Sekine-kun no Koi
Sekine's Love

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Id actually give this manga an 8.5 and seriously, where are all the reviews for this work of art? To be honest though, I, myself only found it when doing the 2017 manga challenge and one of the requirements was to read a hidden gem. This manga is definitely a well hidden gem. I love shoujo manga with male protagonist because they are just so rare and I did not think I would stumble upon more of its species.
The story is pretty simple, the characters are older than high schoolers and in the work force, with Sekine being 30 and Sara,the woman, being who ... knows how old, possibly 23-25. Sekine is the male embodiment of the "cool perfection" archetype and Sara is the "happy go lucky". Sekine is a yes man doing whatever he is told because rejecting is too troublesome and most of the time just does not care doing extra work/being used. He lacks will, an ability to love, and hobbies and upon realizing that, on a whim decided to pick up a knitting hobby. He meets an old dude in a crafts shop and let the curtains rise on Sara, the shop owner whom he falls in love with. Spoiler not spoiler since there arent many other characters listed who could add to the romance genre this manga is listed as. So yeah, in short it is about an unhappy guy finding love.
I really enjoyed Sekine's character, he is a fairly unique character and it was fun exploring the enigma of his mentality. He did not have the best experiences with women since young, seeming to have a few traumatic experiences which stems from his inability to refuse. It doesnt go into detail with them, showing only some memory fragments here and there but I would believe he doesnt think too fondly of them. He is actually quite emotional, being quick to tear up which is really cute.
The art is hella nice btw. Sekine is finnneeee, especially young Sekine and non-megane Sekine. There are tons of knit items and strings in the manga which prob took a long time to draw. Props on that.
So yes, in conclusion i thoughly enjoyed this manga and hope more people will discover this diamond in the rough

Chapter 32 (dunno where 33 is)

Story 9:
It was great as my rating states, it felt a little bit unreal (so 10 is out of question + other reasons).
Sekine-kun no Koi is a story with a mixed josei and seinen vibe, meaning you have a girly romance with a mix of male perspective (dominated by male perspective). MC is an odd ball, he is basically an robo genius with no emotions of his, but as the manga goes so does story development.
My last statement can be compared to a blooming flower (story starts slow then you see magic happen, feels train moving faster than light ... speed, also it is majestic like unicorn on sunny rainbowy day).
Next will be why not 10, well it was unreal for me, why for me? I didn't meet a lot of genius ranked people (maybe), but his way of living seemed a bit too romanticized it was like here is MC he is demi god...So bow down to him (hyperbola of course but that how i saw it..at first). If you think that this manga is only about MC noooo you are wrong, it's simply that film started rolling with him, but in course of this story new people arrive and make this story RICH with different thoughts, feelings and experiences.
In the end story was fantastic yet it was lacking a bit in reality center. Though it was refreshing josei and seinen mix was something new you see males as being males you see females as being females for the most part (i think this author has a boyfriend or at least knows how some males function <-- Refreshing to say the least, now i know how frustrated females feel reading shounen or hardcore seinen ^__^)

Art 8:
I am biased against josei/shoujo art it is creepy as basement of drug dealer.....That being said character were great yet it had that girly vibe in there even like an faint echo, yet it still made a tiny bit creep out. Face expressions were good but body drawings well okishly great (still have that one drawing in my mind where MC's friends wife has alien like hands). Background was fine nothing great but nothing mediocre or bad. As for panel placement it was terrific (didn't have a problem finding the right panel) as for dialogue bubbles........also great (had you there for a micro second).

Character 10:
Yeah a rare thing here character development, past somewhat deep events and growth. MC was weird or should i say quirky but in due time he changed from R2D2 to Don Juan (but more like a monogamous one, simply a magnet for females), before that he was also a Don Juan but it was a mystery for me as if girls are suddenly utterly retarded (since at the start he was shown to have only good looks, academic smarts and bravado of a buffoon (since he really didn't understand what he did).
As the story goes you start to understand why he is a female magnet (if you think it was too short then deal with it, no spoilers). As for other heroes of this magnificent manga well they have their lives going for them, while MC is brooding or knitting people are actually go and do stuff (hard to believe that some mangakas remember this). MC Female is actually quite adorable in realistic way, she asks herself question that any person who meets opposite gender person who is amazing in almost every aspect. She felt real, some complexes some denseness at times but most of all she progressed (grew as a person).
Main villain in this story is villain only first few chapters then you suddenly understand that, that so to speak "villain" out grew his villainous acts (i don't know from what point...a subtle spoiler).
Speaking for characters they are alive, they have their own life going on and they don't stop or change abruptly due to story forced narrative. Supportive characters seem useless at some point but they actually support the story and are to be considered as people you meet for one day (i mean about real life), some change your life some simply are mobs (mobs to you not to everyone, remember this narcissistic p*&*).

Enjoyment 10:
I enjoyed it, i almost didn't have any bumps (where i questioned something), beside the point that MC was questionable at first (but still too white princy for me).
Also a quick heads up, there is NTR but in a mild form that it is faint and even pleasant (because it helps the story and is made not to frustrate you and your gray hair).
This manga was like a pleasant breeze for me it did have moments where i was feeling insecure (about drama unfolding, usually i feel anger not insecurity where drama is concerned in manga).

Overall 9:
Would i advice someone? Yes but only to people who like romance in their manga also people who can't go with a little bit cheezy aspects for drama (Female wise). This manga is unique since it shows you people with their concerns and actual train of thought also like a told ya earlier it is a mix between josei and seinen (30-70% or 40-60%).
Last but not least ENDING WAS A MAJESTIC, my inner girl screamed (I'm a male btw).

I mean this with all the love and seriousness that goes into a topic such as this, but Sekine is the most autistic main character I have ever read in manga. The way he views the world and how he interacts with the people around him seemed to resonate heavily with a version of the autistic experience of navigating love and relationships (according to my understanding). Not in a silly and quirky way. Not in a tropey and stereotypical way. But in a frustrating and self-destructive way. Sekine would come off as a total creep weirdo if not for his earnestness and honesty at the ... end of the day. He's an interesting person who does not fall into classic male tropes and the entire story feels very different from other josei I have read.

I liked how this manga addressed certain topics. I could feel his social anxiousness. I could feel his overwhelming anxieties and fears. I could feel his defeat. I really empathized for Sekine, even when he made choices I would have never suggested to a male looking to make a love connection, lol.

I liked it. I didn't super love it. But it was unique and I would definitely read it again.