Ane no Shinyuu, Watashi no Koibito.

Reading all four volumes in one seating was a wonderful surprise. This romance manga tackles delicate topics like family bonds, depression, fear of abandonment and how to handle the way feelings change over time. The tone is mature, intelligent and never goes for the overly dramatic, and both protagonists are given equal care and thoughtfullness. One important thing that must be said right away: the pitch is a bit misleading regarding the sisters’ relationship. The manga makes it clear early on that Sena (the younger sister) isn't very good at labeling her own feelings. What she's feeling toward her older sister Yuuna is a mix ofpossessiveness and family love, peppered with a deep fear of being abandoned (both sisters were left to their own devices during adolescence by irresponsible parents). This confused feeling of love could have sorted itself out when Sena became an adult, but everything got bogged down into depression. The linchpin between both sisters is Kiku, Yuuna's former lover and (still) best friend. As Yuuna is living far away, she asks Kiku to keep an eye on Sena, who became a writer but doesn't handle solitary life very well. While at first Kiku acts a bit like a substitute mother (much to Sena's annoyance), she makes it clear early on that she has feelings for Sena (she even asks Yuuna for permission to pursue her sister). How is Kiku going to juggle between those feelings and pulling Sena out of the jaws of depression? What sort of dynamics did Yuuna and Kiku manage to build after they broke up? And, of course, is Sena capable of letting go of her attachment to her sister to develop affection, first for herself and then for someone else? Without spoiling anything, the manga avoids the "she'll get better with the power of love" trope and goes for a much more realistic and grounded approach. Kiku's caring nature and patience will be stretched as she strives to resocialize Sena before there can even be any talk of love, and poor Sena does through the wringer for reasons that she doesn't really believe in at first. The pacing is perfect, giving enough time for the characters to evolve while never dwelling too long on each step. This leads to a very satisfying and believable conclusion!