Thirty-something-year-old Ayako never expected her college-student neighbor, Takumi, to confess that he’s in love with her. But now that he has and her attempts to dissuade him have failed, Ayako feels more torn than ever. That is, until her daughter Miu shares some shocking news–Takumi’s already moved on to someone new! But if this is the development Ayako’s been waiting for, then why does she feel so upset? And why is she spying on him while he’s on a date with his new flame?!
I want to like this series, but it makes so many questionable flashback choices (and emotional immaturity choices on the heroine's part) that I just can't. I suspect that the light novel may be a bit better, based on the prose short stories at the end of both this and the first volume.
Santa bikini! And age shaming! Also, Ayako and Takumi plan to date after the machinations of the wily Miu. But things go wrong and there are some boob jokes because this story would die without them.
What’s the point of a title that you only like half the time? I guess it depends on how good that one half is, but in this instance it’s rather not quite enough and that’s a bit of a shame. The second volume chance is where a series tends to figure itself or lean into its worst excesses and I think you can guess where this one’s headed.
Not that I particularly need these age gap romances in my life; literally the only one I’ve seen through to the end and enjoyed was My Darling Next Door and that was a pure shojo title. This is… most assuredly not.
One big problem is that Miu is so much more interesting than either of the main characters and I’d love to see her in a more regular shojo story just because she’s got a whole street smart vibe that I really think works for her beyond her being there for her mom.
And Ayako basically becomes a moron and a stalker this volume. After she’s tricked into shooting down Takumi, Miu suggests that he’s already moved on and that moves us to the “hilarious” following-along-on-the-date staple that goes in a direction I didn’t hate, but the basis for it is terrible (I largely didn’t hate it because they introduce another supporting character I really liked).
Then we have everything else in this volume, which violates one very basic (and I would have thought obvious) tenet - don’t try to make something less problematic by leaning into the more problematic stuff. More likely, the story just doesn’t care and the reader isn’t supposed to, but I really do.
From yet more fanservice flashbacks to adult Takumi calling Ayako ‘Mama’ in his sleep while fantasizing, this thing leans so hard into the creepy that it manages to be just unpalatable at times. Look, yes, I know people do mommy play stuff, but maybe not with somebody who’s been raising you since you were ten?
And this damn series seemed to have some sympathy for Ayako at the start, but here turns her into a complete idiot for the sake of cheesecake. She’s also self-conscious and has zero confidence, not to mention a very fat-shaming section where we once more get the annoying attitude of a lot of manga that you might as well be dead once you’re 30+.
That whole Santa bikini thing (adroitly proving Manga Rule #1 yet again) is so idiotic because it beggars belief that Ayako saw what she bought, put it on as a “reflex” (though it would explain a lot of shonen heroines if they had a ‘fanservice reflex’), then showed it off to a young boy.
Blergh. I think I am done here, it’s just not good. Ayako being a big dork for anime is cute, even if she feels that she can’t properly express that love. Her over-the-top antics to buy something for herself are just… really out there. This story does not respect her and feels very ‘just show up to look busty and we’ll make a point of how good you were to raise Miu so it doesn’t seem as bad’.
There’s kind of an art to pulling off a good sex farce manga. My default for this is We Never Learn, which was not an especially brilliant story, but at least put the effort in to get where it was going. Maybe the stupidity is the point here, but it just feels mean-spirited half the time.
If this story wasn’t treating the age-gap or familiarity of our leads as a turn-on for one of them and had any respect for its titular character besides her large tracts of land, it could really pull something off, I think. But it’s not interested in shooting for the stars when it can drag itself through the mud.
2.5 stars - probably for the last time, as I cannot fathom spending money on something I enjoy nearly as much as I don’t. I think its heart is in the right place, on some level, but it’s a lot more concerned about waving boobs in your face at the same time.
well, we have yet another highly questionable scene with young takumi that brings down my enjoyment of this series. it’s a bummer because I’m really liking this aside from that, and I think they could have easily still had the same fan service outfits/panels etc without them being actual events from their past. for instance, this volume has ayako put on a sexy santa bikini and show it to ~10 year old takumi. she states that it’s something she bought by accident (okay, not super plausible but I can suspend belief for this) and then put it on ‘out of reflex’ (fine, maybe this would have been even remotely believable if you didn’t then SHOW IT TO THE CHILD) (¬_¬) lol. this could have easily been an image they still included and chalked it up to takumi’s imagination and/or later adult fantasies, but to have it be a legitimate thing ayako does really brings down the rest of her character traits.
otherwise, ayako is so endearing…her strength and determination in raising miu really makes this series for me, which balanced nicely with how inexperienced and shy she is with regards to her love life. takumi is earnest and kind, and I love seeing the older woman/younger man pairing. I totally understand how that would turn off many other readers here, especially when coupled with the ‘mama ayako’ bit… that being said, I will probably keep reading this, as I am still enjoying all other parts but the extremely inappropriate young takumi ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This manga is so cute. Is there a bit of fan service? Yeah... but overall, this is adorable.
In Volume 2, Ayako starts off sharing her feelings and claiming that she only sees Takumi as a boy, not a man, but when Miu shares he has a girlfriend already, 3 days after the rejection, Ayako becomes jealous. Following Takumi on his date, she gets busted... but: 1) finds out his "date" Satoya is a guy who dresses fem and is merely a good friend, and 2) is able to truly confess that she wants to be pursued by him. A date is planned, but he comes down sick, and they are able to spend time together when she brings him soup to feel better.
Going to continue this manga, as it can't be too much longer. Still a very fun ride. Recommend.
Ayako's attempts to dissuade Takumi from engaging romantically just lead to discovering more common interests, but finally Takumi understands the Ayako's views and decides to step off.
And then it gets interesting because when Ayako's step-daughter informs her (on purpose, since this is romantic stuff and teens are always smarter than grownups, right :)) that Takumi will take his new girlfriend out, Ayako gets jealous and decides to spy on the event :)
Art as in first volume, is excellent. Volume ends on the high note, I truly hope story eventually gets concluded.
This is the craziest title to a manga that is SO wholesome. But it really is wholesome.
Basically Takumi finally gets the courage to ask out Ayako because he just can't give up his love for her. However, poor Takumi gets sick but Ayako comes to try and help him and hilarity begins.
This is just super cute, all the characters are great, it's not too raunchy but not pg, and it just has a lot of great cute moments. Def my go to after sweat and soap ended.
I like the progression and the characters are taking on dimension. Not like a lot of similar themed manga , where there's one misunderstanding after another that prevents things from progressing normally; the progression is actually kinda what would be expected in this situation. I'm really looking forward to the next volumes!
This series continues to remember the imporant aspect of "Rom-Coms" which is to actually deliver on both the Romance and the Comedy. Luckily this volume manages to pull this off and their are some legitimate moments of comedy mixed in with the pining and longing. There are a few jokes which successful land to the point the reader will laugh out loud at the antics as they play out.