If the boy you have been crushing on for five years has suddenly started to date a girl seriously for the first time in his life, how will you react? Will you be supportive and try your best to move on? Well, in the world of shoujo, that is what we presume the heroine of Heroine Shikkaku by Koda Momoko, the mangka, will turn out to be.

Instead, we have a heroine who is unafraid to show her meanest. She is no wimpy girl who will cry by the sideline while watching her prince get whisked away by the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’. No. This girl is bratty, bitchy, spoiled, self-centered, blunt and just plain selfish. Sure, she carries the water works with her throughout more than half the story but with the pressure and pain she goes through, who won’t? And so, the main question still lies: why will anyone enjoy a story with a girl like this?

This story does not sugarcoat anything unlike most mangas I’ve read. Strobe Edge is one that pops up in my mind. It was a wonderful read but it lacks the selfishness and bitterness people have when it comes to unrequited love which is, perhaps, Heroine Shikkaku’s strongest points. Hatori, the main heroine, does not back down from what she believes in throughout the story. People may find her antics annoying and repetitive choices tiring but really, when you think about it, when you’re in love do you really have the sanity to think right? I think not and this is heavily displayed throughout the story. Other characters such as Rita, Hatori’s childhood friend and crush, are memorable as well…for their flaws that is. For example, Rita has his lack of understanding and communication that drives our heroine in confusion and circles. He is arguably the most annoying character but if you are in his shoes, you may find his decisions…agreeable.

This is also another thing to love about this manga and that is that it gives you the ability to think over a character’s actions. The story isn’t that deep for it to be hard to picture yourself in the character’s shoes. Hatori is already said but think over in Rita’s shoes. Being friends with a person for so long kind of obscures thinking romantically for that person. You know the person like the back of your hand that it’s impossible to date them which is one aspect I love about this unrequited love story. So his replies to the main heroine’s advances are understandable even if some of his actions are contradictory.

The art is subjective. It is certainly not the most displeasing to the eye but certainly not the best. Despite this, I like it a lot especially how the mangka manages to manipulate the character’s facial expressions to express certain feelings. Hatori’s expressions are the best from her crying to her being bitchy; it’s never a bore to see how she is feeling next.

I think this manga will be a breath of fresh air for most. The entire cast of the manga has near to no redeeming qualities but that doesn’t make them unlikable. It’s charming and that is what kept me reading the eight chapters that have been released. And believe me, reading manga on your phone takes a lot more time that it sounds...especially when you have finals next week. Ops. x)

(This is my first review to MAL. Any feedback on how to get better is appreciated! ^^)

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Heroine Shikkaku tells the story of Hatori ,who appears as smart girl, who has a crush on her childhood friend. Well,the appereances couldn't be more wrong.
Despite being rejected for over 10,000 thousand times,she never gives up! I had to overcome the urge to yell at the screen : "GET A FUCKING CLUE HATORI!!". Obviously she doesn't.
I thought that I couldn't find someone worse than this,then I saw Rita,the crush. Just leave the poor girl alone okay? You gave her trust issues man! He rejects her in one second and in the next second he's all over her.
The mangaka clearly has no idea what character development is ,I truly hate her, but I hate myself more because I thought this manga will eventually turn out okay.
The only things I loved about this manga were the art and of course,that it ended.

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