Hatsujou Material

So, call me ambitious, but I took it upon myself to search for a shoujo manga where the female protagonist wasn't an idiot (I know you know those feels.) Quickly, I came upon this manga and thought I was in for something. Well, in a nutshell, I found what I sought: a romance including a sharp girl who wasn't your average play thing. But why, oh why, did Kotobuki Atsuta have to make the male protagonist so simple? Is it that hard to create a romantic story without one of the significants being uber dense? If you're anything like me, trying to finda smart romance, search onward.

I enjoyed this a great deal. Okay what makes this story great? It's different. You always have stories where girl pursues girl or girl pursues guy. However, you have a girl with the perpetual cold shoulder who is basically unfazed by anything. Even near rape. Then you have a lead man who sees said girl as a challenge he must conquer and does it in a comedic fashion. Anyone here raised on Pepe le Pew from Looney Tunes and his obsession with a cat who had a stripe on her tail like a skunk? Well you're just about to read themanga version of the same story---except Pepe wins the girl this time. ^_^ This girl walks away, runs away, beats him away, but Mr. Bishie (known as Kiriyuu-kun in the manga) still comes back for more and he can't stay away. And his penchant for inappropriately touching her fits exactly Pepe's modus operandi. Do we love it? Although sexist, it's adorable. Do we like her unresponsive aloofness? It's hardly ever irritating. Do we share in his irritation? Hardly, because it makes us laugh with glee. Will anyone enjoy it? I certainly think so. I definitely recommend this for a nice and light manga that takes about 30 minutes to read. Not to much time and/or energy and it will manage to get a giggle out of you a few times. Or catch yourself smiling absurdly. The story is not unique, but it was entertaining. The art is great, the Bishie---is definitely---hmmm. The character's were certainly very well done---a bit short so there wasn't much dimension playing. I was nicely entertained. Definitely deserves the grade it got by me. If it a read if you have about 20-30 minutes to spare.