It’s not without a certain amount of irony that the comment for a HiNA torrent reads

If you’re her fans and not getting it YOU WILL BE HATED BY HINAGIKU.​

Wouldn’t one be hated more if I was ‘getting’ HiNA via BitTorrent, liked it a lot but did not buy the CD rather than a self-professed who didn’t download it or downloaded it, listened to it, didn’t like and then deleted it?

So just to be on the safe side…

Glad to say that it’s nicely produced with quite a lot of illustrations though I’ve seen at least two of them before elsewhere such as in the Hinagiku Chara CD.

These two are my favourites, Sleeping Hina amidst Falling Sakura and Hina putting on her hair clip.

Interesting also to contrast reviews by Dav and j1m0ne, self-declared Hinagiku/Shizu-sama fan and non-fan respectively.

The former’s verdict shows that merchandisers may count on fans to support their favourite chara and/or seiyuu but they also expect a certain standard of quality. Because merchandise is Serious Business:

Not overtly excited about this album but it definitely got me thinking of a possible purchase.

The latter discusses how the album is notable for giving Shizu-sama a chance to portray Hina-san in a way that we haven’t had much chance to enjoy in the anime:

Overall HiNA is an average, mildly enjoyable pop album and I would wager that only Hinagiku fans (I know there are a lot of you guys around) would be inclined to fork out the cash for this. I have to say though, that hearing Shizuka in (or attempting to be in) cute Hinagiku mode is reason enough to give this a listen.

And, after a listen, it was reason enough for me too. I’m biased on two counts but I did feel that Shizu-sama was successful in singing ‘in-chara’ almost the whole time. Hopefully we’ll get to see more of that aspect of Hina-san in the second season.

©2012 hontou ni sou omou?. All Rights Reserved.

The truth is that I had completely forgotten about Hina’s birthday on 3 Mar. Gah. This is especially mortifying since I was just reading the birthday present arc.

Thanks to Haesslich for the reminder.

P.S. Looking forward to the OVA and second season!

©2012 hontou ni sou omou?. All Rights Reserved.

V11 Cover. Hina with Nagi and Nishizawa amidst a bamboo grove and spring. Hina’s sideway glance at the latter hinting at the tension between her promise to support Nishizawa and her own feelings for Hayate.

V11C110. Hina in centre background of Ch (3) cover. Announcement of popularity contest results:

10. Saki (187 votes)
9. Wataru (220 votes)
8. Izumi (410 votes)
7. Nishizawa (421 votes)
6. Sakuya (431 votes)
5. Isumi (666 votes)
4. Nagi (1,103 votes)
3. Hayate (1,503 votes)
2. Maria (1,586 votes)
1. Hinagiku (3,728 votes) (p.51/15)

Hina cosplay fan service! Which doesn’t really suit her though. (p.52/16) Nagi aims to make a comeback with ‘the strength of the anime’. IIRC her chara CD outsold Hina’s? I’d put it down to the power of KugiRie fandom.

V11C112. Hina in a gown. (pp.2-3) Total breakdown of popularity contest votes. (p.4) Izu Shimoda meteorite powers attract Hina’s attention. LOL (p.79/11)

V11C113. In Hayate’s moment of difficulty onboard the train, a reliable person appears – Hinagiku! LOL tsundere about the reasons for the trip. (p.7) She’s asked to babysit Maria-san. (p.96/8) The girl is now in a state of confusion! ‘Does he want to avoid me that badly?’ (p.98/10)

V11C114. Hina and Maria-san catch-up chat. (p.8) Maria’s eye arrow. ‘Your charms offset your development.’ orz (p.9) Hina’s admission to a love problem is interrupted by Nagi’s phone call. (p.10)

V11C115. Maria-san gets back on track re: Hina’s relationship problems. (p.126/6) BETRAYAL? But the answer may already be in her heart. (P.132/12)

V11C116. Hina creates a chan-su for Nishizawa, telling him to take her to Shimoda by bicycle and to give her a proper answer. (p.140-41/4-5) En route, Hina ponders about doing the right thing. (p.145/9) Kurogane’s said it all already. (pp.14-15)

V11C118. Bonus pages. ‘The universe is their stage…’ LOL Nagi and Hina :0 (p.19) Jul-Sep 2007. Hina in summer dress. (p.21) Is your New Year’s Present ok? (p.24) More Hina Lacus cosplay sans hair clip. Pink hair, pink hair. (p.27)

V12C119. Insert 1. Sergeant Donut! Insert 2. Lieutenant Hinagiku!

V12C120. Hina hot springs fan service!! She resolves to talk to Nishizawa next time they meet. (p.4) Which is the next page. (pp.5-6) Hinagiku pinch! Nishizawa poke! (p.7) Nishizawa admiration of Hina skin and hair. And runs off before Hina can get stuff off her chest. ‘I-I’m an idiot…!’ (p.8) Hina collapse from hot springs overdose. (p.9) Mezame! (p.11) Hinagiku x Nishizawa Yuri Flag triggered!! (pp.12-14) Adjourning to elsewhere. (p.15)

Aaah, I have finally caught up with the scanlations. *collapses in exhausted heap*

©2012 hontou ni sou omou?. All Rights Reserved.