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フツーと化け物 [Futsū to Bakemono] #1
Common-Sense Monster, Vol. 1
Socially awkward teenager Itou is jealous of her kind, unassuming classmate Takahashi who gets along with everyone. One day, however, she witnesses Takahashi...devour someone whole. It turns out the girl’s actually a monster-and one who can blend in with humans, no less! Full of admiration, Itou really, really wants to be her friend. Takahashi begins to teach her how to act “normally,” but...will Itou succeed? And what is Takahashi truly after?
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
8 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 17, 2026
4,5 rounded to 5
It is a very interesting first volume, with a grotesque, but funny plot. Our main characters, Takahashi and Itou, are the opposite of normal (each in their respective ways), but one is a master of masking it, and the other would like to learn how to be normal. Without spoiling, all I can say is that Common-Sense Monster is a good yuri to pick up if you are craving a horror story with plot twists, as well as intriguing discussions on “normality”!
It is a very interesting first volume, with a grotesque, but funny plot. Our main characters, Takahashi and Itou, are the opposite of normal (each in their respective ways), but one is a master of masking it, and the other would like to learn how to be normal. Without spoiling, all I can say is that Common-Sense Monster is a good yuri to pick up if you are craving a horror story with plot twists, as well as intriguing discussions on “normality”!
October 6, 2024
Learning how to fit in society... from a monster. Teehee. This was interesting to read, sometimes felt a bit disjointed, and the art felt more like it fit with an actual horror or an action horror rather than a horror slice of life. XD
September 28, 2025
3.5
Okay this one is a bit controversial for me personally. I like it, but later on I dislike it to some extent. Why?
Well the overall premise is interesting and if you enjoy The Summer Hikaru Died or This Monster Wants to Eat Me, then this one might be up your ally. Due to the similar vibes with those seires I enjoyed this. I also liked the fact that Itou could be viewed as being neurodivergent due to her difficulties fitting in with the crowd (simplified explanation). It might be my neurodivergent brain seeing it like that, but I could relate to a few things in this series.
That said.... by the end of this volume something unexpected happens, the premise was cool, but the chat Itou ends up having with a certain someone is less cool. Why? If you see Itou as a neurodivergent or even just as an excentric person, then by the end you're ending up with a narrative painting neurodivergent people or just excentrics or how to put it as monsters and a possible threat to society/humans. Just because we don't conform to the "golden" standards set by society. I'm sorry, I hope this is not where the story is going... Because if it is, then this series is some BS in a world where outliers/minorities are already being harrassed for just living their lives without posing a threat to anyone.
So dear author I really hope this is a story about how someone different is not that much different after all even if they may be a bit excentric or something of an outlier. That's my main gripe with this one. Otherwise it's a decent read and I will give vol. 2 a shot whenever it comes out, praying I'll be wrong about my current vibes of the series due to that ending.
Okay this one is a bit controversial for me personally. I like it, but later on I dislike it to some extent. Why?
Well the overall premise is interesting and if you enjoy The Summer Hikaru Died or This Monster Wants to Eat Me, then this one might be up your ally. Due to the similar vibes with those seires I enjoyed this. I also liked the fact that Itou could be viewed as being neurodivergent due to her difficulties fitting in with the crowd (simplified explanation). It might be my neurodivergent brain seeing it like that, but I could relate to a few things in this series.
That said.... by the end of this volume something unexpected happens, the premise was cool, but the chat Itou ends up having with a certain someone is less cool. Why? If you see Itou as a neurodivergent or even just as an excentric person, then by the end you're ending up with a narrative painting neurodivergent people or just excentrics or how to put it as monsters and a possible threat to society/humans. Just because we don't conform to the "golden" standards set by society. I'm sorry, I hope this is not where the story is going... Because if it is, then this series is some BS in a world where outliers/minorities are already being harrassed for just living their lives without posing a threat to anyone.
So dear author I really hope this is a story about how someone different is not that much different after all even if they may be a bit excentric or something of an outlier. That's my main gripe with this one. Otherwise it's a decent read and I will give vol. 2 a shot whenever it comes out, praying I'll be wrong about my current vibes of the series due to that ending.
October 8, 2025
I love whatever is wrong with them 🤭
November 20, 2025
So, apparently stories about melancholy/doomed relationships between regular people and monsters are kind of my jam. Harem comedies in this genre, like Today's Cerberus and My Monster Secret can be fun for awhile, but the ones that really resonate with me are the series that let the monsters be, well...monstrous. The Elder Sister-Like One does a decent job of that, but nothing like Common-Sense Monster.
Itou is a social outcast. She'd like to have friends, and a normal school life, but she just doesn't know how--and her attempts invariably fail spectacularly, and just make things even more awkward between her and everyone around her. And then she stumbles upon one of her classmates eating her teacher.
Takahashi is a monster pretending to be human, which had been going swimmingly until Itou bumbled into her most recent feeding. But she's thrown off balance when Itou doesn't scream, or run, or try to fight, but instead asks for Takahashi's help.
See, Itou is legitimately weird, and in witnessing Takahashi devouring another human being and (almost) not being found out, she realizes in an instant that even this inhuman thing is somehow better at passing as normal than Itou is. And if a man-eating abomination can pull that off, Itou thinks Takahashi can teach her how, too. She's desperate to believe that's true, in fact.
Thus begins a tentative relationship filled with misunderstandings, false assumptions, and some very dark turns. And I am 100% here for it, because if this volume is any measure, Common-Sense Monster is this formula done oh, so very right.
The characters here are distinctive, alive, and engagingly complex. Even the seemingly straightforward life of "blend in, eat, move on" that Takahashi lives has an impressive amount of nuance to it. And Itou is obsessed with the idea of finally being seen as "normal," to the point of self-destruction. These are not happy people, but they're damn interesting, and they serve as quite the commentary on society: the pros and cons of both fitting in and standing apart from the crowd; how you might never really know what's going on with people you see every day; how much of a say you even have in your own identity, vs. what society decides to treat you as; etc. There's an awful lot to unpack, just in this first volume alone.
I am very, very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here.
Itou is a social outcast. She'd like to have friends, and a normal school life, but she just doesn't know how--and her attempts invariably fail spectacularly, and just make things even more awkward between her and everyone around her. And then she stumbles upon one of her classmates eating her teacher.
Takahashi is a monster pretending to be human, which had been going swimmingly until Itou bumbled into her most recent feeding. But she's thrown off balance when Itou doesn't scream, or run, or try to fight, but instead asks for Takahashi's help.
See, Itou is legitimately weird, and in witnessing Takahashi devouring another human being and (almost) not being found out, she realizes in an instant that even this inhuman thing is somehow better at passing as normal than Itou is. And if a man-eating abomination can pull that off, Itou thinks Takahashi can teach her how, too. She's desperate to believe that's true, in fact.
Thus begins a tentative relationship filled with misunderstandings, false assumptions, and some very dark turns. And I am 100% here for it, because if this volume is any measure, Common-Sense Monster is this formula done oh, so very right.
The characters here are distinctive, alive, and engagingly complex. Even the seemingly straightforward life of "blend in, eat, move on" that Takahashi lives has an impressive amount of nuance to it. And Itou is obsessed with the idea of finally being seen as "normal," to the point of self-destruction. These are not happy people, but they're damn interesting, and they serve as quite the commentary on society: the pros and cons of both fitting in and standing apart from the crowd; how you might never really know what's going on with people you see every day; how much of a say you even have in your own identity, vs. what society decides to treat you as; etc. There's an awful lot to unpack, just in this first volume alone.
I am very, very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here.
November 16, 2025
Itou, a socially awkward teenager, is jealous of Takahashi, a kind, unassuming classmate who gets along with everyone. Her life changes one day when she witnesses Takahashi devouring someone whole. It turns out the girl is actually a monster-and one who can blend into humans! In awe of her, Itou longs to be her friend. She begins learning how to act "normally" from Takahashi, but will Itou succeed? Takahashi's true goal?
The following is going to make someone mad: I liked it, but I hated it at the same time. There is an interesting premise to the story. However, the pacing felt uneven, with some scenes dragging on while others rushed through crucial developments. Additionally, the character development was lacking, as I wanted more depth and background for both Itou and Takahashi. The ending also left several questions unanswered, leaving me feeling unsatisfied.
The story had potential, but the execution fell short. Some plot points felt unresolved, and the characters' emotional depth was underdeveloped. Despite its flaws, the unique concept kept me engaged, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it could have been much better with tighter storytelling and more nuanced character arcs.
Should I continue reading the next volume? This is the thing, I want to continue, but at the same time, I have no interest in this manga. In summary, while the story's unique premise held promise, its uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and unresolved plot points left much to be desired.
The following is going to make someone mad: I liked it, but I hated it at the same time. There is an interesting premise to the story. However, the pacing felt uneven, with some scenes dragging on while others rushed through crucial developments. Additionally, the character development was lacking, as I wanted more depth and background for both Itou and Takahashi. The ending also left several questions unanswered, leaving me feeling unsatisfied.
The story had potential, but the execution fell short. Some plot points felt unresolved, and the characters' emotional depth was underdeveloped. Despite its flaws, the unique concept kept me engaged, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it could have been much better with tighter storytelling and more nuanced character arcs.
Should I continue reading the next volume? This is the thing, I want to continue, but at the same time, I have no interest in this manga. In summary, while the story's unique premise held promise, its uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and unresolved plot points left much to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2025
full of twists and turns with tastefully horrific art. this volume is 10 and a half chapters long! both of the leads are interesting. i’d say the horror art is the highlight, and i enjoy how ‘sketchy’ the art can look. i can imagine myself recommending this to my friends! ^^
January 14, 2026
What a delight. Gory and funny, with a focus on friendship and the pros and cons of fitting in. I see some of the tags are calling this queer and, I don't know, maybe down the line there will be a romance element, but as of this volume it's yuri of the "girls who are friends" variety.
January 4, 2026
Not gay enough
January 25, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ i absolutely LOVEEE the art style, the ways it depicts characters emotions (beautiful or “ugly”; good or evil) resembling their conversations is genius!
September 18, 2025
As I am trying to read as much GL manga as I can. I feel like I’ve been neglecting GL. It wasn’t my intention it just happened. Anyways back to common sense monster. I find the premise of this story to be truly fascinating. The execution however is extremely rushed. A lot happens in this volume it’s almost 200 pages. I found out this series is 3 volumes and the pacing now makes sense. I can definitely identify with Itou as I once was a teenage girl that didn’t quite fit in, no one called me a monster but I get the feeling of being isolated and latching onto the first person that gave me a hint of attention, sure the person was a person not a monster but still. I found the ending to be very enjoyable and can’t wait to see what decision Itou makes. My only gripe besides the pacing was the art. It distracted me several times and not in a good way.
January 15, 2026
*Main couple are both female.
*No noticeable cursing, Takahashi is shown in her underwear at the start and the teacher is implied to have sexually assaulted her/attempted to, but nothing explicit is shown.
*Monsters, mild gore, blood, threatening suicide.
*Toxic friendship, threatening to eat the other, common in the genre.
+ Artstyle captures the themes of the manga amazingly well. Can switch between cute/creepy while feeling consistent. One of the better yuri-monster mangas. Especially at the beginning, Itou does read as incredibly socially awkward, someone who really would need to be 'taught' to be normal. Takahashi's approach to humanity does feel rather monstrous but near the end we start to see more of the 'real' her, flaws and all.
-Itou's motivation to be normal is a little unclear. Her grandmother seems like a tough love character who accepts her own 'abnormality' as well as Itou's.
*No noticeable cursing, Takahashi is shown in her underwear at the start and the teacher is implied to have sexually assaulted her/attempted to, but nothing explicit is shown.
*Monsters, mild gore, blood, threatening suicide.
*Toxic friendship, threatening to eat the other, common in the genre.
+ Artstyle captures the themes of the manga amazingly well. Can switch between cute/creepy while feeling consistent. One of the better yuri-monster mangas. Especially at the beginning, Itou does read as incredibly socially awkward, someone who really would need to be 'taught' to be normal. Takahashi's approach to humanity does feel rather monstrous but near the end we start to see more of the 'real' her, flaws and all.
-Itou's motivation to be normal is a little unclear. Her grandmother seems like a tough love character who accepts her own 'abnormality' as well as Itou's.
July 1, 2024
I guess in the pursuit of fitting in, we do not care about the source, only the results.
Methinks FL has the touch of the tism
Methinks FL has the touch of the tism
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews