I am in complete awe at the absolute masterpiece that I just read. For anyone thinking this will be a cute, nice, and short read: believe me, it will absolutely not be. This story covers extremely delicate and triggering topics. It may seem odd, given that it's literally only three chapters long. I mean, really, how much can you elaborate on in just three chapters, right? But trust me, the way "Vitamins" is able to cover so many serious issues so naturally in such a short manga is really nothing short of amazing. It goes way beyond just bullying (and, mind you, seriously heavy bullying). It covers:
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rape, toxic relationships (both romantic and platonic alike), eating disorders (bulimia, more specifically), a suicide attempt, dropping out of school, many forms of social stigma, and even a little bit of family issues, though it should be noted that later on, as the story progresses, the protagonist's family becomes a great source of strength for her. But to be honest, she was already crazy strong to start with. Just to think of all the nasty things that she was able to endure all by herself and the fact that she came out of them much stronger and more successful than before is really something to look up to, in my opinion. In a situation where she was on the brink of losing herself completely, it was through realizing that she was leading her life astray from her true essence and reconnecting with her real self and the things that made life fun, which, for her, was drawing manga, that she blossomed, just like a beautiful lotus flower, even when surrounded by nothing but mud. This is the very reason why this story carries such a positive message behind it, despite the shockingly dark situations it depicts. I love this kind of story—one that carries a positive message of personal growth amidst disturbingly dark and harsh realities. And better yet, it manages to explore so many issues in a single volume composed of just three chapters. Honestly, the only reason I'm not giving it a nice, round 100 is because of how heavy the scenes are, to the point they made me completely sick to my stomach. I understand it was necessary to convey the message, and I definitely appreciate that they were included for the sake of it. Still, though, it was
seriously disturbing, so I'll leave a trigger warning there. This manga is definitely not for the faint of heart, so I don't recommend you read it if you aren't in a good place mentally and emotionally at the moment. However, if you
are looking for a manga that covers seriously heavy topics in a very raw and evolving way but don't want to spend a long time reading it to not be depressed by it, "Vitamins" is the way to go. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
