Futoukou no Nichijou

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This was a short manga series that was serialized originally in ComicWalker. It was about a girl who made an art out of skipping school and her long-suffering twin sister.

Amane, the truant twin, enjoyed skipping school and developed an anxiety for school after missing out too many school days. Otoha, the long-suffering twin, took up the responsibilities of housework in order to support both herself and her irresponsible twin.

I find Amane to be unlikable with nary any redeeming value. I get it that she is the main body the plot revolved around, and her misadventures provide the comedy. I get it that she ... may have developed a real mental illness towards school, who hasn’t? She gets no sympathy from a reader who grits their teeth every time she lies or welches on her commitments to Otoha.

The entire story, all 37 chapters of it, was well written and the author really nailed the ending. I like how the author reserved judgement on the truant Amane and left it all to the reader. I like how it's a comedy with a punchline that has a sad undertone.

This was a lot of fun. 37 chapters in two volumes wasn’t much of a manga commitment. It’s a fun to read slice of life manga, looking into the life of a truant student. It may be played for laughs, but there’s more than a tinge of realism to it.

Synopsis:
Saotome Amane is in her second year of high school, and has no will to attend school or even leave her home! She is your typical hikikomori who loves her internet, games, and anime with one exception. Amane is 16 years old and has a twin sister who is constantly worrying about her and keeps pestering her about skipping school. Unlike, the typical NEET, Amane does have a friend (also a NEET, she met on the internet) who visits her and she ventures out to visit.

Review:
I will keep it short and easy as I have read through chapter 34 so far.

Plot (10/10):
The author ... has constructed a clear, convincing, and compelling plot with a recognizable arc. The main conflict revolves around the protagonist who has to overcome being a NEET or fail out of school. There is a constant tension between the sisters throughout the manga that is eventually resolved with some minor reluctance in the end.

Theme (8/10):
Throughout the manga, the author presents us with a dominating theme about what happens if you refuse to do what is necessary (attend school, work, or deal with others) to live life. The author allows the characters to make the theme more believable through their actions. The message is subtle throughout the story and isn’t agenda-driven.

Characters (10/10):
The author creates a world of characters that are very believable with unique and complex personalities. As I read the manga the characters were very relatable with the main character responding to and influencing the action throughout the manga. The dialogue of the characters is unique, rich, and vivid for each character.

Art & Setting (8/10):
The artwork throughout the manga is very historical to modern-day Japan to present a realistic and appropriate atmosphere and setting without any anachronisms.

Mechanics (7/10):
I do not speak Japanese but in the translated version that I read there were some minor spelling and grammatical errors, but overall the manga was very enjoyable and easy to follow.

Passion (7/10):
The author is very adept at making you care about what ultimately becomes of the protagonist throughout the manga and plot and theme of the manga actively stimulate your imagination.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8