Maya no Souretsu

Reminiscent of both its’ shoujo thriller contemporaries and shoujo yuri predecessors, Maya no Souretsu is a compelling story, echoing classic shoujo I’ve read before, even down to the melodramatic plot twists. However, it is capable of blending these elements in a fantastic way and makes the story unique. Maya and Reina aren’t carbon copies of Simone and Resine from Shiroi Heya no Futari and their story is their own.

Like my warning with Shiroi Heya no Futari, I only have access to the titular story, Maya no Souretsu, and will only be discussing it. There will be spoilers because of how short it is.

Reina’s parents don’t seem to care about her or what she wants. Little did she know, her life would change when she went on vacation. With distant parents and a fiance she doesn’t want, she finds solace in her neighbor Maya, who she develops feelings for. However, when the people in Reina’s life start dying, it becomes evident that Maya isn’t telling Reina everything…

After reading Shiroi Heya no Futari, Maya no Souretsu, and Moonlight Flowers, I came to realize that a common theme of shoujo and josei GL, even in the early days of the genre, is how women are treated in a patriarchal society, in addition to heteronormativity and homophobia.

Reina isn’t given any agency when the story begins. She has no freedom of choice. Her mother doesn’t seem to care about her desires, and her father tends to ignore her completely. She has been forced into an arranged marriage with a man who she sees as her older brother. This arranged marriage was initiated by her fiancé, without Reina’s consent. She doesn’t get to choose her relationship, but other people, namely the men and adults in her life, choose for her. She is restricted and treated as an object to be passed around and given to the men in her life until she meets Maya.

Reina’s relationship with Maya lacks the societal restraints and gender imbalances a heterosexual one would have. Maya doesn’t treat Reina as an object or as someone to bend to her will, but as equals, something that her fiancé would not allow. Their relationship is so refreshing, especially in comparison to the stifling nature of Reina’s other relationships. I was genuinely rooting for them until the reveal at the end.

Maya has a secret. Her parents died in a fire, leaving her and her sister with burn scars and the after effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the fire was set intentionally, and all Maya and her sister have to live for is revenge. She must battle with her growing feelings for Reina, who she only intended to use for her own gain, which directly opposes her desire for vengeance. As a result, she’s a very tortured character, burdened by her past and struggling with the idea that she may have a bright future ahead of her.

Of course this story ended in tragedy since this is 70’s shoujo GL and Maya went on a killing spree which involved some of Reina’s relatives.

The reveal at the end about Reina’s parentage was not a surprise, especially with the foreshadowing in the beginning. It made the love story quite weird in retrospect, but it also hammered home some of the themes in the story. Reina’s mother was not free, herself. She too was a victim of the patriarchal society, treated terribly by the men in her life, wanting her own revenge, much like Maya. It shows how systemic misogyny can affect multiple generations.

I suppose the twist made the ending a bit more palatable, but it was also just awful to see Reina in the end, who had no other choice than to participate in the system that oppresses her. Her marriage symbolizes her loss of freedom. She lost everyone she could depend on, and now must lead her life in isolation with her husband. Her ending is just as tragic as Maya’s, even though she was the one to survive.

The art was very nice. It is very reminiscent of Shiroi Heya no Futari, especially with the character designs. I will note that Maya and Reina are a lot older looking than Simone and Resine, which is befitting of their age. Neither of them were as cute or sparkly, though, especially with the more somber tone and heavier themes.

I honestly wasn’t expecting to get this much out of this manga, but I’m glad I read it. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an old shoujo girl’s love, especially since this is a classic. It’s also a thriller, which adds some unique elements. While it’s definitely not for everyone, especially due to its age, I found it to be an enjoyable and surprisingly insightful read.