Citrus manga and anime are not for all the tastes. Sadly, most of the readers will divide themselves into yuri lovers and yuri detractors. However, Citrus is more profound, a mere comparison of being or not a yuri manga would not be fair with a love story that could transcend in the heart of any open reader. The moral of the story “Love does not have boundaries.” You cannot throw the manga away for being a lesbian story, but it is not for all the tastes, however.
The manga centers in two girls Yuzu and Mei. No matter if they are step-sisters, call it luck, destiny or cliché, they fall in love. Nevertheless, the attraction will take time to appear. Yuzu will need to understand what she is feeling. Her innocence and inexperience lead her to make decisions that affect all the characters around. And as for Mei, her responsibility will always cloud her emotions to the point that the reader will notice her coldness. I am sure that you could have some empathy with the characters and the story of this couple.
Regarding the story, it is more than a yuri manga. For me, the plot is more complicated. It is what we do when we are in love. We do not have a manual when we love someone, we try to follow our instincts, heart, and sometimes we fail and do some clumsy things like Yuzu or some unskillful actions as Mei’s. Honestly, I liked the story, you can perceive some realism on it, and you can enjoy it even if you are not a yuri lover.
Furthermore, Sabutouta took the right decision not to prolong the manga too much because the predictable events could destroy the plot. The choice was bright, and I am glad of how all was resolved. However, the conclusion feels rushed, and perhaps the reader will notice a time gap missing. The story could have more details on the outcome, but overall the manga developed a very delightful story, and I enjoyed most of it.
Deeply exploring the manga, the characters. They have an emotional progression. Yuzu and Mei are very different in personality, but you will observe the chemistry between them. As for the other characters such as Harumi, Matsuri they are the perfect complement to our main couple. In the beginning, these characters create some chaos, but it helped to have a beautiful view of the figures’ contrasts, and in the end, friendship will be the most important for them.
On the other hand, the manga is very well developed. Sabutouta did a magnificent job. The art is exquisite, detailed and shows the emotions of the characters. Great work, hon!! Also, the design of the panel helped the transition from panel to panel, and the dynamic of the story is not taken away from the shifts. It was enjoyable seeing this kind of art in every volume.
Lastly, I am feeling a bit sentimental because Citrus ended but it was the right decision. I am sure that you will enjoy reading the manga. The story will hook the reader and will take your breath.
