I loved it.
The story is about a mentally damaged young girl, and how she slowly comes out of her shell, and blossoms into a successful young woman, with help from her friends and the person she eventually falls in love with.
I found the premise strange at first. Okay, so she failed as a child actor. Big deal. Is that really something to mope about for years? But I went with it and soon realized that it's really just a plot device for the mangaka to address her message. The story carries a strong hopeful message for all the teenagers out there making their way into adulthood. In lesser hands, it could've read like some pandering afterschool special. But Kamio created such an awesome foursome of characters, they immediately draw you into the story, and before you know it, you're hooked. While there is romance, the main focus is on growing up and finding your way in life. And it's so refreshing to see teenage characters seriously tackle these challenges and slowly grow into successful adults.
I absolutely adored the foursome's friendship. It felt real and relatable. Rarely does manga capture the dynamics of friendship - with all its glory and pain - so well.
And this manga is addicting - especially when the romance kicks in. The main couple is not obvious from the get-go. And they both matured on their own before finally getting together, which is a major plus in my book. I loved the moment when they finally confessed their feelings to each other.
Admittedly, there is melodrama and contrivance in the story, but they're all used to service the manga's main message. And Kamio surprised me with the way she executed them. There is maturity and sophistication to the storytelling - such as Keito's sobbing confrontation with her first love rival, Keito's friendship with her childhood rival, the trials of acting (IMO, even better presented than Skip Beat), the way the foursome age and change over 3 years. I didn't even mind the kidnapping plot. While it was over-the-top, it was in the story to acknowledge people less fortunate than Keito.
Kamio has definitely grown as a writer since HYD.
All in all, Cat Street is well worth reading. Only 8 quick volumes leading to a very satisfying ending.
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