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太陽よりも眩しい星 [Taiyō Yori mo Mabushii Hoshi] #2
A Star Brighter than the Sun, Vol. 2
Sae has always been taller and stronger than the average girl. Koki used to be smaller and weaker than the average boy. But now that he’s in high school, he’s tall and super popular! Will their childhood friendship rekindle…and maybe develop into something more?
Now that Sae knows Koki has a crush on someone, she tries to transform her romantic feelings for him into platonic ones. Luckily, there are lots of school activities to distract her, from a field trip in the mountains to a jump rope tournament to an English-language theater festival. But when a texting disaster reveals to Koki that Sae has a crush on someone too, will she finally confess her feelings…?
Now that Sae knows Koki has a crush on someone, she tries to transform her romantic feelings for him into platonic ones. Luckily, there are lots of school activities to distract her, from a field trip in the mountains to a jump rope tournament to an English-language theater festival. But when a texting disaster reveals to Koki that Sae has a crush on someone too, will she finally confess her feelings…?
184 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2022
10 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Kazune Kawahara
164 books292 followers• Birth Date: March 11th, 1972
• Blood Type: A
• Zodiac: Pisces
Kazune Kawahara (河原和音) made her manga debut at age 18 with Kare no Ichiban Sukina Hito (His Most Favorite Person). Also, while thinking of her manga, she often spaces out and brings grocery baskets home. Adores her nieces.
• Blood Type: A
• Zodiac: Pisces
Kazune Kawahara (河原和音) made her manga debut at age 18 with Kare no Ichiban Sukina Hito (His Most Favorite Person). Also, while thinking of her manga, she often spaces out and brings grocery baskets home. Adores her nieces.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 15, 2025
Confession time: I had my boss at the bookstore order this one and I have both this and the first volume in my personal manga collection.
I love the art, the story, the characters, the push and pull of a possibly un-requited first love in high school. If you like yearning, but with pragmatism, solid female friendships and the childhood friends to maybe more trope, then you will probably love this as much as I do. It's so beautiful, that I might just have to re-read both volumes after I finish this review, lol.
5, came for the gentle angst staying for the hopefully HEA, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC of this book to read and review.
I love the art, the story, the characters, the push and pull of a possibly un-requited first love in high school. If you like yearning, but with pragmatism, solid female friendships and the childhood friends to maybe more trope, then you will probably love this as much as I do. It's so beautiful, that I might just have to re-read both volumes after I finish this review, lol.
5, came for the gentle angst staying for the hopefully HEA, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2025
"Feelings can CHANGE. If that happens, you can always talk to me. I'm on your side. Don't you forget that."
I don't remember the last time where I read something and felt like it was a slowburn romance, and enjoyed the ride!
Sae is such a wonderful heroine because she is deeply thoughtful and caring, which adds a really touching layer to this childhood friends-to-lovers story! We see a few times in this volume where she still views Koki as the young boy she grew up with and wants to protect him, BUT!
Koki on the other hand almost seems like he is trying to prove to her that he is NOT the young boy who needs protecting, but is in fact someone who can protect HER. It's moving and engaging because you can see how these two are growing right where they are and needing to view the other person differently because of who they are in the now. I loved it!
I'm definitely still enjoying the girl friendships in this story and how they are even closer than they were in volume one! I really liked how Sae's friends encouraged her that her feelings for Koki are valid and that she doesn't need to "shut them down" because there is no right or wrong for how she feels about liking him. It is wonderful seeing them support Sae!
The ending definitely left me excited and can't wait to see what's to come and bloom between these two!!
I don't remember the last time where I read something and felt like it was a slowburn romance, and enjoyed the ride!
Sae is such a wonderful heroine because she is deeply thoughtful and caring, which adds a really touching layer to this childhood friends-to-lovers story! We see a few times in this volume where she still views Koki as the young boy she grew up with and wants to protect him, BUT!
Koki on the other hand almost seems like he is trying to prove to her that he is NOT the young boy who needs protecting, but is in fact someone who can protect HER. It's moving and engaging because you can see how these two are growing right where they are and needing to view the other person differently because of who they are in the now. I loved it!
I'm definitely still enjoying the girl friendships in this story and how they are even closer than they were in volume one! I really liked how Sae's friends encouraged her that her feelings for Koki are valid and that she doesn't need to "shut them down" because there is no right or wrong for how she feels about liking him. It is wonderful seeing them support Sae!
The ending definitely left me excited and can't wait to see what's to come and bloom between these two!!
June 16, 2025
These two are not very interesting. And the reason they’re still apart is so obvious in its artifice that you can see the plot being laid out before you, which I don’t love. It’s predictable as all get out.
And it’s maddening, as the non-plot trappings to this are wildly unpredictable and highly entertaining. If the romance measured up in any way to the small details this would be an absolute classic in the making.
After a rowing excursion, the class ends up doing a jump rope competition, which makes no sense and everybody knows it. The way it’s handwaved away is a hoot and shows the thought process of a mangaka who has done this so many times that they want something new in the school experience.
The fact that they’re also putting on a school play based on something that isn’t a fairy tale (yet remains safely in the public domain, naturally) is further testament to this. It’s a delight not knowing what crazy situation might show up next.
And the side characters are SO good. Sui and Kagawa are the perfect best friends for Sae. Kagawa is, without a doubt, the best thing about this entire series. She is incredibly nice, but socially ignorant about so much. She’d be awkward if she cared, but she doesn’t.
I wish this series was actually about Kagawa, which is a shame in a way, but Sae deserves a lot better than what she’s getting here. Being stuck in this cookie cutter plot with a boring male lead does her no favours.
Still, there’s a lot of Kagawa here to soften the blow, who steals pretty much every scene she appears in. Her design is perfect for her thousand-yard stare to just pierce the veil of reality. No notes there.
The other problem, as mentioned, is that Koki is dull and remains dull. He doesn’t have any discernible personality trait beyond having no personality. He’s a manga Ken doll and the art continues to not sell his stiff persona as anything normal people would engage in.
Oh, he’s trying hard to make Sae realize he likes her, stopping short of doing anything that might advance the plot, naturally. And Sae makes a plan to confess after lots of dithering that conveniently gets pushed back so the rival can show up.
Which might be interesting if he hadn’t been so freaking obvious the second he popped up. The real problem here is that he gets along better with Sae than Koki does, so he’s probably a better choice anyway.
The one drawing where Koki lifts Sae out of the water, showing that she can rely on him now as opposed to how they used to be, is a gorgeous two page spread, I will give you that much.
I’m being mean because this should be better given its pedigree. And also because parts of it absolutely sing. But the problem is that the good bits very infrequently involve anybody the manga is supposed to be about. It rarely feels like a genuine romance to me.
3 stars - it is doing everything right except what it should be doing the MOST right. How do you even score that? Like this, I guess. Fantastic sides, but an undercooked main course.
And it’s maddening, as the non-plot trappings to this are wildly unpredictable and highly entertaining. If the romance measured up in any way to the small details this would be an absolute classic in the making.
After a rowing excursion, the class ends up doing a jump rope competition, which makes no sense and everybody knows it. The way it’s handwaved away is a hoot and shows the thought process of a mangaka who has done this so many times that they want something new in the school experience.
The fact that they’re also putting on a school play based on something that isn’t a fairy tale (yet remains safely in the public domain, naturally) is further testament to this. It’s a delight not knowing what crazy situation might show up next.
And the side characters are SO good. Sui and Kagawa are the perfect best friends for Sae. Kagawa is, without a doubt, the best thing about this entire series. She is incredibly nice, but socially ignorant about so much. She’d be awkward if she cared, but she doesn’t.
I wish this series was actually about Kagawa, which is a shame in a way, but Sae deserves a lot better than what she’s getting here. Being stuck in this cookie cutter plot with a boring male lead does her no favours.
Still, there’s a lot of Kagawa here to soften the blow, who steals pretty much every scene she appears in. Her design is perfect for her thousand-yard stare to just pierce the veil of reality. No notes there.
The other problem, as mentioned, is that Koki is dull and remains dull. He doesn’t have any discernible personality trait beyond having no personality. He’s a manga Ken doll and the art continues to not sell his stiff persona as anything normal people would engage in.
Oh, he’s trying hard to make Sae realize he likes her, stopping short of doing anything that might advance the plot, naturally. And Sae makes a plan to confess after lots of dithering that conveniently gets pushed back so the rival can show up.
Which might be interesting if he hadn’t been so freaking obvious the second he popped up. The real problem here is that he gets along better with Sae than Koki does, so he’s probably a better choice anyway.
The one drawing where Koki lifts Sae out of the water, showing that she can rely on him now as opposed to how they used to be, is a gorgeous two page spread, I will give you that much.
I’m being mean because this should be better given its pedigree. And also because parts of it absolutely sing. But the problem is that the good bits very infrequently involve anybody the manga is supposed to be about. It rarely feels like a genuine romance to me.
3 stars - it is doing everything right except what it should be doing the MOST right. How do you even score that? Like this, I guess. Fantastic sides, but an undercooked main course.
July 2, 2025
Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
Admittedly, there's not much story progression this volume. That said, I still enjoy it! The yearning is delicious. They're so cute together and every interaction tugs at my heartstrings. I also appreciate the efforts to flesh out the side characters, such as Kagawa and Ayukawa.
I wish Viz to hurry up on the publication. The anime starts airing in October. What do you mean we're only getting Vol. 3 the month before?
Admittedly, there's not much story progression this volume. That said, I still enjoy it! The yearning is delicious. They're so cute together and every interaction tugs at my heartstrings. I also appreciate the efforts to flesh out the side characters, such as Kagawa and Ayukawa.
I wish Viz to hurry up on the publication. The anime starts airing in October. What do you mean we're only getting Vol. 3 the month before?
November 22, 2025
I cannot believe this gem was being hidden and only has four English volumes. 😭😭 I’m cleaning through these volumes and will be so heartbroken once I’ve caught up.
July 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Thanks NetGalley and Viz Media for the ARC.
I loved this vol more than the first. It felt like there was more pacing than the first and it didn’t feel as rushed. I can see the romance blooming slowly although it’s still a little hard to tell if Koki likes sae back. But slowly it looks like another love interest may be closing in… they look so adorable together too.
Thanks NetGalley and Viz Media for the ARC.
I loved this vol more than the first. It felt like there was more pacing than the first and it didn’t feel as rushed. I can see the romance blooming slowly although it’s still a little hard to tell if Koki likes sae back. But slowly it looks like another love interest may be closing in… they look so adorable together too.
August 11, 2025
I love everything this author makes! Excited for them to figure out they're crushing on each other, because there's no way they aren't.
August 22, 2025
4.5 stars. Great continuation. This is both slowly building but feels like the main character is growing with each chapter. I am enjoying this a bunch.
December 3, 2025
3,5
Allora, la situazione è la seguente: Sae è innamorata di Koki, ma è convinta di non essere ricambiata visto che lui ha fatto riferimento a una misteriosa crush. A meno di sorprese e imprevisti, mi sembra abbastanza evidente che sia lei la crush di Koki, anche se il ragazzo non si sente alla sua altezza e si limita a osservare da lontano. Alla fine i due ribadiscono l'importanza della loro amicizia e la povera Sae è convinta di non avere speranze e che l'unica soluzione a sua disposizione sia quella di allontanarsi un po' e provare a dimenticare....eh, più facile a dirsi che a farsi, visto che i due sono sempre insieme. Allora forse sarebbe meglio accontentarsi del rapporto di amicizia, piuttosto che perdere tutto? Anche questa strada presenta le sue difficoltà, visto che la ragazza non riesce assolutamente a mettere da parte i suoi sentimenti (continuo a rimanere perplessa quando gli adolescenti si lanciano in certe dichiarazioni, ma facciamo finta di niente 😩), per lei Koki rimane una persona importante, il suo primo amore e al momento non c'è modo di venirne fuori.
A rendere la situazione ancora più interessante c'è il fatto che Koki ha capito che pure Sae ha una crush che sta cercando di dimenticare e pensa bene di darle questo consiglio (non sapendo che è lui l'oggetto del desiderio della protagonista): non avere paura e parla con questa persona a cuore aperto, anche a costo di essere rifiutata. E chi lo sa? Magari la risposta di questo fantomatico ragazzo saprà sorprenderla. Ecco, appunto. Resta da capire se Sae se la sentirà di seguire questo consiglio (e se saprà lasciarsi alle spalle il ricordo del Koki bambino indifeso, concentrandosi sulla persona che è oggi). Immagino che lo si scoprirà presto...
P.s.: io non potrei mai frequentare una scuola che propone eventi a caso un giorno sì e l'altro pure, sarei già fuggita dopo la prima settimana.
P.s 2: spera che venga dato più spazio al rapporto di amicizia che Sae sta creando con due sue compagne, sembrano due personaggi abbastanza interessanti.
Allora, la situazione è la seguente: Sae è innamorata di Koki, ma è convinta di non essere ricambiata visto che lui ha fatto riferimento a una misteriosa crush. A meno di sorprese e imprevisti, mi sembra abbastanza evidente che sia lei la crush di Koki, anche se il ragazzo non si sente alla sua altezza e si limita a osservare da lontano. Alla fine i due ribadiscono l'importanza della loro amicizia e la povera Sae è convinta di non avere speranze e che l'unica soluzione a sua disposizione sia quella di allontanarsi un po' e provare a dimenticare....eh, più facile a dirsi che a farsi, visto che i due sono sempre insieme. Allora forse sarebbe meglio accontentarsi del rapporto di amicizia, piuttosto che perdere tutto? Anche questa strada presenta le sue difficoltà, visto che la ragazza non riesce assolutamente a mettere da parte i suoi sentimenti (continuo a rimanere perplessa quando gli adolescenti si lanciano in certe dichiarazioni, ma facciamo finta di niente 😩), per lei Koki rimane una persona importante, il suo primo amore e al momento non c'è modo di venirne fuori.
A rendere la situazione ancora più interessante c'è il fatto che Koki ha capito che pure Sae ha una crush che sta cercando di dimenticare e pensa bene di darle questo consiglio (non sapendo che è lui l'oggetto del desiderio della protagonista): non avere paura e parla con questa persona a cuore aperto, anche a costo di essere rifiutata. E chi lo sa? Magari la risposta di questo fantomatico ragazzo saprà sorprenderla. Ecco, appunto. Resta da capire se Sae se la sentirà di seguire questo consiglio (e se saprà lasciarsi alle spalle il ricordo del Koki bambino indifeso, concentrandosi sulla persona che è oggi). Immagino che lo si scoprirà presto...
P.s.: io non potrei mai frequentare una scuola che propone eventi a caso un giorno sì e l'altro pure, sarei già fuggita dopo la prima settimana.
P.s 2: spera che venga dato più spazio al rapporto di amicizia che Sae sta creando con due sue compagne, sembrano due personaggi abbastanza interessanti.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
So far, this one comes and goes for me. Not every manga--and not every shoujo manga, for that matter--has to be a super-stylish showcase of up-to-the-minute fashion, but having read the first volume of Girl Crush just a bit ago, this one feels stodgy in comparison.
I rather like that Koki isn't a typical male lead, though the ways that he's atypical aren't very appealing. Toward the end of this volume, Koki shows signs that he knows he'll have to change to grow, and/or to be a good match for Sae, and that he'll have to stop defaulting to the way that he and Sae interacted when they were kids. I can understand it's easy to stay in old habits, but they aren't six years old anymore.
Each episode of this manga, it felt that Kawahara was trying just a tad too hard to set up school activities that were slightly out of the ordinary: a play in English, a jump rope competition, and so on. Once those episodes actually got going, they were fun, and did well at developing what looks to be a core group of school friends.
The supporting cast is shaping up nicely! Kagawa is fun, and is obviously nursing a desire to belong under her sardonic shell. Ayukawa is the obvious choice to start crushing on Sae, and to eventually be rebuffed. I'd like to see Sui gain some depth beyond her seeming girly-girlishness.
Just as in the first volume, there's really nothing standing between our FL and ML aside from a basic oblivious misunderstanding of each other's signals. There's only so much blushing in each other's presence that this can sustain before it gets too silly to endure.
Aside from the stodginess mentioned above, the art has its moments. The larger splash panels are great, really impactful. My partner's been picking these up, and I wouldn't mind reading more, though I'm not sure if I'd take a lot of effort to track them down on my own.
I rather like that Koki isn't a typical male lead, though the ways that he's atypical aren't very appealing. Toward the end of this volume, Koki shows signs that he knows he'll have to change to grow, and/or to be a good match for Sae, and that he'll have to stop defaulting to the way that he and Sae interacted when they were kids. I can understand it's easy to stay in old habits, but they aren't six years old anymore.
Each episode of this manga, it felt that Kawahara was trying just a tad too hard to set up school activities that were slightly out of the ordinary: a play in English, a jump rope competition, and so on. Once those episodes actually got going, they were fun, and did well at developing what looks to be a core group of school friends.
The supporting cast is shaping up nicely! Kagawa is fun, and is obviously nursing a desire to belong under her sardonic shell. Ayukawa is the obvious choice to start crushing on Sae, and to eventually be rebuffed. I'd like to see Sui gain some depth beyond her seeming girly-girlishness.
Just as in the first volume, there's really nothing standing between our FL and ML aside from a basic oblivious misunderstanding of each other's signals. There's only so much blushing in each other's presence that this can sustain before it gets too silly to endure.
Aside from the stodginess mentioned above, the art has its moments. The larger splash panels are great, really impactful. My partner's been picking these up, and I wouldn't mind reading more, though I'm not sure if I'd take a lot of effort to track them down on my own.
April 23, 2025
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating is closer to 3.5 stars.
Last book Kamishiro talked to Iwata about a girl he has been crushing on, not cluing her in to who he was talking to, so the opening is Iwata doing pushups, perhaps in an attempt to tired herself out and physically work through thoughts and feelings. Fortunately, she has some supportive friends in the room too. She tries to distance herself from Kamishiro, but he doesn’t clue in to what she is doing and keeps approaching her. Classic lack of communication going on. Kamishiro notices and asks her if she is avoiding him and Iwata confesses she has, if only not to give his crush the impression that they are together…
Classic shoujo action is afoot, from miscommunication, attempting to ignore blossoming feelings, to helping classmates improve skills (for a jump rope contest no less), a festival that throws them all into a play…it’s all here. Eventually they both tell each other that they will confess to their crushes…which does not happen in this book so there is no true confirmation that Kamishiro likes Iwata.
To be honest, the amount of ‘stuff’ that happens is very much going on in the school environment around them, but their actual progression in their relationship goes pretty much nowhere. I’m hoping that the end of this volume sets up the next. As usual the art was pretty great.
Actual rating is closer to 3.5 stars.
Last book Kamishiro talked to Iwata about a girl he has been crushing on, not cluing her in to who he was talking to, so the opening is Iwata doing pushups, perhaps in an attempt to tired herself out and physically work through thoughts and feelings. Fortunately, she has some supportive friends in the room too. She tries to distance herself from Kamishiro, but he doesn’t clue in to what she is doing and keeps approaching her. Classic lack of communication going on. Kamishiro notices and asks her if she is avoiding him and Iwata confesses she has, if only not to give his crush the impression that they are together…
Classic shoujo action is afoot, from miscommunication, attempting to ignore blossoming feelings, to helping classmates improve skills (for a jump rope contest no less), a festival that throws them all into a play…it’s all here. Eventually they both tell each other that they will confess to their crushes…which does not happen in this book so there is no true confirmation that Kamishiro likes Iwata.
To be honest, the amount of ‘stuff’ that happens is very much going on in the school environment around them, but their actual progression in their relationship goes pretty much nowhere. I’m hoping that the end of this volume sets up the next. As usual the art was pretty great.
June 11, 2025
I'm screaming because Sae and Koki are too cute. How dare they get cuter in this volume. How DARE they be so adorable.
Sure, the scratchy art got even worse because now we have wildly distracting disproportionate anatomy everywhere (why do the legs look like they're backwards and why are all the feet so HUGE), but all of the characters are so cute so the sometimes wonky art gets a pass.
I love how we all know Koki is in love with Sae here because this boy can't hide his feelings. He blushes so much. Always love a shojo boy that blushes.
And Sae is so sweet that all I want is for Sae to be happy. Koki better not make our girlie Sae cry in the future.
This is my comfort shojo series. This series is so cozy. We have all the classic shojo story beats. We don't have any villains here. Every single character is a green flag. And Sae is the cutest character ever. She is the definition of a sweet shojo girlie.
I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this volume. We all know they like each other but they each think the other person likes someone else. The teenage ANGST and YEARNING are perfection.
Sure, the scratchy art got even worse because now we have wildly distracting disproportionate anatomy everywhere (why do the legs look like they're backwards and why are all the feet so HUGE), but all of the characters are so cute so the sometimes wonky art gets a pass.
I love how we all know Koki is in love with Sae here because this boy can't hide his feelings. He blushes so much. Always love a shojo boy that blushes.
And Sae is so sweet that all I want is for Sae to be happy. Koki better not make our girlie Sae cry in the future.
This is my comfort shojo series. This series is so cozy. We have all the classic shojo story beats. We don't have any villains here. Every single character is a green flag. And Sae is the cutest character ever. She is the definition of a sweet shojo girlie.
I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this volume. We all know they like each other but they each think the other person likes someone else. The teenage ANGST and YEARNING are perfection.
June 2, 2025
At the end of the first volume, Iwata learned that Kamishiro, the boy she has a huge crush on, has a crush on someone brighter than the sun. In this volume, she’s heartbroken and determined to put distance between them. But Kamishiro doesn’t understand why she’s doing it. They’re friends, after all.
So, Iwata tries to behave like it doesn’t matter that he loves someone else. It’s not easy, even when her friends are rooting for her and helping her. Eventually she makes up her mind: she’s going to confess to him, even if she gets rejected. But first, she needs to make him notice her.
I’m giving this five stars even though the romance didn’t go anywhere, because the pining was so good. There were all kinds of fun school activities that brought the two together. And the ending seems to indicate that Kamishiro wants things to change between them too, though mostly he wants her to stop seeing him as a kid. I really need to read on to see where this leads and how fast. Probably not very fast. Art was good.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
So, Iwata tries to behave like it doesn’t matter that he loves someone else. It’s not easy, even when her friends are rooting for her and helping her. Eventually she makes up her mind: she’s going to confess to him, even if she gets rejected. But first, she needs to make him notice her.
I’m giving this five stars even though the romance didn’t go anywhere, because the pining was so good. There were all kinds of fun school activities that brought the two together. And the ending seems to indicate that Kamishiro wants things to change between them too, though mostly he wants her to stop seeing him as a kid. I really need to read on to see where this leads and how fast. Probably not very fast. Art was good.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2025
I love the female friendships in this one so much! And the misunderstandings between the main leads brings me so much joy.
Recap: Iwa decides to get over her crush and avoid Koki after learning he has a crush, he tries to talk to her during the trip and she avoids him, he calls her out and they agree to stay friends, they’re back at school, jump rope contest, ramen spot with text message, Iwa is out because of indigestion, Kokibrings her notes and writes asking if she’s getting over a crush, next day Koki is out because he sprains his ankle, she returns the notebook and he checks the note in front of her lol, he tells her to go for her crush and that he supports her, then class is doing an English play, Koki’s English is not good,Iwa agrees to help him practice, they meet on a Sunday at the park and get caught in the rain where he tells her he’s not a little kid anymore.
Recap: Iwa decides to get over her crush and avoid Koki after learning he has a crush, he tries to talk to her during the trip and she avoids him, he calls her out and they agree to stay friends, they’re back at school, jump rope contest, ramen spot with text message, Iwa is out because of indigestion, Kokibrings her notes and writes asking if she’s getting over a crush, next day Koki is out because he sprains his ankle, she returns the notebook and he checks the note in front of her lol, he tells her to go for her crush and that he supports her, then class is doing an English play, Koki’s English is not good,Iwa agrees to help him practice, they meet on a Sunday at the park and get caught in the rain where he tells her he’s not a little kid anymore.
June 1, 2025
This volume is a solid 3.5 for me. A lot happened in the story but not really in terms of them progressing in their relationship. I’m happy that each time Iwata says she wants to get over her crush, he says something that makes her backtrack. Also, seeing her push back the confession date so much hurts but she’s too selfless; of course she’d be thinking 5 steps away.
While the main focus is the two of them, I’m happy getting to know the side characters. Izawa sucks and each time someone calls him out, I do a little jump for joy. He’s so rude to Iwa for no reason.
With this ending and the ever picturesque hiding from the rain scene…maybe we’ll get a confession?!
Thanks to Viz Media for the DRC!
While the main focus is the two of them, I’m happy getting to know the side characters. Izawa sucks and each time someone calls him out, I do a little jump for joy. He’s so rude to Iwa for no reason.
With this ending and the ever picturesque hiding from the rain scene…maybe we’ll get a confession?!
Thanks to Viz Media for the DRC!
December 13, 2025
Iwata has decided to end her crush on Kamishiro because he says he has a crush on a (nonspecific) girl. Kamishiro doesn't make this easy on her because he still sees her as a friend. So they continue in their pining until Iwata accidentally texts Kamishiro (instead of her friends) about trying to get over her (nonspecific) crush.
So now they both think the other is pining for some (nonspecific) person. And I'm over here internally screaming for them to just confess already! Also I'm internally screaming because this volume had a lot of scene changes that felt so random or abrupt, or felt like they were going to scene change but didn't... very herky-jerky pacing.
So now they both think the other is pining for some (nonspecific) person. And I'm over here internally screaming for them to just confess already! Also I'm internally screaming because this volume had a lot of scene changes that felt so random or abrupt, or felt like they were going to scene change but didn't... very herky-jerky pacing.
April 17, 2025
I liked this volume as much as I liked the first one. A lot of the standard shoujo tropes and scenarios show up in this series, but the characters are surprisingly refreshing and makes the read still feel new and enjoyable.
Thank you to Viz and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Viz and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2025
What a cute series.
Kamishiro and Iwata's relationship is so adorable. It's so fun to watch Iwata grow into a person and try to navigate her love life. The plot of this one, especially surrounding the notes and the texts was enjoyable. Their friends are endearing and the dynamic between the characters feels real. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
Kamishiro and Iwata's relationship is so adorable. It's so fun to watch Iwata grow into a person and try to navigate her love life. The plot of this one, especially surrounding the notes and the texts was enjoyable. Their friends are endearing and the dynamic between the characters feels real. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
July 5, 2025
The story is very slow and repetitive. That should have turned me off, but the awkward and insecure moments were written and drawn very well to where I find it endearing in a way. I have a soft spot for it, I guess, and will be continuing on. I hope it picks up a little though, not gonna lie 😬
August 3, 2025
I liked it. The plot seems a little odd. It is going from competition to competition in this volume. I like that the FL doesn’t seem like a place hold but the ML kind of does. She’s got friends. I like the art too. 3.75 overall, I hope the ML is developed a little more in the next volume.
November 1, 2025
I'm obsessed with the friendship dynamics in this series. I love how all the side characters don't feel shallow. They feel so real and authentic. I'm so happy a series like this exists. It is so beautifully done.
June 12, 2023
岩田跟神城都是非常溫柔又帥氣的人🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
lol these two are so oblivious….
I just adore Kamishiro. He is so smiley. Just looking at him, makes me happy.
I just adore Kamishiro. He is so smiley. Just looking at him, makes me happy.
June 11, 2025
I hope they get together in the next volume because FL's coddling is starting to annoy me.
July 1, 2025
I don't even care that it's cliche I freaking love the unrequited love fakeout trope and the extended miscommunication. yes! don't confess yet, let's draw out the angst! it's so nostalgic for me in an old-school shoujo way. the kinds of shoujo i grew up on.
I know that particularly miscommunication gets a lot of hate from the readers but I don't mind drawing the story out a bit and being a little angsty.
I know that particularly miscommunication gets a lot of hate from the readers but I don't mind drawing the story out a bit and being a little angsty.
July 15, 2025
What a sweetheart~
July 26, 2025
There were some GREAT yearning moments. But overall I felt pretty mid about this.
August 2, 2025
cute cute cute!!
August 10, 2025
4.5 stars
August 20, 2025
HELL YEAH THIS IS SO PEAK
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