Have you done Oreimo fan art or cosplay, or just have some thoughts on the series or characters you’d like to share? The Off-Kai is the place for you—it’s the letters column in the back of Oreimo: Kuroneko! Become a part of the official manga by sending in your contributions today to oreimo@darkhorse.com!
Speaking of that same manga…vol. 3 of Oreimo: Kuroneko hits stores this week! Bridge of Spies coming out made us think about the Cold War dimensions that high school creative club rivalries can take on…double agents, paranoia, and a furiously mounting weapons stockpile—not nukes, but the still deadlier teenage devices of reputation, popularity, and hateful looks in the hallways! Like a spy in the house of love, our heroine Ruri Gokou dresses in black, and is from a far distant land (that’s what she claims, anyway). Under the code name “Kuroneko,” she’s prepared to do whatever necessary to win this battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of...well, of herself, seeing as it’s her life, and her ambitions, at stake. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know whom to trust.
She would like to assume that she has the full support of Kyousuke, who even joined the Game Research Club to keep her company and encourage her to socialize a bit more. Still, though…Kyousuke is the brother of Kuroneko’s greatest nemesis (and best friend), Kirino, who in Vol. 3 chooses just the wrong moment to return from her trip to America…and now Kuroneko fears that she can never hold the place of importance in his heart that his gorgeous, brilliant, perfect sister has. And even with all that relationship drama going on, Kuroneko still has to work on her other game—and hold her own against the multiple-warhead perversity of fangirl Sena Akagi, who’d have turned the Cambridge Five into a yaoi manga if it were up to her. Confidence is high, and will things get to Defcon One…or will Kuroneko decide that the only winning move is not to play?
—Jemiah Jefferson
Assistant Editor
P.S. Did you notice that the Hiro Kanzaki, the character designer of Oreimo, is as of this volume listed on the cover as “KANZAKIHIRO”…? The change was made by the recent request of the artist, who often writes his name that way in Japan. We aim to please!