Rintaro has been keeping secrets from his friends and it’s really bothering him, so he talks it out… with Waguri and Hoshina instead. But it’s a prelude to a story so wholesome it’s part of your complete breakfast.
Just the dang cutest. That’s about as simply as I can sum up this unbelievably heartfelt ode to the power of friendship. Yes, we’re waiting on Waguri and Rintaro to make their relationship happen, but this volume is far more about the friends we made along the way.
The guys accidentally overhearing what Rintaro says about them is one thing, but what he’s saying is just so dang nice. This is probably the only manga where the revelation of why the lead has pierced ears and dyes his hair turns out to be because of something very innocent and pure.
Watching the evolution of this incredibly innocent love story and seeing it pivot to also being about genuine friendship is a lot of fun. It can definitely feel a little TOO sweet at times, but that’s what it’s going for and I don’t mind it (and there are still some grittier elements buried in there).
Hoshina, especially, was really letting her prejudice against the boys fly last time, so it’s quite the nice turnaround to see her being so apologetic. Her slowly becoming more comfortable with the group is one of the best parts of the whole volume.
And, yes, we manage a ‘date in all but name’ visit to the aquarium for some quality time between Rintaro and Waguri that’s also, yes, adorable, dammit. There’s no other way to properly describe something like this, which wears its heart right on its sleeve.
The last section, where Rintaro feels comfortable enough to invite the guys to his place and the girls show up, is a very sweet way to end the volume. His mom is just the nicest, bless her, and her joy at seeing the connections Rintaro has made is palpable.
If you’re looking for something with high drama, this isn’t it. Much like Rintaro, it only appears to be rough around the edges, but is pleasant right to its core. A pair of safety scissors is more cutting. That’s what the story is going for and it nails that vibe. This is wonderfully cozy.
4 stars - it may lay it all on pretty thick, but it doesn’t feel that way, which is a testament to how well it’s written. It remains a really solid read with a surprisingly high dollop of heart that impressively doesn’t veer into pure schmaltz.