Anonymous Noise Vol 9 (Manga Review)

By: I.Am.No.Man

Previously in Anonymous Noise...

Find my previous review here!Yuzu and Nino have been tasked to write a viral pop song for a famous model duo. They learn to work together and find strength in each other’s weaknesses. After overcoming a rocky start, Yuzu and Nino write a song that becomes an instant hit. The model duo is grateful and promises that this isn’t the last you’ll see of them.Meanwhile, the missing Momo has suddenly resurfaced. Just in time for in NO hurry to shout’s nationwide tour. In fact, Momo and his band, Silent Black Kitty, will feature in a double headliner show with in NO hurry to shout for their last big show of the tour. What could go wrong?

Story

The members of in NO hurry to shout all take the news of Silent Black Kitty’s return in very different ways. Alice sees this as her one chance to win Momo back and show off her talent. Yuzu is threatened by how bold Momo has become, and vows that this will be the last time. He must win Alice’s heart before the tour ends.The band practice endlessly together to perfect their set for the tour. Excitement and nerves set everyone on edge. Their first show is about to begin! Alice shines on stage, as does everyone except Yuzu. It seems his anticipation and emotions have gotten the best of him. The next three shows quickly begin to fall apart as everyone’s anxieties surmount their discipline. Haruyoshi and Yuzu begin to fight, and everyone worries the band will break up.Miou, who has been following in NO hurry to shout’s tour closely, hears news that the band is fighting, so he sends encouraging messages to everyone in the band. They realize they have been putting too much pressure on themselves, and then vow that this show will be their best one yet. Alice rushes off to find Yuzu, who is still missing after the fight. She finds him outside, alone and freezing cold. He silently promises to himself that he will share his feelings tonight. No more playing around. He can’t let Momo win—Alice is his and his alone.Yuzu and Alice walk back to the club together. Alice rushes ahead to get Yuzu a hot cup of milk and some hand warmers to try and warm him back up. She asks Yuzu why he has been so down and moody during their tour, and he finally breaks down. Seconds away from telling her how he feels, Yuzu's voice is suddenly completely gone. He is thrown back in time to before his father died in the plane crash. He sees his happier past and watches it all disappear again, with his mother begging him to never sing again out of fear that he’ll leave just like his father. Alice calls for help, fearing that Yuzu has relapsed and lost his voice again. Their manager says she will rush Yuzu to the hospital, ignoring his written pleas to keep the show going and not cancel on his behalf. Their manager tells the band to be ready for anything, keep the show going with or without Yuzu.At the last minute, in NO hurry to shout makes some quick changes to their first song in an attempt to give Yuzu as much time as possible. Miou has seen Yuzu at the hospital and tells Momo they must be in trouble. Momo heads to the show under the pretense of “scouting the competition.” Alice arrives on stage and begins singing a solo. Soon, the guitarist Haruyoshi joins her onstage and they begin a duet. The crowd goes wild, wanting more! The drummer Kuro takes the stage and the crowd is in a frenzy waiting for their last member to take the stage. Alice glances backstage and sees that Yuzu still hasn’t arrived. Just as she begins to despair, a bass guitar begins to play from backstage. She can’t see who is playing, but knows it isn’t Yuzu.Hidden backstage, Momo has saved the day for in NO hurry to shout and covered Yuzu’s bass guitar part, which gives Yuzu just enough time to make it to the club. An incredulous Yuzu is baffled by Momo’s actions and silently, gratefully accepts his guitar back from Momo. Momo wishes him luck and says he’ll see him at the end of the tour.

Review

I thought I had my fill of this teenage love triangle band camp story, but I found the characters and story much more engaging in this volume than the last. We finally get to see a Momo that isn’t completely selfish or self-serving as he swoops in to save in NO hurry to shout just in time. Though I think his actions may have a more selfish undertone with him really wanting in NO hurry to shout at their best for the double headliner coming up.I am still finding the love triangle a little too much to swallow. It’s cringy, young, teenage love that is just not my demographic. There was one panel that really showed how Yuzu and Momo are leeching and literally hanging off Alice, making her look smothered. I missed a solid Miou storyline in this volume. She has always been my favorite because she seems like the most grounded, mature, and selfless character in this series. More Miou, please! We got a taste of her and Haruyoshi’s unrequited love triangle, and honestly I think I’m more interested in them, as long as Haru stops being creepily possessive of her. Let these poor girls breathe!

I liked the little backstory vignette we got into Yuzu’s family life. We learn that he has been traumatized by his father’s sudden death and his mother’s grief. I am still unamused by the mysterious “throat disease” excuse for his inability to sing. Now that it’s attached to some past childhood trauma, maybe I’ll give it a little more credit.Yuzu’s little trip to the hospital gave us an action-packed ending that has been missing from the past few volumes. I was actually excited to see Yuzu and Momo’s responses to the situation. It felt a little out of character from the usually cynical and distant Momo, who often likes to use his presence to torment Alice. Yuzu took Momo’s presence much better than I thought he would. No violent emotional explosions yet. We’ll see if he lets his jealousy get the best of him.

Overall, I think the story is finally picking back up. Hopefully we get to see the bands go head-to-head in the next volume or two. If you love watching teenage love and angst at its peak, this series is definitely for you. The artwork is improving, as well. There were some exquisite club scene sketches. It seemed like our author was trying another new drawing style, and I loved it. I still have a hard time telling apart Yuzu and Momo occasionally. I have to look really closely for Momo’s glasses. The next volume promises to be an exciting one!Want to read Anonymous Noise? Find Volume 9 here!Viz Media provided us with a review copy of Anonymous Noise Volume 9 in exchange for a fair review.