'Mii-chan Wa Kawaretai' is the latest ongoing series from Takase-sensei, and it started off rather well.
The concept isn't groundbreaking, but the communication dynamics, art style, and characters all gel well with each other. It's good to see a male lead who is a functional, working adult instead of the more common NEET-mangaka-trying-to-make-it-big (or equivalent) a lot of self-insert mangas try to throw at readers. Snore.
The cats are also cute, duh.
The series might have been considered wholesome were it not for two plot aspects the author introduced early on. First, the age gap here. Unlike Takase-sensei's previous works, this one forces the dynamics into an extremely unbalanced Adult x Adolescent paradigm. Second, there's the 'Must-do-before-adulthood Rule' introduced for the female lead's existence as a human/cat hybrid. I won't elaborate what it is, but you'll meet it early on anyways.
Some might not mind this (the series being fiction and all), but these two decisions leave a tacky taste in my mouth. Especially considering that the author can do, and has done better- without a plot point already covered by many other wish-fulfillment/self-insert series.
That said, I think if anyone can subvert expectations and cliches, it's Waka Takase. I hope (and believe) that at least the second plot point will be turned out on its head. If that happens, I'd increase the score of this series to 8. If the plot point persists, that'd be a hard 6 from me, and the 'Mixed Feelings' tag will remain.
As it currently stands, 'Mii-chan Wa Kawaretai' is a solid 7. The male lead x female lead banter is funny and cute, I can see a great cast of side characters on the horizon, and the concept so far ties well into the story, instead of being shoehorned in. And as always, Takase-sensei's art can be simple at times but remains very expressive and entertaining to look at.
