Hot Gimmick is every cliche in the shoujo world to the power of 10. You have your doormat female lead, jealous boyfriend, love triangle, almost raped situation, super-mean bully, rich kid, school-idol, childhood friends: the works. However, unlike typical shoujo, the plot with Hatsumi's dad was actually well-thought out and interesting. That's why I read it all in one sitting. It doesn't stall in one place too long and it's dramatic.
Yeah, Hatsumi is a major doormat and I wanted to freaking beat the sh*t out of her sometimes for her passiveness and repeated stupidity. Ryoki also: his annoying demands for Hatsumi to always pay attention to him and even demanding her to choose between him and her family were disgusting. But, overall, I thought the relationship was just annoying most of the time and they were just super annoying teenagers with some serious personal issues (Ryoki's "I have no family but you!" and Hatsumi's "my bro is not my bro and my dad had an affair with Azusa's mom"). The only serious "omg no he did ain't, gurl" moment was when he slapped Hatsumi but that was just Ryoki being a spoiled brat. It's not abusive. If it was abusive, Hatsumi would have avoided Ryoki like she did when they were kids and her brother would have stepped in.
I think if your gonna get distracted by a doormat lead, then don't. If you're willing to just let it go, you got yourself a good read.
The funniest thing is Azusa, the guy who set-up said rape attempt and the antagonist for the better half the series, has the most character development of all.
PS: No one is taking their love advice from manga, guys.
PPS: cecropiamoth, no. Just no.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I think the great popularity of shoujo manga like this, demonstrates that one part of the innate makeup of women is a desire to be dominated."
That line is more disgusting than anything Ryoki has even done or said in this entire manga. That is a rapist's line of thought there and I can't believe that you translate out what mangas girls read into a factor of their "innate makeup". I love Saiyuki but that doesn't mean I'm violent.
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