Yubikiri, or pinky promise, is a one-shot manga that comprises three distinct stories. Interestingly, this manga was both written and illustrated by the same mangaka who created Sunadokei, which I also highly recommend you explore.
Each of the three narratives shares a common thread: the female protagonists are, for lack of a better term, troubled. This is particularly evident in the second story, "Cuckoo Child." To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what to make of "Cuckoo Child." The first story, from which the manga takes its name, isn't as dark as "Cuckoo Child," but it does tackle heavy subjects like suicide, which are never light topics. What fascinates me about these one-shots is their willingness to address issues that are often avoided in more mainstream manga. In this regard, they share similarities with series like Fruits Basket and perhaps even Koi Kaze. The third story, "60 Days," is lighter compared to the previous two. One appealing aspect of "60 Days" is that readers may find it easier to relate to the protagonist.
These one-shots have a way of leaving you wanting more, eager to know what happens next. This can be somewhat frustrating since, as one-shots (a hallmark of the mangaka's work), they are inherently complete. The artwork is quintessentially Ashihara Hinako, instantly recognizable if you've read Sunadokei. Despite their brevity, these stories are incredibly worth your time. You won't regret immersing yourself in these concise yet impactful tales.
This was a good manga, I enjoyed it, although it wasn't anything extraordinary. I think for someone who just wants to read an okay manga to pass the time, this is a good choice. Don't expect to be reading the best manga, because this isn't.
Anyway, about the stories, they're cute and well-crafted, they make sense.
The artwork was pretty standard, very similar to other shoujo mangas. I especially liked the uniforms.
The characters are decent, and they aren't all the typical archetypes, so that adds a bit of freshness, unless you're an anime expert and have already seen all the characters there are to see.
Look, in the end, if you like this type, just give it a read ^-^
Popular Reviews
Each of the three narratives shares a common thread: the female protagonists are, for lack of a better term, troubled. This is particularly evident in the second story, "Cuckoo Child." To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what to make of "Cuckoo Child." The first story, from which the manga takes its name, isn't as dark as "Cuckoo Child," but it does tackle heavy subjects like suicide, which are never light topics. What fascinates me about these one-shots is their willingness to address issues that are often avoided in more mainstream manga. In this regard, they share similarities with series like Fruits Basket and perhaps even Koi Kaze. The third story, "60 Days," is lighter compared to the previous two. One appealing aspect of "60 Days" is that readers may find it easier to relate to the protagonist.
These one-shots have a way of leaving you wanting more, eager to know what happens next. This can be somewhat frustrating since, as one-shots (a hallmark of the mangaka's work), they are inherently complete. The artwork is quintessentially Ashihara Hinako, instantly recognizable if you've read Sunadokei. Despite their brevity, these stories are incredibly worth your time. You won't regret immersing yourself in these concise yet impactful tales.
Anyway, about the stories, they're cute and well-crafted, they make sense.
The artwork was pretty standard, very similar to other shoujo mangas. I especially liked the uniforms.
The characters are decent, and they aren't all the typical archetypes, so that adds a bit of freshness, unless you're an anime expert and have already seen all the characters there are to see.
Look, in the end, if you like this type, just give it a read ^-^