H³ School

Despite Shoujo often containing many elements I tend to dislike, such as overly-dependent heroines, I still find myself returning to the genre, hoping for a change. I thought I had found that in Happy Hustle High with the character Hanabi, an impractical tomboy, but unfortunately, I was mistaken.

The art is beautifully illustrated, and when they mention bishounens, they truly deliver. The story was decent, not groundbreaking, but enjoyable and well-executed within its theme and setting. I quite enjoyed it until the very last volume, where Hanabi completely abandoned her reserved tomboy persona and became just another Yasu fangirl. Clearly, this transformation happened gradually throughout the series, but towards the end, she turned into one of those dependent heroines I particularly dislike.

Overall, I liked this manga. It kept me engaged with its unique take on various experiences, and Hanabi not obsessively pursuing or clinging to Yasu was a refreshing change. Her flaws were more relatable; I appreciated her hair-related issues far more than those heroines who claim to have no self-confidence while simultaneously craving attention.

It's not a bad series by any means, but it's also not outstanding. I have a very low tolerance for over-exaggerations and characters who are too clingy or expect constant protection, so shoujo heroines often frustrate me.

A strong, short story from an author who knows her strengths and flaunts them with this funny and sweet manga.

While it's not a manga that attempts to break the rigorous shoujo mold, nor does it stick in the mind as a classic and hilarious story, something about it sticks like glue. I mentioned that the author - Rie Takada - flaunts her strengths. Having read several of her manga, the main strength I see shining through is the humor. I can honestly say I haven't laughed so much at one author's works in a very long time. Not only is the humor laugh-out-loud funny, but it's also consistent.

I don't tend to mention the art because unlike for some, it's not really a deal breaker unless it's mind-numbingly awful. However, I do love Takada's work, especially the close-ups. Truly beautiful (and wonderful fan service for a girl needing to live life vicariously through others! :3)

The story is set on a surprisingly interesting premise. A girl who was the champion of an all-girls school is forced to adapt, alongside her classmates, to a co-ed school when their school is merged with an all-boys school. Upon doing so, she meets a boy. Chaos ensues.

With only five volumes, it's a surprisingly hard task to fill. She tends to do 10-volume strong stories (see Heart or Wild Act!!) which I think works better - while some argue that they are in fact too long. The problem with Takada's work I think lies in the depth of the story. If you say "A shoujo? With depth, don't make me laugh." I refer you no further than to 'Akuma to Love Song' or 'Mars'. Very easily, these two create stories with depth. Takada had the chance to open the story up and delve deeper. There were backstories to be used, to be told and developed. Characters we could have become more familiar with. But unfortunately, the author took away this chance when she set up the backstory, explained it briefly, and moved on. Had she done so, I think we'd have a longer and more fulfilling manga. I also think that this lack of backstory is the reason people complain her others are too long. As it stands, while it's got a pleasant and sweet enough front, Happy Hustle High hasn't got any substance.

I think the characters themselves go a long way at holding this story together. Hanabi is definitely a fantastic comedic character I'd have loved to see more of. In fact, Wikipedia sums her up nicely "She leads the girls in their major activities, such as changing the school's rules or robbing perverts". This summation is all I can say of this ballsy, fresh character who I loved learning about.

The male lead Yasuaki is an interesting one. Reading the Wikipedia summary of him, it seems we know so much about him when to me it feels as if I know very little. He's a character who starts as a surfer-lover with an allergy to girls, but I don't think this 'allergy' was used to its full potential.

The other characters, Yoshitomo and Tokihisa, are of the general side-character shoujo type - there mainly for comical reasons or for the trouble arcs of the story when a love triangle/disaster is needed.

Reading this back, I seem rather critical of this manga, so I'm sure you're wondering why on earth I ranked it as highly as I did, so let me explain. I only really have two asks when I read or watch something.

1. The story must be interesting.
2. It MUST entertain.

While the story fell down at parts, and again I feel the need to critique the lack of depth, Happy Hustle High did without a doubt entertain me. I laughed... out loud at times and smiled through the majority of the chapters. If you are looking for something which will provide comic relief to your otherwise depressingly sad mangas or animes, I suggest you look no further than this, or at least Takada's works in general.

Meh... it was decent. The storyline is very basic and standard, typical for a shoujo manga. Some standalone chapters are hilariously funny, and the expressions and artwork can be stunning at times. However, character development feels rather mediocre. You never really understand why one character falls in love with another; it just happens because that's how it's supposed to be. There are your usual love triangles here and there, which is okay, but nothing that makes your heart race. The characters do stay true to their personalities throughout, which is a plus. The lead bishounen is drawn charmingly enough, as are the supporting male characters. A bit more depth into each of their motivations would have helped. In one character description, we read "... but behind his handsome face lies..." We never find out what actually lies behind that handsome face. All he ever does is pull off a cunning trick here or an unexpected kiss there. If you're reading this for shoujo reasons, it doesn't make you swoon often enough. Intimate scenes are few and far between, and their intensity tends to fizzle after major buildups. If you're reading it for the manga experience, then the heroine is refreshingly sincere and not at all the weak damsel in distress. I can't praise this heroine enough. She's so bold that she demands a re-do of her first kiss because she wasn't satisfied with how it went originally! Props to her! Besides that, she's conscientious, helpful, into video games, holds her own in sports, and exudes fierce determination without being unapproachable. The humor somewhat compensates for the lack of moe, but not entirely. Some situations are utterly unbelievable and therefore incredibly entertaining. All in all, it's an okay read for an hour or two. It’s unlikely you'll remember much about it next week or next month though.

There are manga that leave lasting impressions, often considered masterpieces. H3 School isn't one of those, yet oddly, I find its simplicity to be a redeeming quality. At its core, H3 is best described as a fun read... and sometimes, that's exactly what you want or need.

The premise of the story is interesting, starting with an all-girl school set to merge with an all-boy school, bringing both challenges and benefits. In this sense, the setting is refreshing, offering unique story directions compared to typical high school shoujo settings.

What makes H3 a fun read for me is the characters. Hanabi is unlike most shoujo heroines. She's a true tomboy, fails at being girly, and has real beauty issues (which she handles in hilarious and sometimes frighteningly realistic ways). Yasuaki also has his quirks. At first glance, he seems like the typical cool bishounen with jerk tendencies... until you realize he's actually a really nice guy who happens to have girl phobia.

With 5 volumes, the story moves fairly quickly in a straightforward manner, with some relationship bumps along the way. There's a nice mix of comedy and romance—moments where you'd laugh out loud and others where you might grin and swoon from sweet gestures. There are definitely hilarious moments, random little things that unexpectedly crack you up. Unfortunately, there was a bit of dubious drama towards the end, but it passed quickly. I say dubious because the conflict, while common in shoujo manga, felt somewhat out of place here.

Again, H3 isn't meant to leave a lasting impact on its readers. Instead, it's perfect for passing an afternoon enjoyably without too much fuss. It's romantic, funny at times, features hot bishounen, a heroine with flaws who is genuinely cute and not foolish, a beautifully scary student council president, and tons of cute little chicks (as in chickens). For a shoujo manga, what's not to like?

For a general rating, H3 would probably get a 7—good but certainly not exceptional or what one would call a "quality" read. But for its enjoyment factor, I gave it an 8 here.

When I first came across this manga, I immediately felt the urge to dive into it. What’s not to adore about an endearingly awkward tomboy? The truth is, Hanabi stands out as a genuinely believable tomboy; a girl who enjoys roughhousing with boys, sweats freely, and doesn’t have an inflated ego. However, everything shifts when she encounters the dreamy Yasuaki. His character, on the other hand, feels somewhat less plausible. After all, what teenage boy is "allergic" to girls? Despite this, both characters are well fleshed out through flashbacks and daily events that lend a realistic feel to the manga. The scenarios depicted could easily happen to anyone.

The pacing of the story is commendably good. Considering there are only five volumes, there isn't much space for filler content. Even though some stories might occasionally seem like filler, they ultimately contribute to advancing the plot as our awkward tomboy and aloof heartthrob grow closer together.

However, be warned: don't expect any shocking twists here. You may find it enjoyable or perhaps not, but you'll likely see the ending coming from a mile away. It's quite predictable.

That shouldn't deter you from relishing this manga. It features several moments I'd describe as "OMG WTF HILARIOUS!!!", including a scene involving the PA system (I'm chuckling just thinking about it)! I own every volume and frequently revisit them.

Umm... I've never written a review before... so if this is weird, sorry! XD

I first read Happy Hustle High a year ago when I started becoming a rabid manga fan. Since then, I've read a whole lot of manga, mostly shoujo and yaoi. But through it all, the only two manga that truly stuck with me were H3: Happy Hustle High and Milk Crown/Milk Crown H.

H3's story isn't the most unique in the world, but what it lacks in groundbreaking plot, it more than makes up for with its off-the-wall comedy, surprising spots of insecurity and naivete, and gallons of pure spunky stubbornness from Hanabi Ozori, the heroine. Hanabi is a tomboy through and through, with a loud mouth, a fist quick to protect her schoolmates, and an even quicker grin for all her friends.

When the all-girls school that Hanabi attends merges with Meibi High, a nearby all-boys school, and becomes co-ed, what is the champion of the high school girls to do? And add in a romantic interest, Yasuaki, who is scared of girls? Not such an original concept, I'll admit.

But how about a girl-despising guy who sees all girls as noisy cheeping baby chicks, except for Hanabi, who appears as a fighting gamecock? Never heard of that one!

This manga is pure, sweet, adorable happiness! The expressions are one of the funniest things in this manga. The mangaka has put her all into expressing Hanabi's loud, in-your-face emotional rollercoaster ride, and it continues to make me laugh even after my 5th time reading it!

Yes, Happy Hustle High is not the most original manga out there, but it was, for me, definitely one of the most memorable! This manga will make you laugh non-stop through all of the 23 chapters. And when it's over, you, like me, will probably want to pull a Hanabi and beat someone up to get a darn sequel!

"Lots of great stuff is out there, if you just find the guts to try."

This manga starts off as one where you're unsure whether to begin but then cautiously read the first chapter. Before you know it, you find the characters funny, bold, and completely bizarre, making it impossible not to keep reading just to see what happens next.

That's how I met Hanabi Ozora. She attends an all-girls private school and is known for her extreme dedication to justice. Don't worry; she doesn't go around killing people for vengeance. She only hurts them — less time and no cops. Just kidding, sort of. She doesn’t go on random rampages hurting or terrorizing strangers. She’s dedicated to being herself and has a "won't take your crap" attitude. She’s never had a boyfriend or liked anyone mainly because she isn't very girly. She’s the girl every girl goes to for help in her class, like a problem solver. Unfortunately for her, her reign is about to end since her all-girl school is turning coed. This is Hanabi’s story from finding love to kicking some serious butt in the process, all while staying sane. Sort of.

The characters are amusing creatures in this one. The main cast is honest; they mean what they say and say what they mean. Along with Hanabi and some friends who don’t really matter much (sorry but true), we are introduced to the student council trio: three guys who are at the top of their school. Three sexy guys, as Hanabi says.

The humor reminded me of School Rumble (I do miss Tenma). It’s fresh and not forced. Amidst the humor and good-looking guys, you'll see the story of a girl and her first love. Don’t fret though because the love progresses, and not at a turtle slow pace. It shows you the couple in the first stages of their relationship and overcoming obstacles in the most awkward and humorous way.

It would have been slow to progress had it not had an important factor, Yasuaki. He’s different yet the same from other main characters. I was used to girls pursuing guys and confessing to them, but he’s daring. He has a certain charm, especially since he doesn’t like girls initially, which adds to his appeal—don't worry, that’s not a spoiler. Even though he’s really the same in the sense that he’s next to perfect, can play instruments, and is good at every sport and enjoys surfing (wait, is that a sport?), he’s quiet but not afraid. He’ll stand up for his girl, even if he loses. The other two members of the council are perceived to be the brains of the operation and the male version of Hanabi. Sense of humor up the wazoo for this pair, even if it’s sometimes dark.

Hanabi (which for some reason I keep calling Hibani in my head) is cute and somewhat smart. She kicks first and asks questions later. But she’s not bluntly dumb like other heroines. At the beginning, she’s more likable than towards the end. She puts herself in some really bad situations, my guess something went loose up there from falling too much. She’s fun though, and all the girls look up to her because of her courage (maybe that’s the wrong word).

The art style is not of the new version that features delicate girls who seem perfect. I think it’s because this manga originally ran in 2005 that its style is different, which honestly I enjoyed. Nothing stood out so much, but sometimes when the light hits characters just right (or when the mangaka wants said characters to get attention), some characters look appealing and faultless, or in the trio’s case, like total bishies (: / ). It’s more cute than beautiful for this one as it is more of a comedy than anything else.

All in all, you will laugh a lot. Sure, the situations are cliché and you see them coming, but you can’t help but laugh at the combination of art and dialogue put together so well. It flows really well throughout, leaving no holes or moments unless those were because the characters did something so preposterous. The ending was tied up in a pretty bow but left me wondering about the other two characters and their lives, as it was more focused on the present story and its lead couple.