Watari-kun's ****** Is about to Collapse

This manga is misleading in its tags. It is actually a fairly mild romcom harem. In the first 30 chapters, every character outside of Nao-kun appears to be yandare, unhinged or unstable. Over the remaining 60 chapters, all this foreshadowing is resolved without much drama, spice or crazyness. All of the "Ohhh this can't be good" scenes turns out to be chill people having a mild backstory and some minor issue that got misunderstood. It was engaging to read, well drawn and acceptable characters. 92 chapters felt like a good lenght. We do see "post-confession" relationship, which is positive. I will never reread it andwouldn't recommen it though :S

Watari-kun no xx ga Houkai Sunzen is essentially a standard love triangle romance tale, though it involves more characters than just three (however, one of them is so minor they barely matter...) During the initial 30 chapters or so, the story might mislead you into expecting something darker or more intense. The characters come off as slightly unhinged, and there's a lingering tension that keeps you on edge. But most of that buildup fizzles out into nothing significant, with explanations that feel pretty ordinary. The romance itself is decent, nothing extraordinary. The characters make plenty of irritating and baffling decisions, which is not uncommon for this genre.Things do pick up in the second half, where the manga dives a little deeper into the trials of an ongoing relationship, making it more engaging. My biggest issue is a common one in this genre: the main character’s decisions are often downright retarded, like they’re just there to stir up melodrama or for furtherance of the plot. On the bright side, the artwork stands out. The characters and settings are drawn with a lot of expression and care, which makes it visually appealing. Even with its flaws, I ended up liking this manga more than I expected—sort of a “guilty pleasure” vibe. I probably wouldn't recommend this, unless you too are drawn to the occasional "trashy" manga. Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Art: 7.5 Enjoyment: 6

At the beginning, the manga is framed as a psychological thriller, the "psychological" tension is almost always born from misunderstandings or schemes between the cast. Honestly, even though I enjoyed the manga a lot, I am unsure whether to recommend it. The art is good, and honestly, the last 20-25 chapters are the best of the manga. The ending was really impactful I thought, and there's a particular panel at the end that sticks with me. However, as mentioned before, the characters don't really talk to each other, so a lot of the tension comes from misunderstandings and half-truths. Through what I'd say is the middleof the manga, the drama was so forced (I would say) that it became really hard to read, to the point where the MC becomes a bit unlikable. I think his cowardliness is realistic though, and I think, in spite of how the characters behave, they are at times quite realistically written. Again, though, the final stretch of the manga was worth reading the first 60 chapters for, so I don't regret it. But I still don't know if I can recommend it! Those are the kind of mixed feelings it will leave you with.

Okay, so I feel like I have to write this review because I've been on the Watari-kun train since the literal first chapter dropped years ago. It's been such a wild ride, for real. This isn't just another rom-com, guys. It's SO much more, and I've got a lot of feelings about it, lol. Story: 9/10 When I first started this, I thought I knew what I was getting into: a guy, Naoto Watari, has to move in with his aunt because of family drama, bringing his adorable little sister with him. He meets a bunch of cute girls, and harem shenanigans begin. And yeah, for awhile, that's what it is! But the author, Naru Narumi, is an absolute master of deception. The storyline is genuinely amazing. You can't just binge this casually. Every 10 chapters or so, BAM, a major plot twist or a huge reveal gets dropped that changes everything you thought you knew. One minute you're laughing your head off, and the next you're staring at the page like, "Wait... what just happened?!" It keeps you on your toes like no other manga I've read in this genre. Now, I gotta be 100% honest. There was a point where I had to stop reading. The chapters between, like, 60 and 80 got SO incredibly dark. The story took a nosedive into some serious psychological territory, digging into everyone's past traumas and messed-up family situations. It stopped being funny and just got... heavy. Like, really heavy. I was reading for the fluff and the drama, and suddenly I was hit with this intense psychological gut punch. I actually had to put it down for a few months for my own sanity. But I'm SO glad I came back to it. After pushing through that super intense arc, the story finds its balance again, and all that dark stuff makes the character development that much more meaningful. And the comedy? OMG, the comedy is a solid 9/10. It's so freaking funny. The timing is perfect, and sometimes it feels like a full-on parody of harem tropes. The author is totally self-aware, and it makes the jokes land so much harder. Art: 8/10 The art is super clean and cute! It’s not something that’s going to blow your mind like Berserk or Vagabond, but it fits the vibe of the story perfectly. All the characters are really expressive, which is a huge plus for the comedy. The artist is a master at drawing those over-the-top reaction faces, lmao. Satsuki looks so cool and beautiful, and Ishihara is just painfully adorable. The art really shines during the emotional moments, too. You can feel the characters' happiness and pain just from their expressions. Character: 10/10 This is where Watari-kun truly shines. The characters feel like real people, not just a collection of tropes. Watari himself is NOT your typical dense harem MC, thank god. He's actually smart and perceptive, but he's also dealing with so much emotional baggage. You really root for him to find happiness. And the girls! This is easily one of the best-written romance triangles (or polygons?) I have ever read. The relationships are unbeatable. You have Satsuki, the childhood friend who has this deep, unbreakable bond with Watari forged through shared trauma. Their story is beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Then you have Ishihara, the energetic kouhai who seems like a simple genki girl at first, but she has so much hidden depth and strength. The way their relationships grow is based on actual friendship and understanding, not just silly misunderstandings. But it’s not just about them! The supporting cast is AMAZING. Watari's little sister, Suzu, is the best imouto character ever written, I will not be taking questions at this time. She's hilarious, super supportive of her big brother, and has her own personality. She's not just there for fan service. And Watari’s best friend is a true bro, always there to talk sense into him. Even their families are fleshed out and play important roles in the story. It makes the world feel so much richer and more real. Enjoyment: 9/10 This manga is an experience. It will make you laugh until you cry and then just make you cry for real, lol. It’s an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible. Even with that one arc that nearly broke me, I can't say I didn't enjoy the ride as a whole. Coming back to it after my break made me appreciate the writing even more. It’s one of those series that just sticks with you long after you've caught up. If you're looking for a rom-com that has actual substance, plot, and characters you'll fall in love with, you HAVE to read this. Just be prepared for the feels trip. Overall: 9/10 I’ve been following this story for years, and it's been an incredible journey. Watari-kun no xx ga Houkai Sunzen is a masterpiece that brilliantly juggles top-tier comedy, genuinely sweet romance, and some surprisingly dark psychological drama. It’s not a light, fluffy read all the way through, but its depth is what makes it so special. It's one of the most memorable and well-written manga I've ever had the pleasure of reading. A definite must-read for anyone tired of the same old rom-com formula.