*Spoiler free*
In a volleyball court scaling from absurdity to reality, this series is somewhere between the attack lines; it’s rather realistic and low-key sports drama with a few over-the-top elements and some crazy character designs but what’s most important – it’s really fun to read!
The story starts familiarly with a group of first years entering their new school's volleyball team. You can guess what occurs next, because the pattern is quite basic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though, because if you like the formula, there’s nothing to complain here. Additionally, I could say there were some particulars that made me enjoy Harigane Service more than just any average story of the same species. I felt there were legit tactics and thought put behind most of the gameplays and enjoyed the realistic touch with character dynamics and their reasons to bond or not to bond; even if you’re not a happy family your team can learn to play together and acknowledge each other’s strengths.
The biggest thing that boosted this story upwards to me came from its main character Shimodaira. He is a humble hero who’s easy to root for and feels like any normal guy except for one peculiar starting stat which comes from a lot of practice. Regarding that, it was refreshing to see a main character who had learned some extreme skill not because they especially wanted to or were especially gifted in it. Shimodaira is not a one-trick pony though, because in the course of the series he not only hones his initial skill set but also commits to learning stuff he always wanted to do, and seeing him try new things and pulling of good plays in different situations is really cool. Through him we also get to experience a mental trauma and fear of failure, and seeing him grow as a player and a character made me feel like a proud mother.
The characters are a typical bunch of varying personalities and their looks really emphasize that. Their designs range from pretty boys and girls to the extreme – those eyebrows…! If crazy designs don’t hinder your enjoyment, there’s a lot to like. Don’t expect anything too deep or phenomenal, but if you like to see everyone getting their moment in the limelight and a team learning to trust each other, your wish will be granted. Also, the more you like Shimodaira, the more you will like the direction his personal journey goes.
The pacing is my only major complaint, because at some parts the story seemed to drag unnecessary around minor characters, and some matches I would have liked to savor went by too fast. The matches also felt a bit disjointed and could have been easier to follow but the key scenes were always made well. The ending could have also used some more chapters to really process what had just happened and therefore feels a bit rushed, but all in all the story ends in a good place and wraps up storylines that needed to be wrapped at this point.
The reading experience was enjoyable and there was something cute in the way how down-to earth elements were mixed with crazier ones. Fans of sport stories might not find anything particularly shiny or new in this one, but some details are capable of raising it above average and making it a series well worth a try.
TL;DR
Harigane Service is a mix of drama, feel-good elements and some shounen extremes sprinkled here and there. It is comfortingly familiar and chill but also sports some intense moments. Expect to see estranged childhood friends, insane ball courses and unibrows, take a good position and go for it.
