• Author : Tanemura Arina
• Other Works : ION, K. Kaitou Jeanne, Time Stranger Kyoko

Firecracker is Melancholy (Kanshaku Damano Yuuutsu) is one of Tanemura Arina's earlier works, before she did Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. It's a book of four short stories. The first story (the one the book is named after) is two chapters long, while the others are one chapter each. This first story, Firecracker is Melancholy, is about a girl named Kajika, a ninja who will soon inherit her grandfather's dojo. Her hair band is a secret weapon that is greatly valued. However, there is another ninja gang who want Kajika's secret technique. Kajika's identity must be kept a secret so she won't be put in danger.

Kajika has a crush on an upper classman named Fujisaki. One day, she saves a child from being run over by a truck, and she gets a lot of attention for it, to the point of her identity being revealed. At the same time, Kajika gets to talk to Fujisaki, who congratulates her on saving the child, then tells her that being energetic and sporty all the time is a good thing, but being more girly is also good. Kajika makes up her mind to become more ladylike to win the heart of the one she loves. Yuuga, Kajika's close friend, disapproves of this. Clearly, Kajika is a very important person to him. Will Kajika be able to retire her ninja ways to become more feminine? Or are things not what they seem?

I've translated the first chapter of this manga, if you wish to read.

• intro.gif - The first page.
• eyes.gif - Kajika looks determined as she sees a little girl about to be hit by a truck.
• save.gif - And she saves her in the nick of time.
• crack.gif - Kajika's smiling image shattering.
• declare.gif - Kajika declares that she will retire her ninja ways and become more feminine.
• what.gif - Kajika looking shocked.
• ninja.gif - In her ninja outfit.
• pair.gif - Kajika and Yuuga together at school.
• heart.gif - The intro page of the chapter
• surprise.gif - Another girl? Who's this hanging onto Yuuga?
• yamano.gif - Why, it's Fujisaki's younger sister! She and Yuuga are class representatives.
• dundundun.gif - Speak of the devil!
• machoness.gif - Yuuga and Fujisaki have a battle of macho-ness as the rest of the class watches in awe.
• intenselook.gif - Yuuga asks to train to be Kajika's guardian.
• blush.gif - She blushes and doesn't want to stick around.
• sakeoflove.gif - Kajika's eavesdropping on Yuuga's and her grandfather's conversation. What a bad kid. :P
• kimono2.gif - Kajika looks defensive in her kimono.
• surprised.gif - Just what the title says.
• closeup.gif - When Kajika met Yuuga as a child
• evilfuji.gif - Fujisaki always gets such evil poses.
• okaeri.gif - Yuuga greets Kajika as she comes home.
• potato.gif - He offers her a potato.
• munch.gif - Kajika eats the potato as Yuuga looks cute.
• wink.gif - More cuteness all around.
• cry.gif - Kajika cries, realizing that it's the first time she's cried ever since her childhood.
• sad.gif - Kajika looking sad, with her hair down.
• awkward.gif - An awkward atmosphere looming over the two.
• kissuu.gif - And what better to break it than a kiss?
• letter.gif - Another short story featuring these two characters.
• smooth.gif - What a smooth guy.
• weepweep.gif - Dramatic crying scenes, anyone?
• freak-out.gif - The horror!
• madness.gif - Four girls going crazy? :P
• forehead.gif - This is the main character of the last short story in this book. I think it's one of Tanemura Arina's first stories she's written, because her style is still developing.
• smile.gif - Cute!

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