On the Verge of Twilight & Summer - The Perfect Summer Escapade
Wantan Meo's On the Verge of Twilight & Summer ~Moonrise~ is an ode to the spontaneous summer days we've all dreamt of.
Review by Kashou.
I love a doujin that's familiar. If a story mirrors experiences I'm familiar with, I'm smitten. And by page 5 of Wantan Meo's On the Verge of Twilight and Summer ~Moonrise~, my nostalgia was making my eyes cloudy. If I were artistically gifted or had the patience to devote myself to improving my drawing skills, this is the kind of doujin I’d make. On the Verge of Twilight and Summer ~Moonrise~ is a story I've lived, it's one that others live. But it’s that familiarity that makes me love it so much.
Sexuality should never be limited to deep relationships or special romances. It's an experience that should be free. That's a sentiment that society vehemently opposes. Yet anyone who's tasted that freedom will tell you that it's a memory that comforts you on long days. That feeling is what this doujin is about.
On the Verge of Twilight and Summer ~Moonrise~
Wantan Meo's On the Verge of Twilight & Summer Moonrise is an ode to the spontaneous summer days we've all dreamt of.
On the Verge of Twilight and Summer ~Moonrise~ Synopsis
Life is the biggest cause of death. That may seem like a dumb statement, but if you ever reach the point where you understand what I'm saying, you'd agree. Everyone's looking for something more than the tedious 9-to-5s and monotony that comes with it. Hikari's journey into the unknown began when she abandoned her previous life and relocated to an island to work as a waitress at a cabaret club. She thought that her decision would add excitement to her days.
But her new life doesn't meet all her expectations. To offset her thoughts, she takes to wandering the beach late at night with a drink or two to pass the time. One day, her drunk venting causes her to fall off a breakwater, where a passing angler named Kaito rescues her. That little interaction sparks their friendship, a friendship so uninvested that the two rarely even call each other by their name. But when Hikari and Kaito take a day trip to a secluded beach, their relationship jumps from the platonic to the intimate.
Familiar as Fuck
I fancy myself a wanderer. Some of my fondest memories were in places unknown with a fishing rod and a bottle of Dragon's Milk by my side. There's something so comforting about being in a place where no one even knows my name. But the more I travel, the more I realize that there are many people like me — those seeking unconventional connections. Some of us prefer the thrill of unfettered moments and physical connections, and we like those to predate any deep levels of romance.
Usually, when authors attempt to depict this feeling, they fail. I can't blame them. That feeling is difficult to convey. Most people who read On the Verge of Twilight and Summer would think Hikari and Kaito are a couple or horny people. But they're not. In moments like that, sexual gratification takes a back seat to how freeing and unfettered the situation is. The pleasure doesn't come from getting laid, although it definitely adds to it. Rather, the joy of the experience comes from the lack of expectations that comes with the scenario. In a relationship, there's love; in a one-night stand, there's risk; in a situation like Hikari and Kaito, there's freedom.
On the Verge of Twilight and Summer ~Moonrise~: Visually Opulent
Before I read On the Verge of Twilight and Summer, I wasn't familiar with Wantan Meo's work. Now you can bet I'll cover more of their content. Meo-sensei's artwork is as visually pleasing as the sun-painted, azure-laden beaches where the story occurs.
Despite Hikari and Kaito lacking familiarity, Meo-sensei's art eloquently shows their compatibility. Like the waves caressing the shore, those two are sharing an experience that's so natural, it's a part of time itself. Their sensuality and passion are conveyed eloquently. The art is erotic, sexual, and sensuous, but it never becomes obscene. It's the kind of art you could wank over and never feel bad about it.
Fakku’s translation of On the Verge of Twilight and Summer gets full points from me. You'll notice some untranslated Japanese sound effects, but they don't detract from the work. Those sound effects, when paired with Hikari and Kaito's expressions, speak louder than perfectly translated text.
Final Thoughts
This review discusses On the Verge of Twilight and Summer ~Moonrise~, published in Comic Kairakuten's September 2025 issue. A full-color, six-page prelude titled On the Verge of Twilight & Summer ~Seaside~, set in the same story, was first released in the May 2025 issue. Meo-sensei has revealed that a conclusion is currently in development.
Wantan Meo's On the Verge of Twilight & Summer is available to read via FAKKU! Unlimited and was originally published in Comic Kairakuten 2025-09. Sheepish Dreams gives On the Verge of Twilight & Summer ~Moonrise ~ a 4/5.
©Wantan Meo / Comic Kairakuten / FAKKU!
Sample images have been used in accordance with the United States Copyright Office Fair Use Section 107 and the European Union Information Society Directive Article 5.3(c).
