Butterflies, Flowers, Vol. 2 by Yuki Yoshihara

Choko can't help but notice the women that throw themselves at Masayuki - they seem to be coming out of the woodwork, trying to worm their way into his affections in order to date him. Over her dead body! She wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but this is the third one this month alone! As well as the third rejection. She finds an awkward hiding place, but once the girl is given her rejection and goes, Masayuki is quick to ferret her out - damaging company property at the same time. Which she will have to pay for!

Masayuki is very confusing to Choko, alternating as he does between his strict and perverted managerial personality and his sweet and loving ex-servant persona, Cha-Chan. But one thing she does know - she loves him, very much.

Panic sets in at the company when it is learned that the seldom-seen President has dropped in unannounced - he has a favor to ask of Masayuki. As the employs speculate, in steps the cause of the brouhaha - Makie, the president's niece, who has requested that he make Masayuki marry her or else! Masayuki himself enters and informs her that the answer is no, which Choko applauds. But Makie is the kind of spoiled rich girl who will not take no for an answer.

Makie takes a position with the company (no, not that one), and now Choko has to see her on a regular basis. The two come head to head in the office kitchen, squaring off, making declarations of intent. Makie says some very nasty things to Choko, who picks up the coffee pot, and flings it at her, only to learn that Masayuki has stepped between them, becoming the recipient instead! What makes it even worse is that he walks off with Makie, referring to her Milady Makie, breaking Choko's heart!

The next morning she makes no effort to be on time, knowing he won't come to pick her up, but there he is, as usual, at 8, and giving her ten seconds to be ready! Then he drives her, not to the office, but to where at one time her family lived. And he tells her about his dreams for her, and what he has done. And why he has been working at Benten Estates. She tells him that if he wants a place to return to, it can be in her heart.

Masayuki approaches Choko's parents at their soba noodle shop, literally kneeling on the ground outside of it, in order to gain their permission to court their daughter. Of course they agree, but her brother is against it. He's overruled. Masayuki proposes that they go on a date, and Choko is ecstatic! She brings a dress to the office, and asks Suou's opinion of it. Masayuki's crossdressing best friend gives it a thumbs up. Makie notices Choko's plain underwear and offers to lend her some of her own. Choko replies that it's just a first date - how naïve she is! Masayuki is thunderstruck when he sees her exit the building, where he waits for her! He takes her to a fancy restaurant, and afterward sees her home. Oh, but she doesn't want the evening to end so soon, can't they do something else? How about going to his place? No, no, no. How about a walk? It's just drizzling a bit. Then the skies open up and they are drenched, so he has no choice but to take her to his place. Now what are they going to do?

Masayuki's evenings become tied up with business, so dates are out of the question for now. Choko begins to regret what didn't happen, wishes she could have a takeover and do things differently. Of course, life doesn't work like that. By accident, Choko learns of the annual Benten Spring Rookie MVP - which Suou has entered her into. She doesn't seem interested until she learns the winner gets two travel vouchers, and she has visions of taking a trip alone with Masayuki. Masayuki tries to dissuade her from participating, claiming it will interfere with her work. He thinks she is trying to get the vouchers for her parents. But she persists. The trouble is no one knows what form the contest will take, so she has to be prepared for anything. And when Masayuki gives her an unfair advantage, she doesn't like it one little bit!

It's time for the shareholders' meeting, and busy becomes the order of the day. The company is bombarded with blackmail threats, all sent from internet cafes. Speculation is that they come from the Sokaiya, who are racketeers known to blackmail company stockholders. Masayuki and Suou are kept busy with the president, leaving Choko alone and blue. At the stockholders meeting, Choko is sent to the president's room to deliver a message, only to find a collapsed Masayuki on the floor!

The second volume of Butterflies, Flowers is truly awesome. I can't think of a single element that I can find fault with. The characters are wonderful. Choko is a naïve but very loving girl, who just wants Masayuki to see her as she is now, not as she was when she was seven. I love to see her slip into artistocratic mode, and take charge, ordering people around, including Masayuki. As for him, he can be the total tyrant one minute, and her most humble servant the next. I think he possesses a certain vulnerability, an insecurity which she hasn't really caught onto yet. But that is understandable. He is not only her first love, but her first boyfriend as well.

Most of the action takes place within the company, but the scenes at her family's soba noodle shop are great, especially the jokes about her dad's inability to make them very well. Makes you wonder how they stay in business. Or if they will. I also like that her brother sounds like he comes from the Edo period, and still hasn't figured out that Suou is a guy. I think he'll be in for quite the shock when he does.

Most importantly is the relationship between Choko and Masayuki. Struggling to turn what once was a master/servant relationship into one between a man and a woman, after a thirteen year separation. Even though he can be quite the tyrant, most everything that he does is to protect Choko, even when it doesn't seem like it (such as his question about her virgin status during the job interview). I think it's funny when Choko teases him about his age, and tells him he is thirty, so that he has to remind her that he is still in his twenties. Maybe he is sensitive to the gap in their ages, but it's not really that much, as she is twenty now. The artwork reflects the mood, from serious to humorous to romantic. Very very romantic. This series is definitely a keeper, and I can't wait to read volume 3!

The second book continues the story - as clutzy former aristocrat Choko's relationship heats up with boss Domoto - is he so considerate of her because of their family history or is there something stronger behind his motives?

As with most of Yoshihara's works, the fun is in the characters and what happens after the relationship is started. And since this is a josie (women's) and not shoujo (girls) title, there is sex involved though it is gentle (and usually very funny and humorous) rather than raunchy or erotic.

Butterflies, Flowers is a great book for those who want more than the interminable angst of a high school romance. Funny, tender, and silly - but always romantic - are the hallmarks of a Yoshihara manga.

This is a great series so far and this volume makes your heart cringe for Choko who's gonna have to fight for her man!

My grandson totally loves this book!

Job interviews are always intimidating. For Choko, it's even worse. The man interviewing her for an office job asks if she's a virgin. Of course, whether she is or isn't has no bearing on the job she wants, and it's not his business to know anyway, so who is this man and why does he care?

It turns out this man is Choko's former servant. And he cares because he wants to date her and is trying to figure out where he stands.

Choko's family used to be rich. One of her servants had a son named Masayuki who was especially good at treating Choko as tenderly as a person would treat a flower or a butterfly. But then her family lost its money and the servants scattered. She hadn't seen Masayuki in years.

Choko is hired for the office job and now Masayuki is her boss, though he still insists on calling her "Milady" just as he did in the old days. After some confusion and mixed messages, the two of them do begin dating. Some of the things they go through--such as trying to find time for themselves and getting interrupted--are common complaints of couples. Other things--like blasting through walls to get to each other--are why Butterflies, Flowers is such an outrageous series. It isn't just outrageous for its twisted, ribald humor. It also gets increasingly more absurd as the series goes on. That's not a criticism, just a statement. It does get more and more out there.

Butterflies, Flowers receives a Mature rating. The rating, coupled with the touchy-feely covers, might lead some readers to believe this is erotica. Just to be clear, it's not. It goes beyond some of the stuff shown in teenage relationship stories, but it's not what the shrink-wrap might make you think it is.

So what is Butterflies, Flowers then? It's a funny, ludicrous, sometimes politically incorrect take on relationships. And that's what makes it so entertaining to read.

This continues the fun antics of the daughter of the landowner now in the admin department and her boss was her former servant. It is well written, and the servant, though the last book ended with him getting a kiss and going, "You can practice on me for a suitable groom when you wish, Milady." Makes you want to shake him and go "Get a clue!"

What surprises me is the sudden move from shojo to Josei (it refers to sex toward the end of the book, much like a yaoi book) in a Shojo Beat book. But the jokes are funny if somewhat surprising in a two volume series that has only two kisses then......on with the.....well, that's the problem as in the Cary Grant film, it never seems to work out since as a virgin she keeps passing out when the romance gets too hot and steamy. I was sure this ended the series but I see that Viz has already got a third book lined up. We also get, FINALLY, some understanding of why the servant is in that company and what his goal is. An excellently written and drawn modern love story of a working woman with the history of Japan still there, sort of like Japan today. I recommend the two books for your library, if you like Hana Kimi and wanted more, this is the more adult version and moves faster.