To be quite honest, I don't understand why this series is rated somewhat poorly. Does romance have to be action-packed, and filled with drama, and have insanely macho masculine men? Does there really have to be a damsel-in-distress at every passing moment for the MC to rescue, or plan to rescue?
No. There really doesn't have to be one. This manga will show you why, and hopefully, charm you with its beauteous simplicity.
The synopsis is exactly what it says: this really is the story of a boy, and his girlfriend, or a girl, and her boyfriend. Whichever you prefer.
Story:
When it comes to the story, you get your average slice-of-life coupled with the moe moments, and the moe flowers bloom, etc. so there isn't really too much to talk about there, but the protagonists recognize their feelings for each other rather quickly, and act on them (thank goodness) instead of the generic back-and-forth "action" that we typically see in modern manga.
Art:
The art isn't anything terribly fantastic, but it conveys the emotion that the characters feel rather clearly, and it's still rather up-to-date with today's standards. I would say it's not anything special, but its quirks make it rather easy on the eyes, and enjoyable.
Character:
This is where I'm rather happy regarding this story. The characters have very gradual development throughout the story, but near the end, they change their attitudes rather quickly. Perhaps, I'm not experienced enough with relations in real life to say too much on this subject, but it was rather surprising. The development between the MCs is something already, but the side characters all get their own moments in the spotlight from time to time, and it becomes apparent that growth isn't limited to just the protagonists, but the ones supporting them as well.
Enjoyment:
This was so ridiculously easy to read, enjoyable, and stress-free *cough waiting for Kingdom chapters cough*. Hah, but banter aside, there's very little drama, and the manga explores the situations that young people growing up usually encounter, and how in this case, they choose to communicate. They choose to try to understand each other, instead of following the beaten path of miscommunication.
Overall:
Today's Yuiko-san might just be a little different from tomorrow's Yuiko-san. There were some minor quirks that irked me, but they could be enjoyable for the next person over. I give this a 9/10. Purely enjoyable from a slow pace-of-life standpoint. To those that enjoy a manga on the more peaceful side, this is a hidden gem indeed.
