I really had a hard time reading this manga. I found the narrative slow and confusing. It was unable to keep my attention and I found myself thinking of other things to read.

ARC was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blue Flag, I really like some of these manga books and I really enjoyed this one. The love story is really interesting and it is easy to become invested in each character. Beautiful and stunning. Blue Flag is the kind of manga you will read over and over. The love story was different and I can not wait for the second volume!

Thank you once again, NetGalley for this one.

Blue Flag didn’t read like the standard love triangle you see in dramas where one side is always looking at someone else. No, this one is more complicated. Taichi and Futaba, two awkward teens, team up to help one win the affections of Touma, Taichi’s childhood friend and popular kid. Taichi knows exactly what Touma wants and, after some convincing, tries to help Futaba. However, the author hints that Taichi and Touma’s relationship isn’t just childhood friends either.

KAITO weaves confusion, anxiety, denial, and fear in a high school setting so well. Friendships can start and break down. Misunderstandings happen. Frustrations and stress are ensured even without tests and homework. And, when you put your friends’ feelings before your own, you break down a little bit more every day. This feeling is even worse in high school because you feel like you are on your own and that everyone will judge you for even having feelings in the first place – a burden the author reflects.

This manga felt so real. I will continue to read this series and encourage others check it out especially if they like manga/graphic novels that include romance, drama, and aren’t afraid of LGBTQ themes. Oh, I can’t wait for the second volume!

Blue Flag by Kaito
Publisher: VIZ Media
Ages: Older Teens
Release Date: 21 April 2020


Taichi Ichinose, Toma Mita (his childhood friend & star athlete), and Futaba Kuze (a shy girl he inexplicably cannot stand) are all in the same homeroom as they begin year 3 of high school. Futaba opens to Taichi that she has a crush on Toma and Taichi agrees to help her. The problem-Toma has a crush on someone else.

With a love quadrangle, this story will have teens amused. There's some GLBT+ happening and it is AMAZING! This book is just charming. And it has a nice slow build to the final pages.

This is definitely making its way to my library's shelves.

This manga was very cute, angsty and just want I wanted. I asked for this book because it looked interesting and boy am I glad I read it. I will continue with this series as its progresses. So if you like shojo that’s a bit Angsty if you will than pick this one up!

Argggggg. I need the next volume! This sounded like a super cute manga and figured I'd give it a try and now I want to know whats next. It was so easy to fall into this world getting to know. The main point of the book can be overdone but if done right it doesn't matter and I read a book recently with the same kinda idea going on but this felt so different and unique and it was overall fun to read. Excuse me while I cut off this review to see if I can get ahold of the next one!

I enjoyed this manga. This is a very angst filled and emotional read. The characters are interesting the feelings relatable and the art beautiful. I found myself quickly drawn into the story and feeling very invested in the characters and their budding and evolving relationships. There is an astonishing level of complexity to these characters and their emotions that I found extremely compelling. I am eager to read more of this series.

A really enjoyable, short read. I enjoyed this book a lot.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book for an honest review.

As a first volume, there is a lot to enjoy and - more importantly - look forward to: why the main character, Taichi, feels uneasy being around his classmate, Kuze; Taichi's best friend, Toma, continues to talk to Taichi after years of never catching up; Kuze's best friend's defensiveness of her. There is a lot of mystery as there is heart in a series like Blue Flag. I cannot wait for the next volume.

This was a really good first volume! There was a lot of heart and I feel like I already know the four main characters fairly well and I'm really eager to see how everything plays out.

This story follows three characters: Toma, Taichi, and Futaba. Toma and Taichi were close friends in middle school, but have been a bit dintance since starting high school. Taichi’s classmate, Futaba, asks Taichi for help to attract Toma’s attention. Taichi agrees to help Futaba, but begins to develop feelings for her while helping her. Taichi knows that Toma has feelings for somebody else, and tells Futaba that it may be a fruitless venture but Futaba is willing to try anyway. But who is Toma in love with…?

I really enjoyed this! This was straight up, a good manga. This had a straight forward plot line, beautiful art, interesting characters, and a cliff hanger at the end. I sped through this in in less than an hour. If you're looking for a manga that doesn't have a super complicated plot line and leans more romance/contemporary, then this is the manga for you. I am so excited to pick up the next volume!

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read and review, "Blue Flag, Vol. 1" by KAITO. While I enjoyed the story, I was disappointed at the Kindle download for it. The pages were choppy and confusing. I had to re-read parts multiple times to understand the story line. I do plan on picking up volume 2 in paperback when it does come out. It is a great slice of life manga that most anyone would enjoy.

Blue Flag, Vol. 1 by KAITO is a young adult manga that is currently scheduled for release on May 10 2020. It’s the last year of high school, and love is in the air. Romantic feelings that have been building up over years of friendship come to light. When Taichi’s classmate Futaba asks him to help her confess to his best friend, Toma, it sparks the catalyst that begins the sweet and heart-wrenching journey of their third and final year of high school.

Blue Flag is a well written and drawn story. I liked the art style, and how no character is too perfect or bad. They are all just high school students trying to navigate school, relationships, and their own feelings. They are each complex characters, and changing as they grow and figure out who they are, what they like, and who the like. At that age these things are all moving targets, and think the story does a good job of illustrating that. Taichi is getting a better understanding of some of the choices he has made, and how he appears to others. Futaba is trying to come out of her shell and be a stronger person, and Toma has secrets he is not ready to share. Watching their interactions with each other, and the larger scope of schoolmates and family, was fascinating and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I will admit that I saw some of the complications or secrets coming, but I so enjoyed the ride. My only issue with the story is that it ended just as things were getting good and I really want the next book.

The first line of this blurb both grabbed my attention and made me wary.  I've read enough romance in my time to know that love triangles can get messy - and ridiculous - fast.  So, what kind of insanity would a quadrangle bring?  Let's just say that I had to find out.  Because I like to torment myself, okay?

I soon forgot about the promised love quadrangle once Taichi started helping Futaba catch Toma's eye.  Their interactions were so cute and a ton of fun, even when Taichi was getting frustrated with her (and himself).  Futaba and Taichi make a great pair in that they are both awkward and insecure, but they also both encourage and bolster each other.

Toma had me worried for a bit at the beginning.  Anytime you have that super-jock, most popular boy in the school, as the object of anyone's affection, he always turns out to be a raving jerk.  Thankfully, Toma isn't even close to that stereotype.  Aside from being big and liking sports, he's got nothing in common with all those others.  He's kind and funny and a bit dorky at times.  Plus, he's maintained a lasting friendship with his childhood friend, Taichi, even though Taichi is the furthest you can get from being one of the cool kids.

Itachi is the only one I'm unsure of at the moment.  She doesn't really get much page time until near the end of the manga, so I didn't have a lot of time to get to know her.  However, she is very protective of Futaba and that makes me want to like her.  Also, her revelation at the end makes me want to root for her, too.  I'm hoping she gets to show more of herself in the upcoming volumes.

Blue Flag is something I requested on a whim.  I love manga and generally like the stories, even when they're goofy or outrageous.  However, the story here surprised me a bit at times.  I'm eager to get into the next volume when it releases in June because I really do need to see how all of this is going to play out!

Oh, my heart. I never thought a love quadrangle would be so beautiful and compelling.

I've had a tough time finding manga that portrays LGBTQIA+ issues sensitively and thoughtfully, but this one shows promise in its ability to do so. The first volume ends on a massive cliffhanger, so I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Ok, first of all I usually don’t like contemporary manga or just books in general. Usually I like something with magic, action, or special abilities like Bleach, Fairy tail or Naruto. But I’m very happy to say that I really enjoyed this manga despite it being within my least favorite genre!

First, Taichi
I loved his character so much! I really love when a more nerdy and awkward person is the main character. It makes it way more relatable not having a picture perfect character as the main protagonist. Anyway, I really loved how he helped Futaba with getting Toma to pay attention to her and it really allowed some cute moment to happen between the two. I felt like their development was super nice and could totally see Taichi developing some feelings for Futaba. Him trying to get her to not cry was adorable and him just trying to help her in general was super cute. I really hope he end up with Futaba *^*
I do have to say Taichi is totally my type ;)
He seems to like books and lazy weekends spent just hanging out and going with the flow. I do like to stay active in sports, but I wouldn’t mind going on a simple date with Taichi to the book store or something XD

Now to Toma
Geese I have a crush on him too XD But seriously he seems so sweet and I really like that he stays active... plus he’s a tall boi. I don’t know how I feel about his feelings for Taichi since I really want Taichi to end up with Futaba, plus I don’t think Taichi is gay, but hey, I think I’ve picked i good guy to crush on. Lol

I really loved Futaba as well, I’m not as shy or awkward as her, but I can really understand her timid ness when it came to her crush. I can relate lol. I really hope she end up with Taichi!


I really loved the dynamic of this manga, it was super laid back but still had some super cute and exciting moments. I usually like a bit of action, but I’m Actually for content with this book. I’ll be definitely looking into the next volume when it comes out :)

Highly suggest to anyone who enjoyed : Call me by Your Name

The manga is beautiful and enjoyable. A lot of the characters fall into tropes you see all the time, but that doesn't take away from the story. And I was not expecting that ending at all. I can't wait to read volume 2 and see where things go from here.



I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ah yes, high school romance. So confusing and messy. Here we find two high school boys who were friends since elementary school. They’re no longer as close as they once were. One is popular. One is just an average boy, who doesn’t really feel like he fits in with his old friend, instead he sticks to his small circle of friends.

Enter the girl. Average boy realizes that she has a crush on his old friend. He wants nothing to do with it. But after unintentionally giving her some serious advice, he decides that maybe she really does need his help.

Popular boy is pretty clueless to all of this. He has his own secret crush on. Oh and and average boy? He might maybe be falling for the girl he’s helping.

Super cute manga, I’d gladly read on.

Blue Flag, Vol. 1 brings together Taichi and Futuba during the beginning of the school year because Futuba is in love with Taichi's childhood friend Toma. Through some interesting scenarios putting the three of them it becomes quickly apparent that things are a lot more intertwined between them that what appears at the surface.

The manga has interesting characters, and the story development is strong in these first chapters of this installment. I am excited to see where things go from here!!

I knew this was gonna make me sad, but I didn't expect it so soon!! Blue Flag was a lot better than I was expecting. If you're not paying attention you won't notice the looks that Toma gives Taichi. But they're meaningful looks (of love). And while we don't see much of Itachi, I immediately knew she was in love with Futuba. My only problem was I wish Itachi was in this more. I can't wait to read the next volume!!!!