Dragons Rioting Vol # 1 Chapter 2 Manga Review

 By Mark Rodriguez

Rintaro has a unique problem. Due to a weak heart, if he gets too worked out, he risks dying. Thinking he signed up for an all-boys school, instead he got stuck in an all-girl school! Other than having temptation everywhere, he also got stuck between a three-way rivalry between the Dragons, Ayane, Kyoka and Rino. After showing off his skills while being caught up in a fight between Ayane and Kyoka, Ayane wants to become Rintaro's pupil. What will happen now?

Chapter 2- After the Rain comes Fair Weather

Rintaro attends class, dealing with the fact that it's full of women and Ayane is sitting right next to him. The teacher, Okina comments that Ayane leads the Flashing Dragon Anchor and wishes her luck against the other two Dragons. Rintaro thinks he just has to survive the first day of school and then he'll apply for a transfer. He makes a break for it and zig zags his way out of the classroom at rapid speed. Ayane is impressed that he is so fast, no one in the class noticed him and she gives chase.

Outside a woman jumps down slamming a huge boulder onto Ayane, which she dodges. Another woman attacks with with a bladed staff and as Ayane dodges, she carve a dragon out of the boulder. They are friends of Ayane, Makoto and Keiko who are both second of command of the Flashing Dragon Anchor. Makoto asks about Ayane wanting to be the student of someone else. Ayane says Kyoka's claws were sharper than she imagined and leaves for class. Makoto and Keiko decide to check on this master themselves.

Rintaro is on the school roof, waiting for the day to end when he senses Ayane's presence. She says she needs his help so she can defeat Kyoka and Rino for the sake of everyone in the Flashing Dragon Anchor. She calls them both tall walls that she has to overcome, and Rintaro thinks about how he has to overcome his own condition. He asks if they can maybe talk it out or transfer out of school. Ayane gets in his face and Rintaro backflips away from her.

 

Rintaro goes to the spa to relax. He thinks if he becomes Ayane's master, he won't be able to transfer out of the school. He says he isn't fit to be someone's master anyway. Ayane comes in with a towel wrapped around herself and says that's not true. Rintaro freaks out about her following him into the mans' bath area. Ayane tells him this is the girls' bath and the boys' bath is still under construction. Rintaro crawls away but then hears her say she will never follow him in the guys' bathroom even if she wants to be his student. Rintaro says she fails and will never be his student if she isn't comfortable around him and washes his back. He thinks this would freak her out and make her finally back off, but Ayane is OK with washing his back since she comes from a household full of boys and is comfortable around them.

Rintaro freaks out upon seeing Ayane's reflection in the mirror and accidentally drops his towel in front of her. As Rintaro tries to get away, he runs into Makoto and Keiko who are unclothed. The girls see Ayane on the ground and direct their violent anger upon Rintaro. Rintaro closes his eyes and focuses, and dodges every single strike from both enraged women. He runs across the pool and splashes them with water bullets that hit all of Makoto's and Keiko's vital points leaving them unable to move. The girls are impressed. Rintaro thinks he finally safe, but just then his water attack caused a pipe to burst and it's about to splash steaming water all over the defenseless Makoto and Keiko.

Ayane runs in the way and takes the steaming water upon her back to protect her friends from getting burned. Rintaro sees her bravery and  realizes this whole time he has only been thinking of himself. Rintaro knocks down some of the pillars in the spa to contain the water, burning his own arm in the process. He says he is impressed by her devotion to her friends and how they inspire her to be that way. He agrees to work with her and walks away. Ayane falls down and Rintaro turns to see if she is alright. Makoto and Keiko are still unclothed and they say he has no right to see them like that and will punish him. Our hero gets the hell out of there.

My thoughts-

I guess we should have expected some sort of shower scene in this series, but wow, at chapter 2 this series doesn't waste time. As someone who isn't allowed to get too worked up, the ultimate challenge is surviving a fight against several unclothed women trained in martial arts. All while dodging deadly steam as well. Rintaro is going to be one of those types where he'll be pulling out some sort of martial arts technique for almost everything, which will add to the comedy and ridiculousness.

We get to see how selfless Ayane is towards her friends, which strikes a cord with Rintaro. Despite his medical condition, Rintaro has been raised to be helpful and noble, so this strikes a chord with him. Even though they'll become master and pupil, and possibly friends, Rintaro is still going to learn to keep his eyes off of her figure. 

Overall I've been enjoying the story so far. I just love comedy mixed with martial arts madness where the characters are calling out the special moves and such. It comes from me loving fighting games so much. We still have to see what else Kyoka is up to and exactly when Rino will step in.

I have to say, this one was a very difficult chapter to get some pictures of. Not just because I don't want to accidentally snap the volume in half as I bend the pages back, but also because once the fighting starts, almost everyone is unclothed. Of course we have convenient towels, hair, speed lines, and word balloons to cover up anything too graphic, but I'd rather not risk showing those panels here. The fighting was pretty much the entire second half of the chapter. Love the fast paced feel of the fighting and the special attacks, but probably too hot for this blog.