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Minori Chigusa is a name yuri fans should be familiar with. She is a manga artist and writer known for her contributions to the girls' love genre. Her works are loved for their entertaining stories, relatable characters and beautiful artwork and character designs.

Chigusa’s works have garnered a dedicated fanbase who appreciate her heartfelt storytelling and illustrations. Her ability to create relatable and emotionally engaging scenarios has made her one of the top creators in the yuri community. Her authentic depiction of the complex and often chaotic nature of love is thoughtfully balanced with the reality of everyday life.

Two characters which have become mascots for Chigusa’s work are Shino and Ren. Originally appearing in Chigusa's manga titled Shino to Ren (Shino and Ren) these two characters were so popular, they got a second story... kinda. Koutsugou Semi-Friend (Convenient Semi-Friend) is a separate manga with a different story and different characters. However, these characters have almost identical designs and archetypes as Shino and Ren. Fans don't really mind as the story is a lighter, more humorous take on relationships and daily life and the characters are cute.

As the originals, Shino and Ren have been the pair that has enjoyed more commercial success so far. They have been the duo who have appeared the most at collab cafes and pop up events, but that might also be due to Convenient Semi-Friend’s relatively recent creation.

Shino and Ren follows the evolving relationship between Saotome Shino and Shirayuki Ren, two high school girls with contrasting personalities. The story explores their relationship, highlighting the challenges and joys they face. Love, self-discovery and acceptance are the central themes explored. A large part of the impact of the story comes from the detailed and expressive illustrations capturing the nuances of the characters' emotions and interactions.

Kotobukiya has taken a nurse costume design and created two perfect 1/7 scales for both Shino and Ren.

In the story, Shino is depicted as a shy and introverted girl. Her character development is central to the story as she learns to open up and express her feelings. The design of the figure also captures this with her embarrassed expression.

Ren is a tomboyish girl who is much more extroverted and assertive compared to Shino. She plays a crucial role in helping Shino come out of her shell. Her figure is considerably more ecchi and playful.

It is their contrasting personalities and character designs that hooks the audience. This yin and yang aesthetic is brilliantly simple, giving each its own unique charm that fits perfectly together. Fans of the series or Chigusa's work probably feel obligated to keep the pair together, but displaying them solo has no problems.

The poses and choice of outfit both reflect these girls' temperament. Shino keeping herself covered and neat, fully buttoned while the frisky Ren is messy and exposed is a common scene from the manga.

In addition the hand placement is a subtle addition that highlights Chigusa's ability to fully express her character's emotion. Placing Shino’s hand in front of her, resting on her thigh shows more defensive and guarded body language. Ren on the other hand is seductive, gripping the underside of her thigh.

Also creates a nice view from behind with different scenery so that's an added bonus.

Ultimately, Kotobukiya has shown their consistency with taking a good idea and making it great. The detail, paint work and sculpt makes these two a tempting bishoujo figure pick up. Expected to release in February and March of next year, you can pre-order today and secure yours!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!