I read this manga right after finishing "Ao Haru Ride," so I have something fresh to compare it with, and I must say, this one was significantly better. Even though it can be frustrating and slow at times—much like high school love—it's incredibly refreshing and heartwarming.
One of the standout aspects of the series is the absence of fan service and its focus on friendships alongside romance. It isn't your typical "shy unpopular girl and experienced popular boy fall for each other" story, mainly because the main character is more than just shy. Her inability to interact with others, her constant overthinking, and her tendency to distance herself made me believe that Sawako likely suffers from serious social anxiety. This makes her journey of forming lasting bonds and breaking out of her shell both exciting and sweet for the audience. She embarks on an intense mental journey where she learns to believe in herself and trust her peers, showing that her life is altered by more than just a crush.
I personally liked all the characters and how they evolved. As mentioned earlier, Sawako is quiet and innocent but also strong from the start. Despite everyone being scared of her, she doesn't stop trying to befriend them, and Kazehaya notices this. Initially, Kazehaya seems like the perfect hottie who is inherently nice and approachable, yet he's also selfish and clueless about relationships. We witness Ayane transform from someone who sees no value in herself and engages in abusive relationships just to pass time into someone who studies and works hard and gets nervous around someone she likes. Ryu remains quiet and balanced throughout the series, but we see his bottled-up romantic feelings finally overflow through his bold actions with the one he likes. Chizuru is the only character that doesn't entirely make sense to me, as she goes her whole life seeing a character as family and then suddenly views him romantically. Nonetheless, she's still a supportive and air-headed character who provides comic relief and becomes more in touch with her feelings as the story progresses. Pin is hilarious, and it's great to see his relationships with his students develop and his true teaching abilities surface.
I really enjoy the art style, although I didn't when I watched the anime years ago, so it depends on personal preferences.
The main issue I had was how distressing their misunderstandings and behaviors were. I found myself yelling at the pages when characters would assume things and set their developing relationships back by ten steps. They struggle to express their feelings clearly, which is realistic for teenagers, so it does make sense. Personally, I didn't mind how slowly their relationships progressed. It made each romantic moment between them more special since I had been waiting for them for quite some time.
In conclusion, the story is light-hearted and fun. The audience watches teenagers stumble through their first relationships and then face the daunting challenges of college and their futures. They mature and change for the better while also evaluating their own worth and efforts. I highly recommend it! <p>
One of the standout aspects of the series is the absence of fan service and its focus on friendships alongside romance. It isn't your typical "shy unpopular girl and experienced popular boy fall for each other" story, mainly because the main character is more than just shy. Her inability to interact with others, her constant overthinking, and her tendency to distance herself made me believe that Sawako likely suffers from serious social anxiety. This makes her journey of forming lasting bonds and breaking out of her shell both exciting and sweet for the audience. She embarks on an intense mental journey where she learns to believe in herself and trust her peers, showing that her life is altered by more than just a crush.
I personally liked all the characters and how they evolved. As mentioned earlier, Sawako is quiet and innocent but also strong from the start. Despite everyone being scared of her, she doesn't stop trying to befriend them, and Kazehaya notices this. Initially, Kazehaya seems like the perfect hottie who is inherently nice and approachable, yet he's also selfish and clueless about relationships. We witness Ayane transform from someone who sees no value in herself and engages in abusive relationships just to pass time into someone who studies and works hard and gets nervous around someone she likes. Ryu remains quiet and balanced throughout the series, but we see his bottled-up romantic feelings finally overflow through his bold actions with the one he likes. Chizuru is the only character that doesn't entirely make sense to me, as she goes her whole life seeing a character as family and then suddenly views him romantically. Nonetheless, she's still a supportive and air-headed character who provides comic relief and becomes more in touch with her feelings as the story progresses. Pin is hilarious, and it's great to see his relationships with his students develop and his true teaching abilities surface.
I really enjoy the art style, although I didn't when I watched the anime years ago, so it depends on personal preferences.
The main issue I had was how distressing their misunderstandings and behaviors were. I found myself yelling at the pages when characters would assume things and set their developing relationships back by ten steps. They struggle to express their feelings clearly, which is realistic for teenagers, so it does make sense. Personally, I didn't mind how slowly their relationships progressed. It made each romantic moment between them more special since I had been waiting for them for quite some time.
In conclusion, the story is light-hearted and fun. The audience watches teenagers stumble through their first relationships and then face the daunting challenges of college and their futures. They mature and change for the better while also evaluating their own worth and efforts. I highly recommend it! <p>