Kindan no Koi de Ikou

Note: Make sure to read the other works in the series first - in order, Kindan no Koi wo Shiyou and Zoku - Kindan no Koi wo Shiyou. They are essential parts of the story, not merely prologues or extras.

You know how at the end of shoujo manga there's usually a cute, inconsequential epilogue that gives you a snapshot of their domestic life, just to provide a nice sense of closure? This manga is like if there were 40 chapters of that.

In a way, it was doomed from the start, since it began as a threeshot, but at the same time, "doomed" isn't quite the right word because it’s not bad at all. Still, the thing about them all reading like epilogue chapters is that there’s not really a sense of urgency. While you're reading it, you won’t be consciously trying to put it down, but if you do put it down, it’d be easy for you to forget about it.

Still, it’s not a boring series by any means, just slice-of-life, which doesn’t have to be a problem. But there’s no overarching plot, and while that’s true for a lot of shoujo, it really stands out here because they’re not in high school and they’re together throughout the entire series. The arcs, which are usually relatively short, tend to be disconnected (although side characters often reappear), but it’s in a Mob Psycho-esque way - though the situations become irrelevant, the effect they have on the characters and their relationships stay. It’s a subtle kind of good.

Of course, it’s still a guilty pleasure - I mean, immortal werewolf boyfriend, hello - but it is a pleasure. Something really noteworthy about Ohmi Tomu's work is that her main characters never really frustrate you the way other shoujo/josei characters tend to do. No irrational anger, no stupid overreactions, no insensitivity. Her characters are emotional and romantic to the point that this is hard to read in public, but it’s not even a bad thing. Moreover, Ohmi Tomu is amazing at characterization; her complete development of their personalities and their individual histories is remarkable.

On the supernatural aspect, it’s not stereotypical supernatural by any means. I think this might’ve been what annoyed the other reviewer and why they liked Midnight Secretary so much more. Instead of building a supernatural world to drive the story, this manga quietly explores the consequences of him being an immortal werewolf on him, Hisako, and their relationship. It’s almost a realistic take on this kind of thing, and the immortal aspect in particular is explored in a good, thorough way that I’ve never quite seen before.

I’ll concede that the final arc is pretty random - definitely not the series at its best - but it drives in the point of this series well - that she loves him, man or wolf - and I’ve definitely read way more overblown and random (see: Mars and Orange Marmalade). But anyway, that’s not the point. The final arc isn’t good, but the ending and where it leaves the two of them is amazing. It ties up that loose end that’s been worrying you the entire series, and it does it in a pleasant, poetic way. It’s honestly one of the best endings I’ve ever read to a story like this, so if you do start reading this, please see it through.

tl;dr This is slice-of-life through and through, but not spending time developing an overarching plot allows the manga to do wonders in character development. It also explores its supernatural aspects in a good, realistic way, focusing on its effects on individual characters rather than huge worldbuilding. Add on a fantastic conclusion, and you’ve got a great romance manga.

But note that the score is actually 7.5, not 8. Minus half a point because she doesn’t fuck him as a wolf, which really seemed it was about to happen sometimes.

To be upfront, I'll mention that I've essentially read this author's work in reverse order, starting with Midnight Secretary and 'ending' with Kindan. This makes it a bit challenging to review this piece without comparing it to her later works. It has been intriguing, however, to observe how consistent her male characters are across different stories – though I hope she doesn't reuse the same two main "looks" too often.

What I appreciate about Ohmi Tomu's work is her character development, and in her later pieces, the overarching plot. There is smut, but aside from this manga, it never feels gratuitous, and her female characters are always more than just hormone-driven stereotypes (especially in her later works). Best of all are the occasional side jokes every few chapters – there's always some genuine slapstick or cheeky humor which is refreshing, given how cliché many romance mangas can be. Beneath it all, you can't help but think, "Wow, this author is actually... intelligent? And considering her characters deeply?"

What I find less appealing about this manga is the storytelling itself (though clearly this has improved over time). I didn't sense any substantial plot arc until about two-thirds into the story (around chapter 25, possibly because she hadn't mastered longer plot cycles yet), and even then, it was quite brief and not well-transitioned into subsequent parts. The ultimate conflict seemed somewhat rushed, like "Oops, I'm nearing the end, better create unforeseen conflict!" and the resolution felt similarly abrupt.

In the end, I'm giving this manga a 7. There are some excellent aspects (characterization, intelligent cheeky jokes, realistic but non-cliché plots – things that really distinguish this author from others in the genre) but I was disappointed that it didn't fully realize its potential. If you're looking for great potential *fulfilled*, I highly recommend her latest work – Midnight Secretary.