Nothing's better than a gender-bending love triangle. After School Nightmare, by Setona Mizushiro, is a series about Ichijou Mashiro, who attends an elite co-ed school. One day, the school nurse tells Mashiro that in order to graduate, he must attend an after school class and pass. What the nurse doesn't tell Mashiro, is that in order to pass, you must come face to face with your worst nightmare, all happening in a shared dream world with other students.
One of the interesting aspects of this dream world is that every student is seen as their true self. For Mashiro, it means that the upper part of his body is male, while the lower half of his body is female. And all the other students in the class can see him this way.
Mashiro has been hiding the fact that the lower portion of his body is female, and has been living his life as male only. It isn't until he starts taking the class that his secret gets out. The series gives you and interesting look at gender and male/female relationships.
Throw on top of that, two students, one male & one female, pulling/competing for Mashiro's affections, a hint of incest, and disappearing students, After School Nightmare makes for a very interesting read. Sometimes it feels like some of the characters could have been fleshed out a little more, and the series is 10 volumes to finish, but other than that, the books kept me hooked. It's definitely a good psychological thriller and satisfying. I'd give it 8.5 out of 10.
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