I began to read this with no expectations since I just happened to come upon it, and it seemed like just one of those random mangas that were lost in the sea of unknowns.
But the summary captured me since I like hidden geniuses, and after the first chapter I was curious to see how the plot and Nemu would progress in a mere 10 chapters.
Then BAM! it ended so suddenly I was actually dumbfounded. Naturally I had to check out what was up.
Very unfortunate that it was discontinued because the story is good and I was really looking forward to what would happen with Nemu and her character development. Nemu actually grew on me, despite mildly irking me with her initially quiet disposition (I mean how she wouldn't speak up). I liked how she was unattached to her surroundings as if she was living in her own world in her head. Not an unusual characteristic an artist would have, but it still gave her some character.
I was a little bothered how she quickly began to follow and rely on this dude she just suddenly met who was, not to mention, rude on the first meeting. He wasn't that bad later on, but it made Nemu's character seem like it didn't have enough personality since she was aimless. Her passion for drawing wasn't very hot and we didn't get a sense if she was lost in what she should do in the future, or if she just didn't care.
My eye once again twitched by how she gave up a faster career path by not meeting up with the mangaka. If she wasn't set on pursuing that career, then it would've been less frustrating but she apparently still was. It was kinda roundabout way of becoming one, as well as expense wasting.
The pacing was slow but suiting to the story. The art is almost sketch-like, yet it only served to further compliment the story. Since from what I read, it could've went towards different paths: predictable and mainstream or predictable yet memorable, the zoomorphic factor gave a, perhaps, hidden surprise element which could've been explored if the manga had continued, aiding in isolating it from similar plots.
A weird coincidence is that the author's death anniversary coincides with when I discovered this manga haha. All in all, pretty chill read and pity that there isn't more to read to expand the potential. 7/10.