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Description
From Condensation: The story centers around Keito Aoyama, a former famous child actor. Due to a childhood incident, she retired from her career early and withdrew from normal society. Now 16, she passes her days in boredom and without purpose. But one day she runs into a stranger who takes her to El Liston--a free school for high school students like herself, who don't have a place where they belong. Though hesitant at first, Keito decides to enter El Liston and subsequently, she begins a new stage in her life. With the help of her only remaining childhood friend, Taiyou, and her new classmates Rei, Momiji, and Kouichi, Keito slowly finds the courage to open up to others and to accept their support. Will Keito return to acting? Will she find true friends? Love?
It started good, then it went cliche towards the end. Although I like Keito's positive attitude when she failed in her audition because she can't read kanji, it hurts to read the parts when she's generally alright with things, like the misdeed of Natsumi. While I like time progression and time skips, the romance lacks the tensions. Suddenly it was presented they love each other that much. While there where hints, the storytelling and illustrations fell short in invoking the characters' romantic feelings. Though, I have to commend the character designs and clothing fashion in term of the arts.
Perhaps, I might have enjoyed and rated this manga higher if I read this prior to reading the works of GEORGE Asakura, ASHIHARA Hinako, and IKUEMI Ryou.
Despite what a lot of reviews say, I didn't find the protagonist's 'self-discovery' really emotional or striking. In fact, I thought the whole story would have a little more content. The 'shoujo' portion of the story really debased the plot and and the whole experience.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
Though the plot itself was predictable, and it was satisfying on my part. But the romance was fast and lacked development. Suddenly she fell in love. Suddenly a guy fell in love with her. Unbelievably 'shoujo' for what started off pretty well.
Overall mediocre. It wasn't a pain to read but...just, just mediocre.
...got bogged down by the typical conventional shoujo cliches halfway through.
You can say the first half was good, but frankly, should've ended halfway. Seeing Keito progress and overcome her "trauma" bit by bit, discovering her voice and confidence back, and finally deciding her place in life was the only highlight of this manga.
Then the love crap happens. Overbearing and unnecessary cliches were thrown left and right, almost like an excuse just to crank out more chapters. "Misunderstandings" between the main love interests, other filler characters there to hamper the progress between the two, more crying, more tears, flowery speeches... you get the idea. Basically the second half becomes a dramatic soap opera. And as if the author hadn't already kicked the readers down enough with this crap, the last few chapters are dedicated to an angry "misunderstood" girl harassing the main girl. Really, I had to struggle past volume 5 and force myself to finish this, having once dropped it before for these very reasons I mentioned.
Maybe it's just because I have an extremely low tolerance for shoujo cliches, which ruined this whole manga for me, but I would not recommend this unless you've got nothing else to read. Or if you're not like me and have a high tolerance for these things, then by all means go for it.
I read this back in December last year, so I'll keep this short as I probably don't remember enough to go in detail (also, I have a cold). I find most shoujo mildly entertaining at best. There are some good comedies out there but the drama in the ones i've read are often mediocre. This series is in my top 3 shoujo (alongside Reimei no Arcana and Oresama Teacher). In fact, it may be my favourite. It's simply amazing. I love these type of stories that deal with insecurities ad damaged people. I love seeing how they heal, how often they encounter the catalyst by pure chance. Keito's innocence was completely believable too.
Another thing. The time-skip in this series was done extremely well. I would've liked to see more of what happened during those years but...yah, it was well done.
I originally rated this 8.8. I'm bumping this up a bit though. It's one of the few series i actually feel like re-reading.
I never read Hana Yori Dango, sounded kinda interesting but ultimately cliche. After reading this though (same mangaka) I've got to get round to that.
EDIT: I'm bumping this up to a 10. Really, when I think 'great shoujo' this is the first one that comes to mind as the others I've read are either incomplete or inferior but this kept the quality up the whole way through.
I love it. The art reminds me of Hana Yori Dango, so I like it
It´s very realistic. I really identify myself with this manga. Even though I don´t have a traumatic experience, I got an experience which changed my life and my point of view, I traveled to another country, which language I didn´t know and had to learned there, all this in my adolescence.
The way I was before the trip and the way I was after the trip were totally different. I became anti social, I glare at people (just like Kouichi do hahaha), I didn´t smile and I didn´t talk to anyone. Inside my house I was still the same girl, but outside I became anti social. And so I came to question the relationships between people, the so called friendship, and how I could get back to being how I was before the trip. And so I know how hard it is to not have someone to talk to, someone who will understand you and give you advices.
I also liked how Keito faced her fears, how she became more understanding as she faced life. And also there a part in the last chapter that remind me of the ¨Myth of the Cave¨ (Allegory of the Cave) of Platon.
I also like how the mangaka showed that life, as it can become meaningless in no time, it also can become the most wonderful experience in no time. But, of course, with the right guidance to show the right path and with the right friends beside you.
At first I was really skeptical to read this manga. But I have a thing about "not judging a book by its cover", so I gave it a try. After reading a few chapters I fell in love with it. Now, it's one of my favorites! It's a very interesting story. So, for those of you lost souls out there you should try reading this. Cat Street the book version of El Liston.
I was laughing and making little excited noises like a true otaku while I was reading this one xD. This manga is really a good shoujo which does not make you think you're losing your time on some stupid story. Art, characters, morals, everything is good and even people usually looking for josei (like me) can appreciate this read ! (actually, I think it's closer to josei than shoujo !)
When I first started reading this manga, I must admit I did get somewhat bored. However, as the manga progressed, I realized it was actually pretty good. The way that the author paired Kouichi and Keito together worked really well. Even though they were so different, they somehow worked perfectly with one another. There was just something very simple, and kind of sweet about this manga. I wouldn't read it again, but for a one time read it was actually pretty good.
The heroine for this manga, has been developing throughout the manga which is good! In the beginning, she's all boring, moody and expressionless and then during the climax, she's getting better and better. BUT I didn't expect her to end up with "that" person! So shocking and so happy! It's wonderful and unexpected indeed. Each character in the story is very well developed and they're so strong you just feel like you want to hug them. But sometimes, the heroine is waaaaay to naive. Overall, it's a good read!
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After reading a few chapters I fell in love with it. Now, it's one of my favorites! 
