Ranked #1826

Bokura wa Itsumo (Manga)

Bokura starts out with a cozy small town atmosphere, and you don't realise the potaganist is a 16 year old girl until she tells us so herself, because the artwork makes all the characters look rather agelessly middle schooled.

So Nori is on her way to the train station to pick up a boy who is coming to live with his uncle now, due to unknown familial circumstances, only this boy has stayed in this town 8 years ago as well. On her way, she meets up with her friend Kyousuke but his girlfriend seems bent on glaring at Nori until she hastily departs. Hmm, suspcious. Back to The Boy Who Returns, who has now turned disarmingly handsome, 15 years old Haruna. Though on the way back, he feels unsentimental about the town and has little memories associates with the roads here, soon he and Nori find a place which makes him remember some happy times.

Nori is in her first year of high school while Haruna is to finish middle school this year. In her class, we meet her best friend, the pensive and somewhat in love with her long gone calligraphy teacher, Saeka. She sees through everyone's facades and is always one step ahead of the game. She seems to share some condescending chemistry with Kyousuke, but it's subtle and ambiguous what their relationship exactly is.

So we have these four main characters and the trials and tribulations they face, along with plenty of back stories on each of them and their respective pasts, which have been instrumental in shaping their current personalities. While the plot is simplistic, there is an ethereal feel to the entire storytelling process, supplemented by the atmosphere of the town they live in. So far, in 5 chapters, I have seen no unnecessary melodrama and the dialogue and inner monologue, while pithy is surprisingly precocious for a bunch of 16 year olds.

There isn't much romance or outrageous humour in any situation, rather a scene here or there may be funny or touching, but mostly, it's a look into the lives of youngsters and their motivations. It's not fast paced or terribly engrossing, but it does emanate a sense of content once you read it.
Each chapter comes out slowly but unwraps a new layer to each or all of the characters. It doesn't have any cliched traits or the overbearing sudden-realisation moments of head-over-heels love, yet it isn't replete with annoying shoujo stereotypes such as insecure lovelorn-ness or a pathetic mess of a sobbing girl.

What is of course most touching and engrossing about this gentle read is that each character is evolving, or having made up their minds that they needn't evolve because they are already their perfect versions, make mistakes, and resolve to improve. So even if the events progress might be slow the story is constantly MOVING FORWARD, not just in terms of romantic development which of course any shoujo romance is all about. This plot provides a refreshing look into high school for kids who are obviously too grown up for it! read more

The plot is a slice-of-life focusing on the day-to-day experiences of four teenagers: the energetic and childish Nori; the sad but mysterious Haruna; "Prince" Kyousuke, the popular one; and the mature and beautiful Saeka.

Bokura wa Itsumo begins with Haruna's return to their small but comfortable town and unravels from there, introducing the trials each character must face. It's a sweet story that never once feels forced; there's no pointless drama but at the same time it's moving forwards consistently.

It's not unique - familiar themes are covered in this manga, after all - but the ultimate result is endearing and fresh; perhaps, in part, due to the eerie and almost delicate atmosphere of their 100% normal town.

The art is stunning, consistent and clear. Basically, it's typical shojo at its best. No complaints here.

Each chapter focuses on another one of our four main characters and their interactions with the people around them. Of course, these characters are all characters we have seen before but with refreshing touches that make them feel new. Their humanity, however, is both inspiring and irritating; while it's nice to see them reaching out for one another, stumbling, and trying again, I feel it's going in an almost "Bokura ga Ita"-esque direction, which I can't approve of. Fingers crossed this manga can still recover yet! read more