"Lately, I've been watching Chiikawa, Koshien, playing badminton, watching the Momotaro play, getting in and out in 3 seconds at the Gigamart exhibit, and getting pissed off at how cats are treated in the books I read."
Comments from the artist (TL):
Congratulations on the completion of Blue Box!
I made this visualizing the two returning home in the train, after dusk, from their amusement park date.
Thank you for such a wonderful story!
Sauce: miRai*Ciel
It is finally over huh? What a ride it was.
I still remember how my journey with the series started. I wasn't there when the manga began. I hadn't even heard of the series until a friend from my language school told me about in 2024. How time flies. My first real exposure to the series was when I had the privilege of attending the Stage Show at Anime Japan 2024. I had no previous knowledge about the series, but, what caught my attention was Chinatsu's Japanese VA being Ueda Reina. Now her presence in my life can't exactly be put into words. But that's not what this post is about. If I were to describe it, for me, she's almost what Chi is to Taiki.
Anyway, this was my first chance to see my favourite in person. And it was everything I could ask for and more. I even got to take a crowd shot with the cast which included Shouya Chiba (Taiki), Akari Kitou (Hina), Uchida Yuuma (Haryu) and Kobayashi Chiaki (Kyo). After that, I waited for the anime to air. And I was instantly hooked. I was always a Chinatsu fan, because she was voiced by my queen, but I grew to like Hina a lot as well. I remember picking up the manga after the spin the bottle episode. And from then I caught up chapter by chapter.
Before that though, as I lived in the Ikebukuro area, the place where Chi and Taiki go on their dates all the time, I was able to participate in a lot of collabs! The first one being the pop up shop in Ikebukuro, where I got a Chi acrylic stand and a Hina clip. After that, there was the Sunshine Aquarium collab. You definitely know this place from their Aquarium date. Well during this event, there were photo spots all over the aquarium as well as a voice-over guide from Chi, Taiki and Hina. I got the badge of the Penguin mascot, as well as a Hina acrylic stand (Chi's was sadly sold out). After that, there wasn't anything until the Blue Box exhibition in Shinjuku. I was at a rough point in my life at that point, but I had nearly caught up to the manga, and couldn't miss this opportunity. It was a lovely exhibition, and they had a motion video for *that scene* from the manga. I also got the pamphlet which came with a bunch of stickers, a poster, and a greeting card, which I sent to a Yusa fan who reached out to me.
Then there was the Chara cafe collab after which I bought and read the prologue light novel. Then there was the Shibuya takeover event, the anime's 1st anniversary celebration event, where I bought Chi's lucky anklet, the animate cafe collab, followed by the release of the interlude LN and the Christmas Collab Cafe. I also managed to get into the stage shows for Anime Japan 2025 which aired right before the final episode of S1, where Taiki's VA apologized for making Hina cry, and also showed everyone's favourite scenes from S1 for Hina and Chi (while Kyo's VA asked one for Ayame as well). Then also the stage show at Jump Festa 2025 where they showed the first visual of S2. I also got to take a picture with a person in a Chinatsu costume! Miura-sensei later walked to the stage wearing this costume! Finally, I went to the stage show at Anime Japan 2026 where they showed the trailer for the second season and the reveal of Yumeka's VA Yoshino Aoyama who joined Ueshama, Akarin and Chiba-san on stage!
And that brings us to now. It has been a long journey, and I've loved every moment of it. The series has given me so much that I can't even begin to describe. Thank you Kouji Miura-sensei for letting us experience this wonderful journey. I will continue to engage with Blue Box content irl and otherwise as much as possible while sharing as much as I can. If you are still here with me, I would like to leave you with this piece I wrote.
In the box of youth in Eimei High,
lived a girl and a boy.
The girl preferred the ball,
while the boy favoured the racket.
And yet, one singular goal they shared,
making it to the national stage.
Every morning, they saw each other,
pushing each other to keep getting better.
The boy liked the girl,
but even more he looked up to her.
As time went on they relied on each other more and more,
and the bud in the girl's heart turned into a blossom forevermore.
On a frozen lake within the mountains,
the two laid their feelings bare.
Life threw at them whatever it could,
but they faced it together as good sportsmen would.
Alas what started as a selfish request to stay back and fulfil their goal,
ended with a heartfelt encouragement to pursue a newfound dream.
For however apart they may be,
they will always be bond together.
Within the memories of their Box of Youth,
- The Blue Box of Youth.
Thank you, and see you guys again!
I came to a realization recently about the way the series turned out. We started with Taiki asking Chinatsu to stay back instead of going abroad and compete for nationals. And near the end, he encouraged Chi to go abroad and fulfill her dream.
These 4 panels have so much character development within them. At the beginning Taiki and Chi barely knew each other. And yet, Taiki encouraged her, albeit while also keeping his self interests in mind, to stay back and continue her basketball journey. And then in chp 244, we see how he selflessly encourages Chi to take the leap, despite being a couple now, no matter how much it hurts him.
It's quite poetic if you ask me. As a friend of mine beautifully put it: "Unlike the start of this series, leaving isn't the end of a dream but the start of a new one."
We have about 2 days before the manga's curtain call, and I can't thank the series enough for what it has meant to me. I don't think words will be enough, but I would like to give it a tribute on the day. See you on the other side!
I have already applied for the priority lottery myself. Anyone in Tokyo, or those who will be in Tokyo on 9th August, 2026 should definitely give it a go as well!
Now, hear me out. I've just finished catching up to the manga (200 chps in 1 week...) and even when I was just watching the anime, I couldn't help but notice several similarities to Vinland S1.
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For starters the main premise. As we all know, Vinland S1 was about Thorfinn seeking revenge on Askeladd (a dangerous man with a widow's peak) for killing his dad. And also him wanting to become a true warrior. Well, in Akane Banashi we have Akane seeking revenge on Issho Arakawa (a dangerous man with a widow's peak) for killing (the Rakugo career of) her dad. While also wanting to become an Arakawa Shinuchi (a true warrior). In Vinland S1, Askeladd also ends up being sort of a mentor figure to Thorfinn despite his immense hatred for him. And well, doesn't that sound familiar?
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Now, am I waffling? Yes. But what if I wasn't? I mean I am, but what if I wasn't? What do you guys think? What is "Jugemu" if not, essentially the same as "I have no enemies"? They both learnt the phrase from their father after all!
Seiyuus from Left to Right:
Sinon/Raiden Shogun - Sawashiro, Miyuki
Kirito/Xiao - Matsuoka, Yoshitsugu
Asuna/Anastasia - Tomatsu, Haruka
Eugeo/Kazuha - Nobunaga, Shinozaki
Suguha/Chiori - Taketatsu, Ayana