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[font="Inter, \"Helvetica Neue\", Helvetica, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, \"Fira Sans\", \"Droid Sans\", sans-serif"]and that's all folks. lovable character with fresh premise full of relatable situation with perfect amount of realism. just some development felt abrupt and lack of punch. probably because it wasn't longer. that said, still very nice read. 9/10[/font]
"If taking responsibility for a mistake that cannot be undone means death, it's not that hard to die. At least, not as hard as to live on."
What an amazing short series! I would have liked it to go on even longer, but it told a complete story that I can say I enjoyed immensely!
I can relate to Nokoru so much it hurts! Hope I can find my own Natsu one day.
9/10!
Agreed on the way too short. Wish it had even 5 more chapters to let it breathe more, but alas, I'd rather a series end a little too quickly than be begging for an end...
8/10, but a super strong one at that. Just hit right.
Decent conclusion but I do agree that it's too short. I loved the interactions and progression of the series for the most part, but those final few chapters definitely felt abrupt and too rushed to finish it off in 20. Still, pretty good read overall and the characters and art more than make up for some of the issues towards the end. Probably a 7/10 for me.
Pretty short but good read nonetheless, this is something i would read while having a bad day to lighten up my mood, their interactions just put a smile on my face
A wholesome conclusion, that's great!
It has been a good read, but the ending still felt pretty rushed, although it was planned as a short series apparently...
I think the story could have continued longer, though. It had the potential of a 9/10 series, but in the end it's "just" a 7/10 manga.
Whaaaaat. I had no idea it was going to end so quickly :') I'm sad.. it felt a little rushed to me, but I guess when something ends it always feels like that when you want more! Either way, it was a very sweet and wholesome manga and I enjoyed the experience.
This one’s a 10/10 for me. I’m pleased there are authors/illustrators interested in adult-oriented slice-of-life stories. Discovered it via this interest stack.
It’s, admittedly, a little short. However, the story feels complete, from the introduction to the very end. Everything in-between is properly paced; the characters’ growing bond is gradual and consistent; and, the end leaves no loose ends. The closure is satisfying.
I like when romances are fleshed out and the worlds are immersive and nuanced. The following details are greatly appreciated, as opposed to characters whose only defining traits are “highs school student”. The male lead is a software engineer, which is an interesting touch, and his love for games and manga is demonstrated in a “show don’t tell” fashion. The female lead is an archaeologist post-grad, a truly interesting and niche profession, that is actually significant to the story, rather than being a trivial footnote. In other words, the characters’ professions are not ornamental, but are integral to the plot.
I’ve grown tired of love stories featuring people with nothing in common. Yes, it is always endearing when different kinds/types of personalities are able to find a connection, but I need the romance to be believable—I need there to be a reason a couple finds it beneficial to pair up, besides both parties simply being “nice”. Hence why I really appreciate the man’s elaborately decorated balcony being the catalyst for their relationship. The jungle-themed decor adds depth and variety to the male lead, which most MCs lack; his interest in temples, believably stemming from mangas, serves as the link between an otherwise juxtaposed software engineer and an archaeologist; the shared interest in temples justifies the MCs futures together and makes their bond believable and immersive. Another clever way of incorporating both (juxtaposed) professions is when the male lead uses a software development analogy to solve the female lead’s archaeological conundrum.
The characters are not flat, barebones, or one-dimension. They feel like grounded, plausible personalities. The male lead is monotone and unemotional; however, he makes up for this by reciprocating his neighbor’s social advances and replying to her conversations in meaningful ways (with substance, rather than just stuttering or not engaging at all). It is actually believable why his neighbor (the female lead) would find him charming. Despite being perpetually tired-looking and loner-like, he is capable of competent social interaction. An interesting quirk is how he often asks the female lead to elaborate or follow-up on the things that she says that he doesn’t understand, always seeking answers. I like how he’s characterized with a “computing” mindset, at one point even visualizing an interaction like lines of code. Or, how he requests for his neighbor to create an Excel Pi chart of her daily schedule.
As for the female lead, I appreciate her assertiveness. (See, I can tolerate indecisive male leads… it’s often the source of contention that the MC has to overcome… but indecisive characters are so common in romances that it can become overdone/tedious.) The female neighbor’s persistence is refreshing; and the ways she advances their friend/relationship are always welcome.
The actual romance was also executed well. Nothing felt uncomfortably intimate or unnecessarily promiscuous.
In place of usual anime-esque misunderstanding-caused outburst tropes and cartoony over-the-top blushing/stuttering, the story is grounded/plausible. Just two adults taking things a day-at-a-time, chilling together, going to the grocery store, and talking about their goals and interests.
And yeah, the way the author weaves so many facets into the narrative… the challenges of being a teleworker during the COVID-19 pandemic, themes of quarantining, how software engineers interpret things, the wonder of archaeological excavations, traveling to other countries. It shows that they’re competent writing stories about multi-faceted adults; a breath of fresh air from: timid High School Boy x popular High School Girl.
All in all, this manga skillfully explores the realistic development of a romantic relationship built on common interests and intellectual compatibility, avoiding clichéd tropes of instantaneous attractions based on superficial traits.
P.S. Sorry, I'm not good at remembering Japanese names, hence why I call them "male lead" and "female lead".
Even though i would have LOVED to see more, especially with nokoru being more expressive, you could tell the manga was meant to have a short run. Love their other works, i can't wait for more kasane and subaru chapters.