Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai (青春ブタ野郎はバニーガール先輩の夢を見ない) is a the first volume of the Rascal Does Not Dream light novels written by Kamoshida Hajime featuring artwork by Mizogushi Keeji. The first volume was originally release in 2014 and in English in 2020.
Azusagawa Sakuta noticed an unusual sight one day at the local library, a beautiful girl wearing a bunny girl outfit. What was more amazing was that he appeared to be the only one who was able to see her. The girl, Sakurajima Mai, was an upperclassman and certified celebrity. Mai had been a popular actor since a young age, appearing in movies, commercials and TV shows. In middle school Mai had announced she would be stepping back from work for a while to focus on school. In reality Mai was becoming disillusioned with the industry and her mother/manager in particular. A particular photo shoot was the turning point in her willingness to blindly go along with any job her mother lined up for her. Mai announced the hiatus as a way of attacking her mother for the situation. Instead she focused on being a teenage in her final years of education. Unfortunately, due in part to Mai not returning full time to school until later her first year and her celebrity status, she found herself isolated and ignored by the student body. That isolation was beginning to manifest in her not being seen by people outside of school as well, to the point where she could dress in a very revealing outfit in public and not receive any reaction. It also lead to more problematic situations like not being able to buy groceries or be served at a restaurant. Saukta could see her.
Sakuta is a second year student, Mai being his senior in her final year of high school. He too is isolated, having only two friends; logical and stoic science girl Futaba Rio and easy going all around good guy Kinimi Yuuma. A rumor of an incident from middle school about Sakuta putting a few classmates in the hospital circulated quickly in high school and labeled him an outcast. Sakuta took the isolation in stride and accepted his fate, knowing he would be done with school eventually. In reality the incident is much more spectacular. His younger sister, Kaede, was bullied by her classmates, to the point where abusive posts online mysteriously lead to physical bruising and lacerations. In what Sakuta refers to as 'adolescent syndrome' his sisters mental anguish and adolescent stresses manifested into physical abuse. Sakuta was the only one who even recognized what was going on, even if he didn't fully understand it. That in turn lead to the attack manifesting on him as well, leading to him being hospitalized. While in the hospital he was encouraged by an older girl named Makinohara Shouko, who encouraged him to continue to support and trust his ailing sister. Skip ahead two years and the siblings are living alone, as their mother suffered severe emotional trauma from the incident and their father is spending all of his free time caring for her. Mai lets Sakuta get close to him, if for nothing more than proof that at least one person still knows she exists. She begins to cling onto him as an anchor to reality. He, facing a personal relationship with a popular celebrity, takes full advantage of the situation and strives to court her. As she opens up to him, he also shares his past struggles and believes Mai's disappearing problem is 'adolescent syndrome'. But he doesn't know where to begin to help her overcome it, having not been able to help his sister, who is a shut in that has reverted to the personality of a girl many years younger than she is. Will they be able to make the world remember Mai before she disappears from everyone's memory?
The first volume of the light novel, just as the anime, does a really good job in prepping the audience to the world of Rascal Does Not Dream. Establishing right away Sakuta's quick wit and general ease with the world around him. I also puts the mundane exposition of the series' supernatural elements. At its core the series deals with trauma's of adolescence, manifested in supernatural ways. The supernatural aspect is again very benign and subtle. Mai is uncontrollably being removed from people perception, but its not like shes vanishing and people suddenly don't see her. Once she is out of someones perception she no longer exists in their view of the world. This is a terrifying prospect. As the problem intensifies her existence begins to be erased from record as well. The story focuses on two things; establishing the personalities of the main and secondary characters while moving through the central plot. In the first book there are only 3 central and 4 secondary characters. Their personalities are immediately dialed in, letting you know their positions and opinions of the others they interact with. As the story unfolds, so too does a series of underlying narratives.
In general the writing is good, Sakuta at times is way to quick witted, breaking a bit of the realism. Everyone has there identifiable personalities, even if some are common slice of life/anime tropes in general. In the end though, the important narrative over all if the interactions between Sakuta and Mai, interactions that are well done and enjoyable. The approach to the supernatural aspects are done in a very subtle way, that make the reader think it could be possible. Subtle outside of the physical damage bot Kaede and Sakuta suffered. But it would be incredibly easy to translate the story into live action without the need for special or even many practical effects. The twists and turns aren't that ridiculous and in the end its a story about compassion and connection with those around you. Everyone wants to be part of a group and when that seems impossible the world can appear to be against you at every turn.
Book Two: Rascal Does Not Dream Of Petite Devil Kohai review here!
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