ぼくらのよあけ [Bokura no Yoake] #1

A bright summer sky sets the tone for this opening volume from Tetsuya Imai, published by Kōdansha under the Afternoon KC imprint. The cover puts a helmeted young boy front and center, shielding his eyes as he looks into the distance, while a small red-haired robot-like figure nestles just in front of him — other kids playing in the background completing a warm, everyday schoolyard scene. It's a quietly promising start to what looks like a story balancing childhood friendships with something a little more out of the ordinary.