That's Why I Sigh

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This wasn't what i was expecting when i started to read this story, what i experienced was one of those moments where preconceived ideas are lost.

The synopsis could say a little more and be worded differently but it will either make you think yes or no. Some points to add to it are that Kyou is an attractive young man and begins to get tired sleeping with various women, he decides he wants a normal youth love. When his friend has a crush on Rena a girl from another school Kyou starts to fall for her best friend Mako who is actually in love with ... Rena.

Starting the story i thought it would be just a great time filler. I didn't think much as the art looks a little 90s( which im now surprised to see it was released in 2008?) which may be a bit off putting to some. There it isn't much of an emotional roller coaster ride or swooning love for the characters, but;
Under the art is a great story with characters who have personality and are interesting. Mako is a great character and isn't the type of girl we see much/ enough of in stories. Kyou's friend is a little goofy rather than geeky and there are a few odd ball characters, a few plot twist, all in a mature fun way.

I enjoyed this story and easily see it as a series, quite an enjoyable read.

The one-shot, “That’s Why I Sigh”, was a really pleasant change of pace in contrast with the many other Yuri Dramas I read this week. To be fair, I have enjoyed everything I have reviewed up to this point, whether that enjoyment came from the success or failure of that manga as narrative, but what helps “That’s Why I Sigh” stand out among those entries is it’s restraint and grounded approach to conflict without glossing over it’s themes or simplifying its story. It was really refreshing to see a very believable lesbian character from an outside perspective even if the protagonist wasn’t necessarily my favorite, ... and the relationships both pre-existing and incidental felt very real and fleshed out in this one-shot. There are lovely and interesting parallels in this story, whether that be between different generations of LGBT+ individuals, trauma versus attraction, or the unrequited affections of a straight boy versus a lesbian. There are unfortunate implications in this story regarding what makes a healthy relationship to love and attraction, but “That’s Why I Sigh '' was told so gently and in such an interesting manner that I am more than willing to overlook that in favor of recommending this short story. Give “That’s Why I Sigh” a read, it’s a lovely and engaging story that strives for emotional honesty.

Didn't work for me. The high school lothario thing is such a weird trope, and building this around the idea that sex is meaningless to him until he meets someone he's not able to have sex with is weird. Leading up to (and leaving somewhat open) the possibility that he could "convert" his crush who is a lesbian is a weird choice. It's definitely a weirder choice than having a gay character pine after a straight person. Totally different texture between those stories.

That said, I just didn't vibe with any of the other characters at all. There's no meat to the main character's best friend ... or the drag queen father or the ballerina. The climactic incident comes out of nowhere. The way that the lesbian co-lead is confronted when unfortunate things happen is deeply insensitive. It's as if she is the only one who needs to learn any lessons, even though she is neither the protagonist nor doing much of anything wrong. The worst you could say about her is that she was being extremely overprotective and had to let go, but that's not much of a sin to hook the end of the story around. And as for the big scene between the protagonist and her, where he pleads with her to not hate all men: Way to make her sexual assault about you. Fuck off.

The art is extremely 90s despite being released in 2008(!). The impression it gave was as an older person publishing a book that would have flown better when they were young in a newer age when it won't. Kinda out-of-touch.