dreameragain's manga / #Strong Families(52)

A truly unexpected, yet appropriate, ending that brought me to tears. Does love recognize what others do not see, or is love blind to the truths that others see? Perhaps it is both.

It could have been a disturbing story due to the ages of the characters, but it develops so respectfully and openly that I had to love it. I especially love the moment of honesty with the family and the loving support between her father and his adopted sibling.

[Page 9 - I love how the romance develops within the friendship in this story. The miscommunication between them is natural, and not overdone. 3*] [Page 45 - The younger of two childhood friends refuses to hide his feelings, and the elder is relieved to go with the flow. Cute and simple. 2*] [Page 64 - Night and day students become friends due to candy left behind in the desk. Romance ensues. 3*] [Page 98 - Bromance develops into romance just as these friends are inevitably parted. Sweet. 3*] [Page 116 - Four leaf clovers and kindness form a connection between a chronically ill student and his energetic classmate. Love it. 3*] [Page 154- I love the family in this story. They're so welcoming to a stranger, yet hands-off his decisions. It's lovely. I also enjoy how gradually the relationship develops, too, and the ways they interact with each other. (Add in a gorgeous musician, and I'm guaranteed to read this again and again.) 4*] I always enjoy the art, pacing, and emotional flow of this artist's stories, even the most basic plots.

The mirrored/inverted relationships between the siblings in this story amuse me. It's very convenient, but also sweet. Having lived with my head in the clouds my whole life, I'm partial to stories where absent-minded mistakes are considered an appealing aspect of the main character. I also love stories where the characters take care of each other, whether friends or lovers. All in all, worth re-reading both for the amusing moments and characters.

I absolutely love the friendship between the fathers and how the author showed their different thoughts. It really shows how they must learn to communicate and be honest to get closer to each other. And, let's face it, those guys are both wonderful fathers. The boys are adorable! The whole story frames what it means to be "family" in a beautiful way.