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No. 6: The Manga #2
No. 6: The Manga, Volume 02
"I KNEW NOTHING BEFORE TODAY."
With the help of the enigmatic Rat, Shion becomes a fugitive, escaping No. 6 and getting his first glimpse of the desperation and violence that are facts of life outside the city wall. And as Shion learns more about the secret that forced him into exile, his loyalty to the people he left behind and Rat's thirst for revenge threaten to tear the pair apart!
With the help of the enigmatic Rat, Shion becomes a fugitive, escaping No. 6 and getting his first glimpse of the desperation and violence that are facts of life outside the city wall. And as Shion learns more about the secret that forced him into exile, his loyalty to the people he left behind and Rat's thirst for revenge threaten to tear the pair apart!
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 25, 2021
I’ve only just begun, but this series is already so addictive! Shion and Rat’s dynamic continues to amuse, while the metropolis No 6. is starting to be exposed for its ugly secrets. (+ Dogkeeper is awesome). This volume did feel like a set-up for something bigger to come; I’m excited for where things are headed!
July 6, 2018
Not sure if it was my mood or the author getting in stride, but this seemed to hang together much better than the first volume. The outside slum town was generic but still more interesting than the dull utopia inside, and I liked the Dogkeeper. Looking forward to learning more about the Evil Scientists' plot specifics.
January 9, 2017
I'm enjoying this way more than I thought I would. I'm pleased.
Shion and Nezumi are both way funnier than they were in the anime and I wonder if that's what they're like in the novel? Same with some of the small other things that didn't happen like that in the anime.
I also enjoy that people keep assuming Nezumi keeps Shion around, because he's his lover, cause on one hand their reactions are hilarious and on the other, it's a logical assumption to make in the world they live in and I like that the manga isn't shying away from it.
I thought the anime was a bit better at showing how bleak the world outside the city is lookwise (somehow in the manga, Nezumi has a working hot shower? A bath seemed more believable to me.), but here we meet more of the people who basically all act the worst, because that's how their world works.
And on the important side of things: The rats are finally as cute as in the anime! I was disappointed at first, but now they're adorable.
Shion and Nezumi are both way funnier than they were in the anime and I wonder if that's what they're like in the novel? Same with some of the small other things that didn't happen like that in the anime.
I also enjoy that people keep assuming Nezumi keeps Shion around, because he's his lover, cause on one hand their reactions are hilarious and on the other, it's a logical assumption to make in the world they live in and I like that the manga isn't shying away from it.
I thought the anime was a bit better at showing how bleak the world outside the city is lookwise (somehow in the manga, Nezumi has a working hot shower? A bath seemed more believable to me.), but here we meet more of the people who basically all act the worst, because that's how their world works.
And on the important side of things: The rats are finally as cute as in the anime! I was disappointed at first, but now they're adorable.
February 6, 2019
Nezumi's little flirting gives me life.
February 19, 2021
Bueno en este segundo tomo vemos cómo quedó Shion después del final del primero y escaparse de NO.6. Ahora exploramos esta ciudad que está fuera de los muros y vemos como Shion va descubriendo como es la vida fuera de N0.6.
También descubrimos un par de cosas de la vida de Nezumi y nos introducen a un nuevo personaje que parece que va ser importante en la trama.
Además de contarnos algunas cosas del origen de esta ciudad.
En este tomo se sintió mucho más el clima de distopia y desigualdad social que hay en este mundo.
Todavía quedan muchas cosas por hacer y descubrir.
También descubrimos un par de cosas de la vida de Nezumi y nos introducen a un nuevo personaje que parece que va ser importante en la trama.
Además de contarnos algunas cosas del origen de esta ciudad.
En este tomo se sintió mucho más el clima de distopia y desigualdad social que hay en este mundo.
Todavía quedan muchas cosas por hacer y descubrir.
June 23, 2020
Honestly still kind of confused. I'm just waiting for something to happen.
July 4, 2017
I just really really enjoy the politic agenda in this story.
March 12, 2021
Die BL Anspielungen sind schon süß. 😚 Und die Story ist sehr spannend. ^^
November 4, 2013
Onto volume two! And from hereon, Shion's hair will be white, as the cover subtly spoils *cough*. I actually keep forgetting it used to be brown...
Having very recently reread the first three novels again, I really start to notice just how faithful the manga adaptation is to the novels. Minor changes have been made and will be made for the sake of the medium of course, but a lot of lines and scenes made it literally into the manga. You can decide if that's a plus or a con - for me, it's a definite plus. The main reason I picked up the manga as well as the novels is because of the art style, so it makes me happy to see the same scenes I love now in Kino's style. (okay, that and it's a back up, in case my Japanese sinks back so far that I need some straws to grasp to get back into the novels again. I hope it doesn't get to that point of course, but yeah.) It helps me form a better mental image of the West Block too as I reread the novels.
Translation is mostly very natural again, though my brain still auto-replaces Rat with Nezumi (and now Dogkeeper with Inukashi, because this volume introduces Inukashi and therefore immediately gets bonus points). Seriously, I can't get used to it. Again, I get the choice, but my brain is a lost cause and sticks with Nezumi forever after. Oh well.
Upon rebrowsing the volume for this very insightful -hohum- review, I noticed no gender pronouns seem to be used for Dogkeeper so far. Kind of hoping that keeps up! I know it's a very minor detail in the grander scheme of things, but ssh.
This volume also comes with some extras, namely a report of the voice recordings for the anime drawn by Kino, and some four panel comics, mostly with the boys being domestic, which is always a plus and I would definitely buy 10+ volumes with just that I'm not kidding.
Also, Shion with puppies. I'm just saying.
Yeah, I'm not the most critical reviewer since I just love the series so much, especially the characters who really are the heart of it. Sorry. Five stars because reasons, in that case.
Having very recently reread the first three novels again, I really start to notice just how faithful the manga adaptation is to the novels. Minor changes have been made and will be made for the sake of the medium of course, but a lot of lines and scenes made it literally into the manga. You can decide if that's a plus or a con - for me, it's a definite plus. The main reason I picked up the manga as well as the novels is because of the art style, so it makes me happy to see the same scenes I love now in Kino's style. (
Translation is mostly very natural again, though my brain still auto-replaces Rat with Nezumi (and now Dogkeeper with Inukashi, because this volume introduces Inukashi and therefore immediately gets bonus points). Seriously, I can't get used to it. Again, I get the choice, but my brain is a lost cause and sticks with Nezumi forever after. Oh well.
Upon rebrowsing the volume for this very insightful -hohum- review, I noticed no gender pronouns seem to be used for Dogkeeper so far. Kind of hoping that keeps up! I know it's a very minor detail in the grander scheme of things, but ssh.
This volume also comes with some extras, namely a report of the voice recordings for the anime drawn by Kino, and some four panel comics, mostly with the boys being domestic, which is always a plus and I would definitely buy 10+ volumes with just that I'm not kidding.
Also, Shion with puppies. I'm just saying.
Yeah, I'm not the most critical reviewer since I just love the series so much, especially the characters who really are the heart of it. Sorry. Five stars because reasons, in that case.
August 8, 2020
This volume continues right where the last volume left off and follows Shion as he tries to figure out what the heck is going on in the "Utopia" known as No.6. If you haven't read volume one, go read it first or else you'll be lost.
I like this series so far. I'm not too familiar with everything in the dystopian genre, but from the few I've read, this is groundbreaking as far as YA dystopian is concerned.
I like this series so far. I'm not too familiar with everything in the dystopian genre, but from the few I've read, this is groundbreaking as far as YA dystopian is concerned.
August 1, 2024
Stop I was giggling and kicking my feet, these two are CUTIES.😭
Nezumi saving Shion from a prostitute by calling him mine and then kissing her while Shion is shocked and blushing. Then Shion later getting distracted by Nezumi, calling his movements mesmerizing is so real. Nezumi being an actor actually makes so much sense.
I love their dynamic so much.😭 Shion is the sweet innocent sheltered one while Nezumi is some mysterious badass from the streets. When Shion just goes feral for Nezumi's sake.👌👌 Also they are so funny, top tier banter with the flirting and teasing.
We love a sudden glow up but now Shion has white hair and some badass red snakelike stripe going around his entire body. Besides the part around his neck that keeps making me thing he's wearing a choker, it's so slay like okay Reputation bodysuit !!!
Both of them just look soo good, I love their outfits and Nezumi's hair is also so good. Personally I think Shion changed his hair just for me because my track record of white hair x dark hair gay boy ships is very numerous.😭
I have no idea where this is going but omg fuck the government !!!
Nezumi saving Shion from a prostitute by calling him mine and then kissing her while Shion is shocked and blushing. Then Shion later getting distracted by Nezumi, calling his movements mesmerizing is so real. Nezumi being an actor actually makes so much sense.
I love their dynamic so much.😭 Shion is the sweet innocent sheltered one while Nezumi is some mysterious badass from the streets. When Shion just goes feral for Nezumi's sake.👌👌 Also they are so funny, top tier banter with the flirting and teasing.
We love a sudden glow up but now Shion has white hair and some badass red snakelike stripe going around his entire body. Besides the part around his neck that keeps making me thing he's wearing a choker, it's so slay like okay Reputation bodysuit !!!
Both of them just look soo good, I love their outfits and Nezumi's hair is also so good. Personally I think Shion changed his hair just for me because my track record of white hair x dark hair gay boy ships is very numerous.😭
I have no idea where this is going but omg fuck the government !!!
October 11, 2021
[Chapter 4-7]
Oh my God, what’s thattt? THAT IS JUST SO GOOD!!
I swear, I ADORE I LOVE the characters’ dynamic between Shion and Nezumi. Like I mentioned before how both have different perspective in perceiving the world, this volume fleshed out more through some action and dialogue they exchanged.
Like Nezumi tried his very best to prove how the reality is so hard and in a way, stating if Shion with his vulnerability will likely to struggle in this part pf world.
But Shio, wearing his hearts on sleeves showed that it’s truly okay to have a heart and empathy.
I could see that both will learn from one another. I CANT WAIT TO READ THE NEXT VOLUME.
The anime is okay, like I said before the only thing it’s better because it’s in animation. Otherwise on story part, it felt dry. The manga is so much..rich? Hope I deliver the message well lol I lost words.
I also love to see more, the world building slowly shed one after another. Despite focussing being a character driven story, the setting isn’t just another backdrop but part of the story telling as well.
Oh my God, what’s thattt? THAT IS JUST SO GOOD!!
I swear, I ADORE I LOVE the characters’ dynamic between Shion and Nezumi. Like I mentioned before how both have different perspective in perceiving the world, this volume fleshed out more through some action and dialogue they exchanged.
Like Nezumi tried his very best to prove how the reality is so hard and in a way, stating if Shion with his vulnerability will likely to struggle in this part pf world.
But Shio, wearing his hearts on sleeves showed that it’s truly okay to have a heart and empathy.
I could see that both will learn from one another. I CANT WAIT TO READ THE NEXT VOLUME.
The anime is okay, like I said before the only thing it’s better because it’s in animation. Otherwise on story part, it felt dry. The manga is so much..rich? Hope I deliver the message well lol I lost words.
I also love to see more, the world building slowly shed one after another. Despite focussing being a character driven story, the setting isn’t just another backdrop but part of the story telling as well.
June 20, 2019
We're getting deeper into the mystery.
May 17, 2020
Este me hizo tener la revelación que me acuerdo como de un tercio de la historia. Y ni siquiera muy bien. XD
July 27, 2020
Me gusta leer historias distópicas pero este manga se lleva el premio mayor porque tiene aspectos enfocados más a biología y ME ENCANTA.
Además, shippeo terriblemente a Shion con Nezumi.
Además, shippeo terriblemente a Shion con Nezumi.
April 12, 2021
Sigo sin saber adónde está yendo esta historia, pero hey! La dinámica entre los protagonistas sigue siendo entretenida de leer y el mundo distópico es interesante, así que qué más se puede pedir?
A seguir leyendo nomás✨
A seguir leyendo nomás✨
June 24, 2024
banana fish vibes 100%
April 11, 2025
Uwielbiam
July 10, 2025
L'ambientazione viene approfondita e i personaggi prendono forma. È impossibile non affezionarsi a Shion, che appare un po' smidollato ma ci prova comunque! Rat sempre più carismatico!
May 16, 2025
Have you seen this manga series? Have you seen it? You see how high my rating is? THIS is how you do yaoi the correct way. None of that sexual harassment bullshit. None of that main boy gets raped by other main boy and falls in love with him. None of that abuse is fine if he looks sexy. None of that dark shit that’s getting passed off as romantic. None of that lack of a story. None of those random sex scenes. None of that hating all the characters.
Why can’t we get more of this instead of all the toxic shit I just listed?
Why can’t we get more of this instead of all the toxic shit I just listed?
May 19, 2024
I love this series. I'm unabashedly smitten with it and totally, blindly uncritical of it. Shion and Rat are very, very special to me. Their adventures, their relationship, their love for each other... it's all so beautiful. And the style! It's one of the best drawn mangas I've ever come across. I highly recommend it to everybody!
June 17, 2022
Reread 20220617: “I don’t like seeing you naked” Good one, Rat. Good one.
First read:
I don’t have anything more to say than that I love this series. It’s perfect.
First read:
I don’t have anything more to say than that I love this series. It’s perfect.
November 14, 2018
Shion have survive the mysterious bee parasite but is body is scarified for life. Those bees seem to target only residents of No.6 so far.
Karan think she have lost her son forever, but Nezumi find a way to send her a message with one of his rats. She sends back an address in the west block.
The boys go into town and Shion run into some troubles, this include a funny kissing scene with a prostitute.
The young man is still new to this world and quite dependent of Nezumi to saves his butt. He is also super innocent and way too trusting of strangers.
There is two new important characters that are introduce: Daykeeper, the strange owner of a Hotel in ruins and Rikiga, an ex-reporter that use to know Karan and investigated No.6 secrets.
The story is slowly moving, and we are only getting a little bit of information about the mysterious “Utopia” that is the city No.6.
What make the entire manga interesting are the interactions between the boys (those are amazing!) I love the scene where Shion get angry and try to protect Nezumi’s honor. Nezumi also care for the other teen, but is clearly less open abut his feelings. There is a lot of teasing and subtle flirting between those two. Even if they haven’t known each other for so long, there is clearly a connection, and I cannot wait to see it develop in further volumes!
Karan think she have lost her son forever, but Nezumi find a way to send her a message with one of his rats. She sends back an address in the west block.
The boys go into town and Shion run into some troubles, this include a funny kissing scene with a prostitute.
The young man is still new to this world and quite dependent of Nezumi to saves his butt. He is also super innocent and way too trusting of strangers.
There is two new important characters that are introduce: Daykeeper, the strange owner of a Hotel in ruins and Rikiga, an ex-reporter that use to know Karan and investigated No.6 secrets.
The story is slowly moving, and we are only getting a little bit of information about the mysterious “Utopia” that is the city No.6.
What make the entire manga interesting are the interactions between the boys (those are amazing!) I love the scene where Shion get angry and try to protect Nezumi’s honor. Nezumi also care for the other teen, but is clearly less open abut his feelings. There is a lot of teasing and subtle flirting between those two. Even if they haven’t known each other for so long, there is clearly a connection, and I cannot wait to see it develop in further volumes!
May 6, 2018
No. 6 is known as the holy city but not everything is as perfect as it seems. Now that Shion has been expelled from the city he can see it as well. This volume picks up right after the last one ended and follows Rat and Shion as the naive Shion learns about the world that exists outside of the sheltered and carefully structured city that he grew up in. Rat is not a gentle teacher and doesn't coddle him so Shion occasionally finds himself in strange or dangerous situations. There is some secretive message passing between Rat and Shion's mom. She sets them on the path to discover the truth behind the corruption in No. 6. Shion and Rat have different ideas about what should be done with the corrupted city and it is unclear whether they will be able to agree on what to do!
This series has me on the edge of my seat and waiting for every new volume. Each new character is interesting and every new plot twist keeps you guessing. This story is a great utopian/dystopian story. The contrast between the people living inside the highest level of the city and those living on the fringes outside is night and day and it shows both sides of the coin very well. I am very interested in what lies behind Rat's deep hatred of No. 6.
If you enjoy dystopian & utopian stories then you should really check this one out!
This series has me on the edge of my seat and waiting for every new volume. Each new character is interesting and every new plot twist keeps you guessing. This story is a great utopian/dystopian story. The contrast between the people living inside the highest level of the city and those living on the fringes outside is night and day and it shows both sides of the coin very well. I am very interested in what lies behind Rat's deep hatred of No. 6.
If you enjoy dystopian & utopian stories then you should really check this one out!
August 7, 2019
It's official: I love everything about this. The romance isn't rushed. We aren't falling into a mindless loop of Rat saving Shion's ass. Shion's actually learning. The plot is fantastic and I have so many questions. The setting is lush and messy and bloody, which sounds like a contradiction but it's not. The world building is expertly done without tons of info-dumping; we're actually exploring and learning ourselves as readers instead of just being told about how things are. Rat is fucking exceptional and snarky and broken and sharp-minded and exactly the kind of character I fall in love with. The art is awesome. There were DOGS holy shit I love this so much, I was beside myself let me tell you. Incoherent I say! The Dogkeeper is hilarious and I hope we see more of her. West Block is totally brutal but clearly drawing parallels to our own world and I appreciate that. The story is gripping; I read this in one breathless sitting. Did I mention Rat in all his glory? The characters are perfectly flawed.
I literally could not come up with something I disliked if I sat here for 10 minutes.
...
Okay, apparently that's a lie. I actually did sit here are stare at the screen because I wanted to come up with something to critique. The only thing I could come up with is that I really don't care much about Safu or her burning love for Shion. Nope, zilch, nada, sorry kid.
Other than that I'm fighting the urge to just flip back to page 1 and read it all over again because this is UTTER PERFECTION.
Edit: I am weak. Added it as a re-read for a Readathon and devoured this again, taking my time to find all the details I missed. So good.
I literally could not come up with something I disliked if I sat here for 10 minutes.
...
Okay, apparently that's a lie. I actually did sit here are stare at the screen because I wanted to come up with something to critique. The only thing I could come up with is that I really don't care much about Safu or her burning love for Shion. Nope, zilch, nada, sorry kid.
Other than that I'm fighting the urge to just flip back to page 1 and read it all over again because this is UTTER PERFECTION.
Edit: I am weak. Added it as a re-read for a Readathon and devoured this again, taking my time to find all the details I missed. So good.
May 14, 2022
4 stars.
It's interesting seeing more of Shion and Rat's dynamic in this volume. Shion is so innocent and openhearted and I really like those qualities about him, but I agree with Rat saying that he can't just depend on someone to always save and protect him. I hope that Shion gets better at navigating the West Block, while not losing his good qualities that make him Shion. The romance between the two is also more clear in this volume, even though it's still subtle.
I'm interested in seeing how his mom is doing, in terms of the government monitoring her. It was eerie seeing them talk about how people could go back and forth from No. 6 but swiftly there were more security checks and restrictions to the point where no one could come in. It's unsettling how quickly and easily that happened.
It's interesting seeing more of Shion and Rat's dynamic in this volume. Shion is so innocent and openhearted and I really like those qualities about him, but I agree with Rat saying that he can't just depend on someone to always save and protect him. I hope that Shion gets better at navigating the West Block, while not losing his good qualities that make him Shion. The romance between the two is also more clear in this volume, even though it's still subtle.
I'm interested in seeing how his mom is doing, in terms of the government monitoring her. It was eerie seeing them talk about how people could go back and forth from No. 6 but swiftly there were more security checks and restrictions to the point where no one could come in. It's unsettling how quickly and easily that happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 29, 2021Gostei de ver a relação de Shion e Nezumi avançando e da introdução de novos personagens. Como deu para perceber, Shion é uma pessoa muito boa e se importa com todos, o que trouxe algumas consequências para ele nesse volume. Ele está sempre pronto para fazer o bem e defender seus conhecidos (inclusive Nezumi). Também gostei da introdução de novos personagens, que bom que eles conseguiram desvendar a dica da Karan.
Nezumi conseguiu salvar Shion da picada da abelha e ele sobreviveu, mas seu cabelo ficou completamente branco e ele tem uma “cobra vermelha” em torno de seu corpo. Nesse volume Nezumi leva Shion para conhecer um pouco mais da cidade e Shion se mete em várias enrascadas, porém no fim da tudo certo.
Nezumi conseguiu salvar Shion da picada da abelha e ele sobreviveu, mas seu cabelo ficou completamente branco e ele tem uma “cobra vermelha” em torno de seu corpo. Nesse volume Nezumi leva Shion para conhecer um pouco mais da cidade e Shion se mete em várias enrascadas, porém no fim da tudo certo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
4.5 stars
Lots of lore starting to be revealed in this volume. I love the political commentary of No 6 soooo much and it feels all too appropriate right now as an American living in. Well. This giant nightmare. The economic divide has never been so obvious in my lifetime and the lower class is reaaaally being thrown in a pressure cooker here & it feels like soon enough something’s going to snap. And this story is like what life looks like post-snap. Pretty terrifying.
All that aside, I just really love these characters and their journey is going to hurt me. But that’s okay because I love pain.
Lots of lore starting to be revealed in this volume. I love the political commentary of No 6 soooo much and it feels all too appropriate right now as an American living in. Well. This giant nightmare. The economic divide has never been so obvious in my lifetime and the lower class is reaaaally being thrown in a pressure cooker here & it feels like soon enough something’s going to snap. And this story is like what life looks like post-snap. Pretty terrifying.
All that aside, I just really love these characters and their journey is going to hurt me. But that’s okay because I love pain.
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