May 23, 2023
Though this manga seemingly appears to be a by-the-numbers take on the romance subgenre of pathetic man meets dream girl who changes his life and helps get him out of a slump type of story, there is a little more that lies beneath the surface.
Look, this manga's premise is definitely a social fantasy. An incredibly beautiful woman literally leaps at the main character and gives him a chance romantically because she is unable to turn away his mother. Where would you find this kind of behaviour in real life? But beneath this rather superficial narrative, is an intriguing story of compiled familial trauma and
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how even the smallest events at home can spiral into distorted perceptions of reality. As we continue to go down this tale, we will soon come to realise that the main character's anti-social loner behaviours can be attributed to unaddressed traumatic events that he experienced at home. While I think that the manga does not dive deep enough into the kinds of depravity that a fractured family relationship can develop, surprisingly, the recurring flashbacks and reminders of scenes are rather well done.
Yet, despite the intriguing twist, the manga does little to fully embody this more dramatic direction. Instead, it chooses to have its cake and eat it too, allowing its protagonist, and by extension, the readers to immerse themselves in this fantastical romantic setting, and indulge in a rather unbelievable romantic relationship with this 'dream girl'. While certainly, there are attempts to expand the character depth of the female lead by exploring her history and relationships with others, her actions and behaviour seem to fulfil the protagonist and give him a chance at a romantic relationship than truly allow her to be her own being with her own agency. She is ultimately shackled by the story itself. I think this is a problem of the initial setting that does not allow this girl to do anything else other than be the main character's 'fake girlfriend'. Maybe when more revelations come to light, the premise may read as being less contrived.
Overall, I think this is a manga to keep an eye on. There are some nice moments of drama and insightful depictions of trauma. But still, it has yet to shake off the cliches and contrived nature of its initial premise.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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