Your True Color
I didn’t like how the plot progressed at first, but it got better as the story went on I think. The way the conflict was resolved felt refreshing. The Sumika Sumika showed others was also a part of her, persona or not. So questioning the difference between the TV Sumika and her real self might not have mattered all that much. I liked the themes of teenage friendship/angst, and contrary to what others might think, I actually liked the romance! Sure, it wasn’t typical, and it didn’t exactly have a label, but I think these types of romance are quite underrated. Ito definitely grew as a character, from someone who’s bland to someone who actually takes initiative. I liked when the author was a little more subtle in the storytelling, too (e.g. them discreetly telling us that Sumika’s uncle is gay). Overall, this was an interesting manga exploring the idol fantasy.
Butai ni Sake!