At the time I am writing this I have just completed volume 7 I am not the biggest fan of reading things digitally, or reading fan translations and such so as the series is released and translated into physical copies my opinions can change, but for now, this is my review of Call of The Night (Yofukashi no Uta) by Kotoyama

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Synopsis

The story follows 14-year-old Ko Yamori who suffers from insomnia and is tired of everything, family, friends, school, so he escapes into the dim-lit street, pondering a multitude of thoughts where he bumps into a mysterious girl who he will soon discover a vampire named Nazuna Nanakusa who after tasting Ko's blood is taken aback by how delicious it is, and Ko longing for more experiences in the night decides to become a vampire and why not become one with the help of the one before him, but to get turned he has to fall in love with Nazuna and that's how the story of a vampire girl and a human boy begins.

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Nighttime

The thing that I feel is the most unique about this manga is that it fully takes place during nighttime, the night is a place where people don't care, you can go up to complete strangers and start up a conversation and give them a high five, the night is a place to mourn, to party, a place to do anything, as you are free from the expectations and responsibilities of the day. Each person has a special story to tell each with their reason for being out at this time, and this story highlights and captures the essence of nighttime giving an appreciation, peacefulness, and showing how fun the quiet, dark night can be through the events Nazuna and Ko go through.

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Story

I would describe the story as a rom-com between two individuals with little bits of action and mystery, Ko and Nazuna both have clear flaws and are both inexperienced in the world of love go on a journey of discovery finding out what love means, and what the difference is between friends and lovers. Aside from the main duo of the story what I enjoyed most was the side stories, Ko meets many new people, one of them a 24-year-old office worker who is tired of her job, co-workers, and putting on fake emotions note Ko is 14 and at first I was taken back by the age gaps shown in the story but with this, it enhances the story as it is able to explore the adult world and the teenage/student world all falling together under the night finding connections, and relatability, it also explores Ko and Nazuna's worlds, a human and a vampire, where instead of finding connections they differentiate from each other. Ko also reconnects with his old friends giving more insight into his past and their opinions on his decision to become a vampire supporting him along the way, but aside from all of this I love the vampires, their past, and why someone would choose to become a vampire other than love, in the end to me this story is about letting go, letting go of the stress, letting go of the past, and letting go of your humanity for something much better, freedom.

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Cons

I found it quite hard to find many things that rubbed me in the wrong way or something I highly disliked but it does like to jump around a lot with themes, and with the pacing, it can get quite chaotic, and some side stories did get me a little sidetracked, but I understand as the night is short and there are only a number things you can fit into a single night.

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Conclusion

In the end, it's not a manga for everyone, but the atmosphere, the interesting stories, characters, and worlds not held back by social differences and hierarchies, all able to collect together in the night. Somebody reading this manga could obtain some new fetish, and some people might enjoy the story for Nazuna's sex jokes, her face, and personality, but whatever it might be that pushes you to read it I do hope you give it a try, as it is a vampire story like no other. (it is late and I am tired, thank you for reading)