First off, I've never seen or read a romance development that felt more realistic than You-Zitsu. Mind you; it's not the core genre either. Love simply doesn't come out of nowhere. It's not the typical boy fall in love with a girl just because he is cool or she is cute. No. Hell, feelings of love itself don't even exist at first. At some point in the story, there comes a situation that gets the two parties together for whatever reason it might be. But at this point, they will only be acquainted, might really come to hate or loathe each other, but they are aware of each other's existence at the very least. Then one step at a time, they grow closer as they experience all kinds of difficulties and through interacting with each other. At last, this goes on to deliver one of the most impressive, complex, charming, and realistic paintings of romance I have ever come across in fiction. You-Zitsu does this and much else with brilliance and a clear sense of direction. Everything is cohesive and fits together, there are times I have been confused, but things always make sense when we get it explained.
True, characters seem generic and one-dimensional at the surface, but that's a tool You-Zitsu uses to explore them deeply. And to show how humans are swift and flexible species that are excellent at hiding their true self or bury secrets deep in the heart. Every one of the characters you see before you is not their entire being. Anyone of them has an underlying core, one of which can have a tragic background of being bullied, suffering at the hands of abuse, or manipulation. Perhaps a close friend of someone committed suicide, which can be the fundamental reason that shapes a person to be who they are now. Maybe someone has done something they regret in the past but are unable to move on. Some might reject the notion by using a false facade to hide the scars they bear. Others may use drastic measures to ensure the secret they don't wanna share won't get out in the world at all costs, no matter the means. If you're trickier, then perhaps climb the social ladder and protect yourself by using others to shield or hide your vulnerabilities and drown your sorrows as close to the bottom as possible.
It's also one of the most realistic take-ups on character, issues, and experience as a whole. The setting takes place in Advanced Nurturing High School. A special education facility that's purpose is to nurture students who will have the county's future rest on their shoulders. Unlike most schools, it has a unique and very odd system for regulations and administration. For one, classes range from A-D, and you'll only benefit from it if you graduate from class A or do you? Not to mention, this school is a place where the class either rise together or fall as one. There is no in-between. A student's behavior will affect the whole class, so they must tread cautiously to avoid it, or expulsions might be thrown at them to put them in place. Classes compete against each other with class points. On top, it has an interesting money system. Students can buy anything from daily necessities to video games and other stuff directly from the campus's own shopping center. It has many places for entertainment, such as cinema and karaoke.
Even the exams in this school are unconventional and something you won't see anywhere with abnormal changing rules. Every new exam is a new challenge with its own rules and logic. If it got loopholes that don't break the rules or if the school doesn't find out, you're free to use them at your own risk. It's that kind of school. The exams these students have to take are genuinely excruciating and challenging. Simply, a single person attending or not can be the line between heaven and hell. It's also worth noting before a student gets thrown into class A-D. Everyone is evaluated based on their academic ability, intelligence, decision making, psychical ability, and cooperativeness. If class A consists of the top-notch students that excel in some of these areas, then obviously class D would be where the failures and defects are but is that really true?
What if someone cheated the system to get placed where they wanted? What if they didn't go all out during the evaluation and interview process willingly? How does the school deal with them? I leave it to your imagination. However, all things considered. What is You-Zitsu really about? It's about self-acceptance and maturity. We follow the journey of the dull loner Ayankokouji Kiyotaka who likes to spend time alone rather than with others. But that's only on the surface-level. Kiyotaka is actually extremely intelligent and quick on his feet. My boi literally went out of his way to score 50% on every one of his tests just cause—what a mad lad. He has an incredible psychological level. He can calmly deduce how the person feels without any issues and almost always hit the right points. Kiytoka got an eccentric and odd view of the world and society. He understands the text-book version behind every or most common intention and feeling that exists. Still, his unable to accurately comprehend how to feel and act in certain situations.
Kiyotaka wants to live a normal and average life. Hence he hides his ability from others. That's his only goal as he enrolls in Advanced Nurturing High School at first. Kiyotaka is one of the core reasons You-Zitsu was so damn fun for me. His inner-monologing, his views on different situations, and those witty and exciting mind games are what makes You-Zitsu a blast. His seemingly simple and complex take on everyday situations is charming to read and gave me many fresh and different perspectives. His growth throughout the first part of You-Zitsu is so damn satisfying and worthwhile. He is such an extremely well-written protagonist. This is the story that started with him looking at humans as tools he uses until they served their purpose. Kiytotaka's mentality and the unique way he has been brought up make him unable to have genuine feelings. But slowly, as he gathers more sense through interactions. Any form of experience he is able to witness slowly goes from the notion of perceiving human as a mere book that will teach this and that to something more authentic. He ends up finding something he unconsciously ends up longing for. You-Zitsu is a thrilling journey about humanizing Kiytoaka from this emotionless and expressionless guy to someone who can ease into society and express genuine emotions.
Did I forget to mention that You-Zitsu has an incredible illustrator? Not only are the volume cover always eye-catching. Shunsaku Tomose's art-work is seriously stunning, especially those detailed colored illustrations he makes. I know what you are after, and I am here to confirm that waifus are voluptuously well-drawn. Many got plump and savory thighs and a drop-dead gorgeous design. Expect to see all kinds of variations of them. Ranging from an adorable big-brained smug queen with some insanely addictive facial expressions. A two-faced thot with some brain damage and serious issues she has to work out. One charming ice-cold princess that grows warmer as we progress. A waifu that spreads burst of sunshine wherever she threads and a got a very energetic and lively personality: a gyaru that is ineffably adorable and an absolute cinnamon roll. She got the right amount of tsundere and sweet with a refreshing and realistic nature. We even got one of those shy cuties that ooze of pure must protect energy. Did I mention we got an explosive tomboy tsundere with one hell of an impressive kick and sharp tongue? The list goes on.
Do you need any other reason to read You-Zitsu, then it's for the female that is not only candy for the eyes but well-written, fleshed out, and developed. No one feels like a cheap imitation of the other, and they all got clear and distinct quirks. I won't lie. That's partly the reason I picked up You-Zitsu but is sure shattered my expectations, as noted before. That's not even counting the amount of well-written and executed male characters. I didn't expect to like some of them as much as I do. Even though Kiyotaka is clearly the biggest star of the show, I like that he is so relaxed and floats along without a care in the world, even if that is not his real personality. I have to confess—a story where the person hides his ability and intelligence. I didn't take it could be this damn engrossing and compelling. We also got the typical idiot trio that is perverted and eats at your life span at a rapid rate. Gosh, the stupid things they do makes my head hurt. Well, not all of them are bad, and some of them grow, starting to take things seriously and not as a mere joke.
While others only get played like a fiddle and, in the end, become a goner as they should. Good riddance. Then we got a fellow who cares not about the class or anything and lives life at his own tune. He is the embodiment of not giving an eff whatsoever and showcases how to enjoy life to the fullest. You got that generic and overused guy who is at the forefront of the class's popularity. Everyone comes to him to ask for advice and questions—someone who essentially takes the leader's role in the class. Mind you, that's just on the surface as most of these students have big flaws about them that put them in class D alongside a more complex underlayer. This is not exclusive to this one class either, but it might take form differently for others.
If we are talking about the so-called bad guys, there is an evident competition to get to the top among the class or guard it against others. Moreover, each respective class got its own hierarchy and ways to regulate the classroom. Some might use violence, brutality, lies, and other more forceful means. One other example is by being conservative and defensive. Still, there might exist a party that might rely on offense, not holds anything back. There's the option of being united and by being positive and rely on one another. Who knows, there might be a certain someone out there who views their colleagues as chess pieces, tools, or pawn that only is there to serve the purpose for them and nothing else. As a result, You-Zitsu got incredibly entertaining and complex class with different views and ideas, and methods for reaching the top.
The author Shougo Kinugasa is seriously no question asked one of the most ingenious writers I have come across. This is a masterpiece. But I want to note that You-Zitsu is a very slow-paced ride. I would urge you to read at least four volumes before deciding otherwise. That's when I really got hooked and couldn't stop reading. This was a very well-paced light novel, but it felt a bit abrupt when jumping to places at times. It was not to the extent of being a glaring issue but worth noting for future readers. It was not an issue for me at all. Shougo clearly got better at writing and explaining, and the pacing felt even better. As of this moment, You-Zitsu is split into two parts depicting the first year and the second year. The latter is only getting started, but so much excitement has already been built up events foreshadowed, so it's gonna be a banger, no doubt. It also seems like the excellent waifus design with a complex personality will keep on piling. And you know what, I so damn wholeheartedly welcome it. Let's say you are an Anime or a Manga fan. What should you go with, you ask? Manga has not got the best art. It cuts stuff out and burns through content fast. Kiyotaka, shown to be expressionless, is very expressive and emotional instead. It ruins his character and the experience of You-Zitsu.
Then there's the anime, which is lackluster and feels more like an advertisement for the light novel, not to mention, the director was biased and gave all the spotlight to his waifu. When in actual fact, many other females should've had a moment to shine. On top, the art-syle is quite inconsistent, it looks good at times, but more often than not, it's derpy. If you want the finer details and true depiction as the author intended. The light novel is the way to go. But anime is a nice way to introduce you to the world, even if it barely touches the tip of the iceberg. On the other hand, the manga is entertaining and good fanservice if you want to visually see how things look. To put it in a nutshell, You-Zitsu is about the students' everyday school-life as they mature into adulthood. I can almost guarantee you might end up falling in love if you really give it a chance. Don't rush it. Just read it at your own pace. The translations that are out are pretty good, making it smooth to read and easy to visualize as you burn through the content. I didn't feel it was overwhelming or grew dull. I was reading one volume after the other quite effortlessly and having a big blast about it. This is easily no question asked, taking a spot in my favorite, and it got my absolute seal of approval.
