When you’ve read the synopsis of the manga, it’s so easy to misunderstand its nature at first. The premise is perverted, making it look like a comedic ecchi story, and the narrative is parody-infused. You would have the impression that the main protagonist Kurosawa is inspired by the character of Light from Death Note. The way the manga tries to characterize him is done in such manner and style that there is seemingly no hope for the story to become serious and go all-out with its parody aspect. Each chapter could have been just Kurosawa preying on a new target for his “meals” and repeat the cycle. The manga could have even just gone all-out in shamelessly abusing the premise for the sake of comedy. However, I was wrong.
As the story progresses, it starts to depart from its parody nature and direct itself towards a more serious route. It does involve issues such as romance, bullying, and friendship. We get to know more other characters such as the timid yet resentful Kitahara, the bitch bully Sugawa, the happy-go-lucky otaku Nagaoka, the approachable and friendly Takigawa, and the list goes on. They are key characters involved in the progression of the story and Kurosawa’s transformation. They are also characterized well-enough that they don’t feel insignificant to the story while not trying to compensate their personalities. With this change of pace and nature, the readers can be divided into two groups: those who liked the non-serious style more and those who embraced the change and actually think it’s a great thing. I belong to the latter. Unexpected rollercoaster of feelings arise while unfolding the conflict and resolution of Kurosawa’s tale. In a way, it’s a coming of age story about how a person tries to deal with his comfort zone symbolized by the cramped stall that he regularly goes into where he can be truly himself. Onto the theme of the manga which is redemption, it succeeds in its attempt to transform a character beyond hope and forgiveness into a changed person that have properly reflected on his deeds.
While it has developed Kurosawa’s character well, I was hoping that Kitahara got the same treatment too. Little was known about her character background despite being a very significant character in Kurosawa's tale. Not that we are not shown much about her actions and thought process, but its lacking in a way that we don't know much why she acts that way aside from being a victim of bullying. As much as she tries to deny it, she is the same as Kurosawa. When she discovered the existence of Kurosawa’s comfort zone, she tries to use it to her advantage in order for her to let out the inner demons she is struggling with. I’m not going to dive deeper into the issue as its already borderline spoiler territory, but I wished she had more spotlight as a character suffering the same predicament as Kurosawa and not merely a victim on the verge of breaking apart.
Part of the charm of the manga is that the reader will always find something relatable in it. We’ve all experienced the social experience called “school” at a time of our life. Whether you were studying hard to achieve optimum results, goofing around with your friends, excelling in sports or extra-curricular activities, being the victim or the loser in class, experiencing the bliss known as love, or being the all-around aloof guy who doesn’t care about his surroundings, the setting of the manga perfectly encapsulates that atmosphere. While it’s filled with conventional tropes and stereotypes, it cannot be denied that they have a degree of truth and realism in it.
Overall, if you desire an eccentric yet insightful coming-of-age story then this manga is for you. It tackles on several issues well enough that it might catch you off-guard with its initial parody type of a perverted story. It’s consistent despite the changes of the tone of the story midway and it offers you so much more than just your average weird comedic story.
