With Hitorimi Haduki-san.

I picked this up knowing it was on my plan-to-read list, but not remembering why. It's a quick read and competently executed, but suffers from not knowing what it wants to be. The manga is in two volumes. The first is a fairly predictable timid-awkward-romance setup: a substantial age gap (25 vs 17) between a young woman who's older but inexperienced, and a young man who's impossibly nervous. It's a cute enough bit of fluff, but their interactions--and likewise their characterizations--lack enough depth to be really compelling. Haduki's character is being driven by the plot instead of vice-versa: when we meet her, she seems entirely content(modulo a tiny bit of existential despair) to live her single life, enjoying herself. (Screencap reading "Eating out is the best! Manga is the best! Being alone is the best!" coming soon to a meme-marketplace near you...) But her pushy sister sets her up with some rando high schooler, and instead of peacing out of there harder than a Buddhist monk, she... decides she's going to go with it? Even though she hates it? I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say that she does eventually fall for the dude (which is mysterious, since the law of manga is men this bland and boring should have either zero women or a harem, never just the one) but this change of heart isn't really well-developed. There are a couple gestures in the direction of showing that her old life just isn't appealing to her any more, but I don't really buy it; there's no internal struggle; and honestly, just... him? 70% of his dialogue is either an apology, a promise to do better, or simple greetings and exclamations. Nobody's getting hot under the collar for this. Then Volume 2 rolls around and the work decides to reach for more serious thematic depth. Turns out the bland dude does have a deal: there's a reason he's so nice, and there's real effects (other than a lifetime of awkward superficial relationships) from how he got there. This has potential if developed further--not asking for Fruits Basket levels of drawn-out abusive melodrama, but the themes and ideas approached here deserve a little more than the rough sketch you get from the few chapters showing his POV. Maybe the manga could've benefitted from a third volume. I do respect the effort, though, because (unlike other works that try to claim a narrative weight they haven't earned) it makes a sincere attempt to engage and hints at some interesting ideas, even if they're resolved a little too quickly and neatly. The last volume also picks up another plot thread (with corresponding serious thematic issue) that appeared in the beginning but got basically dropped early on. In Kazama-sensei's defense, this was set up, and there is an attempt to address it, it just sort of feels tacked on to pick it back up at the end when it's been hiding under the rug the whole time. The other thing separating this work from basic fluff is a level of complex meta-textuality. One which, having not read the author's other works, I don't actually understand; but nonetheless: an early plot development is that the protagonist's younger sister is documenting her relationship in a web manga. This web manga's name is one of the author's other actual published works. And a character from that work appears in this one; and ultimately there are other developments which take this beyond a simple in-joke into blurring the line between the narrative world and the real one. That said, I don't really get it, so I don't know if this is actually deep, or cliche, or just weird navel-gazing. But it is an unusual move and I respect it. All in all, I don't think this is an outstanding manga, mostly because it can't decide if it wants to be exaggerated comic fluff or character drama; its plot and characters are both pretty weak; and it drags in parts. But I give it some points for at least making a sincere effort to engage with its premises and characters, even if its reach exceeds its grasp.

*Might contain spoilers, I donno. Trust me I write this every time, but just be on on the lookout. I might overlook something and have a spoiler, so sorry ahead of the time.* Story: 9 I loved this story, although it wasn't something drastically different from a average shoujo manga or romance manga, it set it's self apart by the atmosphere and pace the story takes. A younger boy and older lady fall in love, the love itself is cute, and embarrassing. I was even a part of this manga and I felt my face heat over some of the parts in this. The only thingthis story was really missing was the average conflict's romance books/mangas/animes have. Which I really like'd about it, due to it not having much conflict it kept it's innocent feel. Art: 8 Wasn't ground breaking, however it was like a shoujo more than a shounen, which doesn't mean much since it looked appealing no matter what. Character: 10 (Sorry I had to give it a 10, I loved the MC's so much.) The character development throughout this manga was great, you see them grow alone as well as together to better themselves. It gave a realistic view of someone going through a first love, no matter what age they were. Haduki-san grew so much in the short time showing her internal conflicts and much more. Yukimaru grew out of his shell, and it just made me want to give him a high-five. Overall Enjoyment: 9.5 Like I said above, I had a red face almost the full time reading. (Not saying much though because I get embarrassed easily.) But this manga was great, I loved the lightheartedness it had, it kept a somewhat quick pace, but didn't jump to fast. If you need something to lighten your dark heart from watching a horror anime, or reading something heart breaking, this manga is right up your ally! (p.s: this manga may give you one of these three things: a heart, soul, or red face with a huge stupid smile. enjoy!)