Love's in Sight!

Girlfriend with an added element is probably a genre of its own at this point. This is another one in my line of manga I began reading from a strange time. A cute story that doesn't do much to separate itself from the typical clichés of old times. Strange guy meets interesting girl, shenanigans ensue. However, the author was two steps ahead on this one. A story about a blind girl and a perceived delinquent can't just be carried about a will they / won't they. These are two different worlds, with clear problems on both sides, and the story doesn't try to ignore them.The story starts to head into real life much more than the usual romance deal, and it's delightful to find something like it. Having a job while having a scar on your face, while being blind, the real life circumstances that come with those elements. Low wages, future opportunities, how to make a date captivating for somebody who can't see, how does a blind person move about in the world, work out? It asks the questions, and answers them with empathy, with love and care for the subject, and doesn't try to romanticize a disability for the sake of it. These are people with vastly different perspectives coming to terms with each other, and dating because they like slowly get to like each other. It goes beyond the simplicity of a relationship waiting to happen, and focuses on a world these characters might live in. Not only are the protagonists great, but their friendships, and the hardships they experience because of whom the protagonists are. The main female lead's older sister being one of my favorite characters who's got a whole story for herself. The hardships of taking care of a sister who can't take complete care of herself for over a decade. The loneliness and lack of personal connections she sacrificed for something nobody asked of her. And characters being understanding of such situations feels so fresh and nuanced. Not all characters immediately enter conflicts, most resolve them because they communicate. It's just a nice level of positive realism. I could keep praising for a while, but it isn't perfect. The art's pretty simple, repetitive, even if the story's enjoyable to go along with it. Some arcs drag, even if the message needs to be there, and others end too quickly to be as impactful as they could be. Specially the moments of unrequited love, and how to endure those relationships beyond the feelings they had. It's brushed aside for other little stories. Overall, a good manga, with a great message and characters that aren't just cookie cutter tropes. Everybody has their life, aspirations, desires, problems, loves, rejections, experiences, and nobody exists for the sake of another. Sure, the manga uses the title as an interest piece, but it isn't all that's there. Beneath the superficial idea, there's a soul that I haven't found in all these kinds of romance manga. 7.3/10. A good, slice of life, with real life sprinkled in.