Stretch

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You know how in 4-komas they somehow have some kind of story? Even though there's very little panels, the artist manages to do a lot with them. Granted this isn't a 4-koma...

Reading manga for long periods of time whether digitally or physically tends to make your body sore. Maybe that's how this artist got the idea for this.

This manga is, when you boil it down, a "how-to-stretch guide" and a story about 2 roommates with yuri undertones. That may sound boring but believe me, it might just surprise you.

Every chapter is some story/character interaction and some stretching. All the characters are very endearing and ... seem like real people you could meet in real life. Even the way they interact can be a source of comedy/story progression/character development.

Almost every chapter of this manga I read, I ended up laughing. I'd say the comedic quality is high and consistent. Sometimes the characters' antics reminded me of all the idiotic things I've seen my classmates do.

Kick back, relax, read some Stretch and don't forget to stretch every once in a while!

i feel like the term "slice of life" gets thrown around a lot in anime circles (i know i'm guilty of this), to the point where even something like Toradora gets labeled a sol even though it's a pretty straightforward romance show. i get that many things can take on sol traits without it being their main genre, but in the case of Stretch, we're definitely looking at a slice-of-life in its purest form.
the manga follows the daily hijinks of cool but impulsive Keiko and her busty alcoholic flatmate Ran. these two leads are a joy to read, they have genuine depth and their interactions ... are very endearing, you almost naturally get the impression that they are just meant for each other.
Stretch falls into what many would call 'subtext' yuri, though at a certain point i start doubting whether it's really just subtext. i feel like this manga balances on that line with an intimate grace that doesn't feel "baity" or forced.
the stretching exercises the girls habitually engage in are just a gimmick, let's be real here. they are a fun little addition (complete with instructions so the reader can follow along), but not much more than that.
there's also some underlying drama to keep you hooked that's presented in occasional little fragments which makes it really cool and interesting imo.
Higashiyama's art is solid, nothing flashy, but more than appealing enough to carry a sol.
the manga is also very short, with most chapters ranging between 8-10 pages, so the whole thing can easily be finished in a day.
pick it up, it's worth it

Hi everyone, I'll try to explain in a few words why I have mixed feelings towards Stretch.

On the one hand, this manga has a few good things going for it, it respects the slice of life setting, the comedy works and should make you smile throughout your reading, the art felt decent aswell for a 4 koma manga. Including real life tips for stretching and relieving muscle pain in your manga is a pretty funny feature and this aspect is done well.


But on the other hand, I think that this manga lacks something to become truly memorable. It's not ambitious enough, the two characters ... are too stereotypical, many jokes/scenes are pretty common, and another con is linked with the story. While it's usual not to have huge expectations for plot development in sol mangas, in Stretch it's weird because the author will try to spread a few "elements" here and there for the main characters' backstories, but they all end up nowhere. Therefore, the reader is left wondering why the author even bothered to write those in the first place if he didn't intend to develop ? There are some fanservice scenes that feel out of place when compared with the rest of the manga that feels rather "cute".


To sum it up, Stretch isn't a bad manga per say, it fits pretty well in the slice of life category and it has some cute vibes to offer, however, I think there are many other sol mangas for you to read beforehand that are better or feel more unique. To be fair, it's a short story and you'll understand quickly if the atmosphere clicks with you or not, it simply felt like it wasn't trying enough to stand out.