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Perfect Blue: Awaken From A Dream By Yoshizaku Takeuchi (Review) PART 2 (SPOILERS ⚠)

Welcome back, Ladies and Gents another review of Perfect Blue: Awaken From A Dream! This is Part 2 and we're gonna be looking into the second chapter, Cry Your Tears.

(Like the GIF? I made it myself! 😁)

Okay, if you read the previous review, you already know that this book has hints of SA, Mental illness, self-harm, and so on. Oh and let's not forget it has a hint of grooming. But I could be wrong. Anywho, let's take a gander at the second novelette, Cry Your Tears.

Meet Kawasaki Yuma, a tomboy pop idol who's known for her hit single "Lariat of Love" and her famous microphone lasso trick. Her enthusiastic talent manager, Bando tells Yuma she will be in a commercial for Sanshin Denki, an electronics company. Yuma isn't at all pleased with the news because the president of that company is a pervert and she has to wear a pink cheerleader costume with girlish pigtails. Yuma was known for her cowgirl signature in her music video "Lariat of Love". Near the end of her song, she would twirl her microphone around like a cowboy lasso.

"I'll snare you with my burning love

Oh, my lariat of love."

"BANG!"

As Kawasaki Yuma is changing into her girly costume, she doesn't realize that there's a secret admirer out there unhealthily rewatching her Lariat Of Love music video on VHS for the umpteenth time. This creep doesn't have a name but the book said had the "nervous eyes of an herbivore". Hmmm, what nickname should we give our Stalker of the Day? Well just call him Mr. Elephant. Sounds adorable, right? It won't be once we find out that he has sick fantasies about Yuma and he has Yuma's entire schedule memorized. From her radio show Yuma's Happy Talk to her live performances. Joe Goldberg much?? Mr. Elephant would just sit there and fantasize about Yuma belonging to him and only him because he believed that she would never betray him like those other women. He hated the thought of her being with another man and the thought made him angry. Well, unfortunately, little did he know, Yuma already has a boyfriend. And that's fellow idol Yukio, who's an actor. Uh Oh! if Mr. Elephant finds out about that, he'll flip his lid.

So Yuma is now having an angsty idol moment saying that she'll always be a second-rate pop idol because nobody listens to her songs and people would come to stare at her legs. Bando tried to reassure her and said that Sanshin Denki is putting so much effort into promoting her. Yuma responds saying she'll put on the girly getup but once she meets the president, they'll have a little talk and that's all. Meanwhile, Mr. Elephant is not digging Yuma's cutesy look and carved a big "X" on her face with a boxcutter.

One night, Yuma was returning home to her apartment when she found a strange letter stuck in the crack of the door. At first, she thought it was her boyfriend Yukio but he had his own key. She looked for the name of the sender but all it said was "From Someone You Know" in neat handwriting. We (the readers) already know who sent that letter but Yuma doesn't. So her secret admirer (Mr. Elephant) said that he didn't like that Sanshin Denki poster of her in the girly costume because that look wasn't her. He liked that wild, tomboyish cowgirl that she was. He even begged her not to betray him and professed his undying love for his idol. Naturally, Yuma was disturbed with this letter because fan letters would arrive at the agency's office but this one came straight to her apartment! Ummm...Yuma. You're a pop idol, right?? If a fan letter "From Someone You Know" comes straight to your house like that, it's house-hunting time because you've been doxxed girl! Because how did he know where you lived?! Your address was supposed to be between you, your family, your boyfriend, and your manager. So she thew the note in the trash and went on to bed without realizing that there was bloodstains on that letter. Gross! 🤢

So the next day at the agency, Yuma tried to tell Bando about the letter she received that night but he dismissed her saying they'll talk about it later because they have a meeting to attend about Yuma's rise in popularity and record sales. The meeting went on and on much to Yuma's boredom. Eventually, Yuma and Bando were in the breakroom and Bando reminded Yuma about the letter and she showed him the bloodstained letter. Bando was a little disturbed by that letter too but he assured her saying that he's managed several idols who's had their share of creepy fanmail. He recalled a moment when they received a letter for Asaka Ai saying "If I can't marry Ai, I'll kill myself" (Toshihiko from the first story "Wake Me From This Dream"! Go check out the previous review if you haven't already!) but it never happened. Bando even tells her she shouldn't worry about these creepy fan letters and focus on her promotional tour. Oh Bando, you clueless, optimistic, bald fool, if only you knew...

Meanwhile, Mr. Elephant's starting to get a little aggy because Yuma hasn't responded to his heartfelt letter. Uuhh you didn't give her an address and a name so of course she'snot gonna respond. Putting "From Someone You Know" on the envelope won't ring any bells. He looked into his copy of Yuma's fan-zine called "Yukko Club". Yukko is what her fans call her. So he looks into the fan-zine and saw that Yuma's scheduled for a meet 'n greet in the Shoppers Plaza at Kobayashi. There, he will have a chance to see her face to face and she'll tell him she loves hie for sure! Good Luck, Mr. Elephant.

Today's the day and Yuma's headed to Shopper's Plaza to perform her hit single "Lariat Of Love" and greet her fans. On her way there, she was greeted by some of her fans but Bando shooed them away telling them no autographs at this time, prompting them to complain and hurl insults at him. Mr. Elephant was waiting in the wings for his chance to meet Yuma and scowled at the male fans, calling them perverts for not recognizing her true greatness. After she got finished performing, it was time for Yuma to greet her fans and autograph signing. As she greeted her fans, she had a feeling that something wasn't right. Her fear only heightened when it was Mr. Elephant's turn to shake her hand. Him being the lonely loony fan he was, he tried to squeeze her hand as if he didn't want to let Yuma go but she yanked free of him and called on the next person. Yuma was beginning to put two and two together that the guy with the elephant eyes fromm earlier was the one behind that creepy letter. Mr Elephant was a little perplexed by her reaction to him and feeling embarrassed, he planned on stabbing Yuma with the boxcutter but not in front of all those people.

Soon after, Yuma felt like she was being followed but Bando told her to calm down and that the room is private and not available for public but, Yuma responded that the guy with the elephant eyes wouldn't be stopped that easily because he was the one that found her address and sent her that letter. Bando dismissed her saying she had nothing to worry about and that she doesn't know if it's the same guy that wrote the letter. Yuma is frustrated and annoyed at the fact that nobody believed her. Meanwhile, Mr. Elephant is expressing his feelings once again by cutting himself with the boxcutter and smeared blood all over Yuma's poster, saying he's forgiven her for the second time and there are no more chances.

Yuma called her boyfriend, Yukio crying and told him everything that happened from the bloody letter to the meet and greet. Yukio seemed a little concerned for her and said that he's had some weird fans himself and how he'd receive underwear or hair clippings. Yuma told him that this was not normal and that the guy was obsessed, which isn't far from the truth. Yukio tried to assure her saying that he doesn't see the connection between the letter and the handshake session and that she was just overreacting. L BOYFRIEND !!! L MANAGER!! This girl is fearing for her life and instead of calling the police to investigate this matter, you tell her she overreacting??!! Wow, Yuma! Some team you have! They're supposed to be protecting you from creeps like that and yet they are more concerned about her status as a pop idol than her life.

In the original Perfect Blue light novel, as much as I like the movie better, Mr. Tadakoro, Mima Kirigoe's manager, would NEVER let this drag on. He, Murano, and Rumi were very protective of Mima when she was getting stalked by Me-Mania ("Your Darling Rose"). Yuma would've been better off if she was signed with Tadakoro, she probably would've been safer. I know Bando means well, but he's a sorry-ass talent manager! I'm sorry but it's true. If this was set in the 2020s, it probably would be a whole lot worse now that technology and the internet are more advanced, and obsessed fans like that could do better research than the FBI.

On the next day, Bando, who's usually his happy, enthusiastic self, was angry because a tabloid magazine caught Yuma and Yukio dating and drinking. He was furious at Yuma for drinking underage and the fact that she was dating a C-grade idol. Bando remarked that if she was going to date someone, it had to be someone more popular so tabloids wouldn't be buzzing about it. This caused Yuma to get angry at Bando and rightfully so. She called Bando out on his bullshit saying he wasn't bothered when she told him she was being stalked and he only cared about her album sales more than her life. Bando said that he didn't want her reputation to be tarnished but, Yuma assured him that it was normal for idols to go on dates and that people would rather have honesty than pretend innocence. He was a little disappointed that Yuma would rather date a "cheap idol" than someone like the president of Sanshin Denki. Bando said he didn't think Yuma was made for the entertainment industry and Yuma agreed. Then he joked that the fans were gonna have a fit when they see that picture but Yuma didn't find it funny because it was actually the truth. Oh! And speaking off...

Mr. Elephant had a whole-ass meltdown in the bookstore and was not a happy camper when he saw that picture of Kawasaki Yuma and Kawai Yukio hitting it off! He was boiling with anger and jealousy. He kept stabbing the tabloid magazine over and over again shouting "I'M GONNA KILL THEM!! I'LL KILL THEM!!" Then he broke down crying for a moment feeling betrayed and sorry for himself but then he had an idea to get Yuma to break up with Yukio. But after he made her uncomfortable at the handshake session, he feared that Yuma hated him and wouldn't even give him the time of day. So he decided to do the unthinkable. Uh-Oh...

Yuma's just got home after a TV talk show appearance. She was certain that her apartment was much safer now that a new security system had been installed. She called Yukio and left him a voice message telling him to come over right away. Her instincts were warning her of her impending doom, then someone rang the doorbell. Yuma thought it was her boyfriend but she had a real shock when she opened that door. It was Mr. Elephant himself! AKA "From Someone You Know". She was a bit uncomfortable at the sight of him because he was the one responsible for giving her that bloody letter and frightening her at the handshake session. When Yuma asked the creep who he was and what he wanted, he said that he was a big fan of hers ("I'm your Number one fan" *Annie Wilkes Voice*).

She responded if he was her fan then he would go to one of her concerts and asked him to leave her private space. Mr. Elephant refused to listen to her admonishment and said that he will not leave because he wanted her to do something for him. Aw Hell Nahh!! Me personally, I'd get the strap because some people wouldn't just take no for an answer. Yuma I know you probably don't believe in violence but you need to have a gun in your house because people like him don't get the message. So he began tying her up with masking tape and Yuma tried to get away from him but he was too strong. Mr. Elephant told Yuma he'll forgive her but on one condition, she'll have to sing for him and ONLY him. Oh, what are you? The Phantom of the Opera? Ol' "Sing for me, my Angel of Music" headass! So Yuma desperately tried to get him to understand that what he was doing was no way to treat someone you're a fan of. The struggle went on for what seemed like forever as he was terrorizing her about her betrayal when he saw that photo of him and her boyfriend. Then Mr. Elephant started crying because he realized he was hurting Yuma but he blamed her because of the way he was acting and she has to promise him to never see Yukio again. She attempted to trick him by playing along with it and tells him that she won't see Yukio anymore and begged him to release her. Mr. Elephant thanked her for forgiving him and started to undo her binds. But not before giving her a warning saying if she ever tried to run away, things would get ugly. He was overjoyed that he had finally got what he wanted but then he got horny and was this close to doing something...unforgivable. But he had to contain himself because "Yuma is a pop idol and we can't have sex. She's too cute and adorable". He then tells her to look away because he was going to polish his unwashed doorknob! Ewwww!! 🤢🤢🤢

Yuma uses this to her advantage to try and get away from this nasty man before he climaxed. She was almost out of the door but Mr. Elephant quickly caught up with her and dragged her back in. Smart move Yuma but it wasn't enough to stop him. She begged him to let her go but Mr. Elephant refused to let her go this time because she'd run away again. He was gonna make sure that she wasn't gonna get away again even if it meant cutting the soles of her feet with the boxcutter. He wanted her to sing for him forever and ever. Yuma hoped that Yukio would rescue her from this maniac. Her prayers seemed to be answered when Yukio finally came to the door. When he saw Yuma all beaten up and bloody, he was shocked. Now, do you believe her, Yukio?? Before he could make a move, he gets Sweeney Toodd-ed by Mr. Elephant. Yukio died almost instantly. A crying Yuma cradled her dying lover in her arms as Mr. Elephant admired his work believing he took out the trash. Then he's like "I did it for you, my love! Aren't you proud of me?" Yuma was pissed off at this and called him a monster and he was the one she wanted dead. Mr. Elephant was offended by this. How dare she wish death on him after he did her a favor. He charged at Yuma and she was trying to defend herself by stabbing him with the boxcutter he used to kill Yukio with. The struggle went on for what seemed like forever because Yuma stabbed him several times but nothing seemed to stop him. She was trying her hardest to fight this guy off and run away despite her injuries. This felt like a final boss fight combined with an old horror movie trope where the Final Girl survives the killer.

Oh! Did I forget to mention that the man sexually assaulted her during the struggle??? This is why I put up the TW emojis on my previous Perfect Blue post.

So just when Yuma thought she was finally free from this dude, He slithered right back to her after being stabbed several times and had his eye ripped out! Now Mr. Elephant's a bloody mess begging Yuma, "Don't leave me. I wanna die with you". Jiminy Christmas, dude! Give up already! Atp this guy ain't even human. What is he made of?? He's Tonka Tough. Yuma tried everything she could to incapacitate him but he ate everything up. Now she's worn out and had nowhere left to run. Her only best bet was to jump off the balcony of her apartment and die but she was gonna die either way so she was stuck. Mr. Elephant told Yuma that his eye hurts but that was nothing compared to the pain he felt when he found out she was in love with another man and he threatened to stab her eye out, her jugular, and her heart. As Mr. Elephant makes one final attempt to kill Yuma, she fell backward trying to get away from him. But wait! There was something hard underneath her and she realized that it was her microphone! The same microphone that she used for her hit song "Lariat Of Love"! She felt a lot braver now that she has reunited with her stage prop, which will soon be her weapon of choice. Now Yuma's got a plan to put this raging beast to sleep once and for all. Yuma told Mr. Elephant "I'll give you what you want! I'll sing for you and only you." You tell him, Yuma! He's come this far for a backstage pass so why not grant his wish. In her final showdown against her tormentor, Yuma sang a Dark Reprise of her song:

"I'll snare you with my burning love

Oh my Lariat of Love"

After that, she performed her signature microphone lasso attack on Mr. Elephant. The microphone wrapped itself tightly around his neck before he could advance on her with the boxcutter. Then she twisted her body and asphyxiated him. Yuma yanked the cord so hard that it snapped Mr. Elephant's neck and he finally died for good. A Rootin' Tootin' victory for Kawasaki Yuma! YEEE-HAW!! A tired Yuma finally passes out, but not before pointing her microphone at Mr. Elephant's corpse as a huge "F You" for all the pain and suffering he put her through. "BANG!"

Whew! That was intense, ladies and germs! Yuma gave it her all to fight for her life and freedom as an idol. It's unknown whether she died from her injuries or not but I'm pretty sure that she was rescued later on. But I believe that it will scar her for the rest of her life because she had her safety compromised and nobody, not even Mr. "I Care About Our Reputation" Baldy Bando gave a single fuck, lost her boyfriend Yukio to this psycho, she was sexually assaulted, and nearly lost her life in the process. If it wasn't for that microphone she had, Yuma would've been doomed. I betcha good ol' Bando's playing the "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" game now that he finally realized that Yuma wasn't exaggerating the whole time. Bando's lucky this book doesn't take place in the 2020s because social media would've DRAGGED him by the hairs he had left if word got out that he failed to protect their Idol. And rightfully so. Yuma was crying out for help and she got called "crazy" for it. And the sad part is, that's precisely how celebrities in real life, mainly females get treated in the Entertainment industry. And they keep it to themselves because of stuff like this. It just lets me know that you can't even be vulnerable these days because people expect you to grin and bear it like nothing happened. What Yuma realized was that the only one that had her back was herself and she had a right to do what she had to do to protect herself. She was a Lone Ranger at this point. I hope she sued Bando tbh because he owed her big time.

Now my theory is this: If Yuma died by Mr. Elephant and her autopsy revealed she was assaulted and fatally stabbed, wouldn't Bando be brought in for questioning? She was the one under his supervision in this record company. What would he say about the events leading up to her fate? He knows he can't lie and say he didn't know because a tabloid magazine with their picture on it is one of the keys leading up to Yukio and Yuma's deaths. And let's not forget the phone calls she made, the bloody fan letters she received (which Bando probably tossed away), and the fact that she had been doxxed by a loony fan. So if all of the evidence had been put together, wouldn't Bando's reputation would get messed up anyway??? Yuma, Yukio, and Mr. Elephant pretty much have families so I'm sure that they'd want answers about why they died. But wait! Since Yuma had security installed in her house, wouldn't that mean she had surveillance cameras on the premises also? Let's not act like security cameras weren't a thing back in the 90s. They would've used the recordings to back up the claim that Yuma was attacked in her home.

For someone who's worried about album sales and relevancy, he sure didn't think that through. But that's just me rambling so don't take my word for it. Anyways, This wraps up Part 2 of Perfect Blue: Awaken From A Dream. The roller coaster ride is almost over, folks! We have one more novelette to review. But until then, stay tuned for our final review of the last story "Even When I Embrace You". Boy, I had a time with this one. This one might be the most disturbing story out of all three but we may never know until we find out.

Until Next Time, My Friends! (✿◕‿◕✿)

#perfect blue #light novel #pop idol #tw stalking #cw assault #yoshizaku takeuchi #book review #bookblr

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