Manga Review: Mars

Title of Manga: MARS
Genre: Josei, Adult, Mature, Drama
Status: Completed

Story:
MARS talked about the darkness in people and how some of them can overcome it and how some cannot. It has a little of romance, violence and tragedy that makes you keep wanting for more. It has a different vibe in the story that is able to leave an impression in your mind.

Synopsis of the story:
Kashino family runs a huge business, Oak Group, which is fairly well known in the business realm. They have 2 sons, Akihiko, the younger brother died in a car crush during car racing. The elder brother took over the Oak Group. (forgot what's the name of the elder brother, let's call him Kashino)

Akihiko was loved by many people including his father. Hence, from young their father has been bias for Akihiko and the elder brother was a left out. Akihiko has a lover but that woman was eventually married to the Kashino.

After Akihiko died, his lover gave birth to a twin brother. Elder brother is called Rei and the younger one is called Sei. Kashino, despite knowing that these children belongs to Akihiko, he still raised them as his own because he was not able to have children.

However, the mother didn't believe that the Kashino would love Akihiko's children and, she who has a terrible temper and loves her children so much that in the end she suffers from mental illness. She even attempt to kill Rei once and after that incident she was immediately sent to a mental hospital.

Not long after she's discharged, she committed suicide. At that time both Rei and Sei were still too young to understand what death is. Kashino was left in despair that both his brother, wife and father are no longer in this world and he himself wasn't too sure how to be a father of 2.

Under the recommendation of his friend, who is a psychiatrist, who is the doctor in charged of his wife, to send his children to a relative who lives in L.A for the time being until Kashino's emotions are stable.

When in L.A they were put under one of the relatives' care. Rei who has a violent temper is a total oppposite of Sei who loves art and is a good boy. Rei promised his mother that he will protect his younger brother who is often the subject of bully.

Things progressed in a negative manner when Rei attempt to kill one of the bullies who always pick on Sei. When they moved back to Japan, Sei commited suicide in front of Rei. Rei was in a shock and he lost all his memories and also, suffered from mental illness. Hence, Rei's memories as a child were vague and unclear.

Rei who loves motorcycle racing, starts to be more human like after meeting this girl, Kira Aso who eventually became his wife. Rei confessed his sins and feelings to Kira and she has helped him to cope and overcome his mental illness.

Aso Kira has a tragic past where she was rape by her step father and that leaves a scar in her. Her wound was so deep that she became an introvert. As for her, it was Rei who has helped her to step out from her comfort zone.

These couple has met many obstacles and people that has caused them pain. Such as Masao Kirishima who also suffered from a mental illness, a very serious mental illness that has resulted him to kill and injured many other people.

Slowly, step by step, they build up their bond between them and their future. From a delinquent teenager to a grown up man and how they have overcome difficulties with their friends' help. They who have beared the costs, have also taste the sweetness of the fruit of the outcome.