The Golden Orchid
joined Jan 19, 2017
I figured out the title was a ship name pun, but it still didn't make any sense to me. Karen doesn't mean anything in this series, so seems random.
Some details I liked. I've been looking through the wiki's page on Ren, so immediately obvious the first panel was from the memoria "Awake, but the Dream Continues". Another memoria reference on page 18 to "This is the Fragrance of Love". The plot also mirrors how the "The Diary I Wrote With You" event went, like Rika searching out Ren to make up with her and Rika calling Ren while they're only separated by a door. Main difference is that this time Rika bursts inside, which is a nice inversion of what happens during the event. This author did their research and/or are a big RikaRen fan which I appreciate a lot! Because of the use of canon content, it has a strong alternate universe feel to it.
Which leads me to my next thoughts, namely that I did like the story a lot, it's heart-wrenching, but I'm torn on whether I can see this as being in-character for them. Rika's thought process is very canon; this is exactly how she thought after she first made her wish. But I wonder if she would really be this cruel to Ren. She did decide to take things into her own hands with her childhood friend, by breaking things off, for that girl's supposed best interests, so makes sense she could do the same with Ren. I think I like to see her as a kinder person than that though. Would like to think that she's grown since she made her wish, since her time with Ren.
Either way, this Rika seems like a valid possibility too, and it was a lovingly made story, so I can only give props to the author.
Misc. appreciations: Rika thinking that Ren had the capacity to commit suicide, so of course she could be decisive; the dedication to drawing Hinano's sleeves and even paying enough attention to detail to show them bunched up when her hands are exposed (pg 21); uniform attention to detail; and finally, what magical girl story wouldn't be complete with a hearty reminder to believe in miracles.
last edited at May 6, 2020 9:28PM