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How can the act of loving someone be so unbearably painful? Shouldn't love conquer all? Shouldn't love be the key to alleviating all grief and pain in life—the key to the gate of "happily ever after"?

This is a story about a boy and a girl.

A boy who carries regret deeper than the ocean, weighed down by the death of his past love. A boy who can't help but hurt the one he loves most because hurt is all he knows about love. His name is Yano.

A girl who has never experienced love, soon to discover both the joy and the pain that come with it. ... A girl who sees the boy hurting inside, tries to save him, and instead becomes entangled in a web of love that will shape her entire life. Her name is Nanami.

So selfless are they that both sacrificed what they wanted from the other for each other's sake. How ironic that what they believed was best for each other's happiness only brought them endless pain. That their love for each other became the very thing keeping them apart.

And yet, despite all the struggles, they remained each other's source of strength. Knowing that somewhere in this vast world, the other was breathing, laughing, crying—living—was enough to keep them going through the longing and sorrow. All because of love.

Are we merely a collection of memories? Is our love and warmth just an illusion? Is our grief and struggles insignificant? No. We will find each other again and reclaim all the time we've lost—with everything we have.

When the Day Comes is a story largely about misunderstanding.

Now you're probably asking, who would want to read something where the entire thing is just an infuriating cliché? Well, obviously, because this manhwa handled its theme in the most sincere and realistic way.

I believe the premise of a story doesn't really matter. No matter how crazy or original an idea is, if the author can't flesh out its subject matter skillfully, then it would make for a mediocre story. On the contrary, even if the idea is simple or cliché, if the author has a deep understanding of the theme and has the knack of ... bringing out the most out of the topic they are trying to write, the result would be a story that is genuinely full of heart.

When the Day Comes is the latter. This story is an exploration of how miscommunication, even the most trivial one, can pile up and destroy even the strongest of relationships. But unlike most romance anime and manga that incorporate this trope, which often feels draggy and frustrating, the story manages to capture the insecurities and self-doubt of the two main leads in a genuinely understandable manner. Their motivations and flaws are put at the forefront, and their repressed feelings that they can't communicate with each other are explored thoroughly.

The side characters aren't plot devices used only as vehicles to drive the romantic progress of the main couple; they're also given backstories that fully flesh out who they are. The casual banter between them and the main lead oozes with natural chemistry that makes their interactions an exceedingly engaging read.

The story is filled with subtle expressions that convey the delicate feelings of the characters better than a thousand words. This is communicated by the clean, pastel art style and cute character designs that are pleasing easy-to-the-eye. The character development of every single character and their relationships with one another are concluded in a satisfying way.

Ultimately, this story is about how communication is key to a healthy relationship. Problems can't just be buried deep inside your heart; you have to talk to each other to find a middle ground and learn from past mistakes.