Is anyone (other than Heather) familiar with Glass Mask? I'm reading the manga right now. Well, technically, I've known this story for quite a while, thanks to my friend, but only as an anime series (1984) and an OVA (1998); there's also a newer anime adaptation (2005), but I've only seen the first 5-6 episodes of it. And since the manga is the original version of the story and also the longest one - it's still ongoing! - I suppose I'll stick to it for now. Anyway, Glass Mask is a great shoujo series. Unlike many shoujo manga, it's not really focused on love, although it does contain a number of romantic subplots; rather, it's a story of personal and professional growth, which is one of my favorite topics in fiction. That's why I also like Baku-man, too, and... you know, it's funny, but my favorite Baku-man character, Eiji, is vaguely similar to my favorite Glass Mask character, Ayumi. I mean, their personalities are certainly different (well, they're both strong-willed, talented and determined, but that's where it ends - I can't really compare the princess-like Ayumi to Eiji in all seriousness ^^;;;), but they play the same roles in the plots and in the main characters' lives. Both are Maya and Moritaka's most powerful and important rivals who also respect the protagonists deeply and compete with them passionately. It's an odd parallel, but it does work. Heh... it seems that I have a thing for Eiji and Ayumi's character type, although I do like Moritaka and Maya as well. Also? Ayumi is damn hot.