge (2007)
-Ao Haru Ride (2011)
-Sono Omokage o Shitteru (2013) (oneshot)
-Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (2015)
-Otome no Itari (2020) (oneshot)
-Sakura, Saku (2021)

Reviews

[Vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series Review: A cute and breezy coming-of-age series with gorgeously drawn characters and heart fluttering moments. Definitely for the younger teen audience based on the slower pace, but a simple and easy read nonetheless.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it's finally happened. I'm very happy with how this series ended. The one thing that I liked about this series more than anything else, from the first volume onward, is how the characters care for and respect each other. Rather less common than it ought to be in fiction, but it's really nice to see it. It means that there's a minimum of external drama between characters, as opposed to having characters who are quietly wrestling with their own feelings. And I'm happy with that, especially when the ending is this satisfying, and this sweetly romantic.

[Azet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can`t believe that i finished all 10 volumes of Strobe Edge in just one day. Wow, what a ride this has been. Joyful, exciting and heartwarming with characters to root for. I love this one to pieces, and what a wonderful ending to Ren`s & Ninako`s love-story!

[Phoenix2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the review of the whole manga series:
Overall, a pretty interesting ride. I do love the artist since the Blue Ride series. She can make you feel butterflies by reading her stories and Strobe Edge didn't disappoint on that aspect. Sure, there were times where the side stories took over and the main plot just has some pages in the volume. Or, when the story got a bit tiring. But things picked up soon, with the thrill of a confession still there and the interest high till the very end. In addition, the characters were nice and the MC cute and adorable. The love triangle, more over, was really good and you can't help but feel sorry for the remaining one. So, 3 out of 5.

[Patry Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que monosidad!! Ren y Ninako son demasiado adorables juntos... que penita me da que se haya terminado pero volveré a leerlos en algún momento :D

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to be really clear here - this four stars is for Ando. And Manabu. BUT IT IS NOT FOR NINAKO AND REN because I am SICK of them.

OK, they are cute sometimes, but Ninako has such self-esteem issues she shouldn't be dating anyone at all until she has a better handle on herself. And Ren? Really? You're that self-assured about everything?

This series drove me crazy. Ren is flat and very distant and hard to get to know. I feel like he's so closed down as to seem emotionless most of the time. When he opens up it's a beautiful thing.

Ninako never really developed. She doesn't try hard in her relationships, in school, or even in her ambitions. She had the most room for growth - and really didn't at all. She feels like the same person she was on the last page as she was on the first page.

Ando is magnificent. He grew and changed the most, has the most depth, and is the most fleshed out of all the characters. He's incredibly imperfect, but the reader can love him for those imperfections. If I had a choice between and Ando and a Ren, I'd take the Ando anytime because he's the most real. He's over the top in his emotions and how he expresses things, but he tries the hardest, and to me - cares more deeply than anyone else.

The side story about Manabu will break your heart. I really wish I could see how that comes out someday. And I agree with the author - there should be a side story about that guy who was the cheerleader who had to leave school...I REALLY want to know what happens to him.

Why are the side characters so absolutely fascinating? Why are our lovebirds not?

Overall - there are better series out there. I'm glad I got to get to know Sayuri and Ando and Manubu, but it's not enough to recommend chasing down this series. If your library has it and you have nothing better to read, go for it. Otherwise, really, there are better books out there.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/49J17zomUnI

I can't believe the series is over! *sobs* IT WAS SO GOOD!!

This series has been so special and came in to volume one expecting to not love the characters as much as I do by the end of volume ten. I thought reading it at the library would be enough, but the more volumes I read, the more I realized that I could really connect to these fictional characters. It made me feel seen and encouraged me that I could relate to a manga character so much. It honestly was a beautiful reading experience and feel sad it's over.

This was such a strong and fantastic ending to this series! I felt on the fence so much with Ren and Ando, but I feel at peace about everyone's ending. (I still wish we could have gotten a Toda bonus story though!!) I didn't feel any of it was rushed and was glad that I felt the "loosing guy" would still get a good, happy ending in the future.

Most of all, I am SO glad Ninako shared her feelings!! That was a huge highlight considering she wrestled so much within herself through the series and then seeing her get it all out was extremely moving in this volume. (I didn't cry, but I definitely teared up!)

The bonus chapters were wonderful!! I deeply enjoyed both!

In the end, while this might seem a drama-filled story, it is not. It is a beautiful story of showing the adventure of one girl learning what love is with her friends by her side. I highly recommend Strobe Edge and definitely want to check out Io Sakisaka's other works because I feel I am now a fan!

Now what to do since this beautiful story is over?!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on IG: @xojazzle
I immediately had to start this volume after finishing up Vol 9. The cliffhanger?! Overall, I enjoyed the end to this series. I felt like seeing them together was a long time coming and a great grand gesture. I loved how their friendship developed from the beginning to now. I also think everyone got their own happy ending! Sayuri and daiki🫶and even ando! I loved seeing everything wrap up and I also enjoyed the bonus stories at the end! I’ve loved manabe from the start and I rlly enjoyed his bonus story hehe overall I’m pleased with the way strobe edge ended and liked this series overall! (However I do prefer ao haru ride hehe)

[DonutKnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt that tightening in my heart knowing that this was the last volume, and honestly got a bit teary. They love each other so much and the author did such a great job in conveying that.

That last scene at the train station made me appreciate how important the setting is for stories, but particularly in mangas when you see it for yourself, and seeing as the train station was when Ninako first felt that connection with Ren, it was just so fitting for the end.

Agh, my heart. What a great love story, what a great ending! I really loved this volume and the series, it truly gave me the feels. 👏👏👏👏👏

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. So cute I could throw up. Imagine a love like a shoujo manga. Ugh. I want to pick up more by Io Sakisaka. She really knows how to pull at my heart strings. Like it's kind of corny, but WHO CARES. it's so cute and lovey-dovey.

[Ece. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Çok keyifli bir seriydi.
Yazarın diğer serisi favorilerimden biri olunca, ister istemez karşılaştırma yapıyorum. Bu onun kadar etkilemedi beni, ama yine de beğendim.

[Dragonfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precioso el último tomo, sobre todo con ese capi especial de Gacchan, se agradece muchísimo, porque es de mis personajes favoritos, oye, categoría de husbando para mí junto con Ren jajaja.

Ha sido una historia divertida a la vez que tierna, y aunque es verdad que en un principio me costó engancharme, al final sus personajes me han ido conquistado y la historia me fue enganchando. No es de mis favoritas de la mangaka, pero se deja amar igualmente, porque es imposible no enamorarse o sentirse atraída por alguna de sus historias.

También aproveche y saque el tomo 13 de Aoha Ride para leer el capi especial de Ninako y Ren, me ha parecido precioso y super cute y tierno.

[Dilushani Jayalath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay after waiting a painful 8 months for my books to arrive (next time I'm just gonna get from amazon as usual) I managed to read strobe edge in just a day. Well one good thing i could read all the books at once so I'm just writing a review for the last book. Io sakis aka is without doubt my favourite manga author ever. Im kind of new to the manga world as Sri Lanka isn't the best place to buy manga from and so far I've found only one bookshop with manga available and that to has a very poor collection. It's just so bad it makes one want to cry. So anyways back to Strobe Edge. As expected from Sakisaka-sensei this manga was a fun ride from the beginning to the end. I would say this is one of the best manga i've read but sadly Sakisaka-sensei's Ao Haru Ride still holds the top for me. He he.
The characters for me was so loveable. I loved every one of them unlike in Ao Haru Ride (I simply hated Narumi in that). Our heroine Ninako was one of the most easily likeable characters. She was headstrong and loved her as much as I loved Futaba. As for Ren my feelings are mixed. How he easily came to Ninako and after he broke up he seemed as he wanted to go back. Then again one can say teenage love is fickle or something along those lines. In terms of male protagonist i guess i liked Kou better. But nonetheless this was just one awesome manga to read. At one point you are laughing and at one point you just put your head down on the pillow in frustration+sadness. For anyone who love show mangas Strobe Edge is without doubt one of those best out there. I really hope there will be an anime adaption to this and the live action which will be out soon be as good as Ao Haru Ride one. Have e fun journey with Strobe Edge!!!
Ps- For those who haven't watched Ao Haru Ride live action i recommend to watch it. From all the live actions this season i've watched so far AHR live action was the best. It was the most closest to resemble the cast of the manga. After the major failures of L-DK and Say I love you Live actions, this movie is like a breath of fresh air. So don't forget to catch that too ;)

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just adorable. I want a boyfriend like him:) Love how these two developed over the series.

[Kitapların Senfonisi • Büşra · Rating 4 out of 5]

İster istemez yazarın diğer mangasıyla karşılaştırınca bu biraz daha sönük geldi bana. Basit bir kurgusu vardı. Ama çok severek okudum diyebilirim. Eğlenceliydi.

[IzamaRi H. Fabela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ren por fin ha confesado sus sentimientos a Ninako pero las cosas no fueron como él pensaba ya que Ninako lo rechazo argumentando que tenía sentimientos por otro chico. Ren acepta el rechazo tal y como Ninako hizo en su tiempo, pero a diferencia de aquella primera vez donde ella se le confesó y al ser rechazada siguieron siendo amigos, ahora Ninako evita todo contacto con él y Ren no sabe cómo reaccionar a esto pues más allá de los sentimientos románticos que tiene hacía ella, Ninako es su única amiga.

Ando por su parte acepta por fin que perdió una vez más contra Ren y se hace a la idea que tendrá que verlos como pareja, pero al llegar a la escuela descubre que Ren y Ninako están más distantes que nunca y al observarlos un poco se percata que Ninako es quien mantiene la distancia sobre todo cuando él está cerca. Ando no es tonto y pronto descubre lo que sucede y a pesar de que se juró que no iba ayudar a Ren, termina dándole a Ninako el ultimo empujón, para que al fin la chica escuche a sus sentimientos.
Pensé que tal vez mi confesión había removido algo en tu corazón.
Tengo que advertirles que es probablemente que fangirlee mucho y quizá no diga nada coherente pero es que las historias de Io Sakisaka me transforman en una adolescente estúpidamente enamorada que no puede evitar ver todo con ojos de amor.

Con este décimo tomo llegamos al final de un manga al que puedo describir como “BELLISIMO”. De verdad que Sakisaka es experta en contarnos historias tiernas que quizá a primera vista no parezcan nada excepcional, de hecho sus historias no son precisamente novedosas y hace demasiado uso de los clichés y sus protagonistas a veces no son las más achispadas pero a pesar de ello sabe manejar todo a su favor para convertir esos puntos negativos en algo muy positivo.
El encanto de sus personajes y su manera sencilla y sentimental de contar las cosas transmite tanto al lector que les juro por mi madre que al terminar de leerla siempre termino con una sonrisa idiota en la cara queriendo abrazar a todo el mundo.

También en esta última reseña tengo que volver hacer mención de sus ilustraciones pues de verdad son PRECIOSAS. Creo que en el manga Shōjo Sakisaka es mi ilustradora favorita pues sabe jugar con la forma de sus personajes, por ejemplo, cuando nos presenta una escena cómica suele decantarse por un estilo chibi mientras que cuando la escena es intensa y emotiva, se va por una ilustración mucho más estilizada y eso de verdad que también hace que uno ame sus historias.

Y para terminar me gustaría contarles que hay un live action de esta historia y me encantaría recomendárselas pues si bien no es 100% fiel al manga si llega a transmitir los sentimientos que Sakisaka nos presenta. Y bueno, UNA VEZ MÁS TENGO QUE DECIRLES QUE DEBEN DE LEER UN MANGA DE IO SAKISAKA SI O SI, PUES DE VERDAD SU TRABAJO ES SIMPLEMENTE HERMOSO.

[Leila ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't mind me I'm just crying because estoy agotada de que siempre me guste el personaje con el que la mina no se termina quedando.



Fue un buen manga. La historia me resultó lo suficientemente interesante y atrapante como para querer seguir leyendo todo el tiempo. Lovely * Complex medio que me arruinó cualquier otra historia de romance por su perfección, principalmente por el hecho de que no me va mucho que siempre la historia termina cuando los personajes se ponen juntos (como acá). Pero salvo por eso (y por el hecho de que Ando deserved so much better), fue una buena historia.

4 de 5 estrellas.

[Grace Tomasweetie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WE LOVE THIS SERIES. IT IS THE PERFECT COMBO OF COMFY & EMO & I TREASURE IT. Ninako is such a hero—I’m convinced after rereading that she is a character that I subconsciously (prob actually consciously LOL) built my personality off of. Okay, & reading that latest chapter with the newer art style……….why did Ren look even cuter?!!!!!?? ANYWAYS. This was such a nice interlude between PJO & HoO 💛💛💛

I have to edit this cause I have an extra thought I’ve been thinking since the beginning—THIS DID HEALTHILY WHAT ANNA & THE FRENCH KISS FAILED TO 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 REN WAS IN A SEMI-FAILING RELATIONSHIP BUT THE GIRL WASN’T VILIFIED AT ALL & REN DIDN’T CHEAT & ACTIVELY TRIED TO PUSH HIS FEELINGS FOR NINAKO AWAY CAUSE HE IS SO HONORABLE. PERIOD. & yes I just love it so much okay bye.

[Yasmin Almendras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es bastante bueno, gracioso y te hace gritar cuando hay momentos entre los protagonistas. Lo que no me gusta es que coloquen a un personaje que sabes que saldrá con el corazón roto, porque no es necesario, solo son para sufrir y generar drama (Te amo Andou). Eso si creo que Kinoshita fue bastante responsable en nnca aceptar sus sentimientos y darle a entender que sentía algo por Ren (Indirecta para Futaba) Todos los personajes me parecieron buenos, la trama es sencilla pero atrapante.
3.5/5

[Flor ):) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Breana · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAHH THIS WAS SO GOOD was rooting for everyone

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this volume, the story of Strobe Edge comes to a close. What this story has been since the beginning is the relationship between Ninako and Ren, the evolution of it and the possibilities between them. And for many readers, it's been an enjoyable but slightly frustrating ride, watching them grow closer only to fall back and letting the cycle repeat several times.

But the series finale puts to rest the indecision. You will walk away from this volume knowing their fate, no questions about it.

You can read my complete review of the final volume of STROBE EDGE at my blog.

[Chrissy♥Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trials and tribulations of a first crush and first love. A love triangle of friends with intertwining history makes it a tad complex, cute and rooting for your fav couple to come together. I love the full page drawings of the characters it adds more to the manga and the story.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooo freaking cute and adorable and aw. It's really good to read a cute story in times like this. Ow, but I'm gonna miss all if the characters.. in fact I already miss them. This was a nice ride.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do I do now that I finished my fave shoujo 😭

[Ady Weasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gusto mucho, aunque no voy a negar que sentí que todo fue demasiado rápido en este tomo.

Pobre Ando a pesar de todo, y de no querer ponérsela fácil a Ren, ayudo a Ninako, no sin antes robarle su primer beso.

Finalmente ambos chicos aceptaron sus sentimientos y es una declaración un poco fuera de lo común terminaron convirtiéndose en pareja, y lo más lindo fue la reacción de sus compañeros y que Ren quiera mantener en secreto sus declaraciones.

Las historias extras son tan lindas, la de Gacchan me sorprendió, pues aunque todos lo ven como un chico divertido y despreocupado, en realidad es alguien muy Maduro, en mi mente me imagino que logra reencontrarse con Ritsuko por lo que comenta su primo.

La historia extra de Ren y Ninako me gusto mucho, sobre todo porque Ren confiesa como se siente al saber que otro hombre , Ando, ha tocado a su amada Ninako.

Y también leí la historia extra en el tomo 13 de Aoha Raido, es tan lindo ver a Ren celoso y todo por una plática entre Ninako y el Líder, me sorprendió la novia del Líder, al igual que a los chicos. Aunque gracias a esto ,los chicos se dieron cuenta de que su relación tiene tiempo para madurar. Y Ando, sus palabras de dejar poco a poco a Ni amo me gustaron mucho. La verdad me gustaría saber qué pasó con él, quiero verlo feliz porque me gusta el personaje

[Nulaniah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Versi komik terbitan m*c agak mengecewakan, karena part terakhirnya gak adaaaaa 😭

Haduh, sayang banget, padahal sengaja beli komik fisiknya (biarpun udah sering baca scan-nya) buat part itu 😢 kecewa sih, tapi gapapa lah, agak sebel tapi, huhuhu...

Secara keseluruhan, suka banget sama komik ini, biarpun bagian-bagian awal agak bikin sebel, tapi semakin ke belakang, semakin seruuu, apalagi pas bagian Ren impulsif itu, jadi senyam-senyum sendiri... Di sini juga kerasa perkembangan karakternya, gak nyesel lah punya komik fisiknya, part akhir itu bisa baca di mangarock nanti #plak *masihsebeltapiberusahamenerima*

[Evey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a lovely series about love and friendship. It had adorable characters that showed personal growth throughout the volumes, and the art was extremely cute. So if you're looking for something fluffy and funny, I'd totally recommend this manga.

On a side note, I'd love to read about Andou's and Gacchan's stories!

[Miss Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

girl quietly freaking out in local library over teenagers and their feelings? it's more likely then you think!

(i'm so happy for ninako and ren!!!)

4 stars

[dani ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*