Wallaby (manga)

Wallaby (わらびー) is a manga published from December 1998 until the summer issue of 2000 in Game-jin magazine. It was written by Azuma Kiyohiko. It was also released in Kiyohiko Azuma Sakuhinshu: Azumanga 2.

Plot summary
After his accidental death, a Warabi Akira's spirit becomes stuck in a stuffed wallaby made by a Kokoro Kosaka, his classmate, as a tribute. Azuma Kiyohiko has described this as a heartful, slapstick romantic comedy. Kiyohiko's drawing style in this story is cute but the girls in the story are depicted as viciously competing for popularity. Today, the author seems to have no intention of continuing the story.

Kiyohiko wrote this at the same time another work, Azumanga Daioh and it shares some of the same drawing style. Although the stories of both actually have one connection, compared to the slice of life style of Azumanga Daioh, this story is simply fantasy.

Characters



 * Kosaka Kokoro (小坂こころ)
 * She is a 16 year old high school student. While Warabi was alive, she longed for him.  She made a stuffed wallaby as a tribute to him and after he died and after bringing it to his funeral, Warabi's soul somehow became trapped in it.  Even so, few people are aware of it.  Both of Warabi's parents are also dead.  For now, he is kept hidden in her room.
 * She also appears in Azumanga Daioh.


 * Warabi Akira (蕨明)  Nickname as a doll - Wallaby
 * Kosaka's classmate. Handsome while he was alive, he was quite popular among the girls at his school.  After he died, his soul became trapped in a stuffed toy of a wallaby.  Until he can return to his human form, he is forced to remain in Kosaka's room where he is forced to sleep in the drawer.
 * He also appears in Azumanga Daioh.


 * Rari Raru Rara (ラリラルララ)
 * A female angel who stuck Warabi's soul into the stuffed toy to keep Warabi from dying unhappily, but really is doing so for the sake of a promotion. Originally was investigating a process to restore Warabi to life, but later decided that it was unnecessary.  Warabi's happiness  (and her promotion) is her mission.  Often she stops by Kosaka's room to visit Warabi.


 * Note: Though some fans translate her name into three parts, this is predicated on an unfounded inference. Moreover, her nickname is ラリラさん、videlicet, "Miss Rarira."


 * Emi (えみ)
 * Kosaka's relative. She lives a distant bicycle ride away.  She came over to Kosaka's house to play and then left with Warabi.