To Love And To Hate

Chocolate Christmas is a delightful romantic comedy that resonates with the charm of classic rom-coms like You've Got Mail and timeless Christmas films. It also carries a unique and delightful touch characteristic of Takeuchi's style. Reading this story is truly a treat, especially considering it was her first published work.  

The two main characters are unknowingly in love with each other. After spending a lonely Christmas Eve listening to the radio, Ryoujo stumbles upon the debut broadcast of a lonely hearts-style show called Chocolate Night. Learning that the DJ, Choco, is also feeling alone and that it’s his birthday, she decides to deliver a Christmas cake to him and declares herself his first fan. Over the following year, she regularly listens to his program and sets out to bring love to others, much like him. The story picks up when she gets a job at the same radio station as him, hoping to meet him. She has fallen in love with him, and her cake and declaration from last Christmas have sparked the same feelings in his heart. Without realizing who the other person is, the two are drawn together in their everyday school life and at the station.

Does this mysterious kind of love sound familiar? (Read the story for the reference!) That’s right—it plays out similarly to the initial love story of Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon! If you’re a fan of the dynamic between Usagi and Mamoru, you’ll likely enjoy this story. Much like how Sailor Moon begins with them bickering yet being drawn to each other, this love story follows a similar pattern.

Their statuses as the special person to the other aren’t revealed simultaneously, creating great romantic tension as they significantly impact each other’s lives. Ryouko and Choco (real name Keiki) continue to influence each other’s behavior, helping each other become better versions of themselves. By the end of the series, they’ve both developed a newfound appreciation for each other, Christmas Eve, and the Chocolate Night program.

What can I say other than Takeuchi truly has a gift for writing compelling romances? It’s a shame she hasn’t released a true-blue long-running rom-com. This is a fantastic holiday read and is sure to evoke feelings of satisfaction among her eternal fanbase.  

Her art remains as stellar as ever, with attractive and fashionable character designs. There’s not much to dislike about the story that gave this book its name.  

I do recommend reading it carefully, though. The fan translation available on MangaDex is a bit shaky in some parts, and I think the dialogue was switched for the two leads on page 53 of one of the available translations. At least it appears to be in the wrong word bubbles to me. I also recommend temporarily switching to an alternate translation because page 5 is missing from one and instead features a page from near the end of the manga in its place. However, I believe the fan translation is overall better in the other. I would mention the sites hosting the translations I recommend using, but I don’t think that’s allowed.  

Fingers crossed that we someday get an official release or an anime movie!  

Now, to briefly mention the second story in this volume release. Wink Rain is a fun bonus but honestly doesn’t leave much of an impression on me personally. Part of my issue with it is that the two fan translations I found both seem to have a fair number of faults. Or maybe it’s just the way the story unfolds that sometimes makes things a little confusing. I found it less of a rom-com and more about teen angst over being the third wheel in a friend group after two parties get together. There is a love story unfolding for the main girl, but it ends rather anticlimactically—or at least it felt that way to me due to the fan scanlation.  

It’s definitely worth a quick read, though. As usual, it features great art and cute characters!

Hello dreamers,
I am back with another story 'Auctioned to my Brother's Bestfriend'. Kindly check it out and shower your love on that story as well (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠...

Look so interesting

It’s a fun read, though my opinion may be skewed since it has been a couple of years since I read it. Imo it’s good enough to give it a try, your own opinion is what matters the most in the end.