Kare First Love Series by Kaho Miyasaka, Akira Watanabe

The age-old dilemma of choosing between your friend and the one you love is the lesson for the day for these bubbly high schoolers. 16-year-old Karin Karino finds herself torn between keeping the friendship of her classmate Yuka and entertaining the advances of a boy named Kiriya. Plain-Jane Karin experiences the gut-tingling roller coaster ride for her love and first kiss as fate pairs her up with Kiriya, who also happens to be Yuka's object of affection... moreThe age-old dilemma of choosing between your friend and the one you love is the lesson for the day for these bubbly high schoolers. 16-year-old Karin Karino finds herself torn between keeping the friendship of her classmate Yuka and entertaining the advances of a boy named Kiriya. Plain-Jane Karin experiences the gut-tingling roller coaster ride for her love and first kiss as fate pairs her up with Kiriya, who also happens to be Yuka's object of affection. Through a series of chance meetings, Kiriya discovers the exquisite beauty lurking behind Karin's thick glasses and coy demeanor, and asks her to be his girlfriend. But living happily ever after in high school isn't on the curriculum, as Karin soon finds herself the center of Kiriya's attention, as well as the bulls eye in embittered pal Yuka's dart-board of hate. less

- An ongoing manga series in Japan -- over 1.5 million copies sold to date!- Japanese release of Volume 7 in February 2004.- Originally serialized in Japan's manga anthology Shojo Comic. Also serialized in magazines in Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Korea.

Coy and self-conscious high school student Karin Karino never paid much attention to boys until she met Kiriya, a popular student from a nearby boys' school. Karin and Kiriya embark on a romantic journey despite Karin's classmate Yuka's best efforts to sabotage their relationship, but Karin soon learns that living happily ever after isn't on the curriculum when she becomes Kiriya's centre of attention, as well as embittered Yuka's bull's-eye on her dartboard of hate... moreCoy and self-conscious high school student Karin Karino never paid much attention to boys until she met Kiriya, a popular student from a nearby boys' school. Karin and Kiriya embark on a romantic journey despite Karin's classmate Yuka's best efforts to sabotage their relationship, but Karin soon learns that living happily ever after isn't on the curriculum when she becomes Kiriya's centre of attention, as well as embittered Yuka's bull's-eye on her dartboard of hate. Karin and her friends begin preparations for their trip to Okinawa, and Kiriya's past slowly unravels after his father forbids him to go on the trip. Karin and Kiriya's relationship blossoms, but intimacy rises to the surface of their turbulent sea of young love as the pressure to give in torments romance newbie Karin. less

Karin and Kiriya's relationship is in jeopardy after a heated argument during Club Day at Kiriya's school. The following morning, Karin gets wind that her rival Yuka went on a group date with members of Kiriya's class, but Kiriya isn't talking. Is Kiriya cheating on her? But despite Karin and Kiriya's romance blowing hot and cold, their desire to spend Christmas together is overwhelming. Too bad Karin's father has them swaying to a melancholy holiday tune instead...

Karin's overprotective father foils her plan to spend Christmas Eve with Kiriya, but the two manage to meet anyway. Kiriya gives Karin a pair of diamond earrings, but Karin's friend and confidante Nanri warns her about the earrings' symbolic meaning as a gift. Meanwhile, Kiriya invites Karin to a trip to the mountains to observe the photo shoot of Shinji Takagi, a good friend of his late brother Yuji, but a rainstorm finds them alone together at a sleazy hotel room for lovers... moreKarin's overprotective father foils her plan to spend Christmas Eve with Kiriya, but the two manage to meet anyway. Kiriya gives Karin a pair of diamond earrings, but Karin's friend and confidante Nanri warns her about the earrings' symbolic meaning as a gift. Meanwhile, Kiriya invites Karin to a trip to the mountains to observe the photo shoot of Shinji Takagi, a good friend of his late brother Yuji, but a rainstorm finds them alone together at a sleazy hotel room for lovers. Will Karin finally conquer her fear of intimacy and "go all the way" with Kiriya? less

Karin and Kiriya's relationship lies in jeopardy as they fight at Kiriya's school's Club Day. Kiriya's recent aloofness troubles Karin, and the word around town is that her rival Yuka went on a group date with Kiriya's class. Is Kiriya cheating on her? Meanwhile, Christmas is fast approaching, and as much as Karin and Kiriya yearn to spend it together, Karin's father has them swaying to a melancholy holiday tune.

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and... moreFour-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love? less

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and... moreFour-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love? less

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and... moreFour-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love? less

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and... moreFour-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love? less