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For a long time, when it comes to harem manga/anime, you either drank the kool-aid or you didn't. Going into any harem series came with the expectation that "Yeah, this'll probably be silly and dumb, but why not?" Sure the male protagonists were as dry as stale bread, sure the female love interests were little more than another anime trope to be checked off, but really what else did you expect. Recently, however, it would appear that more and more harem series are asking a very interesting, potentially groundbreaking question: What if we actually wrote a believable romance.

Mikadono starts like many of its peers. Our ... protagonist, Yuu, is thrust into an unprecedented situation - he has to take care of three of his prodigal classmates by being their housekeeper. They're pretty, they're talented, and by god they are totally out of his league! Or so...that's what we think. You see, Mikadono seems to be aware of the dime-a-dozen series that are some variation of "Super Interesting Girl likes Not-So Interesting Me!" and deconstructs the idea with a simple question: Isn't it unfair to put these girls on pedestals. Each of the sisters are talented, and to any onlooker would seem to have their lives all sorted out. But let's face it, you don't get to the top of your respective practice without sacrificing a whole lot. For some it's time, for others it's money, and for the Mikadono sisters it's allowing themselves to live a normal, fulfilling life.

That's where Yuu, remember him, comes in. Yuu knows better than anyone the consequences of this lifestyle, his mother was a famous actress who, in her final days, asked him to make a happy family - seemingly passing her own unfulfilled wish on to him. Yuu breaks the standard convention of being a simple, east-to-project-onto protagonist. He's not just a competent cleaner or cook, Yuu is a deeply empathetic person. He understands better than anyone the struggles of the sisters and thus makes it his mission to give them a happy family life. Yuu isn't just an interesting protagonist, he's a deeply likeable one. He goes the extra mile every chance he gets to help the sisters achieve their goals and still find time to live normal lives. He isn't just nice, the kid's downright angelic.

It's Yuu's kindness that addresses another common issue in harem (and honestly most) romances, the believability of the attraction. If all it takes to make the love interest swoon are basic acts of human decency, our suspension of disbelief gives out rather quickly. Too many anime rush past the ignition point – that moment where a connection turns to a spark, where friendship turns to something more, when a character begins to fall for another. One of the strongest feelings I had while reading Mikadono was, “If I was in these girls position, I’d probably fall for Yuu as well.” Each romance is brought on by a genuine connection made between characters – there’s no rushing to the “good stuff” because seeing how are characters fall in love is the “good stuff.”

The sisters, for their part, are just as charming as Yuu. Whether it’s the princely Kazuki, strong-willed Niko, or the sarcastic Miwa, each are so fun to read. Seeing them overcome their struggles can often leave you forgetting this is a romance manga. And believe me, for many their struggles are all too real. From losing passion in your talent, to worrying you’ve gotten complacent, to dealing with imposter syndrome – the sisters are going through it and much of the story is dedicated to humanizing the supposedly inhuman prodigies. In the end, Yuu can only assist them in finding the path forward because he isn’t their knight in shining armor, he’s their friend who wants to lend a helping hand.

Mikadono is a refreshing story, one built to subvert the typical harem issues. It has a simple, fun premise that’s elevated with a loveable cast. It highlights the strength in reexamining a genre and understanding what made it work in the first place. No doubt, if more stories took after Mikadono, the whole landscape would greatly benefit.