So far, the female lead is well-rounded. She's strong but she doesn't know it; she puts on a cheerful, gutsy facade so she thinks she's actually cowardly. (But it takes strength to keep up a facade..) She hangs out with fake friends because she's afraid of being ostracized and left alone, but this soon changes.
She realizes her mistakes and confronts her "friends" and even attempts to create a better classroom atmosphere for Makita, who most of the other girls dislike, which I thought was kind of her. Furthermore, she gathers the courage and initiative to volunteer as class representative because she wants to improve herself: "I want to start a change."
I can't help but admire that. Even if there's only 5 chapters out, I already like Futaba and I have high expectations for her. The male lead, Kou, is good (only 5 chapters have been released so far) -- not yet great, because I have yet to see other aspects of his character besides his current cold/distant/somewhat-caring? personality, but we know that he has other aspects from when he was younger (and it starts to show in chapter 5!). High expectations for him, too. Since the supporting cast is just starting to get fleshed out (Makita, Murao, Kou's teacher brother, that blonde-haired guy who seems to know Murao), I can't say anything definitive except that, once again, I have high expectations. 🙂 (This IS the same woman who wrote Strobe Edge!)
Even though it's just started, I'm already anticipating each chapter. There's just this kind of 'feeling' that runs through Ao Haru Ride and Strobe Edge...it's hard to describe it, since it's so subtle, but there's a flow. There's also some high school cliches, yes, but like with Strobe Edge, it seems like it's going to be a heartfelt (and funny!) story nonetheless.
Edit: I think I've got it--why Sakisaka Io-san's characters seem endearing and charming. It's all in the gestures. And the facial expressions that catch me off-guard. For example,
in Ao Haru Ride ch5, pg36, Futaba is saying to Kou, "I want to be like you, Kou. Why am I so incapable? It's so frustrating," with her head on the table, and Kou replies, "You shouldn't be," and sits down and puts his head on the table, mimicking her body language.
I don't know, this one scene seemed so...it made me smile because the imitation of body language shows that the characters are on the same wavelength...and synchronizing. And Futaba's thoughts about
! the nape of Kou's neck? That's an incredibly sensual detail. "The nape of Kou's neck makes me nostalgic. But he's talking to me as if he doesn't know me. Somehow, I feel like I want to cry. We didn't see each other for three years. I want to know everything about him. I wonder how he would take it if I told him?" And then she kisses the back of his head.
Darnit, this mangaka is just trying to melt my stone cold heart! It's little details like these that give this manga that sensitive, human quality. Sigh, excuse my over-analyzing. 🙂