Ai no Poem tsuki Kotoba-seme CD Vol.4

Tiara 愛のポエム付き言葉攻めCD Vol. 4

Company: Lantis
Based on: Original
Released: 2009.07.22

The Ai no Poem tsuki Kotoba-seme series is pretty much what it says on the tin: A CD that 'attacks' you with words, which also has a poem about love included. And by attacking I mean aiming directly at your heart and making you go dokidoki in a lot of ways. Vol 4 is voiced by Hatano Wataru and Abe Atsushi.

For this CD we once again have two seiyuu like in the first CD, but this time there is one story that features both of them.

You are taken to a distant castle where two brothers live. Their father gave you to them as a gift, with the message that they will have to see who gets you in the end yourself. The two brothers give you one month to choose between them, which also gives them one month to seduce you.

Despite being the more serious one, Noir (CV: Abe Atsushi) is the first one to make a move on you (although.... we'll get to that later). He runs into you in the garden one morning and walks with you a bit. When you touch one of the roses blooming in the garden you prick yourself. Noir immediately asks you to show your hand, and says that your blood looks inviting nope nope nope DiaLovers traumas. He takes you back inside to tend to your 'wound', which is when he discovers that you are covered in "tiny flower petals", and it turns out that Rouge drugged you last night and had some quality time with you. Noir decides to make you fall for him, starting with 'erasing those marks with his own kisses'. Afterwards he takes you to his room so that you can sleep (yeah right).

Rouge (CV: Hatano Wataru). Rouge is the more loose one of the two, never acting serious and basically sleeping all day. When he wakes up it is already night, and he discovers you in his brother's room. He goes to talk with you, and says he knows that you are actually a witch, but that he doesn't care about this and loves anyway. He also tells you that Noir would kill you if he discovered that you are a witch, but that he will love you. He also seems to have a bit of a brother complex.

When the night to choose comes you go to Rouge because of what he said, but the two draw their swords for a duel, but you throw yourself in front their blades to stop them. However it turns out that Noir knew who you were, and loved you anyway. Of course we need a happy ending, and when you kiss Noir the curse placed on you by the real witch is lifted (and you magically survive two stab wounds) and you decide to take another year to pick your actual groom.

And then  "CUT!!". Turns out this was all a recording for a movie. 'Rouge' tries to hit on you, but it turns out you were already dating 'Noir' for 6months xD

There are rose/flower metaphors everywhere in this CD. The description of the kissmarks on your neck as 'flower petals' really made me laugh though. The entire "castle with a rose garden" and the "curse lifted by a kiss" really gave this CD a fairytale vibe. The ending in which everything turned out to be a movie really caught me by surprise though!

I didn't even take the trouble of listening to the poem this time. Sorry.

In the free talk they have to talk about what they think is a 'romantic situation'. Hatano-san goes for a location where you can see the starts. Somewhere away from people and the city, where you can see a lot of stars. Abe-san his choice is when you are together in a car when it rains, because it sort of feels like being in your own world.  Also: Hatano-san his futagoo?!!!! was hilarious. (you need to hear it)


Conclusion:
While nothing can beat a do-S character bound in chains, this CD did a pretty good job. The story is floating on a pink fairytale cloud and then suddenly they say things that made me giggle like an idiot. It is pretty short though, barely even 30min. It has also been a while since I listened to anything with Hatano-san. Too long.

Koisuru Lesson Series: Kaname Yuuto no Perfect Lesson

恋するレッスンシリーズ「奏悠斗のパーフェクトレッスン」

Company: Broccoli
Based on: Original
Released: 2010.09.22
Official Site: http://www.broccoli.co.jp/cd/sp/lovelesson/


Koisuru Lesson is a series in which you date your instructor/teacher. Each vol. has a different character that teaches something (cooking, violin, English, etc). The setting is that you are both a student and the girlfriend of said character. There are six CD's in total, divided in pairs, and the characters make cameo appearances in the CD they are paired with.

This CD has Kanade Yuuto (CV: Midorikawa Hikaru) who is a student at a music university, and your violin instructor. Kanade his attitude towards you is actually slightly different while acting as your teacher or when you are on a date. You yourself seem to be a bit of an airhead this time.

The story starts during class, and I have to say that the single time that I held I violin in my hands I managed to make it sound better than this. Then again I wasn’t specifically aiming for a certain note. After the lesson he walks you home, and when you’ve almost reached home you bump into Kobayashi “Ridai” Michihiro (CV: Hatano Wataru), your childhood friend.

Yuuto and Michihiro are also friends from school, so he invited the both of you to his room to talk a  bit. Michihiro teases Yuuto a lot about the two of you, which isn’t really made any better by you not being able to name anything that you like about Yuuto after he was forced to say what he like about you.

It has been a while since the two of you went on a date, and because he is free the day after you invite him to do something together. And then turn up late yourself. You spend your date shopping for CD’s and other stuff, and eventually go to the park, and rent a boat to go rowing. In the middle of the lake you corner Yuuto asking whether everything is OK because he has been strange lately. Turn out that he was having trouble writing songs lately, but he feels like this date gave him new inspiration.

Yuuto is slightly tsundere, but sweet none the less. To be honest he is quite patient with you as you are causing him all sorts of trouble (in a cute naive way). Just like in the Hanikami Lesson CD he is teased quite a bit by Michihiro (poor guy, even in his own CD is is being teased). Maybe because I listened to this immediately after Hanikami Lesson, but I was way too partial to Michihiro the entire time he was there.

The violin music that played was a nice little touch. I’d like to think of it as the piece of music that Yuuto wrote after your date.


Conclusion:
I’m way too partial to Hanikami lesson, but this was a nice CD as well. Yuuto is very different from Michihiro, which made it easier to enjoy them in different ways.

Koisuru Lesson Series: Hanikami Lesson

恋するレッスンシリーズ「小林理大のハニカミレッスン」

Company: Broccoli
Based on: Original
Released: 2010.09.22
Official Site: http://www.broccoli.co.jp/cd/sp/lovelesson/


Koisuru Lesson is a series in which you date your instructor/teacher. Each vol. has a different character that teaches something (cooking, violin, English, etc). The setting is that you are both a student and the girlfriend of said character. There are six CD's in total, divided in pairs, and the characters make cameo appearances in the CD they are paired with.

This CD has Kobayashi Michihiro (CV: Hatano Wataru), a university student majoring in physics, and your tutor while you study for the entrance exams. His friend Kanade Yuuto (CV: Midorikawa Hikaru) calls him by his nickname “Ridai”. (Michihiro his name is written as 理大, which can also be read as ‘ridai’. Which is of course a pun because he studies physics (物理) at university (大学).

The CD begins with Michihiro and Yuuto playing a video game in Michihiro his room, but they use some very suggestive phrasing. You come by when it is almost time for your lesson, and talk a bit with the two of them. Yuuto teases you a lot, whether you aren’t just being all lovey dovey instead of actually studying and things like that. You also play the game they were playing for a bit (with Michihiro and Yuuto both telling you what to do) and then you move to your own room  (you live across the street) for some studying.

The studying is mostly Michihiro talking about physics stuff. It does seem like he is actually making you study though. To be honest, all of the physics stuff didn’t really interest me so I was only half listening, it is fun that he links some theories to SF though. He does promise to go on a date again...

… and you want to go to the aquarium so that is where you go. The aquarium part is cute, but the more interesting part comes after that. You walk towards the beach talking, and it turns out you both liked each other longer than you thought. Somehow that entire conversation was just so very sweet. And I love how you actually went to the beach to see the sun set, yet forgot to actually forget to watch because you were talking (and kissing).

Hatano-san always plays such sweet boyfriends. Michihiro seems like someone who takes good care of you and who is usually relaxed.He also has a playful side though, he occasionally teases you as well. Coincidently, I’ve been listening to a lot of things with Hatano-san lately, and I’m starting to like him more and more.

This is also the only CD in the series where you are actually introduced as being the characters his girlfriend, in all other CD’s they either don’t mention it or actually try to hide it somewhat. Except for maybe the Perfect Lesson CD, where Michihiro knows you are Yuuto his girlfriend.


Conclusion:
I like the part where you were playing games with the two of them. Out of all the CD’s this felt like the most relaxed one, and maybe the most natural one. Maybe because I like ‘everyday’ kind of characters better than people with fantastical jobs or lifestyles, this is much easier to imagine.

Fujoshi Kanojo

I listened to this years ago (almost immediately after it was released actually), but didn’t write a review about it at the time. Which gave me the perfect excuse to listen to this cute and hilarious story again.

腐女子彼女

Company: Frontierworks
Based on: Novel -> Manga -> Drama CD
Released: 2009.11.26


Fujoshi Kanojo is a light novel that was based on a blog. That lightnovel got a manga adaption, and this drama CD is based on said Manga adaption, and tells the story of university student Mutou Taiga (CV: Hatano Wataru) who starts dating the fujoshi Ameya Yuiko (CV: Sawashiro Miyuki). Yuiko warns him when he asks her out, but not knowing what a fujoshi is Taiga tells her that he likes her no matter what she is. It is only after they start dating, that he discovers what a fujoshi really is...

The first chapter of the drama CD tells us how the two of them started dating. Taiga started working a summer job at a certain company because he fell in love at first site with Yuiko. One day they are both in the cafeteria at the same time for lunch, and het notices Yuiko is reading a shonen magazine. Trying to find something to talk about he keeps talking about the manga she is reading, but Yuiko just wants to be left alone.

Thinking he completely blew Taiga is half-depressed, but after lunch Yuiko comes to him to apologise, and gives him a cellphone strap of the series they were talking about. She also offers to pay for lunch in a nearby restaurant sometime, and Taiga uses the opportunity to ask her out for dinner instead. On their way back home he asks her out, and when Yuiko warns him that she is a fujoshi he tells her that it doesn’t matter. It is only on their next date that he discovers what a fujoshi really is.

The other chapters are various dates on which Yuiko her fujoshi-mode surfaces. In chapter 2 they are having tea and scones, prompting Yuiko her mind to go afternoon tea > butler > Sebastian. Just when she orders Taiga to act like a butler one of his friends shows up. Kouji (CV: Matsukaze Masaya) asks what on earth Taiga is doing, and Yuiko invites him to have tea with them because she is going all moe over their relationship.

In the next story Taiga promised Yuiko that he would write a piece of BL fanfiction after Yuiko discovered that he occasionally has to write stories for his classes. Kouji is spending the night so that they can work on their assignments together, and when Taiga is distracted because Yuiko calls him (joking that he shouldn’t cheat on her) Kouji accidentally reads the story Taiga was working on. We also get to listen to part of the -hopelessly romantic- story that he was writing.

In the fourth story Yuiko is at an event, and keeps sending Taiga pictures throughout the day. Meanwhile Taiga is out shooting a movie with the film-club that he belongs to, and one of the fellow members gets jealous. At the end of the evening when everyone is drinking to celebrate the completion of the shoot, some members decide to dress Taiga and Kouji as women, and send a picture of that to Yuiko...

The final story is a spin-off called Fudanshi Kareshi, and is the story of Etou Koharu (CV: Miyake Kenta) who moves in with his senpai Kotani Youhei (CV: Kishio Daisuke) when he moves to Tokyo to go to university. Koharu thinks this is a chance from heaven, until he discovers that his new flatmate is actually a fudanshi... This story is fairly short, and only a preview of sorts for the actual Fudanshi Kareshi drama CD that was released at a later time.

This entire CD is both cute and funny. Yuiko her sudden moe reactions can be brilliant, while Taiga his attempts to keep up with her are simply endearing. It also helps that Hatano-san portrays him in a very sweet way.

The script is almost word for word from the manga, but actually being able to hear Yuiko her reactions was a lot of fun (although thanks to Sawashiro Miyuki voicing Milla in Tales of Xillia, I kept picturing her as Mila. Which fits better than it should).


Conclusion:
Hearing this again after such a long time (almost 2 years I think) was a lot of fun. Listening to it while working might not have been the best idea, as I really had to suppress my smirk, which became impossible by the time I reached the re-enactment of Taiga his fanfic.

Time of Licht

洗顔フォーム+ナビゲーションCDセット「Time of Licht」

Company: Fiarce
Based on: Facewash foam?
Released: 2010.??.??


Time of Licht is a set of a facewash foam and a navigational drama CD that teaches you how to use it, voiced by Hatano Wataru. It was sold on various events and eventually through several online retailers, but is hard to find now (not to mention you probably shouldn’t trust the foam anymore if you do find it).

This CD is mainly a guide by Licht (CV: Hatano Wataru) on how to wash your face. He describes it using the foam that the CD was coupled with, but a large part of it is applicable to any facewash. Where on earth he came from (or what he is) isn’t quite clear, although from the end of the CD I gather that he is some sort of fairy / spirit / personification of your facewash foam. Either that or a really cute stalker.

In the middle of the CD he calls you on your phone when you are out. (my facewash is making phone calls? now things are definitely getting weird). The conversation is pretty cute, especially because he is going all “no you hang up first”.

When you get back home he cooks dinner for you, and eventually even talks you to sleep. I’m starting to wish my facewash could do those things, especially if I get one that looks and sounds like Licht.

In the bonus track he is busy telling you that he will always be at your side, when you suddenly hear a strange sound and he says “what are you guys doing here”. As this was originally supposed to be a part one in a series, I am guessing the others are some sort of beauty product as well. Unfortunately, the series was never continued (I would have loved stuff like hand cream or nail polish)


Conclusion:
It might be a bit weird, but it is a cute CD and and pretty short. If you like Hatano-san (or like me, like listening to CD’s with weird concepts) and find a download of it and listen for fun. Gah, now I really wish the series would have continued.

Akogare no Situation: Iyasaretai

憧れのシチュエーションCD vol.4 癒されたい

Company: Gakken
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.04.28 (?)


The Akogare no Situation CD series is based on the concept of placing you in a certain situation that you long for/want. (憧れる (akogareru) means "to long for" or "to admire"). That can be being praised, being scolded, and in this case; being 'healed'.*

* 癒される (iyasareru) remains one of the most annoying words that I know to translate. It means 'being cured' or 'being healed' or maybe 'soothing' but more in a mental way. Just imagine the effect that a nest of cute kittens or puppies usually have on people. That kind of happy feeling. I don't know how to describe it otherwise.

The CD beging with you waiting on your boyfriend , Natsuki Kyousuke (CV: Hatano Wataru) in a restaurant somewhere. When he arrives you order something to drink and eat and talk a bit. Because you've both been busy lately he suggests going on a vacation. And so the two of you go somewhere tropical.

Cue a funny scene at the airport, where you are carrying enormous amounts of baggage. Among all of the clothes and beauty stuff you've also packed "Merry-chan", your body pillow in the shape of a cute sheep, because you can't sleep without it. Which causes Kyousuke to be depressed because he can't compare to Merry-chan.

Kyousuke works at a travel company, so he used his contacts to get you a small cottage near the sea. So you've got a small cottage with a living room, a bedroom, and a spacious bathroom and everything. Kyousuke explains about the cottage in some sort of elderly butler voice, which is pretty amusing. Your vacation is exactly like you imagine it, swimming in the ocean, drinking tropical juice, going on boat trips, luxury dinners at the hotel, etc.

Just like before the main drama is followed by a few extra tracks with single sentences from the drama and a few other ones.

The freetalk isn't quite as hilarious as last time, but still fun to listen to. Hatano-san talks about "iyasareru" and that it can be different for everyone. He talks a bit about onsen, and the food you eat after bathing, and how he thought the conversations from families going out for dinner around Christmas were soothing, and how he often cries over (children's) animated movies. With a small side step saying that he wouldn't cry in the theatre because you have to be silent there and that in foreign countries that apparently isn't the case and everyone reacts and laughs at funny moments.

That last part sort of amused me, because I was surprised the other way around. It is indeed completely silent when you watch a movie in Japan. And being used to (softly) making cynical remarks when watching movies with my friends it took quite some restraint to remain silent.


Conclusion:
One again not that special, but OK. Listen if you're a fan of Hatano-san, otherwise it nice but nothing special.

Hidamari no Pinyu

陽だまりのピニュ 

Company: Frontierworks
Based on: Manga
Released: 2008.08.27


Hidamari no Pinyuu is a series about the daily life of Pinuette Chipal Chipalulu (Nickname: Pinyu), the princess of the Chipalulu Kingdom. Except that she as ran away from home to go and live in Japan after hearing stories about it.

The CD starts with Hibina Minato (CV: Shiraishi Ryoko) and Kuji Shoubu (CV: Hatano Wataru) running to catch the bus. Minato sees a pretty girl and stops for a second, promptly missing the bus. The next few days rumours start within the school about a strange foreign girl doing weird stuff. Thinking it might be the girl she saw before, Minato attempts to find her.

After a short search Minato and Kuji find her in a park, tired and covered in dirt. Minato decides to take her home with her where she puts her in bath to get her clean. The girl introduces herself as Pinyu (CV: Noto Mamiko). Minato her mother (CV: Odaira Yuuki) tells Minato that her grandfather once visited the country where Pinyu comes from, and that that is probably how she knows stories about Japan. In the end, Pinyu becomes a transfer student at Minato her school.

Meanwhile at school they have just started a miss high school contest, and Pinyu becomes one of the favourites. This causes Maruo Shuuko (CV: Yajima Akiko) to see her as her rival. Maruo her faithful photographer Chouroku Chinatsu (CV: Yamamoto Maria) always sticks around her, but seems to care much less about the contest.

Mixing these characters with Maruo her classmate Toori (CV: Yonaga Tsubasa) who just happens to be from Chipalulu, Chinatsu (CV: Satou Akemi) who is the captain of the cheerleading club, and Oomori (CV: Hamada Kenji) the captain of the ouen-dan gives us a rather colourful cast for this very cute drama CD.

There might be a contest going on, but don't expect any harsh competition. This above all a very cute and fluffy story. The characters are all very cute and the entire atmosphere is just warm and fluffy. No evil going on in the background or anything like that either. Just full 100% fluff and sweetness.

The cast talk is quite long and is just as cute as the rest of the work. Like Noto-san saying that the Chipalulu language was very difficult to speak, and Yonaga-san saying that he first had to practice to say the full name of his own character. Or someone suddenly asking Hamada-san how long his legs are xD


Conclusion:
The fluff is all  over the place in this work, which is what you should listen it for. The characters are cute and interesting, and it is a really cute story. I wished they would have made more drama CD's for this series, but unfortunately there is only one CD

Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero -Promise- Story 01 -ENCOUNTER-

Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero -Promise- Story 01 -ENCOUNTER-

Company: Square Enix
Based on: Game -> Novel -> Drama CD
Released: 2010.01.27
Official Site: http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/fabula/ff13/drama/

Episode Zero is a series of lightnovels based on Final Fantasy XIII. This drama CD (that came with the first press limited edition of the OST for the game) is based on the first light novel. It depicts scenes from the 13 days leading up to FFXIII.

The CD starts with Lightning (CV: Sakamoto Maaya) on a mission hunting monsters, she is aided (against her will) by Lebreau (CV: Asakawa Yuu) and Yuj (CV: Hatano Wataru), two members of the vigilante group Nora. After returning from her mission she finds her superior Lieutenant Amodar (CV: Ueda Yuuji) and Nora leader Snow (CV: Ono Daisuke). This is the first time Lightning and Snow actually meet, and she warns him to stay away from her sister.

Doesn't seem to have much effect though, as Snow later meets up with Serah (CV: Kotobuki Minako) because they are planning to buy a present for Lightning her birthday. Serah want Snow to come so that she can properly introduce him to Lightning. Before they can go Snow is called away by fellow NORA members, but promises he'll return soon and tells Serah to wait.

Serah wanders off to the ruins nearby the city, and to her own surprise finds and entrance. As she walks further in the ruins start to move around her, leader her to the point where she is branded with her l'Cie mark. She wakes up a little later outside the ruins, despairing after seeing the mark.

Meanwhile, Lightning is walking through town preparing for her patrol shift during the upcoming fireworks. In the background we hear Zachs (CV: Ebara Masashi), Hope (CV: Kaji Yuuki) and his mother talk about chocobo's. The CD ends with Lightning talking to her commander whether she could get some time off to take a vacation with Serah.

If you don't know the game this CD probably isn't very interesting, you'll be wondering when something is finally going to happen. If you do know the game, this is one big all my tears. It depicts scenes from right before the start of the games, how everyone is just living their life before everything is thrown into chaos.

Despite it being very short (only 25minutes) it is a pretty emotional piece of work. Not because of what happens, but because of how normal things are in the CD. How everyone is dealing with their own daily business and (compared to the rest of the game) small problems.


Conclusion:
Just this small drama isn't worth it to buy (and track down) a limited edition soundtrack, but as a bonus it is a very good one and if you've played the game it is worth it to download and listen to it. I'm wondering exactly how long the novels are, and whether I should give those a try at the moment.

Yandere Heaven ~karei naru Saionji-ke Hen~ Tokuten

ヤンデレ天国（ヘブン）～華麗なる西園寺家編～ アニメイト特典　　
ヤンデレ天国（ヘブン）～華麗なる西園寺家編～　ステラワース特典

Company: Holic Works
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.12.29
Official site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yandere5/


Yandere Heaven is a series in which you (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. In the beginning things seem ok, but then their love becomes obsessive. This time you are loved by the twins Saionji Ran (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) and Wakasa (CV: Hatano Wataru)

If you ordered the CD at either Animate or Stellworth, you would get a special CD that tell the story of what would have happened if you choose neither, and the three of you continued to live together. Order at Animate and you would get the Ran version, order at Stellaworth and you would get the Wakasa version.

Instead of choosing one of the two brothers in the main drama, you continue to live together with the three of you. Ran and Wakasa have made 3 rules: 1. they can spend a day with you alone, this rotates on a daily basis (one day with Ran, one day with Wakasa, and so on). 2. No days are skipped. 3. You spend the night with the three of you. If they break any of these rules they will have to leave the mansion.


Ran version:
Ran wakes up first, and sees both you and Wakasa still sleeping beside him. Wakasa seems to be having some sort of dream where he is fighting someone RPG style. It is Ran his turn to spend the day with you, so he wants Wakasa out of the room. Wakasa still wants to sleep however, so Ran threatens him with a paper knife to get him out. You're still sleepy though, and Ran says you must still be tired because 'Wakasa wanted to try out a lot of things last night', so he lets you sleep a little bit more while he contemplates on the current situation.

Wakasa version:
Wakasa wakes up to find you still sleeping, but Ran already awake. Ran mentions that he didn't sleep much because of all the things Wakasa did last night, and asks him whether he noticed that you actually passed out in the middle of it. Wakasa seems to be sorry for not noticing that (wut?!?) but replies that Ran seemed to be enjoying watching it, and that he still has 'a lot of things that he wants to try out with the three of you together'. After that he throws Ran out so that he can spend the rest of the day with you. While you are cooking something, Wakasa contemplates on the current situation.

Both brothers lament about the fact that in the end they couldn't betray each other, and that even though they are not fully content with the current situation, this seems to be the only option. I'll have to admit that it is a highly... unusual situation. Except for Ran threatening Wakasa with a paper knife, there is not much yandere going on here. But it does make you realize that the situation that you are currently in is... tiring? dangerous? insane? I don't know what to say really.


Conclusion:
I was mainly rather surprised at what Wakasa is implied to be doing. I don't really like these much as an addition to the main drama. Nothing much happens, but the implications of what is going on... this is one situation you definitely don't want to be in. 

Yandere Heaven ~karei naru Saionji-ke Hen~

ヤンデレ天国（ヘブン）～華麗なる西園寺家編～

Company: Holic Works
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.12.29
Official site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yandere5/


Yandere Heaven is a series in which you (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. In the beginning things seem ok, but then their love becomes obsessive. This time you are loved by the twins Saionji Ran (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) and Wakasa (CV: Hatano Wataru)

The twins live alone in a mansion, and have completely opposite personalities. Wakasa is very social, but doesn't have a job and instead spends a lot of time photographing things as a hobby. Ran on the other hand hates interacting with people, but will inherit his fathers company and is apparently very good in doing business (without ever leaving the house, I might add). You come to work at the mansion as a live in maid, an arrangement made by their grandmother.

The first time you see them, both Ran and Wakasa are speechless for a moment, but quickly turn back to their normal manners. Ran (much later) tells you that you look very similar to their dead little sister. Ran can keep you and the memories of his sister apart, but he is afraid Wakasa can't.

It is not much later that Ran discovers that Wakasa his entire room is full of pictures of you, and when he confronts him about that Wakasa in return says he know of the app Ran installed on your phone (it tracks where you are and records whatever is said). They both start to argue about how they envy the other, and that they will never hand over you to the other. The result, is that you have to choose which one you will stay with.

This CD was much more subdued that the previous ones. Even the scene where Ran and Wakasa are yelling at each other never gets as insane as Yandere Heaven 3 or 4. Although it was pretty intense. The fact that Ran already sounds scary from the beginning, and that there is little difference between his normal and 'yandere voice' is probably part of that. He does say some very obsessive things though (he is willing to do anything you want, including committing suicide, all you need to do is ask). Wakasa has a more traditional 'I want you all to myself' stance but the difference between his normal social attitude and this strong desire to monopolize things is somewhat amazing. He does however allow you outside to take walks, considerate isn't he?

Overall, I think there was more tension throughout the entire CD, but it sort of lacked a real climax. Or maybe I am just a prisoner to Sakurai his voice, and would follow it to the end of the earth of my free will. Who knows. I absolutely loved the music themes for both brothers though, especially Ran his (yandere) theme.

The cast talk was a lot of fun. Sakurai and Hatano do their cast comment together, talking about the two characters and yandere as a whole. Sakurai says types like Wakasa are bothersome, while Hatano says that he sort of understands the feelings of both characters. Their cast talk is very cheerful, and they obviously had a lot of fun during the recording, in short, the complete opposite of the drama CD itself.

I am kind of curious about the tokuten CDs. There are two of them (one for Animate, and one for Stellaworth) which depict a situation in which you didn't choose either of the brothers and continue to live with the three of you. Hopefully they will show up online sometime soon so I can review those as well.


Conclusion:
What can I say? This CD feels a bit more subdued. So for those of you who don't like your yanderes batshit insane, or who have never tried it before, it is probably very good. In fact, if you want to start on this series this might be the best one to begin with. Now that vol.6 is out you should start with that, it is even more subdued.

Mousou Esthe II

妄想エステⅡ

Company: 5pb
Based on: original
Released: 2010.12.22
Official Site: http://5pb.jp/moso

Mousou Este is a combination between a drama CD and virtual beauty treatments. You hear the staff of the fictional beauty salon 'Etreinte" talk among each other, and between that there are beauty treatments by one of the staff. The treatment tracks have been recorded with the dummy head microphone, so be prepared to hear them whisper into your ear.

This time the CD starts with Kagami Subaru (CV: Suwabe Junichi) as guest in a radio show, where he introduces his beauty salon. The hostess of the show seems very charmed by him. The next track is back at the salon, where Kagami, Maya Shinnosuke (CV: Taniyama Kisho) and Misaki (CV: Yusa Kouji) are talking about the radio show and... comparing their hands. But the way they keep talking about 'who has the largest' directed my mind in a whoooole other direction.

Back to the order of the day, it is time for Misaki his treatment. He gives you a face massage, although the wording, while describing exactly what he is doing, can still put your mind on other things. The same goes for Shinnosuke his treatment afterwards. Both their voices are so relaxing that my mind simply drifted off and their voices just floated around me, while I completely forgot that they were actually saying something.

In the next scene Odagiri Eito (CV: Terashima Takuma) is worried because this will be the first time to actually give a treatment to a customer. The rest somewhat tries to comfort and tease him at the same time. His treatment is a footmassage, but he talks a bit too much for my tastes (can't help it, he is nervous after all). His comment that this 'is the first time for both of you' made me laugh though. However I remained giggly for the rest of the CD, so whether that is actually a good thing. Anyway, he is a really pure and cute character.

After Eito is finished the rest also enters the room to give you a special treatment. I find it hard to imagine 4 estheticians working at the same time, but their various voices together are highly lethal for sure.

I have to say, this series has a way with words. While they really are just talking about the treatments my mind is definitely thinking of entirely different things. That aside, I fell asleep multiple times while trying to listen to this CD, especially during the first half.

The characters are less quirky than in the first CD, except for the parakeet Noel (CV: Hatano Wataru) who returns in this instalment as well. This made the day to day conversations of the staff a little less interesting, but at the same time they are less noisy than last time, avoiding the 'wake-up call' issue.


Conclusion:
The focus definitely shifted a bit more from relaxation to adding a little ero in here, but they did it in a good way and if you don't want to hear it you can simply ignore it. Above all else it is still very relaxing to listen to. My only problem was that I'm not very knowledgeable about how various parts of your body are called, so at times I wasn't quite sure what they were doing to me exactly (yes yes, you're massaging my head, but how exactly... xD)

Fushigi no Kuni no Alice ~Alice in Wonderland~

不思議の国のアリス~Alice in Wonderland~

Company: Momogre
Based on: Alice in Wonderland.
Released: 2011.05.26
Official Site: http://www.momogre.com/



This story is part of momo&grapes their "men's only" series, meaning that all characters are voiced by male seiyuu. The story is based on (the Japanese translation of) Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

You know me, if something has 'alice' written on it I'm all over it. So when I found out that momogre would do an adaption of the original work I was super exited!

The story itself is so famous that it doesn't really need an explanation. This adaption is very loyal to the original story, so there isn't really much to explain for me there. (except that, well, it is very loyal to the original. And I love that). In fact, I think that they've actually used part of a translation as script, because most conversations seem to be exactly like how I remembered them. The Narration is of course original to this work.

The cast was fantastic as well. Kaji Yuuki is a super cute Alice, although no matter how hard I try he doesn't really sound like a girl to me. He sounds more like a young boy but still super cute and it somehow works so I am not complaining. The only voice I was uncomfortable with was that of the Cheshire Cat, who is voiced by Takeuchi Ken. Somehow his voice didn't suit my image of the Cheshire Cat. Then again I might just be too used to Inoue Kazuhiko as the Cheshire Cat from Are you Alice?

Another funny trivia about the Cheshire Cat is that he is called "Chashire Cat" in the story, even though the official site lists him as Cheshire Cat. The seiyuu talk about this in the freetalk as well.


Conclusion:
Personally I absolutely loved this adaption. I love most things even remotely related to Alice in Wonderland so I'm probably biased, but this was a wonderful adaption. It is very faithful to the original, and has a wonderful cast. Whether you're already familiar with the story or not, this is a wonderful drama to listen to.


Also, I'm sorry for reviewing two different Alice in Wonderland related things in a row :p

Mousou Esthe

妄想エステ

Company: 5pb

Based on: Original

Released: 2010.06.23

Official Site: http://5pb.jp/moso/

Mousou Esthe is made by the same team as Kannou Mukashi Banashi (it was originally also listed on the same website). Of course that means the Dummy Head Microphone is used here as well. Mousou Esthe mixes the day to day conversations of the members of the beauty salon 'Etreinte' with the beauty treatments they give. And an overall plot somewhere on the background.

In the prologue we hear that Kagami Subaru (CV: Suwabe Junichi) receives an important prize in recognition of his skills as a beautician. Soon however he discovers that while he thought he had everything, he wasn't happy.

We switch to the present where he now owns his own salon in Hisuigaoka. This is where the story takes place. In each track a new esthetician is introduced in the form of a short conversation with Kagami and/or previously introduced characters. Then the scene switches to you (the listener) receiving a beauty treatment by the newly introduced character.

All of the characters are rather quirky. Save for Kagami pherhaps, who acts as the single sane character. Izumino Sei (CV: Sugita Tomokazu) is silent and my-pace, Sakura Naiki (CV: Okamoto Nobuhiko) has an obsession with cleanness, and Sendou Fumiya (CV: Takahashi Hiroki) is probably best described as a lovable narcissist. The final character is not a esthetician, but the shops mascot and extra comedy relief parrot Noel (CV: Hatano Wataru).

Thanks to these quirks the day to day conversations between these characters if funny to listen to. The main attraction of the series however are the beauty treatments. This is where the Dummy Head Microphone (that can make it sound like the characters are actually talking in your ear) is used. Of course it's a bit weird to imagine you are getting a massage when you only hear someone talk, but it is relaxing none the less.

There is something of a plot that spans the entire series going on in the background, but it is neglectable. The plot is not the main focus anyway, the treatments are. With a relaxing piano tune playing in the background it really feels like the atmosphere in a beauty salon. The only drawback to this relaxing atmosphere is that the next scene tends to come as a wake-up call, especially if the characters suddenly start talking rather lively.


Conclusion:
The conversation between the characters make this a lot of fun to listen too, which is why I think that it's a shame that they don't return in the following entries to the series (except for Kagami). Having a voice only beauty treatment feels a little strange, but it is fun to listen to.


Speaking of 'voice only beauty treatment' I think I saw a make-up
hypnosis not too long ago...

News: 方言恋愛 Vol.3 + 4 announced

Hougen Renai 3 was already anounced, but now a special page for volume 4 has also been created! More dialect goodness is coming our way~




Volume 3 has Fukuoka and Niigata. The character from Fukuoka, Kunitake Yoshito (CV: Ueda Yuuji) is a priest. The story seems to be about a high school student who comes to Fukuoka to see the university before her entrance exams. Kunitake decides to relieve her of her exam stress by (forcefully) dragging her around the place.

The Niigata character, Oumi Keigo(CV: Hirakawa Daisuke) is an actor. He meets the heroine on the shinkansen where she helps him with something, and to thank her he takes her to a museum and shows her around. According to the staff it is a 'story as pure as white snow".


Two reasons to look forward to this volume: Kyuushuu-ben, which I've found to be utterly incomprehensible at times (just listen to the voice samples, you'll understand what I mean), and Hirakawa Daisuke!! The staff remark about Hirakawa-san his story being so pure made me smile, His voice samples also sound very cute!





Volume 4 has Ibaraki and Nagano. The character from Ibaraki, Shibamori Yoshiyuki (CV: Maeno Tomoaki) is a station attendant. The heroine meets him when she forgot something is the train. Shibamori seems to rather timid and his hobby is gardening.


The Nagano character, Hodaka Souji(?) (CV: Hatano Wataru) is a mailman xD The heroine meets him on a vacation in Nagano. In the beginning there seem to be some misunderstandings but they grow closer as time passes.

The first thing I thought when I saw this volume was uniforms!! (>w<) *cough* Haha, as you can see both characters are in uniform, making me interested already. (am I easy to catch or what?). While I have heard Maeno-san his voice before I can't really recall Hatano-san his voice. I knew his name so I'm certain I must have heard hime before but... either way neither seiyuu can be used to catch me, but the dialect love must be spread (and they have uniforms) so I shall "sacrifice" myself and review it when it comes out.


I need to hurry and review volume 2 first...