Long time, no see!

Today, I'll present my current manga obsession, Iris Zero, by Piroshiki and Hotaru Takana.

The manga takes place in a world where more than 90% of children are born with an ability called an iris that allows them to see specific things -- whether those be little things like what's for dinner or things like feelings or what others are suited for. Irises are a relatively new development, so adults don't have this power. And Iris Zeros, the few children who are born without it, are treated as outcasts. Toru Mizushima is our titular Iris Zero. To avoid confrontation, he keeps to a policy he calls "low exposure" (lit. "low ratings") and tries not to stand out. But when the super-popular Koyuki Sasamori barges into his life, his exposure goes over 9,000 he's suddenly dragged into the limelight.

On top of having a unique premise, the story is pretty psychological and has just the right mix of drama and comedy, so that it's not too dark even when it tackles some tough topics. The characters are fleshed-out and likable, too. (I could write a whole iDefyn character post for Toru, Hijiri or Asahi, but that'll come later.) Also, with the exception of one questionable scene, there's almost no fan service in this series. (Even the creator writes a bonus manga jokingly calling the series "Sex Appeal Zero".) So I highly recommend it. If you haven't yet read Iris Zero, give it a try!