Only The Ring Finger Knows
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(quoted from the back of Only The Ring Finger Knows)
It's The Ultimate Expression of Love-
to wear matching rings with your significant other, showing the world that you are a couple.
High school student, Wataru Jujii, also wears one though he is single. When he accidentally switches rings with the popular and handsome senior, Yuichi Kazuki, they discover that their rings pair up! Since then, Kazuki who is known to be kind to all becomes strangely harsh to Wataru. They alternate between hot and cold, as in between clashes begin to sort their feelings for one another. Are Wataru and Kazuki the worst of enemies or are they actually soulmates? |
Only The Ring Finger Knows contains:
Ring 1
Ring 2
Ring 3
Ring 4
Afterword (Ring 5)
Commentary Satoru Kannagi
Commentary Hotaru Odagiri
Storyline:
Only The Ring Finger Knows follows the basic shounen-ai format by having two men fall in love with each other and trying to figure out how to deal with it. Is it a sin to be with someone you love even if they are of the same gender, and stuff like that. Basically, this is quite the basic romance story with the two main characters trying to persuade themselves that they couldn't possibly be in love with one another and then going "oh, he sure is hot."
Artwork:
I really enjoyed the art from this series. Most of the characters have their own feel and everything seemed to fit. My only complaints would have to be the fact that the two main characters look awfully alike except for the different hair color and size, and that there was a lot of white space on some of the pages (but that actually helps create a sort of rythm for the story as well).
Characters:
Like most romance novels, the main character, Wataru Jujii, is extremely shy and often gets in the wrong situations at the wrong time. This leads into some funny moments between him and Yuichi Kazuki. Of course this wouldn't be a romance novel if it wasn't for the awkward times where the two men seem to blush and get all giddy. Basically, the author does a pretty good job of giving the reader some in-depth characters to work with.
Summary (Warning: May Contain Spoilers)
The story starts off with Wataru Jujii drinking with his friend. It turns out that there happens to be a new fad at his school about couples wearing matching rings, almost as if they were married. The middle finger on the right hand means that you are single and the ring finger on the left hand means that you are part of a couple. Well it turns out that Wataru's friend was dumped by his old girlfriend because she was in love with the super popular, ultra sweet, amazingly good looking, Yuichi Kazuki. Wataru couldn't really think of any reasons to hate the guy but he decides to get wasted with his friend anyway.
Wataru always wears a ring on his right hand's middle finger. This plays a significant role throughout the novel so I thought I'd mention that right now. Ahem, anyway...
The next day at school Wataru is suffering from a hangover and goes to the bathroom to wash his face. After taking off his ring someone splashes him on the face and finds non other then Yuichi by his side. After an awkward moment, Yuichi starts bashing on Wataru for not showing him respect. This baffles Wataru because Yuichi is supposed to be such a polite guy. After leaving the bathroom he finds that his ring doesn't fit his middle finger anymore (but it does fit his ring finger on his left hand) and he comes to the conclusion that he's gained weight. After a few minutes, Yuichi comes into Wataru's class and tells him they must have switched rings. After switching back the rings the scene ends.
That night Wataru's little sister (who could easily pass as his twin) asks him to deliver a package to Yuichi for her sense she goes to an all girls school. After some begging, Wataru gives in and the next day attempts to hand over the present. After some misunderstandings and eavesdropping Wataru hands over the present and Yuichi blushes. Wataru can't understand why Yuichi is so shy but then he tells him that the present wasn't from him but his sister. Yuichi refuses to take the present after those few words and starts ranting on Wataru.
Later on (maybe a few days later), Wataru finds out that there is a rumor going around about Yuichi going over to Wataru's sister's school to tell her something (it turns out it was a decline to be his boyfriend). This somehow turns into another rumor about Yuichi going out with Wataru's sister. This pisses Wataru off because obviously deep down inside he has a crush on Yuichi; when girls all over the school ask him if his sister and Yuichi are going out he doesn't answer so that some of the rumors about him won't get started.
After a bookshelf scene where Wataru runs into Yuichi and he helps him get some out of reach books, Wataru watches Yuichi kick some ass while playing basketball. But before the game ends, Yuichi leaves and Wataru finds himself following him. While Wataru is trying to catch up to him, Yuichi sneaks up behind him and they have a talk, ending with Yuichi kissing Wataru's ring hand.
At this point Wataru is completely confused about his feelings for Yuichi so on Yuichi's birthday he makes an attempt to confront Yuichi at his house. On the way to his house he spots Yuichi with another girl and they are laughing and making jokes. Wataru takes this the wrong way and gives his precious ring to a little girl he sees, in a hope to mend his broken heart. The next day at school Yuichi drags Wataru out of his classroom and tells him he's pissed off.
When Yuichi asks why Wataru did it, Wataru has no idea how Yuichi figured out he gave away his ring, but before he can answer Yuichi asks him when did his sister and him start going out. Wataru doesn't answer and after a heated argument Yuichi finds out that Wataru gave away his ring and then he hugs Wataru. Wataru freaks out and tells him that it's over between them and runs off.
Both Yuichi and Wataru are down (though the story focuses on Wataru) and everyone starts to notice. Later on, Wataru and his sister go shopping for her birthday and at the jewelery shop he recognizes the young women who was with Yuichi at the park. He asks her about Yuichi and she says that she is just family, and she also states that Yuichi has been in hell ever sense something happened to him at school (could it be Wataru's rejection?). Wataru runs off and meets Yuichi by his house and they confess their feelings for one another. Wataru finds out that Yuichi was the one who returned his ring a long time ago and that was when he fell in love with him. Then, Yuichi pulls out a ring from his pocket and says he had to pry it away from his 5 year old cousin (yay, he found Wataru's ring!). When Wataru tries to put it on it doesn't fit and Yuichi states that sense they both love each other they should be wearing the ring on their ring fingers. So, Wataru puts on Yuichi's ring and vice versa and it ends the story with them both walking out, holding hands.
The short story is almost another chapter (though only like 8 pages long *sigh*) so I'm adding it to the summary section.
It has been about a week sense the end of the book and Wataru is visiting Yuichi's house. They make out a couple of times and talk to Yuichi's little cousin. At the end of the chapter they make out again. Whoopy...
Extras:
At the end of this book the usual author commentary and an epilogue to the story is given. These aren't really bad extras, but the author could have at least skipped the whole "extra short story" as an extra and made a real fifth chapter , but alas, what are you going to do?
Content Warnings:
-Language: Yes
-Violence: No
-Nudity: No
-Sexual Situations: Kissing?
Overall:
Not a bad series, actually despite my rather lugubrious review (well it seemed like I dissed it more then praised it) the series is pretty good. Sure the story is very common in most romance novels but this manga hit all the right marks. The story is pretty engaging, the characters are neat, and the art is excellent which also helps set this volume apart from other shounen-ai's.
+ A good set of characters and an engaging storyline.
- A very predictable story (almost an exact copy of most teenage romances except with two men). Oh well...
Score: 8/10
