Manga 108782 Waltz

Interesting concept. Not enough material to execute it.

Similar to other Oshimi Shuzo works, Waltz follows a depressed teenager going through the motions of a dull life. That is until they befriend someone exhibiting a strange behavior that that excites them. In this case, the muse is a boy cross dressing as a girl. The main character then lives vicariously through this odd figure, giving away her old clothes and doing their makeup. Admiring their ability to be free with themselves, while the MC lives in constant suppression of herself.

If only this were more than 40 pages....the concept is merely introduced, not explored to any ... degree of satisfaction. We do not know how this odd relationship progresses because the story stops soon after they've become comfortable with each other. Unfortunate considering the potential here to discuss topics of gender and sexual identity without the rampant fetishization that exists elsewhere in the medium. That said, this is still worth reading if you just can't get enough Shuzo and aim to be a completionist of his catalog, as was the case for me.