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After School Nightmare
A very interesting manga that's worth checking out. 10 volumes with about four chapters each.
The ending is reeaalllyyy good. Like... Brought me to tears good. I wasn't blubbering but I did get misty eyed.
Now I think it's a good thing I don't know much about symbolism or Japanese culture 'cause if I did it probably would've ruined it for me. Good read.
Out of 10 it gets a solid 9.
You know what? Screw that, this thing is amazing and deserves a full 10 out of 10. I don't know what I was thinking.
EDIT:
It would probably be good if I gave a synopsis.
The story centers around Ichijo Mashiro (or Mashiro Ichijou for the purists). Ichijo is intersexed and in the series he defines it as having a male "top" and female "bottom" as he has female genitals but a more masculine features in general which means, in most anime/manga, Ichijo is a very pretty man.
Ever since he can remember Ichijo has chosen to live as a male for the main reason that it's easier but one day the issue of gender identity rears its head again when he is in the shower and starts his first period.
For those of you who are thinking "EWWWW. Why would I want to read that?" please let me continue before you completely judge it. This is pretty much the most graphic part of the series and you get it over with soon so you can suck it up (which I mean with all the love of the world). There are sexual scenes but nothing too detailed, just suggestive. This is also not the entire plot but the dilemma the main character is in but some of the other characters are just as engaging.
The plot comes from a club that is held after school in a disappearing basement (there after school, gone during). In this club the participants are laid to rest in a curtained bed and enter a dream world where they are presented as their "real" selves. In this world Ichijo is dressed in a girl's uniform and, choosing to live his life as a man, is understandably upset about being portrayed as such when other students can see him this way.
The whole purpose of the dream world is to "kill" the others to find the key. When one has the key they go to the door and "graduate".
Details:
When one graduates their existence is basically wiped out and people forget they were ever in that school.
When people are killed in the dream world it is when the large beads around their neck crack and fall apart. Each person starts with three a piece and when they defeat another they get some of their beads. These beads can be broken in several ways. There is, of course, destroying the body but there is also the option of breaking their spirit by saying or doing things that hurt them emotionally.
