Ase to Sekken
Sweat and Soap

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I'm just happy to recommend a romance manga that isn't about high schoolers like seemingly every other romance manga out there. I ask you, dear reader, to please not give up on this manga because of the rough first few chapters. The author may not have found a good way to start the relationship, but the rest of the manga is wholesome, sweet, and fun.

Story: 7/10
The plot follows the female MC, who is very self-conscious about her excessive sweating and body odour and her organic blossoming love with the male MC, who is attracted to her, regardless (or in this case, mainly because) of her ... scent.

Characters: 8/10
The male MC is a good role model for being respectable to his significant other.

Entertainment Value: 6/10
I mean, it's alright. I'm not a huge fan of romance as a genre, but I think most grown-ups would find this good enough to complete it.

Hmmm. This is a tough one. "Recommended"? "Mixed feelings"? I don't know. It is barely fine. And I'm talking about the story/writing, not because of "the weird kink" aspect.
I'll start with an easy one. The art style is good. Really nice designs, expressions and all that. At some point, digitally drawing gets mixed it. As a personal opinion, not the same quality, but most of the time you won't even notice it.
So now, the story. The pacing is ok. Halfway through it becomes kinda boring, makes you impatient, too much filling, you want the end already, but it goes back to "normal" (maybe even rushed ... a little) for the last 2 volumes (I think). (The author probably got a "we need you to wrap it up in 2-3 volumes" call.) The story is pretty linear, some tiny extra plot points here and there, but most of them just getting started only to be finished off quietly into a fade out. Maybe a tiny bit of a forced tiny drama. Some character development.... Yeah, man. I don't really know what more to say (without spoilers). Because of the nice art, you will enjoy the story. Yes, even with its tiny flaws.
Next, the "weird" part. I'm sure most people will rate this manga based on personal preferences. And yes, that is wrong. Because you can like "bad media". The so-called "guilty pleasure". You like X movie because its the last movie you saw it with your grandpa before he died. Something like that. So, pls, don't. Yes, this manga has an element that might put some people off. But the "funny" part is, that element is part of the story. Not really his job, but it helps. He's not some creep in a train, or part of some hentai story. So chill. Ofc, his personality, his way of being, it doesn't help. But I get his point of view. Again, it doesn't matter if I'm ok or repulsed by people like him, I'm saying only that I understand him. My personal feelings = zero.

And I guess I also found my answer: "mixed feelings". I can't recommend it. Beside the fact that they might be put off (or maybe getting too excited, who knows), the story is not THAT good to make me say "bro, you gotta check this out!". By not taking risks, by going the safe, simple road, it becomes a meh quality manga.
So, to finish this off, I'm giving it a 6 (aka "its fine"; 7 is for "maybe i'll watch/read it again"). Good art style, good/nice fluffy story, decent character development, but also too long meh pacing and meh story. The "weird" aspect works in this manga.
Have a lovely evening.

I went in with high hopes after seeing the glowing reviews but dropped it in just 6 chapters though I would’ve dropped sooner…I wanted to stick it through for a bit first.

It was a weird read. Hear me out, I love josei romances set after high school (though fem MC acts & looks like a high school girl IMO). I’m down for steamy scenes. But it was just too weird and the pacing was not great.

STORY
When I read the premise & saw the cover I thought it was going to be some fetishy smutty stuff (and from what I read it was) but ... I gave it a try, especially seeing how it was adapted into a drama, so I figured it couldn’t be that bad.

Kind of a spoiler but not really because you learn this within the first 3 chapters. The romance is QUICK and I mean quick. They sleep together and say “I love you” in the shortest time I’ve ever seen or read from manga or anime. I love a straight forward read but this was too laid out for me. I don’t think any real life couple should take things that quickly…even reading it put a weird taste in my mouth. It just didn’t feel genuine. Nor was it interesting. Theres no buildup, tension or chemistry. How can you love someone you just met just because he showed an interest on how your sweaty stinky body smells?

Female MC of course is inexperienced with love so it would explain her quickness to cling to male MC. He seems like a decent enough person but with a weird fetish.

CHARACTERS
I’ve learned nothing about them from what I’ve read just that female MC stinks and was bullied in the past because of it. I know it’s a real condition, so I didn’t really mind the implementation of it. Again, she’s very “high schooly” blushes at everything, can’t seem to express herself well, very meek etc. not typically a MC you’d see in a josei.

ART
Art is nothing special. I wasn’t crazy about the character designs and the “tiny eye” design on male MC.

Overall
Obviously I didn’t read much but I don’t think I can continue this one. I really wanted to, but I don’t see it going anywhere. From the other reviews it seems like something I’d enjoy but it didn’t even feel like it was written for the female gaze with the lack of chemistry, development (at least at the start) etc. Just a lot of nudity and smutty faces from female MC with giant boobs /shrug. Clearly this is an unpopular opinion though, so maybe it’s a worthwhile read.