Let’s start with what us shoujo readers look for first, the art. Plus 12! Clean lines, elegant almost aristocratic faces and detailed bodily actions. Eyes are big and glossy enough but don’t overpower the face. Each bishie is drawn distinctly, with the looks in cute correspondence with the character's personality. Meiko is constantly teased for having slanting cat like eyes, and you realize she really does look a tad feline. Background is not secondary, but crucial to each scene and therefore locations are drawn accurately if not beautifully. The characters have a limited range of expressions, but that's easily pardoned. The bishies love their sexy sidelong glances in this story and exploit that feature to their maximum extent! Kyoichiro always looks calm and collected, sometimes calculating. Shinoda alternates between smoldering glances, flirtatious teasing and no nonsense possessiveness. Mogami has the eager, puppy dog smile and underdog persona going for him while Hachiya lends the unexpected element whose droopy eyes and shy smile disarm Meiko.
A lot of investment is made in building solid personalities here. No character belies his nature by doing something absurd or delivering unnecessary dialogue. Each new character's attitude is delved into deeper in each chapter and hidden nuances come out, giving our leads three dimensional personalities. Each chapter ends in a cliffhanger with one or the other hero attempting something with Meiko, so the intrigue keeps you hooked in right till the end. They aren't always truthful or sincere, so Meiko is always on the verge of falling for the wrong fellow which makes for interesting drama and constant conflict and almost intimate scenes!
Dialogue is always fresh and edgy; you never know what one person is going to say to the other so it's never predictable or dull. Again, each character emphasizes his personality traits by the way they interact with Meiko, while the most anticipated cheeky delivery is by Shinoda. Past histories with Meiko are explored which cements their respective relationship with her. Clearly everyone feels deeply for Meiko and each confession/kiss is preceded by moments which make your heartbeat race! Most steamy scenes are courtesy Shinoda whispering quietly into Meiko's ears but others try their hardest to woo her as well.
The dry humor is evident in every other panel even if the same scene has heavy elements of romance/drama in it. Toma is blessed at delivering one liners like 'Capacity Exceeded...!!' or 'I wouldn't like it if my kitty kat were tamed'! Each character is magnetic is his own right and Meiko must constantly keep on her toes to keep from swooning on the spot.
Overall, this is a totally fun read, one in which no aspect of the heroine is annoying or disappointing to feminist readers and each character has its own unique and respectable role to play which makes this a very top quality shoujo manga indeed!
