Hatsukoi

Synopsis

Yuusa Hirono always believed he was special and destined for greatness...until tragedy struck in his final year of middle school. Now, jaded and disillusioned, he's completely given up on ever trying to be anything more than ordinary. But when he starts to notice classmate Ichigo Himekawa struggling to do his best against all odds, he can't help but want to cheer him on. (Source: September Scanlations) Included one-shot: Yorimichi (Detour)

"Hatsukoi" is a one volume yaoi, that could have easily used another two volumes to fully develop the various details of the setting it introduces. Because of it's blistering pace, it takes liberties in it's exposition, and as OmNom [reviewer on mangaupdates] points out, it can feel a bit like a dump truck. It's certainly not normal for people to get over deep seated issues and change their minds as rapidly as is portrayed in this manga. But it is obviously necessary in this instance due to the constrained length. Both MCs are quite well rounded, and do extend past the cliches that they appear toinhabit in the first chapter. The universally talented who is having effort issues, and the perpetually fired up midget who is as intellectually gifted as a rock. These are revealed to be products of the characters' circumstances (e.g. the midget is more so uneducated/ignorant- rather than simply being dumb- due to his upbringing), which adds dimensionality that can be missing from other characters in such short stories. They are immediately endearing, not requiring a wind-up period to become invested in. This lends the story immediacy in it's enjoyability, but also a rather shallow emotional profile. On the occasion the story does play with conflict between the MCs and their surroundings, it's usually resolved in less than a chapter. Readers need to stew a bit to really experience and come to know different tones! So Hatsukoi is good, but it lacks the “oomph” and development to take it that bit further.