(As of Chapter 22)
It was kinda of obvious within the first few chapters were this story is heading, but it maybe be a ruse as it was too obvious. It may still surprise this reader and leave him gob smacked.
What is this manga about, you ask? Well, it's about a boy named Arima Kosei who is a prodigy pianist thanks to the strict tutelage and beatings of his mum. But after his mothers death he can no longer play as he he lost the ability to hear the notes he plays. Two years later he meets a girl (Kaori) who is also violent. Kaori beats the crap out of him, and lo and behold he is starting to learn to play again.
His mother when she beats him was angry and depressed, Kaori on the other hand is a happy go lucky girl and it shows through in the beatings and the end result of his piano playing. You see Arima Kosei is powered by beatings like a nuclear plant is by uranium. In the end uranium destroys the casing of the tank and likewise Arima is heading the same way.
On a serious note. In most cases I loath love triangles and generally speaking I always root for childhood friend unless said childhood friend is violent, then she/he can rot in hell. And here is the conundrum, his childhood friend, Tsubaki, not only is she violent but also happens to set-up Kaori with Watari, a player who is dating several girls at once. What kind of friend sets up a friend with a player? But in saying that, Tsubaki's beatings cannot compete to that of the beasts Kario who excels in beating without bruising. Personally I am rooting for Kosei and Emi but it ain't going to happen.
The story is so and so. I say about a 6.5 so far. It nothing exceptional but it is good. It is labelled as comedy but it isn't. It's slice-of-life with a bit of romance. There's no major depth and the soliloquies are long winded and occur too often.
(Update: Well finished a while back and there was no surprise. I didn't bond with any of the characters and didn't feel any loss. Worth a read.)
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