I downloaded the first two volumes of Clover about a month ago and I was hooked. This story is poignant, and realistic, and is a nice break from the typical series I normally find myself reading.
So far ShoujoMagic has scanlated the first two volumes of the manga, and the first chapter of volume three, so here's a bit of a summary for what the story is about so far...
The basic story revolves around the friendship of three twenty-something, single women (Saya, Rurika and Yagami), who work together as OL's (Office Ladies) in the advertising department of a large Japanese firm.
The main characters in the manga at this time include...
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Suzuki Saya |
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Saya is 21 years old and is a twin. She lives with her twin brother and her younger sister who is in Junior High. Her parents currently are working overseas. Saya works in the advertising department as an Office Lady ( which from what I gather is similar to an adminstrative assistant). She has never completely gotten over her first love, Tokiwa Kazaki, from when she was fourteen. Tokiwa and his family moved away, and Saya has never stopped thinking about the promise they made to each other to marry one day. However, her whole world blows apart when she is asked out on a date by her supervisor, Tsuge, and then after attending her junior high school reunion she is greeted by Tokiwa's twin, who informs her that Tokiwa is now married and living in America. Devestated by this information, Saya seeks solace in a drink, and she runs into Tsuge at the bar. He again asks Saya to date him, as a form of 'rehabiliation' to get over her lost love.
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Tsuge Susumu |
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Tsuge is 28 years old and is the director of the advertising department in the office where Saya works. She honestly can't stand him at first because he gives her a hard time, but one day out of the blue Tsuge asks Saya if she'd like to date him. He just broke up with his girlfriend, and has always been interested in Saya. He offers to date her to help her through a period of'rehabilitation' after she finds out her first love is now married. After playing hard to get with him for awhile and not realizing her own feelings, Tsuge and Saya connsumate their relationship, however they have to keep it a secret from the rest of the office.
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Matsuzawa Rurika |
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Rurika is in her twenties, and Saya says although she 'has a cute appearance, she really is a pervert always looking for decent men.' She's had several boyfriends, and it seems most all of them end up cheating on her and she gets dumped. On her birthday she decides she doesn't want to spend it alone, so she watches different men entering the office building, rating their good/bad points. One young man in particular shows up and he seems perfect! Coincidentally it's Saya's twin brother Outa, and Rurika invites him out to dinner with her. He's slightly younger than her, and a college student, however she can't seem to fight the attraction. And to top it off, he knows her true personality because his sister Saya has told him. While out on the town, she runs into her boyfriend that just dumped her, and he's out with another woman. Quite upset she ends up staying out with Outa, and next we see them in bed. Rurika finally admits her feelings for him, and Outa professes his as well. Unfortunately after they go to his house again and make love, Saya walks in as Rurika is leaving and blasts her brother for cheating on his girlfriend! Here again Rurika is dating two-timer! Outa breaks it off with the girlfriend, and he and Rurika are dating exclusively now. Rurika is just happy that finally a two-timing boyfriend chose her! *L*
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Kayuzo Yagami |
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Yagami is 23 years old and works in the same office as Saya. Yagami seems to be the voice of reason within the group of friends. She's often Saya's sounding board in regard to Saya's relationship with her supervisor. She is currently dating a married man who is 38 years old. She seems to be tired of having to be available when he can get away from his family, but she hasn't really done anything about it. A young man named Aida in the office is attracted to her, but she keeps puttting him off. She offered to be his 'sex-friend', but he wants all of her. He even said he can imagine having children with her and he'll be patient....I wonder how long he'll be waiting? Saya is determined to get the two of them together, she thinks Aida is so sweet and would treat Yagami much better than her current fling.
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