somnia's manga / #Adorable(21)

So far it's a cute time waster, the plot is waiting in line patiently. Ngl, it took me a few chapters to get over how bothered I am with the whole mature child spiel, but that's more of a me-thing after reading too many isekai manwha where the story starts off with a toddler MC. I do appreciate that MC and the duke have serious bonding moments and also banter with each other, their relationship feels more tight knit than it would have otherwise imo. Also nice that the duke isn't overly obsessive of his kid- I like his personality as a whole- Well, he obviously does have a huge weak spot for MC, but instead of monopolizing her, he wants her to make friends, be confident, experience a peaceful childhood and just accepts whatever weird traits she has.. like an actual parent.

Super cute read about a deaf girl and her first love, a uni student acquaintance who loves traveling and learning all sorts of languages. It's a good read just to feel wholesome and loved. Though when I finished it, it didn't feel like the end despite the manga being completed. All I can think is that it was something intentional- something like them still having a long journey ahead together, potentially. Also loved how the mangaka used the gestures and sign language to portray their feelings later on after they were explained the first time. Not only does it show that ML and the creator actually cared to learn about sign language, but it also gives gives the scenes and emotions so much more depth than they would've had otherwise.

The pacing is nice, the art is really good and the story/worldbuilding is solid- like, you have no doubt this all takes place within the world of a girly otome game. I mean just look at some of the names lmao. I had to wheeze when I first read the ML's name. Like, it stays VERY true to a cliche japanese otome game from somewhere in the mid 2000's. Petals and sparkles everywhere, the kingdom(s) are basically glittering magic fairtale castle towns. When you see FL and ML being lovey dovey, it is the pinnacle of S-tier kitsch, especially when you recall them being like 14-15 years old. Have you ever seen a 14 year old boy proclaim their love and actually mean it in rl? Probably not, most 14 years olds are dumb and don't realize they are until they've had a few years of cringe and disappointments behind them. Honestly, their age kind of makes me uncomfortable sometimes. Like, I totally buy the og FL being 14 on both a mental and spiritual level since she is such a menace with minus 10 lightbulbs to her name, as well as FL because she is still so fucking insecure after being showered in her fiance's kisses for the 100th fucking time that day (that was a bit of a tangent) but with the rest it's like .

FL is an unassuming count's daughter... who got a side-hussle as a popular romance author and a lively personality which most see as unfit for a lady. Not that she cares, she's not like other girls hihi. She gets engaged to her absolute opposite, the crown prince's right hand who's super knightly and sought after as a marriage candidate. It turns out FL's tendency to snoop around and blend in (to get a scoop on high society drama typically) is also of great help when it comes to political affairs and other mysteries, as she does so by virtue of helping her fiance with his work and worries, no matter how much he protests. The story's been great so far. The only thing I was annoyed at is FL's insecurity at the start, thankfully it went away and wasn't that overbearing. I wasn't feeling the romance between FL and ML at the start either, I was rooting for Lutin at one point, but their development is very realistic and mature so I fuck with it regardless. There is this case-by-case mystery solving structure to the story which honestly is a hit in any decent shoujo manga. FL's personality makes this an enjoyable ride too. At first I was kinda cringing at yet another "sHE's nOt Like oTheR giRls"-stick, but were fr this time. Since this is shoujo ofc all the characters go uwu over her at one point, but it's more or less justified and adds a bit of spice too.

I'm here for it. I need a person like Mimi in my life. The humor here is on point, the only thing that's not perfect is how rushed Mimi's and Renato's relationship feels - honestly it's hella fast paced in general, compared to similar settings - but it's part of the charm here imo. Especially if you're a seasoned shoujo reader you'll appreciate it, I think.