Suki desu Suzuki-kun!!

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When I first looked at the cover and the short description I thought that it isn't worth to read but then I gave it a try. I was captivated by the storyline so much I read all the english translated chapters in a day. The beginning of it was very-very-very cute(I just love the fact that someone would do literally everything for his/her partner to feel better and they wouldn't cheat on them. lol) but the ending of it(Not the whole since when I'm writing this there are only 61 chapters translated out of 95) was as bittersweet as a lemon hinted with just a ... teaspoon of sugar. I was literally shocked at the end and had to look at the wall for like 30 minutes to finally process it. The only reason I read it till the end was because of the Chihiro and Shinobu couple although I wouldn't say that they were the main couple at the beginnings. I liked the art(kind of chibiish) and the desperation of the main characters, but because of the ending I gave it a 7/10.

Just a friendly reminder. If you start reading this manga and you don't like the typical cliches (Cheating, Death of an important person, Sudden realization of a loss, Trauma, Loss of memory, etc) you should stop it at about the first "half". It will feel unfinished but believe me, it's better to feel that instead of the normal ending. Until the ~31th chapter(the separation[not really a spoiler since its stated in the very first page of chapter 1]) the story was very cute and all, the only problem were the too quick falling in love(literally 1 or 2 chapter).

What would you do if I told you that this manga should have been at most 40-45 chapters long, and then you turn around and see that it has 95? You'd probably think I'm insane. Well, I kind of am, but that's besides the point.

When I first started reading Suki desu Suzuki-kun, I enjoyed it immensely. For the first third (roughly 30~ CH), it's perhaps one of the 'cutest' shoujo manga out there that you can find. However, past that point, it's just same old shit that's no less frustrating than having it rain when you planned to visit the beach.

Note: Spoilers ahead. ... So, be warned or something. I guess.

Story, ah, story. That good part of the manga has very little story, and mostly just character growth. The terrible part of the story has no character growth, and just story. See where the problem is? Okay, let me elaborate a bit.

First third of the manga is devoted completely to characters. There's very little to the complete narrative, but that was fine. What little story there was had a decent flow and thanks to the competently written characters, it was enjoyable. It had something for everyone; cute, innocent couple, childhood friend, unrequited love, that general 'drama' feel while still maintaining non-frustration levels of it. Things were going smoothly for the most part; our idiot main couple was doing their thing, side couple was finally getting the gears spinning and then bam, all of that is literally forgotten. And by literally, I do mean LITERALLY. In case you're still tilting your head in confusion, one of the characters suffered a severe case of amnesia. Why? Because it's more dramatic that way.

I've roughly skimmed chapters past the one I'm currently at (so last third of the manga), but it's mostly just the same 'cry cry cry' drama that's quite boring. So, I won't comment on it much, but I will comment on chapters ranging from 30-60. It's absolute chore to read. Same shit is repeated over and over again, and the only thing that remotely salvages the story is comedy. Without it, it has no meaning. None of it does.

I never understood the sudden fallout the author went with. If this manga was 40-45 chapters long, it would have been perfect. She could have had enough drama with unrequited love stuff while also maintaining somewhat of a reasonable focus. But, no. Manga devolves into what I like to call 'chronically in need of tears'. It simply means that it's sole purpose becomes to tug on your heartstrings, and nothing past that point matters. Hell, even after two years skip, it could have been salvaged if the story wasn't beset so hard on making you 'feel stuff'.

To this day, I never understood Hikaru's decision to go after amnesia girl. It's partially got to do with the fact that they were like 14-15 when they fell in love, but it's mostly because it's a shitty thing to do. He's consciously trying to make her remember (even though he says he doesn't), despite constantly claiming he doesn't want to hurt her. This side of the story lost all meaning because it's a basic repeat of the thing we went through: ooh watch him woo her again. Rather, the entire thing is a repeat; the side couple keeps up their 'will they won't they' game with the side girl crying in practically 95% panels she's in, and side dude constantly bitching about how she loves main guy and not him. Still, perhaps because they don't show up a lot, their story is somewhat better than main couple, and it's okay to read if nothing else.

The story got destroyed beyond the point of repair after the time skip for the sole purpose of melodrama. It's when the manga went from being simply dramatic (something that COULD TECHNICALLY happen in real life) to melodramatic (something that could NEVER happen in real life), and it just meant that my initial 8-9 score dipped to what you're seeing now (and even this is generous. Whatever points you see above 1 are mostly due to first 30 chapters).

Similarly to the story, characters are bonkers. For the first thirty chapters, it was fine; we've seen growth, we've seen them getting closer together and attempting their awkward teen love. However, after the time skip, they're just doing the same shit except this time it's MOOOORE DRAMAAAAAA...tic. The stakes are irrelevant. What was the point of having 2nd side dude bang the main girl? Never ONCE during their interactions have I felt they even remotely liked each other, let alone anything else. They've banged because the readers could go 'kyaaaaah nooo wayy, that's so like ewwww'.

I just don't understand the transition of any of the characters. Main dude: oh, girl I dated suddenly stopped talking to me for 2 goddamn years. Better hang on like a thirsty mf I am.
Side dude: oh, girl I kind of liked when I was 14 broke a random, shitty promise. Better hate all women in the world and just play around with them like whatever man.
Side girl: oh, the guy I've been thirsting after since my boobs appeared is soooo melancholy, better keep suffering next to him 'cause why the fuck does it matter at this point.
2nd side dude: uuh I have no purpose but to create drama. Literally.

I don't mind drama, but I do mind melodrama. The reason is simple: drama can pull out your emotions while not aiming to do so, while sole purpose of melodrama is pull out your emotions. I don't like being emotionally guilted into feeling something. And that's what the characters and the story, in combination, have been attempting to do since like CH 30-35. "Ooh, look at us, poor us, we're so miserable, nobody is happy, that guy lost his TRUEEE LOVE, this girl can't stand seeing that guy suffer over his TRUUEEE LOVE so she's suffering too, oh that poor guy that keeps fooling around, HOW POOR IS HE. Yup, believe it or not, from a relatively chill, cute and pretty well-written romance, we devolve into basic teen angst for no reason other than 'look at how miserable we are, isn't this just so painful'. Fuck that.

If you're planning on reading Suki desu Suzuki-kun, I'd recommend you leave until the separation. Past that point, it devolves into a monstrosity not worth reading about. Until that point, there's a decent character growth, and you can imagine the rest of their story yourself, as you'll sure as hell think of some better way to progress it rather than just restarting it back to the very beginning.

Yup, I'm dead inside. Or maybe I'm just not that easy to manipulate emotionally? Hmmmmmmm....

lol I couldn't stand seeing the main pair being like that in the manga when they were 13-15. Especially Sayaka. Her jealousy my gosh- I actually skipped most of the parts between her and Hikaru. I didn't mind her friendship with Chihiro since it was wholesome, but most of the part.. I REALLY FELT BAD TOWARDS CHIHIRO. Omg poor her- even though Hikaru is dumb asf to realize his childhood friend's feelings. Ngl I prefer Chihiro and Shinobu wayyyyy more. I wish they deserve more attention in the manga, but since the artist preferred the other two :,))) HONESTLY Chihiro and Shinobu's relationship touched me ... more than the other pairing lol.

Anyways the art is a super b <3

Also I recommend this manga to everyone that actually likes drama and a bit of lemon xD