Hatsukoi

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You know, when I first came across this manga, I thought it looked familiar. The characters reminded me explicitly of Kageyama and Hinata from Haikyuu!!, and the art style resembled my favorite doujinka. It was only after I'd completed it and looked the author up on MAL that I discovered the creator was, in fact, Bubunhanten, underneath their real (?) name.

Hatsukoi warrants nothing but praise. The art is crisp and smooth, and the characters have dynamic personalities that mesh well when they interact together. As the story revealed itself, I was deeply moved. It's a tragedy as well as a love story, with some signature ... humor blended in, making it the perfect combination of heart-pounding tension and fluffy, sweet romance.

It's an excellent debut. This short little manga is definitely worth the attention, and I'm excited to see what Kazuki releases next.

When I first saw this manga I though it was Haikyuu!!, as the resemblance is so alike. None the less, it was such a sweet story, that is totally worth reading. During just a span of a few chapters, you really get to know the characters, and understand their background, on how they get to know each other to begin with. Even though shortly after starting the story, things are revealed to be what was rather unexpected, but none the less it's a sweet story. If you enjoy BL storylines, and want a bit of a heart warming experience, then you need to read this ... one.

"Hatsukoi" is a one volume yaoi, that could have easily used another two volumes to fully develop the various details of the setting it introduces. Because of it's blistering pace, it takes liberties in it's exposition, and as OmNom [reviewer on mangaupdates] points out, it can feel a bit like a dump truck. It's certainly not normal for people to get over deep seated issues and change their minds as rapidly as is portrayed in this manga. But it is obviously necessary in this instance due to the constrained length.

Both MCs are quite well rounded, and do extend past the cliches that they appear to ... inhabit in the first chapter. The universally talented who is having effort issues, and the perpetually fired up midget who is as intellectually gifted as a rock. These are revealed to be products of the characters' circumstances (e.g. the midget is more so uneducated/ignorant- rather than simply being dumb- due to his upbringing), which adds dimensionality that can be missing from other characters in such short stories. They are immediately endearing, not requiring a wind-up period to become invested in. This lends the story immediacy in it's enjoyability, but also a rather shallow emotional profile. On the occasion the story does play with conflict between the MCs and their surroundings, it's usually resolved in less than a chapter. Readers need to stew a bit to really experience and come to know different tones!

So Hatsukoi is good, but it lacks the “oomph” and development to take it that bit further.