I have to say that initially I wasn't too exited about what the new Viewfinder novel was g...

Novel nugget January 30, 2017 7:42 pm

I have to say that initially I wasn't too exited about what the new Viewfinder novel was going to be about, but boy have i changed my mind... :) From the first three chapters alone that novel is a gold mine in terms of information. So I highly recommend to anyone to buy it once it comes out in English. I know, I will. I'm completely hooked.

What is really great is how the author gives the reader facts that tie in perfectly with adult Asami (I will post just a few under the Spoiler tag in a moment). And I'm really liking the story thus far. I thought it would all be a bit silly, since they are in high school - not at all, on the contrary. Both Asami and Kuroda are very much dealing with "adult" things and adult problems.

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On thing that I know will make a LOOOOOOOOT of Viewfinder fans really happy (I know it did me!!!) was something that I had always secretly been hoping to be the case:

1) ASAMI COOKS!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Asami knows how to cook and he is really, really super good at it!!! That made me so happy. I just wonder, what made him NOT cook in his adult life (empty fridge before Akihito and all) or nowadays leaving it all up to Akihito... From the novel you would think Asami can't even cook an egg, so this was such a pleasant surprise (for me, at least).

2) The part-time job? Asami works... wait for it... as a BAR TENDER!!! Yes, he has a job as a bar tender despite being under age. He owns the keys to the bar, he takes car of the bar, mixes the cocktails and cooks the food. He does curry, Italian food, sandwiches etc. for Kuroda (who starts hanging out there before the bar opens) on a regular basis and Kuroda says the food is delicious.

3) Asami does NOT have a part-time job, because he needs the money. There are other jobs that would certainly pay better. He works there because it's a great way to garther information and connections. He tells Kuroda that he wants to open up his own place one day. (I LOVE how that ties in with the story of adult Asami!!!)

4) Kids in school are talking and warn Kuroda. They overheard their parents saying that Asami's dad was "not a Yakuza, but worse than that: someone who was hugely influential in the world of business and politics" (again, I LOVE how that ties in with what YA wrote about Asami in his profile, those are the exact same words she used for Asami!). The kids also tell him, that Asami is dangerous, too (again, they've heard their parents talk).

I hope this really gets people interested in the novel and a lot of folks will end up buying it once/if it's translated. :) Just had to share these bits, as I know a lot of people will love that info.

Responses
    sphagetti January 30, 2017 8:03 pm

    the novel...is there a link to it? maybe a translator saw our insistent suffering and decided to grace us with their amazing translating prowess

    sphagetti January 30, 2017 8:04 pm

    plus quick question, how many novels are there?

    not signed in January 30, 2017 8:06 pm

    I am following the translation on the livejournal group and sad to say my feelings are different than yours. SPOILER
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    Okay, we don't have the full translation so hopefully, we will get more information, but at this point, I don't feel like we're much at all. We don't know who Asami's parents are. Where he came from. Why he transferred to this school. Why he doesn't even really go to school.

    The first chapter was good because it gave us insight into Asami's feelings after he was shot by Fei Long and Fei Long took Akihito away. But the rest of the book is 75% just Kuroda worrying about being blackmailed and thinking about how beautiful and cool Asami is. Over and over and over. I'm afraid I'm underwhelmed.

    Anonymous January 30, 2017 8:12 pm

    I agree with you! I'm hoping that Sublime will publish it. They said they might look at it only after all of the manga volumes are released.

    Kim January 30, 2017 8:39 pm
    I am following the translation on the livejournal group and sad to say my feelings are different than yours. SPOILER*******Okay, we don't have the full translation so hopefully, we will get more information, bu... @not signed in

    I am very excited!!!Please you need to know it's Kuroda's story with Asami insights and it's a summary of chapters and not an actual book translation
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    Since Asami reads books in a northern Europe language Kuroda asks if Asami studied overseas before coming to his school and Asami would not answer clearly about but it sounds like that he did.

    Asami cooks curry!!!

    Novel nugget January 30, 2017 8:53 pm
    I am following the translation on the livejournal group and sad to say my feelings are different than yours. SPOILER*******Okay, we don't have the full translation so hopefully, we will get more information, bu... @not signed in

    Yeah, I see what you mean, but I'm not too worried about it. I mean, we are only three chapters in after all and the author had to set up the plot first. Yes, there is a lot of Kuroda, but to be honest: I had zero expectations in terms of the novel, so every bit of info about Asami that we do get? I'm happy with that. :)

    As for not knowing (yet!) who Asami's parents are, where he came from and why he transferred or doesn't go to school: That was clearly done on purpose. We get to see at the beginning that Asami is just as enigmatic as adult Asami. As a reader you ask the questions you ask - and it peaks your curiosity. You want to read more and finde out, which I suppose is as it should be. :) I mean, if Asami in chapter 1 were to walk up ot Kuroda and introduce himself like that: "Hi, Kuroda, my name is Asami, I just moved here from the UK, my dad is a business magnate who likes to bribe polititians, I am a karate black belt, I' a fan of the Lord of the Rings books and I work as a bar tender cause I want to run a place like that one day." ... where would the FUN be in that! :) The fun is getting info bit by bit and thus piecing together that picture of Asami. And Kuroda does the piecing together for us. He is our link. So don't give up yet. :)

    Novel nugget January 30, 2017 8:54 pm
    I agree with you! I'm hoping that Sublime will publish it. They said they might look at it only after all of the manga volumes are released. @Anonymous

    Yes, I am seriously keeping my fingers crossed for that. :)

    Novel nugget January 30, 2017 9:00 pm
    plus quick question, how many novels are there? sphagetti

    Currently there are two Viewfinder novels: 1) Finder no Rakiun, which is Fei Long centric and 2) Finder no Souen (this current one), which is Asami/Kuroda centric. The first novel has been published in German as well (you can get it on Book Depository etc.), don't know about other languages. There are fan translations into English though (don't have a link at hand at the mo, sorry). The second one hasn't had a fan translation yet, that is going to take quite a while, for sure. Translations are time-consuming work after all. :)

    Anonymous January 30, 2017 9:14 pm
    Currently there are two Viewfinder novels: 1) Finder no Rakiun, which is Fei Long centric and 2) Finder no Souen (this current one), which is Asami/Kuroda centric. The first novel has been published in German a... @Novel nugget

    The story of the first chapter was made into a novel too

    Reality bites January 31, 2017 9:10 am

    Thanks for the nuggets.

    Romanceisdead69 January 31, 2017 10:00 am
    The story of the first chapter was made into a novel too @Anonymous

    Yep: It's actually quite insightful.

    https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=49328.

    Novel nugget January 31, 2017 5:04 pm
    The story of the first chapter was made into a novel too @Anonymous

    Oh, you're right! I completely forgot about that one! That one completely slipped my mind. I guess it's been a while. ;)

    Novel nugget January 31, 2017 5:07 pm
    Thanks for the nuggets. @Reality bites

    You're welcome! :) I just had to talk about
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    Asmami being able to cook, lol. I know it sounds ridiculous, but since I love cooking and baking so very much, that one just made me really happy. :)

    Novel nugget January 31, 2017 5:19 pm
    Thanks for the nuggets. @Reality bites

    One thing I've been wondering about: Remember the night when Kuroda visits Asami at the penthouse and they talk (after Akihito ran way and was brought back home)? Asami gives Kuroda a book (at least I think that's what it is) as a gift. Whatever it is, it's something rare and difficult to come by.

    http://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/you_re_my_loveprize_in_viewfinder/mh/v07/c043/9/

    I would love to see the novel make a connection to that part. Because Kuroda says "You still remembered." So maybe this goes back to something in their past, 20 years ago?

    anon 2 January 31, 2017 5:38 pm
    One thing I've been wondering about: Remember the night when Kuroda visits Asami at the penthouse and they talk (after Akihito ran way and was brought back home)? Asami gives Kuroda a book (at least I think tha... @Novel nugget

    Yeah, it could be. A rare and antique version of the book.

    Anonymous February 1, 2017 12:51 am
    Yeah, it could be. A rare and antique version of the book. @anon 2

    Or that exact book that Asami was reading, so makes it more special

    anon 2 February 1, 2017 1:34 am
    Or that exact book that Asami was reading, so makes it more special @Anonymous

    That's a possibility. I'm sensing an AsamixKuroda in the air. (=^ω^=)

    Anonymous February 1, 2017 10:17 am
    That's a possibility. I'm sensing an AsamixKuroda in the air. (=^ω^=) @anon 2

    more like Kuroda has a crush on Asami but Asami doesnt feel the same way. We know who's Asami's type now ;)

    anon 2 February 1, 2017 12:54 pm
    more like Kuroda has a crush on Asami but Asami doesnt feel the same way. We know who's Asami's type now ;) @Anonymous

    But they were teens, and teens the most of the times had different ideas. We are talking about a yaoi novel, the sex has to be somewhere.

    ねぇねぇ February 1, 2017 11:47 pm
    But they were teens, and teens the most of the times had different ideas. We are talking about a yaoi novel, the sex has to be somewhere. @anon 2

    I read Japanese reviews of the novel, seemingly there's not much erotic content at all.