Minto na Bokura

Title: Minto na Bokura (We are Mint)

Author/Artist: Yoshizumi Wataru(Ayumu)

Publisher: Ribon Mascot Comics

Style: Shojo -- Situational Comedy/Romance

# of Books: 6

Rating: PG

Summary written by: Gloria Oliver



Main Characters:

Noeru Minamino



Occupation: Student
Status: Upset
When first introduced, Noeru is supposedly Maria's twin sister. In reality he is Maria's twin brother dressed up like a girl. It all began when their father went on business to Hawaii during school vacation and Noeru went with him while Maria decided to stay home because of her basketball club. She promised to join them as soon as the tournament was over, but never came. When Noeru got home, he found out his sister had not only not come to Hawaii once the tournament was over, she also signed up to go to another school. His mother thinks this is because she's met her first love and is chasing after him.

Noeru doesn't like this one bit. Not only is he protective of his sister, but the two of them have been together since birth, now she's gone. It was bad enough when she'd decided to enter a club in middle school and got other friends, and now this. Well, he won't forgive her! He'll make her spend time with him!

And so Noeru decided he would transfer to his sisters new school, Morinomiya. Dad agrees, worried about his daughter being so far from home and looks into it. That's when the troubles begin. You see, the dorms for boys are full. So the school administrator has suggested Noeru pretend he's a girl and stay in the girls' dorm. His father passes on the suggestion calling it ludicrous and knowing his son would never agree to it. WRONG! Noeru is so mad he agrees to do it. He wants his sister back! (Can we say possession issues! Heck he tells her she's his thing to her face!) :-)




Maria Minamino



Occupation: Student/Basketball player
Status: In love/Annoyed
Introduced: Book 1
Maria, twin sister to Noeru, fell in love with the young basketball coach of Morinomiya, when he helped her out after she got hurt on some steps after one of the games of the basketball tournament. Hirobe is not aware of her feelings for him, Maria nevertheless changed schools and joined the basketball team at his school.

That her brother has come after her and taken on the guise of a girl on top of it all is a major and unwelcomed surprise. Maria tries hard to dissuade Noeru from doing this, even telling him he can't possibly pull off trying to be a girl for long without being found out, but can't. Noeru's terms are simple, he's staying there until she decides to come back with him. He's not going to lose his sister.




Ryuji Sasa



Occupation: Student/Basketball player
Status: Fooled
Introduced: Book 1
Ryuji is the top player for boys' basketball team at the Morinomiya school. Noeru meets him when he sees his sister making goo-goo eyes at the girls' basketball coach. Ryuji is liked very much by the girls, but he's not very interested in them. After Noeru becomes the boys' basketball's teams' manager and he spends more time with 'her', Ryuji starts to like her especially when he comes to learn that unlike most girls, Noeru enjoys fishing! (Can we say there's going to be a nasty surprise in his future?) :-)




Miyu Makimura



Occupation: Student/Loner
Status: Secretive
Introduced: Book 1
Miyu Nakamura is Noeru's roommate. A quiet, serious girl, she avoids interaction with others, and sometimes stays out until very late at night. There are rumors about her circulating the school, and at one point, Noeru suspects she has a lover who is an older man.




Story Summary

Written by the same author who brought us Marmalade Boy, We are Mint is a delightfully funny story of sibling love, growing up, and letting go. From Noeru's determination to get his sister back, to realizing that his stubbornness to make Maria give up on her first love can hurt her to his own suddenly appearing affections for his roommate. (Yes, the sadistic administrator that suggested this farce actually sticks Noeru with a roommate. (It becomes fairly obvious later that she did this on purpose for she wanted someone to look after Miyu!)

So you have Noeru trying to get his sister to come home, Maria trying to avoid this while at the same time trying to reveal her affections for her beloved, Ryuji's interest in an oblivious Noeru, while Noeru finds despite himself that he's interested in Miyu. A definite combination for trouble. (And you'll never guess who gives who a first kiss and their reaction when later they find out the truth! Bwahahaha!)

A cute manga covering funny situations as well as those things we all encounter while becoming older as well as mysteries to solve. Quite enjoyable!