I really enjoyed reading this series. The characters are very likable (Yuuhei was a refreshing guy and Akahoshi is beyond cool), and while at certain times I thought they were all idiots, their overall character development was excellent. The plot was well balanced; not too much angst, not too much fluff and while it may have been predictable, there were times I found myself wondering if things would go in a completely different direction and surprisingly enough, I wasn't frustrated by it.
As for the art, it may not be super fancy but it is still very beautiful. The emotions are captured very well which makes it even more enjoyable.

Overall, it's a very good read, totally worth my time.

Art (10%): 8
Just average art but it fits the characters. The art also feels more grownup and realistic than a lot of shoujo which fits the story.

Story (40%): 8
The story itself is an average and predictable shoujo. What makes it good is how natural and realistic the story is. I can imagine the relationship problems actually occurring.

Character (40%): 9
The characters are pretty cliche but they are likable. None of the characters are particularly remarkable but that makes it realistic. There are also realistic amounts of character development.

Enjoyment (10%): 10
I don't know exactly why I enjoy reading the story so much. It could be that I love the pure love that Sachi has for Yuki or the development in their relationship.

Total Score: 8.6

so everyone in the manga seemed to grow/mature over the curse of the 3 volumes.... except for the 2 main characters
annoying. HE thinks nobody loves him, and SHE thinks she can't love anyone else but him *sigh*

im being generous with my rating bc it was good enough to make me wanna finish it...

Adorable and one of the best ever. It took me forever to find some manga that would keep me interested, and by the time i did, it was super late at night. But it was sooooo good, I couldn't help but keep reading more and more. =) I loved it.

... Last updated on December 11th, 2010, 5:33pm

Yeah, it goes round and round in circles, but there's still very important and realistic character growth happening between each "rotation" of the plot, lol. Which is to say - I think that people often actually behave like this in real life, as in, they break up without meaning to, and then they get back together to resolve what couldn't be resolved before, and end up breaking up again because they can't recapture the past. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

I found this TONNES better than most shoujo manga that don't grasp this sort of complexity... Sure, the characters make stupid mistakes, but so do many other people in the real world. At least I didn't think any of the mistakes they made were inconsistent with their characterizations or were psychologically unrealistic... As is the case in 90% of shoujo. I much prefer reading this to some unrealistic baloney about a "one true love" that never fades.

I thought the characterization of the lead male was AWESOME. There are people who are just that afraid of love, and just as oblivious until life smacks 'em upside their silly little heads. I like the fact that he had this quiet sort of melancholy to him, along with the surface smiles - that kind of vulnerability is rare in the male heroes of shoujo manga. This guy's more of an anti-hero, anyway. I mean, there's no way I'd date him at the beginning (argh!), but I can understand why some women might want to, and I do appreciate that he's actually a good person. What's great about this manga is that it charts his VERY GENUINE character growth - by the end of it, he does become the sort of guy I wouldn't mind dating, even if at the start, the very sight of a guy with such apparently "loose" morals would drive me off faster than a jet engine.

Really good characterizations and a story worth reading. I only wish it was a little longer, and showed the male and female leads in an actual relationship, although I can foresee just from the ending that things will go well for them (barring the occasional angst attacks that one might expect in any fledgling romance). I just wanted to see the guy actually live out his new potential, that's all... I wanted to see him being devoted to her. Well, I guess we DO see that, just not as much as I'd have liked...

Still, way better than most shoujo romances. I rate this a 9 and strongly recommend it to people that like their coffee bitterwseet.

... Last updated on May 30th, 2010, 11:32pm

For what the ending was, it felt like reading 6 volumes of going round in circles. Quite frankly although it would have felt a bit "abrupt," I feel chapter 22 would have been a much stronger(and better) ending than 23.

... Last updated on May 1st, 2010, 10:02pm

22 isn't the end as you can see; it has just updated. (:
enjoy.
I'm enjoying this series, besides the continual heart wrenching bits here and there, that were not quite necessary, but I like it.
Not something that can make me write paragraphs about, as I do with other mangas I comment on that AWE me; but something I'd drop a note on/about.

It is refreshing but frustrating. It's mainly really interesting with well developed relationships. The heroine isn't naive in the normal cliche annoying kind of way but it could annoy ppl who think a there's a limit to selflessness. I found her character quite nice personally. I gave it a 9, but after finding out that chap 22 is actually (can't believe it) the end, I dropped it to a 8. Man, I'm not surprised there are still ppl on the net asking if it's really the end or not... what an ending -_-

Edit: So... 22 isn't the end after all! yippees!!!

... Last updated on July 6th, 2011, 8:06pm

Are there really people this stupid in the world? I have to say that the story started to lose me by Ch.12. I mean how much heartache can one girl take? This is totally unrealistic. Only a saint would put up with this bull but if your into the whole mushy, mushy love thing then this is the one for you.

this manga is truly a piece of life in itself. it really is bothersome and aggravating all throughout the series seeing the heroine do everything for the guy she likes and this guy can be a total j%#k when he can be, but anyway, in real life that is how teenagers react, especially girls towards their love.
it's amazing that this guy didn't actually play around with the girl, that's a good thing. That's what I liked about Yuki and he can be sweet and thoughtful with people he cares about but tries hard to hide it.
Akahoshi is a cool guy and the stubborn me wants him to be the one to end up with Sachi, but then, Akahoshi is too cool for Sachi. He's practically insensitive and forceful towards Sachi and this is the most probable reason why Sachi couldn't open to him quickly since she's still in the state of healing when she's already at the peak of her love for Yuki.
It's a crazy pentagon love, but anyways, that is the reality of love especially if you wanna mess with beautiful people. Sachi's positive trait definitely brought light to the hearts of Yuki and Akemi. They are brought about once again to the realization of their genuine dreams of love, which is only "to be with the one you really like".
Yuki and Akemi turned to have postponed their time to be together since Akemi was scared to get hurt. Yuki also became scared to be rejected if he were to fight for Akemi's love back in junior high.
It's an amazing story, in fact.
I hated it at first since my thought is all about, "you stubborn, st*pid girl!" but then she deserves to be rewarded with the one she truly loves after all the pains and struggles she went through to bring happiness to Yuki, her first love, and Akemi, her friend.
Art is awesome. The plot is very good, well coordinated.
I recommend it to people who wants to learn about love. I don't recommend it to those people who wants to fall in love with the manga.(like me.hehe)