Mimi's manga / #slice of life(131)

More of same feelings I had from the first book. But after reading both of these books I'm just still kind of disappointed... The art's cute. Cocomi knows how to draw some really cute art. The more softer, cute moments in the story were very adorable. But what made this drag for me and had me praying for it to be done after chapter three was just the conflicts. The conflicts were just kind of dumb to me and it all just came down to not communicating (shocker). However, there was a story reason why no one wanted to communicate which I can kind of tip my hat to, but still very annoying to read 17 times. I did like the end. I thought the end was cute. Didn't make me cry or anything but still a cute ending chapter.

Vol 1 - 3/5: I can't express to you how "no thoughts, head empty" this book left me. I mean, I guess it hasn’t done anything to piss me off but it also hasn’t done anything to make me care. Kind of like I was just moving with the pages mindlessly. Maybe the way Yuusei kept Itsuki at longer than arm's length for as long as he did got annoying pretty fast. But, like, I know Nagisa. She loves her some childhood friends to lovers slow burn yerning high school romance so I knew what I was getting into and I think that's why I'm not that pissed over it... Even though Itsuki's pretty fucking obvious with how he feels. Vol 2 - 2.75/5: Lol, so, like remember when I said in the first volume that nothing about this really pissed me off that much and that the only mildly annoying thing was how Yuusei refused to acknowledge that Itsuki likes him back? That is the only conflict in this book... It is the entire plot... of volume 2. Which means. It has gotten. 1,000% more annoying. I did like how it ended but having Yuusei be super oblivious to Itsuki literally holding up signs that say "I LIKE YOU, TOO! KISS ME YOU IDIOT" and then Yuusei seeing that and going "Interesting. I can't tell him I'm in love with him, though. Better keep my distance" made me so angry because I very much think that's a bad way to do a slow burn. Especially if you're gonna have it expand over two volumes. You’ve done this before, Nagisa. But better! Literally, My Summer of You’s slow burn was basically this BUT BETTER. Volume one could’ve ended the way volume two did but instead of them being all happy and dating and then it ends, volume two could’ve been about them dating but Yuusei’s still a bit insecure about things. He’s been in his head for so long that it’ll take a little while for him to see that Itsuki really does love him, has loved him for years with Itsuki’s help. But it had a pretty cute ending similar to Two Lions in a way so we’re all just buddy-buddy, aren’t we, Nagisa.

That one person who was like Mishima deserved so much better followed by three throwing up emojis, I felt you. Your energy was so powerful and I felt you. What do you mean we were going to have a "proper conversation", do absolutely nothing, and then have a sex scene...? What do you mean? Don't put emotions in front of my face like keys and then throw the keys out the window for a sex scene! Sure, they finally did talk but it should've been at the end of chapter two not whatever the hell that was. On top of that, Hozumi kind of rubbed me the wrong allowing Mishima to take on some of that blame. To recap: Hozumi broke up with him so he wouldn't be sad when he moved off the island for college but did not properly explain that. He comes back after seven years to an angry Mishima and pesters him until he eventually gives up and spend time together. To which Hozumi takes advantage of the situation and forces himself on Mishima instead of having that conversation that we were promised, that they should've had and didn't happen until chapter three. This left Mishima frustrated and confused to the point where he didn't attend to the lighthouse causing the boat Hozumi was working on to get into a little accident and him falling off. After that, it all became his fault in Mishima's head. Even the high school stuff?? He already feels like he doesn't have his own backbone to say "no" or "let's wait" because of "those eyes" (I'm rolling mine), I'm just not here for that. I'm not ok with the person who has every reason to raise hell taking the blame and it's seen as a good thing. It's not like Hozumi doesn't blame himself for the shit he's done but Mishima shouldn't be blaming himself for anything. Even the lighthouse incident. Not after the night before. Also... What thought processes did Hozumi's brother have to come out for him to their parents when previously he expressed being nervous about?? You don't do that. You don't come out for someone else no matter how understanding anyone is. I don't know, fiction is fiction but Jesus to fucking Christ. Other than all of that, along with the art style not being my favorite to look at, this was just ok which I'm very sad about because the bonus chapter was everything to me. If this was just their high school year together followed by the breakup and a volume two with a better get back together story, peak 4 stars.

The relationship dynamic here is very similar to the couple in Long Period. Wataru has been in love with his friend for years but has kept it to himself despite all the obvious signs Minato was giving that he loved him back. It does feel a little different in that Minato is and has been even more oblivious about his feelings so now we're spending the whole book waiting for Wataru to stop being stubborn and see that. While I was annoyed by the obliviousness in Long Period, I think I'm less annoyed about it here because it only lasted a chapter and didn't string me along for two whole fucking books. There's still a hint of "are we really gonna have this song and dance?" because Minato was not subtle at all in high school about his interest. It's just not as bad here since it's we're not reading about Wataru being an idiot. We're reading about him being stubborn to preserve his friendship based on past romantic experiences. I love slow burns but ignoring the signs for two books and then act all surprised when you do find out they like you back was definitely my limit. So I'm glad this is more about seeing them be cute together and Wataru slowly taking Minato seriously after chapter three. Ya know what I did find much more annoying, though. Chapter two page 26. "I'm grown up now" "I'm the grown up Wataru" The hell are you, 15? What the fuck is this dialogue right now? Bonus points for Lil' Boss. We respect Lil' Boss in this house.

This was just the most aggressive "fine" I've read recently. But I also had a problem picking a full star/number rating for the sites that don't do halves, like, three felt too low but four felt too generous. It wasn't really the family dynamic I thought it would be and the only thing that did get on my nerves was the constant apologizing from the two. But even that didn't bother me too bad? I do wish the story revolved around them cooking together more rather than spending one day on it and the rest of the story being about misunderstanding after misunderstanding. Then there's the "we must have sex to be in a real relationship" thing BL authors like to write and that I fucking hate... Yeah, I think "fine" is probably fine.

It would be nice to see vols 5 on here as well

Right off the bat there was a use of the f-slur and I'm really not ok with that. Bad translation or not. The art style wasn't really to my liking, but I can deal with that. Using the f-slur was a HUGE no for me.