My rise to fame: They will regret it soon

thanks God for new chapters. hope the author is well and safe....

Saki Kaori's Smash! stands out as one of my favorite manga series because it beautifully combines the sport of badminton, which holds a special place in my heart, with a realistic and endearing romance narrative. While I appreciated Prince of Tennis for its over-the-top portrayal of tennis mechanics and its cast of god-like bishonen characters, Smash! leans much closer to the shoujo genre than Prince of Tennis ever attempts, doing so in an exceptionally grounded way.

The story, centered around the protagonist Shouta, is one of love—both for the sport of badminton and for his 'badminton goddess' Yuuhi, a young prodigy set to make waves on the international badminton scene despite her tender age. The deep respect and admiration shared by Shouta and Yuuhi blossom into a touching romance. Yuuhi's muteness compels her to express her feelings for Shouta in non-verbal ways, making her one of the most innocent and sincere heroines I've encountered in manga.

Other pivotal characters include Anan, Shouta's proud and skilled doubles partner who perpetually sports a scowl, and Miwa, Shouta's childhood friend who initially inspired him to excel at badminton before Yuuhi entered the picture. In terms of character development, Miwa and Anan undergo the most significant changes throughout the series. Shouta's unwavering focus on catching up to Yuuhi leaves little room for his personal growth, and in recent chapters, he grapples with the growing harem of girls vying for his attention.

That said, Shouta is not a playboy type. He is entirely devoted to Yuuhi and is an all-around good guy whose intense dedication, hard work ethic, and role as the ace of Toujo Daini's badminton team leave many girls utterly smitten. Thus, his interactions with various female characters provide occasional comedic relief as well as romantic tension, which is quite prevalent in this series.

Indeed, Shouta's romance arc gradually shifts focus to Anan's and Miwa's evolving relationship, a pairing that has been in the works for many chapters. Their personalities complement each other well due to Anan's stubbornness and pride, and yet one can't help but hope that Miwa will eventually break through Anan's tough exterior to reveal his caring side.

Smash! does not heavily emphasize the technical aspects of badminton. One cannot learn the intricacies, strategies, or rules of the sport by reading this manga, as nothing is explicitly explained. Instead, the emphasis lies on the mindset and determination of the players. We witness their internal struggles during practice and competition, leading to their growth as stronger athletes. Badminton serves as a catalyst for the characters to improve themselves and their team, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among them. Regardless of what they face, they are united by their passion for the sport.

The artwork in the early chapters was somewhat lacking. Capturing the form and movements of badminton players accurately required some adjustment from the mangaka, but the art has significantly improved over the series' run. Now, the nuances of the players' shots and footwork are depicted with remarkable precision. However, it's unlikely anyone would read this series primarily for its art.

Smash!'s powerful blend of sports and romance should attract a wide audience. Initially, I started reading this series due to my interest in badminton. Now, I enjoy it equally for its sports elements and its romance. Smash!'s depiction of competitive badminton is as genuine as it gets in a sports manga without excessive exaggeration. This series truly is exceptional, captivating both sports manga enthusiasts and romance aficionados alike.

Romantic subplot is a term with which some may be familiar. To me, the manga appears to have sports themes as the subplot. It seemed like the mangaka was attempting to write both a romance storyline and a sports storyline simultaneously. As a reader, I felt that the "gears" in my reading were shifting up and down as the story transitioned between the romance aspect and the sports aspect of the storyline. At one moment, you are focused on the main character improving himself, and then there's another romantic interlude.

If I go into more detail, I would almost say this is a series of romantic one-shots patched together by a story about badminton. In some instances at the beginning, it seemed like there was too much romance, and toward the end, almost too much sports.

One thing I will never understand is the random appearance of the main character's sister on one page of the manga, yet throughout the story, she is never mentioned before or after that page. In context, it served as fan service, nothing more. It also feels like the last volume was rushed, even the last chapter, but it was a decent enough ending, quite surprising too, considering.

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TL;DR  
If you're into sports or romances, skip it. If you love both sports and romance, give it a try.  

Romantic sports mangas are rare gems. Often, they lean more towards either being a sports manga with a light romantic subplot or a romance manga where sports merely serve as a backdrop. One of the few other mangas I've read that genuinely attempted to blend both genres was Suzuka, so comparisons between the two are inevitable.  

Story: 7  
The narrative flows well and progresses at a solid pace. There are moments when the main character's improvements are explained in repetitive ways, which feels like a shortcut. However, overall, most characters' growth feels natural and organic. This manga stands out as the first I've encountered that seamlessly integrates its romance plotline. In contrast, the author of Suzuka seemed to craft two separate stories and then force them together. In the latter half of Smash!, the author introduces unnecessary drama just as things were running too smoothly for the romance. Additionally, the focus shifts to supporting characters once the main character resolves their romantic arc. The ending includes a few elements (which are spoilers) that detract from its quality, but it still wraps up satisfactorily.  

Art: 6  
The artwork is decent, though not particularly remarkable. The panel layout is clean and effective. Action sequences have their intense moments, and nothing stands out as poorly drawn. Nearly all characters are visually distinct without relying on obvious "identifiers."  

Characters: 8  
I genuinely enjoyed several characters and didn't dislike any of them. That said, there are occasional out-of-character moments involving multiple individuals. At times, people mention certain characters changing, but this change doesn't always come across clearly in the story. Some characters, even within the "main" cast, seem created solely to fade into the background.  

Enjoyment: 7  
It lacks the intensity of Haikyuu! or the action-packed excitement of Kuroko no Basuke. The romance isn't as dramatic as Kimi no Irumachi or consistently adorable like Horimiya. By blending these two elements, however, it manages to consistently hold your attention, leaving you eager to discover what happens next.  

Overall: 7  
While there will always be superior options available, I would wholeheartedly recommend this manga. For every flaw, it gets three things right. I never felt inclined to stop reading, and there were times when I couldn't wait to dive into the next chapter.

Great story guys I definitely recommend this to any reader ......

a pratical guide to evil has good fml, it is also one of the best novels i have read, up there with LOTM, SS