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Lured in by the premise of an atypical high school rom-com protagonist, but he ends up being the very reason that drags this typical high school rom-com story down.

Instead of following the usual anti-social MC, this series also known as Chiramune follows a story from the point of view of the most popular guy in class: Chitose Saku. One problem with most stories within the same subgenre is to justify the way the heroines fall for the unsocial protagonist. Being the sociable, handsome, smart, and athletic guy should have made it easy to understand why Chitose was able to have an established harem from the ... get go. Unfortunately, Chitose Saku is not the charming guy this manga is trying to portray him as.

Chitose Saku is a conceited narcissist - appaling traits but can be good for a story if actually treated well. However, Chitose is shown as the ideal person in this story, never reprimanded for acting or saying anything remotely repulsive and instead always rewarded as being the cool guy. When someone dislike him, that person is the one at wrong. Any flaws Chitose may have becomes invalid in the world of this manga because he is just perfect here. By stepping back a little, he is actually as or even more cringeworthy than the anti-social MCs pretending to be the know-it-all. Chiramune makes it worse than the next rom-com story because Chitose is shown to actually know how the world works, when in reality it only works because it is Chitose's world.

In Chitose's world, everything revolves around him, including the characters. Team Chitose - as he calls it - consisted of him, 2 other athletic guys, and 4 girls. Every single character only has meaningful conversations with him, and there are almost no chemistry between the other characters - almost like they only stick together because of Chitose. Seeing how conceited Chitose is, it is also hard to believe that he would have minions following and girls lining up for him instead of running away if not because of how the world of the manga works. He created the hierarchy himself, categorize people into archetypes, and groups people he deemed as the good popular kids vs not. He dictates on how one should live their youth.

I can see it being entertaining for fans of stories within the same subgenre, which is the high school rom-com stories - particularly ones originated from light novels - because they are way more similar than they're not. However, with how the protagonist is written, it's better to just read other similar books and skip this one.

Idol X Idol Story! is introducing something new to the 2D idol sphere by bringing something that's common from the 3D idol world.

As an idol fan, it's always exciting for me to see an element I often see with real idols being brought up in idol anime or manga. In this case, the plot of having idols going through an idol survival show where girls that have dreams of becoming idols are competing with each other to get a spot in the final group.

There are a lot of potential from the premise alone. As idols that perform in groups, they have to work together and ... form bonds. Add the competitive element, and drama is bound to happen as well. All these facilitate character development and excitement for the plot.

Like many idol series, the story is character-driven. It has quite a big cast from the get go with everyone having unique traits. Unfortunately, the story can be a little bit rushed and some characters aren't developed enough, reducing the impact on some twists later on. However, it is something that gets better over time as each characters are slowly getting more and more of their story told, allowing readers to know and connect with them more.

The drama in this manga is executed pretty lightly, which can be a minus or a plus depending on individual taste. I personally expected heavier drama often seen in idol survival shows, so this manga can feel a bit dull at times with its more laid-back drama. However, it would probably be perfect for those who likes something that's more chill.

It's not the perfect idol manga, but it is bringing something new that touch upon a really prominent subject in the real idol world while still making it suitable for manga audience through its unique characters. It is worth a try for those who like idols - 2D and 3D alike - and CGDCT fans who is looking for just a little bit more spice from the usual relaxing fluffy slice of life. It is probably not for someone who is looking more into the world of real idol industry with a more serious and deep approach, nor it is for those looking for romance since the manga really focuses on the characters' dreams of becoming idols.

Beautiful human drama with gorgeous aquatic artwork.

Deep Sea Aquarium MagMell is ultimately a human drama sets in an aquarium for deep sea creatures. Although there is a foreshadowing for a bigger story that slowly unfolds, the delivery is more of a character-driven slice of life. The manga is focused on the people connected with the protagonist and the aquarium, diving deeper into their lives.

The aquatic theme never left. Besides the incredible aquatic scenery, every stories have fascinating details about a deep sea creature that drives the character development as we learn more about them.

It is a very charming series, written and drawn ... beautifully with a serene atmosphere befitting of its stories and themes.

Ui x Kon isn't for everyone but is excellent in its own niche: the fairytale-like shoujo romance targeted for the younger audience. Just like fairy-tale stories, this title have that innocence, child-like romance full of hopes. While it doesn't have that magical feel from fairy-tales, it has that unbelievability aspect coming from the premise.

The story based on a school that pairs their students to find the perfect couple to be wedded at the end of the school journey and inherit a big-name game company. It sounds very silly, but precisely because of that premise that this manga became a very fun and exciting read, and ... is what's special about it.

The cast is also refreshing despite having the typical tropes at first glance. All of them have some depth in them and develop gradually throughout the series. The MC is very straightforward and pure-hearted, which affects the people around her as well and make the story more enjoyable to read as it avoids any type of misunderstandings or other conflicts before it gets frustrating.

I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. The art is nothing special, some dialogues may be cheesy, some actions may be over the top - but if you are looking for a light and fun romance manga, especially one that feels very "shoujo" then this one is worth the try!

Saku-chan to Nozomi-kun feels more mature than the usual shoujo manga.

The story deals with growing up and family conflicts. Burdened with a trauma, growing up is not easy for the main girl in this story. However, she found comfort in her classmate whom she relates to as they both try to find their own identity.

Even with the short length, the story executed the growth of the characters well. The theme of growing up with a trauma, how it affects their life and relationship with others, and how they resolve it is told concisely in the 2 volumes of this manga.

Besides the heavier theme than ... most shoujo manga, the art style also helps in makng this manga feels more mature with the simpler style and lack of sparkly or over-the-top effects.