Nikkidiary's Topics (125)

I was surprised to see that there were more of those dolls; it must be pretty hard for the hero to remember all their names in a day even if he named them all.

Oliver - green-haired, green-eyed doll who's always with Hugo. Appears to be a general asssistant in the home. Seems to be a little more energetic than Hugo.
Hugo - black-haired, dark eyed doll who's always with Oliver. Appears to be a general asssistant in the home. Seems to be a little more reserved than Oliver.
Cookie - white haired doll with distinctly darker skin. Prototype, so he doesn't speak as much as the others (although we haven't heard the two others speak yet.) Cooks food.
Flona - Blonde haired doll. In charge of "groundskeeping".
Paprika - Red haired doll. In charge of laundry.

Considering how happy Oliver and Hugo seem to be with their names, and how much they anticipated Guster to name everyone else, I think it's safe to presume that the other dolls are also pretty pleased upon receiving names. (And headpats)

It's so short and fast-paced, but the art is pretty and it's a rare merman story.

One may think that she transitioned so fast from cold and grumpy to sweet and loving, but I guess they did what they could to fit it in 5 chapters, much like fairytales where a people fall in love in a matter of minutes. Because she started out grumpy it looks unnatural rather than if she was bewildered and curious from the beginning, it'd be easier to transition into love. The backstory was the main brace and backbone of the story:
Because they met during their childhood, it's easier for the girl to accept that he's not a stranger, even becoming her savior, and easier for us to understand why the merman trusted her despite the possibility of being captured and exploited, because she didn't immediately do anything untoward, and even later tended to him and told him to go back to the sea, reconfirming his initial impression of her. Plus, it provides the brewing point of conflict for the confrontation later on, although this was not too necessary, as other humans can easily fill in that antagonistic role.

They could've explored more things that remain unanswered to the end, but I suppose it's a matter of fill in the blanks for the readers.
Like why merman has no voice, or how her sister/friend was able to know that she and the merman are ok, or even what may have happened to everyone else, including the villain. Then there's also the possibility of the existence of other mermaids, or why there's one young merboy who thrives despite avid hunting of mermaids.

So, if I'm just going to presume, I might as well just believe that the reason the lady knew their fate with strange certainty is thar maybe the girl remembered how they panicked when they hadn't heard from her when she disappeared for a few days after diving, so she decided to send a letter from an undisclosed location telling them that she's fine. The woman seemed so sure, and I want to believe in that happy ending.

Problem with this is that despite their happy ending, there's a looming cloud of uncertainty. What if the crazed villain eventually finds them? He knows what they look like. It only takes a little water to transform the guy into his original form, so even any of their possible future children can also be in danger.

But, like I said, since author ended it here for now, and it's good for a quick read like a little fairytale, maybe I ought to leave it at, "And they lived happily ever after".

... Like the others have said, it feels like it was all just put together in a rush.
Suddenly, sleeping together is part of a contract we barely had any info on.
Suddenly, his friends betrayed him, only to later seek him out, and he forgave them immediately, as if his life wasn't endangered earlier. Even if the way he was betrayed was cheap, the way the traitor was just shown with bandages and a swelling face just felt like a pasted resolution. Even if it seemed small on the grand scheme of things, I at least wanted to see how their meeting went with Shinichi. They don't even have to show the full on thoughts, even just "man, Samejima-senpai got involved with terrible people, huh? Not like we're any good, either~" and then meeting him - like a little bridge, rather than a fast gap, as if the serious betrayal was just a random event that happened. It would've been smoother. The loan shark job felt a little like a passing gig (because he was also a cafe owner and he seemed unsuitable for it, not like he dreamed of being a loan shark either...) and while I understand that he wanted a different path, it's like he rolled a dice and stuck to whatever he saw. Even the way Samejima reconciled with his family felt unsatisfying. It was all just mentioned in passing, after all the heartbreaking tidbits like being denied by his brother, being denied an opportunity to pursue his interests, and a serious back story... even just one panel of a mini-illustration would be better than nothing. But, well, it's cute, and we still got our happy ending, as author intended.

Is this completed? I think this is one of those stories that may need a second volume.
There's a lot of things resolved and clarified, and also a lot more things that I'd like to see, like Haruto being able to go back into society and get a job.

It was worrying to see him caught between two people who scare me a little:
A woman who wants him to throw away everything and become her little pet or doll, and sees nothing wrong with it who he fell in love with
Or
A man who is possessive, can get forceful, and makes decisions for him a lot.

Either way he can't be free with those two, no matter how much they promise their own terms of freedom. (In that regard, Asahi is better; thinking of a way to let Haruto get back into society)
It would probably be better if he gave some space while checking in on Haruto from time to time. Give him encouragement, maybe enjoy some activities together like playing games, hiking, traveling, etc.

It's scary to think that if it wasn't for his mom's call, it would just be Asahi persisting in something Haruto can't accept, and him feeling terrible and coerced into everything, rather than him genuinely making a foundation to stand up in.

I was thinking that Asahi's love is purely unrequited to the end, and nothing will change that, but with the extras, I think that Haruto is starting to also be interested in Asahi- visiting Asahi in his workplace and getting jealous, wanting to be together after being given space - perhaps all according to Haruto's plan, by monopolizing him and yet making it appear that he is setting him free - like a push-pull effect of sorts.

But I think that, despite his possessiveness, if Haruto genuinely falls in love with a suitable woman, and is adamant about being with her, Asahi will probably let go. He was close to doing so until he remembered that the lady was a terrible person to be with, one that might destroy his brother. No waiting "for things to settle down", no chance of him becoming independent, or even be his own proper person, just overly dependent on her. And while he kind of wants the same from Haruto (for Haruto to depend on him the most), he understands, at least, that this will cripple his brother and make him no better than a doll on display. So, if a suitable woman who really appreciates and encourages Haruto appears, he might relent eventually.

Right now, at its ending after the extras, while his feelings show promise, it's not like Haruto has acknowledged them. Unless he meets new people, especially those who are accepting and nice, we can't really tell, and he might consider his dependence on Asahi's encouragement and pampering as "love" rather than genuinely being on equal footing and properly falling in love: as in, "despite all options, I chose you, because I love you even with all other things considered" kind of thing, rather than "he gives me what I want, I give him what I want, he's the only one who can do this for me, it must be love." It's almost similar to how he was with the lady from before.

I guess Asahi doesn't mind as long as Haruto ends up his, but it'll always linger as something wobbly, unsecure, and delicate rather than something sturdy and sure.

It would have been a disaster if due to that misunderstanding, he somehow fell in love with someone else during those 4 long years.
Then again, if he was the type to somehow lose his hearing temporarily due to shock and heartbreak, enough to misunderstand the main point, then I doubt he'll move on all that easily. Even at the point wherein he was angry and wanted to give up before being confronted with the truth, I doubt he'd be easily able to move on considering how he is. I mean, in spite of everything, he continued to love his Hyung.
So it all worked out despite the mess at the beginning, thanks to their unwavering love and dedication to each other.

Story is like a highly overpowered garden hose rather than a gentle sprinkler. I wanted Sigmund to remain a little more jaded and cold, and Brunhild to be more reluctant with anything else than his duties - because it makes everything feel halfhearted, even with his supposed duties.

It feels like they were two dolls smooshed together by their golden-haired friend and they chose to velcro hands and play date, when neither of them are really interested in both the dating matter and each other. It just felt more off, like it's there to forcibly power the jealousy of Sigmund and make Brunhild think about it more.

I guess that was my main gripes with it: that the dating felt like it was just crammed there, and that everything was fast-paced.

Overall I feel neutral about it, I can see how some people might enjoy its rapid progress and quick resolution (I like those things, too, but "emotions and action" mixed with "fast-paced" is a flavor that's 50-50 to me (might like it or not be fond of it), especially when a mystery ingredient just appears to dilute rather than enhance the dish. Sorry, don't know how else to refer to it...) a rather lighthearted read thanks to its speed, it's cute and the art is beautiful.

Since it's "The end", I hope that Lala gives birth safely, that she remains healthy and lives a good, long life for her own sake and for all those who love her. I do think she'll be fine because she has Alistair with her and he's an excellent mage, but that doesn't discount the threat of other nobles, not to mention royalty. Her good heart is her greatest strength and weakness, and she can put a lot of trust in others, so if someone could zero in on Alistair's weakness, and then to Lala's weakness, and exploit it...

They shouls check on the villains every now and again, watch over their dealings, and keep them away from Lala and those she knows. That way they won't exploit a poor child or family or creature and Lala won't end up being ensnared. (Hah, at that point Alistair might end up becoming

Artstyle is cute. The eyes are sometimes too vivid, like they're permanent floursecent bulbs, but it doesn't look too bad.
Story was... ok. It's not too different compared to similar "pitiful ML/2nd ML/Villain finds love in a dedicated reincarnator/transmigrator who will do everything to make them happy." There are a ton of stories with that premise that I've grown to love.
What I wasn't too fond of was the way she left due to the plot changing too much. I understand if she left because of their positions and ages.
I understand if she considered his fixation.
But after changing the plot so much and even being resonsible for healing his curse, she says she doesn't want to change the plot too much? It already changed the moment she stepped in as his maid and warmed his heart. It already changed when he healed him. Did she really want the plot to proceed as normal? Even considering what could happen to him later? There are potentially other ways for her to try and divert his feelings:
Try to let him meet new people.
Make him trust others more.
Be by his side and treat him as a family member, and be firm about it, regardless of how she also feels.
Why leave him and cruelly reject him with the thought that the story changed too much after decidedly changing his childhood?

...Ok, I guess I'm too nitpicky with that tiny detail.

But it's like watching a teenage comedy romance, with the only reason why they're aged up is for them to participate in politics and make big decisions. Pouting, whining, and acting cute are commonplace. It gets a little tiring after a while. It's not even a cute trait - the entire family acted like that 20 years later. I get that there's sappy love, and unchanging relationships, but they really are acting like literal children - even Ibelina, who seems the most mature, is no exception. I'm all for "being yourself", I tend to have childish interests and sometimes act immature but it's like they don't act like children, they ARE children. In the case of the audience with the emperor during his birthday - the emperor might forgive it, and they are 2nd highest, but doing being petty, rude, and childish in front of other nobles? On his birthday? It sets a bad precendent. You can express your displeasure without downright disrespecting him ON his birthday IN FRONT of the nobles - even if it doesn't foster potential disrespect from the other nobles and other classes, even if the emperor doesn't mind, the other nobles might. They may not do anything about it, but it still reflects badly - and in a noble society wherein connections are essential, they basically played jesters of the court.

I don't know, I'm just whining, it all just didn't sit well with me. Nonetheless, I did like the story enough, and as one of the first I've seen of its kind back then, it holds a spot in my memories.

The last sidestory(?) was a little confusing, but I think I can imagine what may have happened, maybe. Little 8 year old Nine wanted to meet someone warm, as he said somewhere here. He likely made that wish on a full moon, and hence it was granted - on the moment wherein there is no more danger nor crisis, and their feelings for each other are already clear and determined. If it happened earlier, Melissa might not have been able to give him all that much care due to dealing with crisis after crisis, not to mention how it might impact future Nine's relationship with Melissa. So, he likely replaced older Nine for a moment, until the magic wore off and he went back to his world. After that, little Nine was determined to meet her again - perhaps in a different timeframe, in a path that leads to a similar future? This is what confuses me. I don't think Melissa had to wait for this Nine to grow up, as old as she is, for them to reunite, when they were already together.
If it's an alternate story, universe, and timeline, then we can't guarantee if it's the same "Melissa" that this Nine will meet. So, maybe, little Nine reunited with another version of this reincarnated Melissa, outside of the usual story too, but in a different path? And then, in the previous world, adult nine must've simply thought of it as a strange dream, probably to be told that a younger him had played with everyone in there?

While other's mind was immediately centered on something else, the first thing that came to my mind is worry. First, the dragon doesn't remember Taehyuk. Then, Hyo Un remembers him, but Taehyuk nearly dies. Then, Taehyuk forgets, gets abducted, and gets thrown to the sea. Even their past life is tumultous. Just when things were looking up, he's suddenly seized by a strange sickness which made him turn into a child... Considering the seriousness of the problems they faced, I'm just worried something terrible is brewing in the horizon.

Thinking about it more clearly, I am probably worrying too much. Taehyuk now has the orb, and their memories are restored. This could be nothing more than a small hiccup, perhaps an allusion to the fact that Hyo Un was once a child spoiled by Taehyuk along time ago. Maybe, like someone else said, he just wanted to relive his youth subconsciously, and wanted to be taken care of. Hopefully it's not too serious.

I guess what was really off is the timing of when this event took place. It could have happened before, or after... rather than when they're on their honeymoon. But, maybe the author will reveal the reasons why it had to take place now and how it should fit in the story.