May 24, 2023
Nyanta to Pomeko is the answer to a classic trope found in many manga and anime: the misunderstanding. It could be anything from accidentally walking in on someone changing, accidentally tripping someone, accidentally falling on top of someone, etc. These incidents are then misconstrued to make the character in-question seem bad. Oftentimes, it is a gag that's played for laughs, but this manga tries to show the consequences of repeated misunderstandings that are not taken as jokes. Although the execution starts off as overly depressing and hard to read, it transforms into a wholesome story that changes its characters for the better.
The main character, Makoto
...
Shinjou, seems to draw inspiration from edgy, narcissistic, cynical, society-hating loner characters like Hachiman Hikigaya. A series of misunderstandings in primary and middle school destroyed the few relationships he was able to make and caused the people around him to spread rumors that completely destroyed his reputation. He became seen as "the person who ran away from an injured girl" or "the person that pushed that girl to the ground," and so whenever people talked to him or confessed to him, it was only to trick and betray him. All of these experiences have molded him into a cynical loner who goes out of his way to not only avoid human connections but ensure that nothing he does could possibly spread false rumors or cause misunderstandings. Initially this appeared as a self-insert or a misunderstanding of how long people hold grudges, but I do acknowledge that this is a genuine way tat people think after being tricked numerous times.
For some people, it might be easy to sympathize with him. However, he is initially so overly negative and gloomy to the point where the story becomes hard to read. I understand that people can carry trauma and resentment for past experiences for a very long time, but I would think that (in the broader timespan) simple traumatic events and betrayals that happened many years in the past could be forgiven or forgotten about. It is very unrealistic for Makoto to not be willing to engage in even simple conversation with his sister or mother because they refused to believe him regarding an incident that occurred many years ago at this point. If their relationships are this dysfunctional then it is hard to believe that Makoto has not become a shut-in or a recluse already. Maybe it is just hard for me to understand considering that I have not gone through similar experiences, but this setup is very hard to believe.
However, after a while of depressing chapters, it was refreshing to see the story focus more on developing the relationship between Makoto and Anri Shinozuka, who instantly hit it off. Although a little formulaic, I do much prefer it to the edginess of the previous chapter. However, the rather quick change made me feel as though it was a little rushed. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but there was potential for a more gradual development of the characters over the course of a longer story. This would have made more sense considering how overly depressing the setup of the story was; in reality, it might have taken a longer time for the story to progress the way it did. Furthermore, the need for a quick change rendered the subplot of his little sister and two past crushes completely irrelevant, as it is never utilized in the story. Regardless, the character development shown in the story is pretty amazing, and the main characters are practically different people compared to how they were at the beginning of the story.
Overall, Nyanta to Pomeko is a great (albeit short) story about trauma and trust, and I have gained a new appreciation for it as it ended. Even though it starts off as overbearingly edgy, it transforms into a story that makes you genuinely sympathize with the characters and want to see them overcome their obstacles. I would recommend anyone who was initially turned off by the pure depression that was this manga to give it another try now that all the chapters are out.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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