
Links go to search results. Availability varies by region.
夏雪ランデブー
24
4
Finished
Jun 8, 2009 to Dec 8, 2011
7.8/10
Average Review Score
50%
Recommend It
4
Reviews Worldwide
The premise was definitely interesting and heart-wrenching, where you have Rokka who lost her husband and she's still coping with his loss by continuing their florist shop. And then enter Hazuki who fell in love with Rokka, and it was wholesome enough in the beginning. However, I can't say that I personally like Hazuki that much as a person. The plot twist was that Rokka's husband, Shimao, continued staying beside Rokka as a ghost because at his death bed, Rokka asked him to always stay with her, and so he did, but as a ghost for the past three years where he couldn't speak with RokkaAT ALL. And so he just stayed by her side... that in itself is kinda heart wrenching to read. But in comes Hazuki, and he is able to see him. However, he was just super rude to him. Initially he was shocked and thought Rokka was seeing a man and so he got pissy, but then after learning that he's actually a ghost and Rokka's late husband, he still continued to treat Shimao really poorly, CONSTANTLY reminding him that he's dead and that there's nothing he can do for his wife.. Like, that's just real low to say to someone who died due to tragic means and couldn't do anything about it, but remain silently by his wife's side for three years. Anyways, I really liked the Rokka before this series began, namely her past dynamic with Shimao. Both Rokka and Shimao really seemed to cherish each other very much, and knowing that Shimao was diagnosed with an uncurbable disease was very very painful to read. Watching Rokka cry after Shimao passed away was just extremely heart breaking. Rokka and Shimao have known each other for at least two years, before deciding to go out, and so the two slowly learned about each other, and their relationship felt very natural and wholesome. But then, at least with how it was portrayed in the manga series, there weren't many moments for Rokka and Hazuki to get to know each other. So as a reader, I never really felt the two click unfortunately. Hazuki felt kinda like a dick for the most part, and Rokka felt a little shallow to me because surprise, she immediately fell for him, despite for the last 2/3 of the story, Hazuki was barely in contact with Rokka due to certain supernatural reasons. The rest of the story felt disconnected to me. So when the final chapter hit, the feels that I was hoping to feel didn't hit me. Instead of cheering on for Rokka and Hazuki, I felt myself leaning more to cheering for Rokka and Shimao. Of course I know that it'd be more "healthy" for Rokka to move on, but with how the story was portrayed (i.e. very little and arguably surface level interactions between Rokka and Hazuki), I just couldn't find myself thinking Rokka choosing Hazuki is the "better" choice. Lastly, I just want to say, the author REALLY gave Shimao the shittiest treatment haha. The result for Shimao at the end of the series is just... a real punch in the face. Shimao deserves better x')
A young man with poor eyesight named Hazuki works part-time in a flower shop and falls hard for the shop-owner Rokka. But what happens when he discovers that residing in her apartment is the spirit of the man she can never forget? (Source: Stiletto Heels)
All ghost stories are about grief and the past, for what else is a ghost besides a sad memory, the remnant of something that should be already gone? I open with this line because this manga is more of a ghost story than romance, even if it is terribly romantic. It's like the author set out to meditate about love, loss and growth, and this manga is what came out of it, a story not really of the living or the living world, set in silent, beautiful places. I liked it, but I can see how someone else might not, for its dreamy fairytale narrative, heavy onconversations and short on story. If you only care about the things you could fill a story sheet with - snappy elevator pitch, character as a motivation/flaw/learning engine, setting and its million moving pieces, all the crafty hollywood script things with which a story can be made - then I can tell you shouldn't read this manga right now. Maybe later. This is a story you should read for its beauty.
Story: 9/10 The only reason why I rated this 9/10 is because I was seriously thrown into a confusing loop that I didn't know what was going on in the middle of the story. Especially with this supernatural thing going on. However, by the end of it, I thought that this story was told in a way that really makes you think. Like how Shimao's character was presented, to be honest. It's a beautiful drama story, if you ask me. Art: 10/10 Dude, the art. It's so pleasing to look at. It's not your usual aesthetic or over-toned art that's commonly used in common mangas nowadays, but itwas drawn in a straightforward way. Only going hardcore on panels/pages where it really matters. With this kind of art style, it personally brings out more impact to important and symbolic parts the story has to bring. The characters really felt alive when I look at them. Character: 10/10 At first, our main lead Hazuki might seem like one of your usual common tropes in these type of stories. However, it's seriously amazing how his development as a character was seen at the end. The story was written in a way where Hazuki wasn't able to show up like how main characters really are, but seeing his journey makes you grow along with him. That's why the end really hit hard for me. Aside from that, our female lead Rokka-chan is a character you don't usually see as a main. To be honest, I really love how she felt so real and I only hope to dream that more stories with her type of character show up. And Shimao, my dude, his character is so complex. I love how his personality from before still is the same after, the same goes with his line of thinking. It's the kind of passive thinking where it's just a thought that passes your mind, but it's really thought-provoking. Only with him with his own experiences can feel something like that. Enjoyment: 9/10 I only deducted a point out of that because my heart fell a lot. I was in limbo, then suddenly dropped then back at limbo again. By the time I reached the end, my tear ducts exploded. Tears won't drop, but I felt like wailing so much and I didn't appreciate that. Seriously, though, I enjoyed the journey of reading through this. It was a short, hard-hitting series and this is just the type of drama that I like. With a hint of the supernatural, of course. Overall: 10/10 I empathized and sympathized a lot with the characters and situations in this series and it's amazing how this manga can make me feel this way. Like I said above, the story was written in a way where the dialogue and references/symbols might confuse at first, but it provides a great journey and will certainly make you feel things. The art is appropriate enough for the mood of the story, and simple things scattered in every panel will make you appreciate the story, symbols and characters more. Each character was different, even supporting characters, and their thoughts really show throughout their dialogue. The struggle of real life emotions about the other side and their loved ones can also be seen, although it's a bit more romanticized. It's certainly worth the read for a heavy-mood reading person that I am, and you should at least give it a try even if you don't feel the same feelings that I did. The story is worth sharing.
I’m torn on how to rate this manga. On one hand, the plot was interesting and felt like a fresh take on the romance genre. The unique premise surrounding the love triangle definitely caught my attention. On the other hand, the characters felt distant throughout the entire story, and I struggled to connect with or sympathize with any of them. While the story initially frames Hazuki as the protagonist, the narrative ends up spending far more time with Shimao. Meanwhile, Rokka never really comes into her own as a character. She’s just sort of there, without much personality or development. The romance between Hazuki and Rokka didn’tresonate with me either. They simply didn’t spend enough meaningful time together for me to believe in or feel invested in their relationship. Most of the story’s emotional weight is given to Shimao, which makes the central romance feel underdeveloped. I wouldn’t necessarily discourage someone from reading Natsuyuki Rendezvous, but I also wouldn’t actively recommend it. It’s a mixed experience, with a unique premise but emotionally distant execution.