Even subpar Julietta Suzuki is pretty good, but this is not a patch on Kamisama Kiss. Oh, did I mention that last volume and the one before that? Bet I mention it next time too!
One thing I think the structure of the latter series gave to the manga was, well, structure. This is more of a series of misadventures and ones that are not, honestly, terribly exciting.
It does have whip smart comedic moments and some big laughs, Suzuki is gifted at pulling some fantastic gags out of this premise, but looking past them you find something woefully threadbare.
But the jokes are really good. The first story features Hoshino and Kyuta heading for a hot springs together, which Hoshino feels is the perfect time to come out as a vampire.
This quickly turns into some hysterical gay panic, mainly because the whole thing is the gay guy panicking. Hoshino’s imaginings of Kyuta being charming as hell are funny enough, but combined with Kyuta actually being pretty charming makes for an even better joke.
The other very gay joke comes when Kyuta is forced to meet up with annoying stalker Fujimiya. They wind up in a maid cafe and their misinterpreted conversation winds up driving the staff into a frenzy at the thought of boys love erupting nearby. It’s executed admirably.
That’s the only time I’ll say anything nice about Fujimiya, who shows up way too much and is obnoxiously creepy. It’s played broad, but I do not care for him at all. I will say that it allows for Kyuta to deliver a literal ass kicking that I felt was well earned.
Part of the problem here is that I think Suzuki is actually smarter than her own material. When Fujimiya threatens everybody to get Hina to obey him (have I mentioned I hate him yet?), the solution to his threat is kind of brilliant.
The slow simmering romance between Hina and Kyuta is terribly sweet, if understated. He kind of acts like a dick during the cosplay section and his motivation for his actions remains woefully opaque. The whole truck escapade is a dud of a thing. Yet they still make for an appealing couple, despite it all.
This doesn’t appear to have any big ideas or goal propelling it, minus a romance that is cute but not the focus. It just clunks along, occasionally having a great moment that reminds you why you bothered. Those moments really do make it worthwhile though; they’re really that good.
3 stars - I’m not expecting anything more out of this series at this stage than the couple gag moments that make me laugh, props to those, and some romance that may or may not make sense. Not the worst, but not the best either.