After falling in love with Ao Haru Ride and Strobe Edge, I decided to have a look at Sakisaka Io's previous works, starting with Mascara Blues. This one-shot was published in 2007, along with the first volumes of Strobe Edge; Sakisaka's flawless trait is already recognizable, as is her sensibility in dealing with both simple love stories (chapter #2) and touchy subjects (chapter #3). In a handful of pages, the mangaka manages to effectively outline the personality of many characters and to develop a realistic narration; even though they don't feel rushed as they are, I believe each story could have easily been made intoa series.
If you're looking for a heart-warming short read and/or you're a fan of Sakisaka Io's most famous works, try Mascara Blues: you won't be disappointed!

PS: this is my first review, comments and suggestions are much appreciated! :)