shokiyo's manga / #university(4)

☆ 3 very nice art. delves mostly into hayakawa’s past concerning music and friendship, which may be relatable. konno doesn’t receive as much focus besides present-life characterization. story follows them through parts of their lives in high school, then time jump to adulthood in the present. the ending is happy but not necessarily a solid conclusion, more of a slice-of-life romance (vol2 ch5). assuming vol2 ch5.5 is an extra. ☆ 4.5 for art the art is clean and beautiful, although it doesn’t stand out in particular. ☆ 3.5 for characters hayakawa has an understandable history and mindset, though his behaviour isn’t relatable in some parts, like being quite s*xual. konno feels very static (although dependable), very forgettable. side characters aren’t very memorable besides the ones from hayakawa’s past. ☆ 3 for story the story makes sense. it could have been ended on early volume two. remaining story-line becomes slice of life with some development, showcasing character relationship. ☆ 3.5 stars overall enjoyment the story is short and sweet but doesn’t go into enough depth to have lasting impact or lovable characters. lots of smut scenes (which i don’t particularly read). most of the rating is for the art and hayakawa’s past.

☆ 3 a little boring for my taste but i appreciate the mature relationship. the mc and ml clearly communicate and respect each other’s differences. they inadvertently challenge each other to grow into better people. mc becomes more secure in his identity while ml learns to push beyond his strongly defined boundaries.

☆ 2.7 the dialogue and translation were a bit unclear at times. the first half of the manga isn’t so good; however, the art is pretty. at times the ml is uncomfortable or a red flag. it isn’t so bad until one scene caused by his jealousy. on the other hand, the characters’ weaknesses and toxic traits are worked through with the help of each other and friends. the latter half of the manga shows a lot of character development and is very sweet. the angst is always caused by their miscommunication or inability to communicate. thankfully, the author chooses to address this instead of making the manga 2d. i feel proud of the characters at the end.

☆ 4 more wholesomeness and lovely characters. id love to meet either mc, as they both have a unique charm and can stand alone as individuals, which is unfortunately rare in bl manga (meaning they have their own lives, identities, friends, etc, and aren’t intrinsically dependent). also wish that there was a continuation to the story because the freshly blooming love seems unrequited, even in the bonus. i would be excited to see junpei and leo happily together in a relationship, as i think it could work out well. they complement each other in a precious way, encouraging growth in both as separate people. finally, ryoji’s kitty (aka. the third lion, haha) is adorable.