(L) Letter Bee/Tegami Bachi

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

Chapter 34 is out!

Spoiler for read the chapter first please!:

I do wonder if Lag is overstepping his boundaries as a letter bee at times with the way he gets really involved with the clients life (which I remember that Gauche said was what you weren't supposed to do) but honestly I like him better for it. Plus I can't see Aria getting annoyed at him now that they're in the cold letter division, if it takes that extra effort to get those letters delivered then go for it!
Also think that we won't see EVERY letter down there get delivered or even most of them (please no anyway, that looked like a lot) I think we'll have a few more chapters focusing on those letters and then will get back into the main swing of thing, heck, maybe by this time next year we'll see the inside of Akatsuki.

Spoiler for ch. 34:

To be fair it's not that he tries to do it purposely so much as circumstances just tend to lead him that way. I think we will probably get back to main plot next chapter after this nice mini arc.

[hikikomorisketch]

The story is really good and when it gets a little meh the art supports it really well.

[Iron Maw]

Great Chapter!

Spoiler for Ch. 35:

Lots of plot development mixed with comedy some being unintentional (lol at "Goodbye Amsterdam").

So, Signal actually works for Reverse which explains how the Organization is able establish base in both Yuusuri and Yodoka. We also find out that the real name of the "The Man Who Couldn't Become A Spirit" which is Lawrence. I'm rather about Zaji at this since Reverse might try interfere with his hunt and their quite willing to kill if need be. Garrad is still a jerk not only saying that Lag and Aria are slacking off despite Lag being hospitalized for doing the exact opposite, but also some making more unreasonable demands. Dr. Thunderland being one of those at center of "The Day of Flicker" along with his revelations beings more mystery.

Aria trying fit into her old uniform along her "flaw" is hilarious! It's also interesting seeing Niche interaction with other people outside Lag, she nowhere as nice everyone else as she is to him. I do wonder what's up Lag at end of the Chapter, he seems be affected by Gaichuu...

[wandering-dreamer]

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! More answers!

Spoiler for chapter 35:

So Dr. Thunderland as well as the two gate keepers were onboard the airship that went to fix the man made sun, but lost part of their memories and an eye each, sound like any folks we know?
And it sounds like at least on, probably both, of the gatekeepers resent the government and have thrown their lot's in with Reverse, as Iron Maw said, it explains why they have bases in both Yodoka and Yuusuri. And there was an odd line there, it sounded like the sun itself was made from "Heart" as well, which could explain why everyone who looked at it during the flicker lost some memories.
Even more hints that Lag isn't human, not only is it said TWICE in this chapter that he throws the measuring the heart scale off, but at the thought of his mother his heart level's go through the roof. Am I the only one who thinks that Lag is a child of the sun or something? The hints from the Maka and the fact that the Empresses looks like his mother all sound like Checkov's Guns to me.
Plus Aria is having to take up the slack and do some of the deliveries herself. Well, with Niche's help, and looking at her dingo makes me wonder how old most Bee's get before they retire or get snarfed up by the Gauichu, especially in the anime we haven't seen any old looking ones.

[Shiroth]

Spoiler for Chapter 35:

Goodbye Amsterdam and Black Cherry Pool. These names are madness.

What a great chapter. Like it's already been mentioned already, we get plenty of answers which is quite the surprise for this series, but wow how they have pushed the story in a whole new direction, especially with Lag's last panel there at the end of the chapter.

Aria being my favorite character, of course this chapter was pure joy for me. So many great moments, and we finally see her dingo. Oh how i'd love to see this chapter animated, though i fear the anime won't get this far.

[Shiroth]

Spoiler for Chapter 36:

It's good that we've finally learn't a bit about Aria's dingo, Bolt. Was a very touching flashback, and some very nice words from Niche. Looking forward to conclusion in the next chapter.

Those 4-koma's at the beginning sure were priceless . I'd love more of them in future chapters.

[Kafriel]

Spoiler for 36:

So we find out that Aria is super-weak and that the older people get, the harder shooting heart bullets gets...which automatically places Lag in the first place of power rankings It was indeed a touching chapter, waiting for 37 now~

[wandering-dreamer]

Gah, I hate that as soon as the scanlations come out for one chapter the next one is released. Tempted to just find a dictionary and muddle my way through on my own...

Spoiler for just in case:

Aria has certainly defrosted since the beginning of the story hasn't she? Also interesting to note that she seemed to do smaller deliveries/find new routes than the sort that Lag usually does when she was a Bee, makes me wonder how long the Bees have been around if they were still creating new routes maybe even five years back.
Also, our second female bee! Aside from the one in the OVA(/episode 17 now) that is the only other female Bee and that just makes me happy. Although, since we haven't come across her before, does anyone remember if there are other post offices in Yuusari? I thought there was only one but now I'm not so sure...

[wandering-dreamer]

Okay, double post but, since it's been almost a month to the day, I think I'm good.
And, the scanlations for chapter 37 are out! And whoa:

Spoiler for spoilers! revelations! read the chapter first!:

First off, the letter Aria is deleviering is going to a man who was also either on the airship on the day of flicker (which I believe to be the case from the scars) or at least was high up in Akatsuki. And what he seems to be implying, barring any major plot twists, is that the man made sun shines because of people's hearts. As in, it seems to steal heart, kicking myself for not seeing that coming.
And the other events of the chapter involve Lag having some sort of freak out and more hints that he's more than human. Someone on the LJ posted a few interesting links to earlier pages as well, mainly that the world used to have it's own sun (at the time the spirit amber insects were still insects, chapter 26, page 2) and, if you look at the fourth page of the very first chapter what do you see? The empress preganant with a child and a motif which could be the sun (or a heart) with a creature inside it (which could be spirit amber I suppose).
But the part that's really cruel about this chapter, worse than the two cliffhangers we already have, Gauche wakes up! And says the name "Slyvette," who was in the room at this time, but after the mention of the heart and the sun I'm wondering how much of his memories he has regained....

[Iron Maw]

Spoiler for Ch.38:

Letter Bee get it's first "Nightmare Fuel" chapter.

Seriously! The man-made Sun looks like a giant alien fetus with one-eye! How did the Government make something like that and put in the sky?! No wonder Houdai feels the way he does, and Lag and Sylvette's connection to it is even more mysterious now.

Also the man who took Lag's mother appeared (his name being Balgore) along Elena and Darwin from the OVA. Gauche seems to have recovered and can at least remember Lag and Co.

[Haesslich]

Aria's going to pitch a fit.

[Shiroth]

Spoiler for Chapter 38:

Seeing Elena and Darwin again from the one shot is a really nice treat, i must say. We also finally know the mystery mans name who kidnapped Lag's Mother, Balgore.

But wow what a chapter. A lot is relived here, and it's hard to take it all in. Creepy huge eye is creepy, and it's going to be seriously interesting to learn more about it as we progress with the story. Along with the Lag and Sylvette connection, which is even more bizarre then it already was!

The reunion brought many years to my eyes, because it's been building up for such a long time now, and it did not disappoint. So very touching.

We need the next chapter now.

[Haesslich]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Spoiler for Chapter 38:

Seeing Elena and Darwin again from the one shot is a really nice treat, i must say. We also finally know the mystery mans name who kidnapped Lag's Mother, Balgore.

But wow what a chapter. A lot is relived here, and it's hard to take it all in. Creepy huge eye is creepy, and it's going to be seriously interesting to learn more about it as we progress with the story. Along with the Lag and Sylvette connection, which is even more bizarre then it already was!

The reunion brought many years to my eyes, because it's been building up for such a long time now, and it did not disappoint. So very touching.

We need the next chapter now.

Definitely need the next chapter soon.

Spoiler:

It's quite a change to go from the cold figure we knew when he was completely without his memory to the very professional but quietly caring Gauche Suede once again. Especially when he greeted Lag with that, and both he and Sylvette went back into Crybaby Mode. Aria Link's going to punch his lights out or knock him over when she sees him again.

Also, at this point, it seems inevitable that he's going to get taken away and maybe killed to cover up the Government's secret, especially with the current masters of the Bee Hive apparently being in on the cover-up. They didn't expect Aria to meet someone from the airship incident while working cold cases, or at least I'd have to guess that, as otherwise they wouldn't have assigned her to a what was the bureaucratic equivalent of Gaul.

Mind you, both the rebellion AND the government look like the enemy here... although I'm wondering if they fed Lag's mom to the sun (the timing of Gauche and Sylvette's mother's death is very suspicious) or if there's some other reason Albisian children are uncommon.

The sun does look like the world's biggest Gaichu though...

[wandering-dreamer]

Chapter 38 is about two months old actually and I've seen a fan summary of chapter 39 on lj (and can probably find it again if anyone wants to see it).

Spoiler for chapter 38:

Ahhhh, I totally thought that Thunderland was one of the triplets. So, we've met three of them, where is the last one? Guarding the bridge to Akatsuki is my guess. And I didn't pick it up until I saw the comments here that the man who took Lag's mother was there. Wow, more connections to Lag for sure, but if my Lag=sun child theory is right, why would he have left him back in Yuusari (unless he helped pay for the postage and wanted to keep Lag out of the way but needed his mother for something else, need more stuff to extrapolate on!).

[Haesslich]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

Chapter 38 is about two months old actually and I've seen a fan summary of chapter 39 on lj (and can probably find it again if anyone wants to see it).

Spoiler for chapter 38:

Ahhhh, I totally thought that Thunderland was one of the triplets. So, we've met three of them, where is the last one? Guarding the bridge to Akatsuki is my guess. And I didn't pick it up until I saw the comments here that the man who took Lag's mother was there. Wow, more connections to Lag for sure, but if my Lag=sun child theory is right, why would he have left him back in Yuusari (unless he helped pay for the postage and wanted to keep Lag out of the way but needed his mother for something else, need more stuff to extrapolate on!).

Looking for that summary too.

Spoiler:

Well, does Ballore/Balgore know that Lag = Sun Child or was at least born the day of the Flicker the way Sylvette is? We know nothing about the people of the central city - and for all we know, they may all be Albisian, which is why Aria was wondering about Lag and Sylvette way back when. The way the sun needs Hearts to function does make me think that the humans may be behind the whole Spirit Insects going crazy and either turning into amber or becoming Gaichuu though, especially given that the sun reached out instictively to eat people the way a Gaichu would.

Sure explains Reverse's position, at any rate.

[Shiroth]

Spoiler for Chapter 40:

Oh Jiggy Pepper, you are so cool.

So it looks like Lloyd is heading off to reverse which when you think about it is a great choice of action. I really can't wait to see what that'll do to the story.

& now Roda (who i forgot about appears at the bee hive. Will be interesting.

[Irenicus]

Jiggy Pepper or Gauche-Noir, that is the question.

As for the chapter:

Spoiler for ch40:

The government's closet is a veritable catacomb of skeletons, quite literally, but I just don't trust that Laurence guy. Him acting like he's some sort shadow king doesn't help, throne and all.

As for Gauche, wouldn't it be interesting if Gauche actually is revived and not just Noir playing the role, but that doesn't mean Noir is "dead" either but rather that the current personality is a combination of the two?

We'll see in the next few chapters I suppose.

[Shiroth]

Spoiler for Chapter 41:

Great chapter. Such an adorable scene between Gauche and Sylvet when they first entered the house (when he hugged her), along with her letting Gauche go out to save Lag. It's so good to see him in a bee uniform again.

Looks like Aria is going to follow Lloyd. The build up is so so good.

Speaking of Aria, the arse shot in that one panel. Very nice.

[wandering-dreamer]

Spoiler for chapter 41:

Well it seems that Gauche has a lot of his memories back (so it can't just be Noir playing Gauche or only the memories that Lag knew of) but something doesn't feel right to me, especially since there's no reason for him to forget his more recent memories, I like the theory that the current Gauche is a combo of old Gauche and Noir.
Betting we switch back to some of the other characters soon with the Gaichuu, the story is moving much faster than I would've expected so I wonder how much longer it'll go on for.

[Kaze]

Spoiler for Ch 41:

Thinking the same thing, it can't be Noir or a Gauche with only memory implants of what Lag knows (Otherwise he wouldn't have remembered Sylvette Crying on his last mission).
There is no reason for him to have lost his "memories" as Noir, as they were never erased, Gauche's old memories were just added.
Gauche being a combo of himself and Noir is what has happened, as what you can see when he glared at Rhoda from the carriage.

I have a bad feeling about Gauche going out and "Saving" lag, especially with Rhoda out there.

Expect a Gauche - Rhoda encounter in chapter 42, he needs his gun after all.
Now that Gauche is out in the open, I can see him escaping again.

And seriously, only 2 pages of Manga discussion?
This series needs more attention it deserves.