The Outcast And His Bride THE MANGA

After young Utena's parents die, she wanders the streets. Just as she's about to drown herself, a prince comes to her rescue, telling her she must grow up to be a brave noblewoman. From that day on, she strives to become not a princess but a prince. Years later, she receives a mysterious rose-crested ring in the mail. Will she meet the prince again? [Official English](https://www.viz.com/revolutionary-girl-utena)

The stage is Asakusa, Tokyo. Middle schooler Kazuki has quit the football club, without telling his childhood friend (or maybe more?) Enta, and is now doing everything he can – no matter the consequences – to connect with "that person." When the delinquent Toi transfers into his class, he and Kazuki end up destroying the local Kappa statue, angering the prince of the Kappa, Keppi, who turns the three boys into Kappa by stealing their shirikodama, the soul-containing organ located in the anus. Now, in order to return to being human, the boys must steal the shirikodama of the "kappa zombies" that have appeared and are feeding on the desires of Asakusa denizens. Can the boys successfully connect together and defeat the zombies? And if so, what dark secrets will be revealed through the "Sarazanmai" process? Meanwhile, local cop duo Niiboshi Reo and Akutsu Mabu are the ones behind the "desire exploitation" process creating the kappa zombies. Who are they taking orders from? What secrets do they have in their past, and can their relationship survive the fallout? This complete manga adaptation of anime "Sarazanmai" by director Kunihiko Ikuhara (Revolutionary Girl Utena, Mawaru Penguindrum) explores themes from queer love and sexuality to the strains of sibling relationships and the struggles of connecting in today's world of smartphones and SNS, illustrated by original character designer Miggy.

This series, a joint project between the rising star Asumiko Nakamura, and renowned director of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Kunihiko Ikuhara, weaves a strange, surreal, and often dark comedy resplendent with ruffles and lace. It is on the surface a farce about a young girl traveling with her lover, some sort of bear-type creature, but as to be expected of Ikuhara, it's multi-layered.