Koe no Katachi
A Silent Voice

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A silent voice is an incredible manga that is not complicated to understand even with some "hidden" messages that might pass by unnoticed. Said that, not every media needs a complex meaning to it, especially because this series is meant to show people that are easily able to exit, even with many moments that might get weird or unrealistic.

The first chapters depict the school scenario in a really realistic way, since most of the actions (or the lack of them) can be seen with kids and adults still to this age. As someone that regrets some stuff from the past (not as bad ... as Shouya), i can understand the character deeply and realize that his feelings are not far from someone that actually feels ashame.

Although i think the story has really good protagonists, side characters and drama, i think that the romance aspects and the apparent plot devices really makes this story flawed, but still a really good one that deserves some notice in the whole world. I don't want to be biased, but I truly think this is a must read for everyone that has passed by a bullying problem or just wants a nice chill and fun story with some drama in it.

Often times when you are a victim of bullying, your bully will have rationalized and doubled down on their bullying, while you suffer at the hands of and hate the guts of said bully. However, Koe no Katachi/A Silent Voice flips the script completely. Protagonist Ishida Shoya, an elementary school bully, falls into a pit of self-hate and depression due to his bullying of poor little Nishimiya Shouko, who in has nothing but kindness amd care for Shoya, and countless shenanigans occur as he tries to find her and her forgiveness, and to make up the years of childhood he ruined for her, before we ... reach an ultimately unsatisfactory ending.

Overall the story was decent, in fact this entire manga is beautiful even if its ending didn't satisfy me. However all things considered it will always be one of those manga that I'll remember fondly but never read again. It was a fun ride at the time, but this destination they reached is simply not worth the journey for me.

A tearjerker with a pitiful main heroine who needs saving and a bully crushed by his guilt is a good read, but sadly comes off as unfinished. While dramatic side of the story draws you in, the romantic side of it leaves much to be desired.

Ms Ōima up-played the importance of a budding love of her characters, but never gave them any resolution, even in a form of a clichéd confession. Ultimately, story proves to be about overcoming one's flaws and weaknesses, and on becoming a better person. It's fine, but foundations for a young romance laid out over entirety of the manga go to ... waste and it's disappointing.

I do recommend reading the one-shot version instead as it ends in just the right place.