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[⋆̩] Shining Rain Review:

It's been two or three years since I completed Sugar Soldier, and I think that when I came back to write this review I had enough time to digest this story. As a big fan of Mayu Sakai's art, when they released the news of this project all I could feel was excitement for being able to read her new shoujo.

I remember reading the first chapters and I was completely in love with the potential of the main characters, both as a couple, and as individual character with their own experiences and story (and also in my opinion, this manga probably ... had the most beautiful art between 2012 and 2013). It was refreshing to be able to read something different involving the background of the main character, something involving her family more like her sister specifically, I was trying to think about how she would deal with her internal problems and how Iriya would help her. I remember to put the story on my favorites in the first chapters, but now I just think it's ok and nothing much. Well, it was disappointing how the plot developed (if there was any lmao).

Today I look at the manga in general, and I feel completely sad because Mayu Sakai went in a strangely different direction and that in some places it made no sense at all. I think that mainly involving the development of Iriya. It has an incredible art, and of course it's a cliché like any other, I like the characters, especially the side ones, but in addition don't expect too much of the story, it is reasonable, you can finish the story without problems, but honestly when I get to the end I feel empty and as if something had not been filled in or answered correctly.

[⋆̩] Shining Rain Review:

Hiyokoi is a simple romance to enjoy an afternoon reading manga. I think that was my conclusion after following the manga throughout all the years of its release. It is one of my favorites manga among dozens of those I have read, doesn't it have a story not unlike the conventional, honestly? it's quite cliché, but you will not fall in love with Hiyokoi for this reason, but for the development of the relationship between the main couple.

It is spontaneous and sweet, in my opinion, the two have captivating personalities despite being very different, but seeing how Hyorin is inspired by Yuushin, ... trying to overcome her own fears and insecurities in someone who she has fallen in love makes our hearts smile. And seeing Yuushin open up and be able to be himself freely with someone he likes without worrying about other things makes you realize that they were not made for each other, but are building up to be because they are young and are now understanding the responsibilities of sharing feelings with one another. And it’s good to realize that even the biggest problems involving the plot between them doesn’t make the relationship toxic, misunderstandings or love triangles are not the focus (just as they shouldn’t be lmao)

Seeing them learning about each other, growing up with each other, and falling in love with each other makes you want to read more and more. It's a rhythm of history that makes you want it to be like that in others too. To tell you the truth, the two probably have one of my favorite developments among all the shoujos I've read. I read the other reviews and realized that maybe this story is not for everyone, but if you haven't read it yet, give it a try, I think it's incredible and I hope you can find the same.

[⋆̩] Shining Rain Review:

I have been a huge fan of Io Sakisaka since her first publications, and since the release of "Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare" I couldn't help but look forward to this project. As a big fan of shoujo for years, I was happily surprised by this new plot and characters.

Perhaps many think that this new story was a big cliché and just really simple, I think the opposite. Perhaps it was the most complex of all that Sakisaka launched until now. With a group of 4 friends, each with their own youthful problems, messy feelings, and differente background stories and family, the ... story developed slowly, showing that it had many layers besides incredible art and beautiful characters.

Through 12 volumes, Sakisaka developed (I wouldn't say that usually but) in a perfect way her 4 main characters, the stories between them intertwined so well, and although the end was something we expected, the path to reach there left me completely satisfied, because it was not run or poorly explained. Care was taken that each question was answered. I cried feeling the pain of something silly, I laughed several times with the 4 of them, I smiled with countless quotes that seemed to be simple but were completely serious and deep, I felt nostalgic remembering my own adolescence, and I created good memories by reading this manga. After buying even the physical manga, and having read and re-read it, I can say that it is MY second favorite story among Sakisaka's shoujos but I can easily say that it was her best manga. Something said at the beginning may seem incredibly silly, but towards the end you will realize that perhaps it has an even more important meaning. Give this manga a try, I'm sure you'll like it!