First, I have to say that the synopsis provided for this manga is seriously lacking. It's essentially just a recap of the first chapter and doesn't even touch on the core plot.
I've read up to chapter 37 so far, and I plan to keep going as new chapters are released. Once I finish, I'll update my review accordingly.
The story revolves around Ageha and Hana, twin sisters who have just begun high school. Hana is the quintessential popular girl, always striving to outshine everyone else, particularly her sister. In contrast, Ageha does everything she can to stay under the radar. She feels overshadowed by her sister and wishes nothing more than to trade places with her. The twins form an intriguing paradox: they both desire what the other has while also yearning to forge their own identities. Without giving too much away, I'll stick to the basics... The narrative primarily focuses on Ageha's relationship and Hana's journey toward accepting her sister's happiness. Ageha's relationship is somewhat controversial. While I don't find it unrealistic or implausible, it does lean into taboo territory due to a significant age gap and the societal expectations tied to their roles. Despite this, I didn't dwell too much on the controversy because the characters complement each other so well that it becomes easier to accept.
I absolutely adore the character development throughout the series. Ageha evolves from being shy, quiet, and unnoticed into someone strong, decisive, and beautiful. You'll find yourself both liking and disliking her at times, but you'll witness her growth and the strides she makes in shaping her personality. Hana's development stood out to me the most. For much of the story, you might dislike her; she can be a bit over-the-top in her competitiveness with Ageha. However, as time progresses, she learns that she doesn't need to constantly vie with her sister—they can both experience happiness independently. Kyuu's character also undergoes some meaningful arcs, dealing with unresolved grief and regret stemming from a past relationship. This is where I paused my reading, but I appreciated the direction the story was heading. Additionally, interactions with family and friends play a crucial role in influencing and molding the main characters.
I highly recommend giving this manga a try—I found it incredibly engaging. Based solely on the synopsis, I would have skipped it entirely. I only added it to my list because the sisters reminded me of characters from another manga I enjoyed. I'm glad I decided to give it a chance.
The start is a bit strange, and honestly, I’m not a fan of the idea of a 24-year-old dating a high school student. However, their relationship never ventures into any "dark areas." If you’re put off by the beginning, give the story some time. The character development is exceptional, and the final chapters are nothing short of perfect. This isn’t one of those manga that begins strongly but ends poorly, leaving you wanting more. Instead, it leaves you feeling content, happy, and maybe even a little warm and fuzzy if you’re into that sort of thing. :)
What a disaster, a downright sloppy mess with an awful plot and annoying characters. Papillon is a teen romance manga centered around competing twins, attempting to explore heavy topics like insecurity, childhood abandonment, post-partum depression, and traumatic loss.
Ageha, a quiet and shy country girl, feels overshadowed by her beautiful and popular city-girl twin sister, Hana. The early volumes focus on their rivalry over boys. Hana feels neglected if she doesn't receive the same affection as her sister. She reminded me of a toned-down version of Sae from Peach Girl, though Hana does have a backstory that explains her problematic behavior.
The storylines are shallow and lack meaningful development. All romantic interests feel forced and fleeting. The primary love interest, counselor Kyuu, raises serious concerns. At 24, he's presented as a suitable partner for Ageha, a high school freshman. With a nine-year age gap and a position of authority as the school counselor, this relationship is deeply troubling. Kyuu begins by giving her advice, calling her a chrysalis that will bloom into a butterfly. He claims he'll help her change, but this sends no positive message about self-love. While striving for improvement is understandable, it's not what's portrayed here.
They're a mismatched pair. Kyuu expects a mature woman who understands his busy schedule as a graduate student and worker. He gets tired and stressed easily, is flirtatious, and disregards her demands. This leaves Ageha feeling insecure, constantly jealous, and questioning herself—reactions many readers find frustrating but are typical for teenagers.
I also had serious issues with how counseling is depicted. Kyuu breaks every ethical code regarding counselor-patient relationships. It's stated that he uses love to boost students' confidence and encourage self-improvement, which was unsettling to read. His mentor even advises Ageha to simply choose not to be upset about betrayals and instead choose happiness, a mantra she repeats throughout the series.
The entire romance reeks of an older man grooming a teenage girl too young to comprehend adult relationships. This manga wasn't for me, and I was deeply disappointed with its direction. It starts decently but becomes toxic and ultimately boring. <p>
Story
The narrative centers around the theme of understanding both others' and one's own challenges, while also exploring personal growth to reach one's full potential. Despite this, many resolutions felt rather unsatisfactory. The author introduces significant issues and struggles but offers vague and simplistic solutions, which not only reflect the age of the series but also highlight its shallowness. Nevertheless, it does have a strong beginning and ending.
Art
The artwork suffers from repetitive facial expressions, not just for the twins but for most characters. This is particularly problematic since part of the story deals with insecurities about appearance, making this stylistic choice detrimental to the narrative. If the story didn't focus so heavily on how the characters looked, this wouldn't be as much of an issue.
Characters
I frequently found myself frustrated with certain characters, which isn't surprising given the author's tendency to make them act in unnecessarily dramatic or uncharacteristically mean ways. Surprisingly, I wasn't annoyed by the main heroine; in fact, I often thought her reactions were reasonable, yet she was labeled as strange or criticized for her actions. The male lead, however, often irritated me as he repeatedly made the same mistakes and failed to understand the female lead's concerns.
Enjoyment
I did enjoy the series, which is why I read it all the way through. Some issues were handled effectively, and there were moments when characters worked together, doing what others were too afraid to do. It was enjoyable to see them leverage each other's strengths. Additionally, I appreciated some of the recurring motifs in the manga, which added depth to the conclusion.
Overall
Read it if you enjoy drama and don't mind a somewhat lackluster romance. The main character stands out as particularly compelling to me, making her journey fun to follow, though the supporting characters tend to fall flat.
I absolutely adored this manga! You can clearly see Ageha's transformation throughout the story, and you'll likely find yourself growing fond of her. The romance was incredibly cute, and it was such a delightful read! It evoked a mix of emotions—tears, joy, and even some frustration with certain characters—but I'm confident you'll thoroughly enjoy it!
The plot was solid, though it does get a bit 'messy' in parts. Still, overall, I thought it was great. The artwork was stunning, and the characters were so well-developed and engaging. I genuinely loved every moment of it.
However, one major issue is that there is no official English translation available after chapter 21, making it quite challenging to continue reading!
Popular Reviews
I've read up to chapter 37 so far, and I plan to keep going as new chapters are released. Once I finish, I'll update my review accordingly.
The story revolves around Ageha and Hana, twin sisters who have just begun high school. Hana is the quintessential popular girl, always striving to outshine everyone else, particularly her sister. In contrast, Ageha does everything she can to stay under the radar. She feels overshadowed by her sister and wishes nothing more than to trade places with her. The twins form an intriguing paradox: they both desire what the other has while also yearning to forge their own identities. Without giving too much away, I'll stick to the basics... The narrative primarily focuses on Ageha's relationship and Hana's journey toward accepting her sister's happiness. Ageha's relationship is somewhat controversial. While I don't find it unrealistic or implausible, it does lean into taboo territory due to a significant age gap and the societal expectations tied to their roles. Despite this, I didn't dwell too much on the controversy because the characters complement each other so well that it becomes easier to accept.
I absolutely adore the character development throughout the series. Ageha evolves from being shy, quiet, and unnoticed into someone strong, decisive, and beautiful. You'll find yourself both liking and disliking her at times, but you'll witness her growth and the strides she makes in shaping her personality. Hana's development stood out to me the most. For much of the story, you might dislike her; she can be a bit over-the-top in her competitiveness with Ageha. However, as time progresses, she learns that she doesn't need to constantly vie with her sister—they can both experience happiness independently. Kyuu's character also undergoes some meaningful arcs, dealing with unresolved grief and regret stemming from a past relationship. This is where I paused my reading, but I appreciated the direction the story was heading. Additionally, interactions with family and friends play a crucial role in influencing and molding the main characters.
I highly recommend giving this manga a try—I found it incredibly engaging. Based solely on the synopsis, I would have skipped it entirely. I only added it to my list because the sisters reminded me of characters from another manga I enjoyed. I'm glad I decided to give it a chance.
Story: 9 [great]
Art: 8 [very good]
Character: 9 [great]
Enjoyment: 10 [great]
Overall: 9 [great]
The start is a bit strange, and honestly, I’m not a fan of the idea of a 24-year-old dating a high school student. However, their relationship never ventures into any "dark areas." If you’re put off by the beginning, give the story some time. The character development is exceptional, and the final chapters are nothing short of perfect. This isn’t one of those manga that begins strongly but ends poorly, leaving you wanting more. Instead, it leaves you feeling content, happy, and maybe even a little warm and fuzzy if you’re into that sort of thing. :)
Definitely worth checking out!
Ageha, a quiet and shy country girl, feels overshadowed by her beautiful and popular city-girl twin sister, Hana. The early volumes focus on their rivalry over boys. Hana feels neglected if she doesn't receive the same affection as her sister. She reminded me of a toned-down version of Sae from Peach Girl, though Hana does have a backstory that explains her problematic behavior.
The storylines are shallow and lack meaningful development. All romantic interests feel forced and fleeting. The primary love interest, counselor Kyuu, raises serious concerns. At 24, he's presented as a suitable partner for Ageha, a high school freshman. With a nine-year age gap and a position of authority as the school counselor, this relationship is deeply troubling. Kyuu begins by giving her advice, calling her a chrysalis that will bloom into a butterfly. He claims he'll help her change, but this sends no positive message about self-love. While striving for improvement is understandable, it's not what's portrayed here.
They're a mismatched pair. Kyuu expects a mature woman who understands his busy schedule as a graduate student and worker. He gets tired and stressed easily, is flirtatious, and disregards her demands. This leaves Ageha feeling insecure, constantly jealous, and questioning herself—reactions many readers find frustrating but are typical for teenagers.
I also had serious issues with how counseling is depicted. Kyuu breaks every ethical code regarding counselor-patient relationships. It's stated that he uses love to boost students' confidence and encourage self-improvement, which was unsettling to read. His mentor even advises Ageha to simply choose not to be upset about betrayals and instead choose happiness, a mantra she repeats throughout the series.
The entire romance reeks of an older man grooming a teenage girl too young to comprehend adult relationships. This manga wasn't for me, and I was deeply disappointed with its direction. It starts decently but becomes toxic and ultimately boring. <p>
The narrative centers around the theme of understanding both others' and one's own challenges, while also exploring personal growth to reach one's full potential. Despite this, many resolutions felt rather unsatisfactory. The author introduces significant issues and struggles but offers vague and simplistic solutions, which not only reflect the age of the series but also highlight its shallowness. Nevertheless, it does have a strong beginning and ending.
Art
The artwork suffers from repetitive facial expressions, not just for the twins but for most characters. This is particularly problematic since part of the story deals with insecurities about appearance, making this stylistic choice detrimental to the narrative. If the story didn't focus so heavily on how the characters looked, this wouldn't be as much of an issue.
Characters
I frequently found myself frustrated with certain characters, which isn't surprising given the author's tendency to make them act in unnecessarily dramatic or uncharacteristically mean ways. Surprisingly, I wasn't annoyed by the main heroine; in fact, I often thought her reactions were reasonable, yet she was labeled as strange or criticized for her actions. The male lead, however, often irritated me as he repeatedly made the same mistakes and failed to understand the female lead's concerns.
Enjoyment
I did enjoy the series, which is why I read it all the way through. Some issues were handled effectively, and there were moments when characters worked together, doing what others were too afraid to do. It was enjoyable to see them leverage each other's strengths. Additionally, I appreciated some of the recurring motifs in the manga, which added depth to the conclusion.
Overall
Read it if you enjoy drama and don't mind a somewhat lackluster romance. The main character stands out as particularly compelling to me, making her journey fun to follow, though the supporting characters tend to fall flat.
The plot was solid, though it does get a bit 'messy' in parts. Still, overall, I thought it was great. The artwork was stunning, and the characters were so well-developed and engaging. I genuinely loved every moment of it.
However, one major issue is that there is no official English translation available after chapter 21, making it quite challenging to continue reading!
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