3.5 อึดอัดและรำคาญ ย้ำอยู่นั่นว่าไม่มีความรักๆๆ ทำเหมือนเป็นพวก robot ไม่มีหัวใจที่ทำให้คนรอบข้างต้องเจ็บปวดเพราะความไม่รู้จักรักของตัวเอง ความรักมันไม่จำเป็นต้องแค่รักแบบคนรักหรอก ทั้งๆ ที่รู้ก็ยังไม่ทำกัน ย้ำแต่อย่างงี้ทั้งเล่มคือทำบางเรื่องให้มันง่ายเกินบางเรื่องก็ดันทำให้มันยากเกิน but as aromantic person this book is so relatable 😭 แต่บางอย่างก็ยังไม่ครอบคลุมและเกินไปจริงๆ อะ
Short Review: This 362-page novel centers on the relationship between two aromantic-asexual individuals who decide to build a family together in their own way—without romantic love involved. It’s an interesting read for anyone wanting to explore sexuality, identity, and the inner lives of aro-ace people. Still, it’s just one example among countless others.
The writing is simple and easygoing—not flashy, but with its fair share of ups and downs, and moments of chaotic tension. Personally, it gave me the vibe of a Japanese drama like Only Just Married (starring Saka Ken and Seino Nana): a bit messy, but everything slowly unfolds in the end.
Writing style: True to the Japanese style—subtle, conversational, and often indirect. Serious conversations are always a challenge in Japanese fiction; it reflects a kind of collective behavior. That leads to every issue taking several rounds of awkwardness before things get resolved.
Characters: I might have a different take from others here. I’m on the aro-ace spectrum myself, so I didn’t dislike Takahashi (the male lead) at all. In fact, I understood him. He doesn’t really care whether people “get” him or not. What he wants is simple: to be acknowledged as an aro-ace person and to live a normal life without being labeled “abnormal” by society. His reluctance to come out is understandable—it’s genuinely exhausting. In the general social framework, saying nothing at all sometimes feels easier. His bluntness and irritability seem to be written intentionally, reflecting someone who’s lived alone for a long time and grown used to isolation—a portrayal that feels plausible for an aro-ace character.
Kodama Sakuko, the female lead, doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of romantic love, which I found a little frustrating. She tries too hard to understand it—maybe it’d be better if she just accepted that there’s no “right” way to feel. Still, she has a lot of qualities I liked: cheerful, hardworking, kind, and free of ill intentions. But that kind nature can also be a bit dangerous—she often misreads situations or others’ intentions.
Kazu, Kodama’s mother, and Minori (Kodama’s younger sister) were characters I really disliked at first. They came off as rude, nosy, and lacking empathy. But in the end, they all experienced some form of growth—even minor characters like Tabata (kazu and Sakuko’s boss). This novel really does a good job showing character growth and the selfish tendencies that all humans have—not just aro-ace folks.
Yoshida-sensei has written a lot of great stuff, but this is the first one I’ve actually read. The rest I only watched in adaptation form. This one turned out pretty decent, especially for readers who are looking for a story without romance in the traditional sense. It’s a great entry point for those interested in the aromantic-asexual community. I related to it a lot—I’m half Takahashi, half Kodama. I share Takahashi’s coldness, irritability, and aversion to physical touch, and Kodama’s confusion about romance.
Most of all, the novel captures the quiet ordinariness, fragility, and complexity of being human—aro-ace or not. It sends a clear, unfiltered message: even if you’re aro-ace, you’re still just a “normal” person, facing the same struggles as anyone else.
งานเขียนอ่านง่าย สบายๆ ไม่ได้หวือหวาอะไร แต่มีขึ้นลง วายป่วง สลับไปมาให้รำคาญใจเล่นๆ ส่วนตัวมันให้ความรู้ส��กเหมือนดูละครญี่ปุ่นแนวๆ only just married ที่พี่ซากะเคนเล่นกับคุณเซโนะนานะเลย วุ่นวายและคลี่คลายลง
Writing style: ตามสไตล์งานญี่ปุ่นคือเรียบๆ conversational but beating around the bush การคุยกันให้เป็นเรื่องเป็นราวมักจะยากเสมอสำหรับคนชาตินี้ เป็น collective behavior ไปแล้ว ทำให้กว่าแต่ละเรื่องจะคลี่คลายได้ก็อึกๆ อักๆ กันไปหลายยก