Eugenia Biscon was the second daughter of a poor country family who thought she would live a normal life like everyone else after meeting a decent viscount as her prospective husband, but everything started to change after a nightmare she suffered a few days ago.
“Lady Biscon?”
In the ballroom prepared by His Highness the King, Elliott Burns, the hero who had defeated the dragon, appeared there before her, and Eugenie froze as if struck by lightning the moment she saw him. Surprisingly it was a familiar face. No, to be exact it was a face she knew very well, although she had never seen it before.
Elliott Burns was the mu*derer who appeared in her nightmares from few days ago where he massacred all of her family. And now, that same mu*derer was staring at her persistently.
That said, beneath all the explicit and ecchi scenes, there lies a romantic storyline. It evolves from the initial urge to protect someone to genuinely developing feelings. Themes of heartache and betrayal build up to the pivotal moment when you realize you "love" someone.
First off, the story: 6/10
I first stumbled upon this manga in 2015. The concept seemed intriguing to me—a prestigious school filled with elites, where wealthy and flirtatious girls rule over the guys. However, I didn't read it back then because it wasn't completed yet. Recently, I found it on a website and learned that it's licensed by Kodansha. Initially, it was quite good. Being a fan of fake-dating plots and angst, I was quickly drawn in. But unfortunately, things don't remain great for long. Soon, the narrative becomes inundated with irritating characters and filled with ridiculous misunderstandings. Now, while I don't necessarily mind such tropes (since they're standard fare in most shoujo stories, involving love triangles and miscommunications), one major issue that bugged me was the lack of logic surrounding how the school operates. I can't wrap my head around how absurd rules like these could exist without anyone stepping in—aren't there any sane individuals left? What are the teachers doing, and why does the STUDENT COUNCIL wield so much authority yet choose to do absolutely nothing?! To be fair, when compared to other anime and manga, I can somewhat overlook this point. And if I think about "Boys Over Flowers," then this might not seem too outlandish after all.
Art: 6/10
The artwork isn't exceptional or anything, but it's also not terrible. I particularly enjoyed the exaggerated expressions that the main character would make, which reminded me of "Heroine Shikkakku" (which is far superior to this).
Characters: 5/10
Now, here's the biggest flaw of this manga: THE GUYS. They are extremely problematic. Most of them are obnoxious and have no idea how to behave properly. There's a lack of respect for personal boundaries and towards the protagonist. One guy even went all the way with a girl who was DRUGGED just because they were dating, and this incident wasn't addressed adequately later! Excuse me?? That sets a really bad precedent. On the flip side, the female lead's character is decent, though she's surprisingly dense despite being portrayed as intelligent.
Enjoyment: 7/10
What can I say? I have a soft spot for shoujo, regardless of its quality. Despite all its flaws, this was an enjoyable read.
Overall: 6.5/10
It's a fairly average manga; don't expect too much from it. If you have some free time and are in the mood for a typical shoujo, then give it a try. However, there are numerous manga that are far better than this.
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Story (spoilers ahead, sorry): The concept of the series is deeply troubling. An all-girls high school begins admitting male students, and while one might expect some quirky or humorous situations, the reality turns out to be far darker. The majority of the female students at this prestigious institution are depicted as rapists and sexual predators. The male students are left with the choice of either going along with the women's advances or pledging their chastity to another female student by pretending to be her boyfriend. This setup is nonsensical and highly problematic. How could such a school function? Moreover, the teachers seem indifferent when students chase down male peers with the intent to assault them.
I genuinely dislike the premise of this story, as it trivializes the serious issue of sexual assault. In the narrative, we meet the two main characters who decide to pretend to be a couple to avoid this fate. Consequently, the female protagonist faces bullying throughout the series due to the male attention she supposedly monopolizes from the predatory females.
In the second half of the story, the female lead begins dating another male character after being separated from the initial male lead. Before this, she spends more time with a third male character, developing stronger relationships with them than with the original male lead. Misunderstandings drive them apart, and neither character effectively communicates their feelings, leading to further separation.
While the chemistry between the female lead and the second male lead was stronger, the story dictates that she must end up with the first male lead. Although it’s clear why the male lead is attracted to her, the reasons for her feelings toward him are not well-developed. The hurried conclusion forces them together despite spending more time apart than together.
A subplot involves the return of the female lead's former bully, but this feels convoluted and unnecessary. Typical Shoujo tropes like secondary male characters vying for the female lead's attention are present here, but instead of having decent female rivals, the male lead is pursued by women intent on raping him. A proper secondary female character could have added depth, making the female lead's emotions more relatable, but this opportunity was missed.
The story began strongly with the premise of two people growing closer through a fake relationship. However, as more drama and misunderstandings were introduced, the plot lost coherence.
There's also an odd subplot where a male student finds the female lead under the influence of drugs, which leads to questions about consent. While addressing consent is commendable, it feels misplaced in a world where rape is commonplace and goes unpunished.
Characters: As evident, I've already forgotten most of the characters' names, even though I just finished the series. The female lead appears strong at first but ultimately drifts along with events. The male lead shows some growth, but the rushed ending undermines this development. He is better written, which makes the second half less engaging due to his reduced presence.
Art: The artwork is acceptable.
Overall: I've been attempting to explore more Shoujo stories to broaden my manga interests. Although romance isn't my favorite genre, I've encountered some Shoujo mangas that have captivated me. Unfortunately, Gakuen Ouji isn't one of them. There was significant potential, which makes the final product even more disappointing. We start with the possibility of the main couple evolving from a fake relationship into something real, only to discard this idea for a different pairing in the second half. The latter pair was better developed and had stronger chemistry, yet they're discarded in favor of reuniting the original couple in the final chapter. Without sufficient development, it's hard to care about their connection or the female lead's emotional turmoil over the male lead.
I hoped for more but ended up feeling unsatisfied. I may be in the minority, so if you think you might enjoy the story, give it a try. It's short, so there's little risk involved. I just hope you find it more enjoyable than I did.
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