I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

I absolutely love this book. Simply amazing.

Oh ItaKiss... you know, I just can't bring myself to hate this series as much as I once did. Don't get me wrong: ItaKiss is undeniably bad and it's the very piece of garbage that birthed the "abusive male/idiotic female" trope I despise so much in shojo romances. On the flip side, ItaKiss is one of the few mangas that transcends the high school setting, and there are some redeeming qualities here and there. But let's be clear—none of those good bits come close to excusing the glaring flaws in this series.

Kotoko Aihara is part of Class F, where all the dumbest students are grouped together. She happens to have a crush on Naoki Irie, the most handsome (yeah, right!) and smartest guy in school. Despite Naoki making it crystal clear that he wants nothing to do with Kotoko, she persists in trying to win his heart. Fate intervenes when Kotoko and Naoki end up living together after an accident, since Naoki's father is a close friend of Kotoko's family and offers them a place to stay. As time passes, they gradually warm up to each other—sound familiar?

There are several fundamental issues with ItaKiss, starting with what always pisses me off: the foundation of the romance between Naoki and Kotoko. The basis of their relationship is purely superficial. In the beginning, it's obvious Kotoko only likes Naoki because he's smart and good-looking. And she relentlessly harasses him until he eventually gives in. Kotoko literally can't take "no" for an answer, which is the most infuriating aspect of this manga.

Now, I don’t automatically dislike people who can't take "no" for an answer in love stories—if done well, it can even be charming. Take Family Matters, for example. No one would argue that Kotoko treats Naoki the way Steve Urkel treated Laura, but there's a key difference. Steve was 12-13 when we first met him, so his antics were often forgivable. Plus, whenever Steve went too far, he'd face consequences by the end of the episode. Kotoko, however, is a high school senior at the start of the manga, and her behavior is never questioned. Sure, someone might call her out in one chapter, but by the next, all her transgressions are forgotten.

And let’s not forget Naoki—he’s just as bad, if not worse. His actions throughout the series align more with a sadistic psychopath than a guy with a bad temper. Initially, he was just a regular jerk to Kotoko, but over time, his behavior became increasingly spiteful. Every time Kotoko has a moment of clarity and realizes she’s into a total jackass, Naoki swoops in to ruin any progress she might have made. The first kiss is a perfect example. Kotoko gets publicly humiliated, they fight, she says she doesn't see anything in him anymore, and then Naoki kisses her, saying something like, "Try moving on from me now." That’s not cute—it’s abusive.

What’s worse is that every time a genuinely romantic or endearing moment occurs, the chapter ends with Naoki seeming like he might change. But as soon as the next chapter begins, he reverts to being the same old douchebag, no matter what happened between them. This kind of writing drives me crazy. Why create characters this way, make them seem like they'll evolve, and then backpedal? It's baffling and frustrating.

The supporting cast isn’t much better. Naoki’s mom starts off likable but becomes annoying as she constantly tries to hook Kotoko and Naoki up, regardless of Naoki’s wishes. She sabotages any interaction Naoki has with anyone who isn’t Kotoko. Sure, her witty remarks to Naoki are amusing sometimes, but mostly she’s a pain. And Kinnosuke? He’s basically Kotoko’s version of herself, but worse. Kotoko is clueless, but she never crosses into obsessive stalker territory. Kinnosuke, though, is what Kotoko would be like if she were Steve Urkel without any charm.

For all the criticism, Itazura na Kiss does have a few redeeming qualities. For one, the story spans over 15 years. Part of that is due to the manga running for about 10 years until Kaoru Tada’s untimely passing, but it still goes way beyond the typical scope of romance stories. Very few romances in anime or manga achieve this. The closest examples I can think of are Clannad: After Story and the KareKano manga. While I give credit to ItaKiss for its length, the execution is abysmal. The characters are irritating, the romance is based on nothing but looks, and the artwork is absolutely terrible.

Seriously, the artwork is some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Not even Yoshihiro Togashi was this bad during the Greed Island arc of Hunter x Hunter. For the first 20-30 chapters, I couldn’t tell if Naoki was a guy or a girl with a really bad haircut. All the character designs look like they were hastily drawn in 3-4 minutes. The art improves slightly later on, but not significantly. If there’s one thing the anime adaptation got right, it’s the competent art direction. Kaoru Tada’s backdrops are passable, but this is a manga that requires readers to overlook its presentation to focus on the story. Unfortunately, both the presentation and the story are awful.

Clearly, I hate this manga, and many others do too. So why should you read it? Honestly, you shouldn’t. Read KareKano instead or watch the Clannad movie. You’ll save time and avoid frustration. Itazura na Kiss is like a heroin addict who keeps relapsing—just when you think real progress is being made, everything resets. Do yourself a favor and skip this manga entirely.

That’s all for now. Feedback is always welcome, and with that, I’m out. Peace!

This timeless classic has stood the test of time, captivating audiences through two live-action adaptations and now an anime. It's undoubtedly a must-read for fans of shoujo manga.

While the artwork may not be exceptional, the story more than compensates for it. This relatively lengthy series, unfortunately left incomplete due to the sudden passing of its creator, is set to receive its intended conclusion in the anime adaptation.

The dynamic between Kotoko and Irie is consistently entertaining and suspenseful, keeping readers guessing about Irie's next move as their relationship evolves. The hilarious supporting characters add an extra layer of enjoyment to the narrative. I highly recommend this romantic comedy to anyone who loves shoujo manga.

I absolutely adore this manga! It's definitely one of my all-time favorites. No matter how many times I read it, the characters' silliness never fails to make me laugh. At first, I was hesitant to dive into it due to the artwork, but once I started reading, that concern faded away completely because of the captivating story. This manga should not be judged after just a few chapters. As the story unfolds, you get to know the characters more deeply, beyond what initially meets the eye.  
  
I love the way the story develops and how Kotoko influences Naoki, helping him become a better person.  
  
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I absolutely love this classic Shoujo manga for numerous reasons. The characters are incredibly endearing, and the story strikes a perfect balance between comedy and seriousness. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Kyouko's pursuit of Irie throughout the series, as well as gaining insight into Irie's feelings about it.

There's something for everyone to enjoy in this charming tale about a girl who's head over heels for a boy who seems completely disinterested.

The side characters have become some of my all-time favorites, and the main character's struggles are relatable and often sympathetic. If I could, I would reread this manga countless times.

This is a series I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys Shoujo or simply appreciates a great read.

STORY - 8  
ART - 8  
CHARACTERS - 10<p>

Alright, so Itazura na Kiss (InK) may be a very well-known manga, having inspired multiple dramas and movies, but honestly, I didn’t enjoy it at all. The "opposites attract" storyline, while common in manga, here feels forced, creating a love story between two people who fundamentally lack compatibility. It became so unbearable that I stopped reading after forcing myself through 40 chapters. And don't expect a satisfying conclusion—this series remains unfinished due to the untimely passing of the mangaka.  

Story - 2  
Kotoko Aihara is an underachiever who falls for Naoki Irie, the smartest (and most handsome, incoming Gary Stu) student, only to be bluntly rejected. However, an earthquake destroys her home, leaving her and her father to move in with the Irie family, friends of her father. This reignites Kotoko's one-sided affection, leading to years of her struggling to win Naoki's heart.  

The premise doesn’t sound terrible, but what frustrates me is how repetitive the chapters become.  

Art - 4  
The art style looks more like a rough draft than a polished product, making the manga tedious to read.  

Characters - 1  
First, Kotoko, our protagonist, embodies everything a character shouldn’t. She falls for Naoki based on shallow reasons—his freshman speech—and becomes his doormat. Lacking pride or self-respect, she relentlessly tries to win him over. Meanwhile, Naoki is even worse. Portrayed as a genius, he comes across as an annoying, one-dimensional character with no growth. One chapter he’s kind to Kotoko, but the next, he reverts to his old ways. He shows no interest in her yet resents her moving on. He’s the detached genius trope often seen in anime, without any real development.  

Most side characters are equally irritating. Naoki’s mom initially seemed okay, but she turns out to be a helicopter parent constantly interfering in his life. And Kin-chan? A Kotoko for Kotoko, basically following her around and being downright creepy.  

Overall - 3  
InK wasn’t my cup of tea. Watching the writer attempt to create a relationship between two incompatible characters was exhausting. That said, it might appeal to others, so don’t judge solely on this review. Proceed with caution if you decide to read it.

Not really perfect, but it was a good read.

Hi everyone! Author here. I had to go on hiatus because of some health problems, but I'm back and now I'm updating the story daily. Thank you so much for your continued support and I hope you keep enjoying my story. ...️