This volume consist entirely of flashback into the first days after Kubota found Tokito and took him home, finally giving us a look into how the two became so close. We see the developments through one of Kubota's next door neighbors, a small boy having trouble in his home life and at school.

Before I was a little frustrated not getting to hear this story in an earlier volume. While I'm still not sure how I feel about how long the author held off, I admit I can see why it might work a little better not being told chronologically, taking the focus off what will become of their relationship (since we already know, up to a point) and putting it instead on how certain quirks of their relationship came to be.

One thing that surprised me, though, was that I didn't actually feel like I learned anything new about Kubota and Tokito reading it. I expected to see something in these past events that would shine a new light on their current relationship, yet it felt to me mostly like a story of getting from point A to point B. And things happened basically as one would expect, Tokito first skittish and defensive, then slowly warming up and becoming very dedicated to Kubota. Moreover, while considering their situation it's entirely understandable that Kubota and Tokito would become attached and dedicated to one another, I still didn't get a great sense of how that happened. The fact that I don't feel like I've learned anything new also just increases the arbitrary feeling of the timing of the telling of this flashback.

Still, even if the information doesn't reveal anything new, it's still an extremely charming story to read, and the POV character's take did add an extra interesting spin. I do also admit at times the characters' inner monologues or dialogues felt sort of obtuse to me, and this may have lead to me missing bits of character development that perhaps did reveal something new. I can't say whether this was just me being dense or the author not effectively communicating what she meant to about the character, though.

(The high score may seem a little odd with all the complaining, but the good things about Wild Adapter--the fantastic subtle dialogue, character exploration, humor---continue to remain the same good things about Wild Adapter, and here I tend to comment merely on NEW thoughts concerning JUST this particular volume. That is, my nitpicks on how this manga could be even more enjoyable than it already is. ^_^;) ( )

When young Shouta's odd and reclusive next door neighbor, Kubota, brings home a body slung over his shoulder it opens up a mystery perfect for distracting him from the problems of his own life.

This flashback volume was very enjoyable. I liked the parts told through Shouta's eyes while, at the same time, not being entirely sure how truly safe he was around Kubota. That Shouta becomes so enamored of his next door neighbors he begins to draw a manga about them (including the trials of getting a character "just right") was a neat little twist.

The development of the relationship between Kubota and Tokito was cute, I especially liked the part where Kubota placed Tokito's drink on the floor between them. It was exactly as you would place a dish of milk out for a scared kitty you want to make friends with. I'm still not entirely sure of why Kubota decided to take Tokito in, except that maybe he saw more animal than human in the young man which set off some spark of sympathy he had way deep down. The ultimate result of this first encounter is known from the previous volumes, but it is definitely and interesting and compelling entry nonetheless. ( )