Yankee-kun to Hakujou Girl
Love's in Sight!

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Girlfriend with an added element is probably a genre of its own at this point.

This is another one in my line of manga I began reading from a strange time. A cute story that doesn't do much to separate itself from the typical clichés of old times. Strange guy meets interesting girl, shenanigans ensue. However, the author was two steps ahead on this one. A story about a blind girl and a perceived delinquent can't just be carried about a will they / won't they. These are two different worlds, with clear problems on both sides, and the story doesn't try to ignore them. ... The story starts to head into real life much more than the usual romance deal, and it's delightful to find something like it.

Having a job while having a scar on your face, while being blind, the real life circumstances that come with those elements. Low wages, future opportunities, how to make a date captivating for somebody who can't see, how does a blind person move about in the world, work out? It asks the questions, and answers them with empathy, with love and care for the subject, and doesn't try to romanticize a disability for the sake of it. These are people with vastly different perspectives coming to terms with each other, and dating because they like slowly get to like each other. It goes beyond the simplicity of a relationship waiting to happen, and focuses on a world these characters might live in.

Not only are the protagonists great, but their friendships, and the hardships they experience because of whom the protagonists are. The main female lead's older sister being one of my favorite characters who's got a whole story for herself. The hardships of taking care of a sister who can't take complete care of herself for over a decade. The loneliness and lack of personal connections she sacrificed for something nobody asked of her. And characters being understanding of such situations feels so fresh and nuanced. Not all characters immediately enter conflicts, most resolve them because they communicate. It's just a nice level of positive realism.

I could keep praising for a while, but it isn't perfect. The art's pretty simple, repetitive, even if the story's enjoyable to go along with it. Some arcs drag, even if the message needs to be there, and others end too quickly to be as impactful as they could be. Specially the moments of unrequited love, and how to endure those relationships beyond the feelings they had. It's brushed aside for other little stories.

Overall, a good manga, with a great message and characters that aren't just cookie cutter tropes. Everybody has their life, aspirations, desires, problems, loves, rejections, experiences, and nobody exists for the sake of another. Sure, the manga uses the title as an interest piece, but it isn't all that's there. Beneath the superficial idea, there's a soul that I haven't found in all these kinds of romance manga.

7.3/10. A good, slice of life, with real life sprinkled in.

I'm a near blind person myself, with eyesight slightly better than that of the heroine of this manga (but really, our impairments are so different that it's pointless to compare.) I've been around a lot of other blind people with varying level of impairment when working with disability organisations and such, so my knowledge of visual impairment is pretty broad, and I'm writing this review to note that I was honestly floored with how much research the mangaka has clearly done- the accuracy of the visually impaired characters and the overall themes surrounding disability and the way Japanese society treats those who differ from the ... norm is really impressive for such a comfy read, especially considering it manages to stay so comfortable while realistically and delicately tackling topics that often lean to the heavier side.

I didn't go into it expecting much, I'll admit. You don't see a lot of manga featuring blind characters that could actually exist in real life and I picked it up for the cute style, not because I care if I'm well represented in a manga about a high school dropout trying to court himself a moeblob. But I found my expectations quickly subverted, because it nailed pretty much everything, from the accommodations a blind person might need and actual impairments themselves, to just the day-to-day of someone living with a disability, and the societal issues inherent to being disabled. I also really enjoy Yukiko as a character, independent of her disability- nobody in this manga exists solely as what holds them back, and the titular hakujou girl herself is no different. She's got a strong personality that makes her ooze with cuteness, and her fierce, often insistent independence is both very refreshing and more reflective of an actual blind person than the woobified white cane clad pitycripples you often see blind people (and disabled people in general, really,) represented as.

There are a million reviews singing the praises of the sugary sweet, light-hearted romance, so although I do love Morio and Yukiko's relationship I won't bore you to death rattling off specifics of my adoration. All the aspects of this manga that don't have to do with disability are just as splendid, as a matter of fact! But I rarely write reviews in earnest, or about media that deserves an earnest review, so I feel more qualified to simply discuss the bits that I know best. And something I know very well is that I think that this is a really fantastic social commentary and an educational, thoroughly enjoyable read. I hope my specialist input is of service to anyone wondering about the accuracy of information!

Yankee-kun to Hakujou Girl is a manga that completely surpassed my expectations. From the cover art, I expected a fluffy slice of life romcom, and could you really blame me? From the blatantly cheerful cover, to the brief and seemingly wholesome description, the pieces were already there for yet another forgettable time-passer to smile at. And then the genres cemented the deal for me as nothing to write home about, so I decided I'd give it a quick read as I was in the mood for some wholesome shenanigans. Little did I know the ride this manga would take me on.

From the first chapter, it ... really doesn't seem as though it's anything special. The delinquent who actually has a soft heart and meets a cute girl who he instantly falls in love with despite his seemingly unapproachable nature? Wow, haven't seen that one before! But really, though it does take a few chapters, the manga continues to introduce new characters, new dynamics, added themes, and actual conflict! I'd like to just do a quick overview of every element of the manga from this review out, to disclose every element, but trust me when I say it's strongest element is it's...

Characters: 10/10
With Romcom especially, a major gripe I have always had was stereotypes. The tsundere, kuudere, deredere, etc. I hate when authors get lazy, and simply turn to these tropes to rake in some easy character dynamic. Initially, this manga seems to be filled with them, but slowly every character, even the seemingly explicit, gain so much growth and depth. I was particularly impressed by Yukiko's character arc, as I simply expected her to stay a simple tsundere throughout. However, the way she so elegantly tackles the primary themes of the manga with such poise never failed to amaze me. And that goes for every character. Without spoiling anything, I can say that the dilemmas every single introduced character in this manga have are fresh, realistic, and nuanced. Not only that, but these characters in part bring up the other characters and bring further dynamics to their issues as well!

Story: 7/10
The story of the manga is well done, woven properly and never feels bumpy or disconnected. Though it does follow the usual romcom style, which is the arcs being finished individually within 7-10 chapters, every sequential arc does well at creating new concepts and doesn't feel like padding for chapters. I think this is because the manga releases the chapters in bunches rather than 1 at a time, so every arc feels like a very thought out narrative. It's not particularly great, but it doesn't pander, and that's impressive for a romcom. (I won't be talking much about it this review though but the themes present in every arc all connect well and it's gratifying to watch every story pan out thanks to it.)

Art: 5/10
The art is cute, and I personally liked it, but it's very, very amateurish. It can often hurt the more emotional scenes due to the lack of emotion on characters faces, and at times can kill the vibe the manga is going for. Male bodies are disproportionate and a bit stiff, and faces all look very, very similar, sometimes enough to confuse me who was who. However, one good point is that the mangaka draws Yukiko very well, and can make Morio extremely menacing (Like when he's about to beat up the bully.) With time the art has improved a little, but for now it's still a negative point.

Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall, Yankee-kun to Hakujou Girl is a great read, and holds a suprisingly engrossing story within it's seemingly generic lens. I highly recommend anyone to read this manga, especially fans of the romcom genre who want a little more nuance to their stories.