Clearly a well-written and well-drawn story, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. The heroine felt like a side character the entire time and it drove me a bit bananas. There also seems to be a theme here of "smile smile smile, even when things are gloomy." I like serious stories, but this one - I don't know, it just felt like someone kicked me in the shins repeatedly. It wasn't even a tragic story, it was just the general atmosphere.

it kinda felt nostalgic in a way. it reminded me of "say i love you." it's mature and kinda complicated, a little moody, but also funny and . i actually came back to reread this manga after having it on hold for ~4 to 5 years since it wasn't completely scanlated yet. usually i wouldnt remember to come back to a comic after so long (i would usually forget about it), but this manga had a pretty big impression on me. loved it a lot!! so happy i remembered this all of a sudden and came back 🙂 thanks stiletto heels for the translation and for coming back to finish it!

Thank you for starting this manga and finally finishing it! (2012 to 2022 respectively.)

I can't remember when I picked this up. I only had some faint ideas that I liked it, the characters, the stories, the gentleness of it all, and how much I wished I could have read it in full scanlation.

Thank you so very much. I just completed this wonderful series from front to back today.

Edit: I was wondering the other day that I'd like to read a good manga with step siblings NOT falling in love. This was it haha.

... Last updated on May 7th, 2022, 2:27am

One word, this manga is DEEP.

@elalendi: i wish i could replied your comment, as it is exactly what i thought about the manga.

The way elalendi-san says it is so articulately well: "The plot builds on slowly, in many subtle layers."
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Edit: ive finished the chapter next to the last chapter
Before chapter 20: 9.9
After that: 8

Things get rush. It falls back to the cliché pattern of your typical shoujo. Ive been wondering how Shima falls for Gen? It's just too fast? And the Kana guy, ohhhh, hes some weird thing... He doesn't even really like Shima... Haiz... (How the heck did he know Shima likes Wao or Gen or anything?! He just met her and he's not a God)
Disappointed me to see Shima like that... 🙁 haiz, i thought she was something different

... Last updated on March 6th, 2020, 7:54pm

Heya i just wanna ask you abt ch 25 when gen said "cause stuff happened between me and kunishige" to shima. Did he mean that he did it with kunishige? Remember the scene when kunishige went into gen's room? Nooo i just want to make sure bcs kunishige said they didn't do it but to me it seems kunishige just wanted to calm shima down and being considerate Plz im dying to know this. Txx

I have always read stuff with complex and great characters and stuff, but THIS is the first time I ever could 100% relate to a character! Not relate to bits ajd pieces, but truly feel like it describes how I think!
And espwcially at the time where she dated somebody...
I had been through the exact same situation!!

Im not a big fan of Ikuemi Ryo's work. I think they give a bittersweet vibe or simply don't like them. But with this shojo she managed to make a cliche plot into something refreshing, insteresting, well develop, with great and relatable characters.
The characters are well explored in my opinion and likeable. Even the main character, while a normal girl. Its also realistic, since we get to truly know Shimma's enviroment, her friends, her father.




... Last updated on May 31st, 2017, 10:41pm

The story is most definitely out of the ordinary. The plot and characters are good. The drama can get sad, but it is realistic and not exaggerated. But what I probably enjoy most about this story is the protagonist. She is probably the most relatable protagonist in any shoujo I have read. Her thoughts and emotions are expressed clearly and beautifully. She is funny, understanding, with the normal attitudes that an ordinary girl would have - pity for a poorer friend,
shame at being called out on this pity, unintentional feelings of superiority for being more attractive (for the lack of better words). Her thoughtful reflection on her actions gives depth to her character.
One thing I was really happy about was how her friendship with the rival charcter was explored. I don't know if it's a trope or not but many shoujo have this rival girl who likes the guy and bullies or obstructs the protagonist, but then somehow becomes a friend. Many authors just leave it at that, but here it actually explores the complexity of such a relationship - the insecurity and distrust Shima still feels over the friendship and the actual dilemma of liking the same person as your friend.
Both the male leads are also cool, not the usual 'refreshing' bishounen but actual people.
Finally, the art is lovely and it beautifully conveys the feelings of the characters and the moments.

... Last updated on May 8th, 2016, 8:06pm

This type of story (with a sensible slice of life setting) is hardly found anywhere. The day to day situations in this manga are very real. The characters are so unique and true. The art compliments the humour and story. Overall it is extremely lovable. The humour as well is intrinsic and unique because even with the smallest of gags, I find myself giggling and laughing. However, there is one hardship that you must prepare for before reading this. It is the incomplete scanalation of the chapters. I am dying with the wait for more english scanned and translated chapters. It is definitely worth it though because this manga is ONE IN A MILLION and you will find yourself going crazy over it. I myself am obsessed with this story and plot line but I really want more chapters.

I'm a huge fan of Ikuemi Ryou Sensei, her mangas always lets you immerse yourself with the characters and plot without sugar coating anything (oh all the bitter-sweetness and cruelty of life).

That said, I literally wanted to cry reading this manga, I felt so bad about the MC's situation that I wanted drop it. Eventually though, after taking a little break from the manga, I continued reading. Good thing the mood does pick up later on!

This is what I like about Ryou-sensei's works, she creates characters so fleshed out that you can easily relate to them, their actions so realistic that you'd picture yourself doing the exact same thing as them if you were in their shoes. She also has no qualms about letting her characters suffer (I've got to give it to her for that!). The characters' interactions with each other are so fluid and natural too, Ikeumi-sensei projects them in all their entirety- flaws inclusive too, but you still learn to love them nevertheless.

This is one of my favourite series of hers, I recommend Principal to readers along with most of her older works.

... Last updated on March 11th, 2015, 11:26pm