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May 10, 2026
For a premise as thorny as divorce and reconciliation, much less one brought by a third party's interference, there needs to be a REALLY good reason for things to deteriorate until that point.
What this story chose to make as a core conflict is a series of escalating misunderstanding and basically ML's insecurity preventing him to be honest.
That's cheap. That's lazy. That's simply the narrative wanting the thrill of reconciliation WITHOUT giving the main characters genuine flaws to fix.
So the reconciliation happens with things as simple as the ML saying his true feelings. and EVEN THEN the narrative has to delay that as long as possible
...
by adding more conflicts and intrigue and conspiracy that, of course, creates more pointless misunderstanding and emotional pain between MC and ML.
Sigh.
The extra comics they make after each chapter are clearly meant to untangle the worst of the knots by showing the behind the scene, and in most cases the ML's true feelings. I think they are aiming for some gap moe, but to me that only comes off insulting. Because the narrative itself is clearly flimsy enough that simple yonkoma comic can reduce the tension.
Not all is bad, tbh. I actually like the small relationships made between the side characters. Even the second saintess actually shines in these little moments.
But again, the core conflict was too flimsy, too cheap drama. It's frustrating.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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May 9, 2026
Overall, the stories are pretty generic in premise, but the execution gives an interesting vibe to each narrative.
Story 1 and 2 are cute and awkward and pretty nice for an early incarnation of this trope. Again, it's a product of its time; the uke's expression of his BL interest is positively restrained compared to the modern examples of a fudanshi. The fact that the seme doesn't end up liking BL is also another hint of its age.
I think the seme's initial reservation should be ended much faster because right now their feelings are blossoming very fast. Too fast. Still, the character dynamics are nice.
Story
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3 is the most kinky, and in that sense I can somewhat excuse the student x teacher trope, but at the same time it really feels outdated for now. It's also strange for a sadist to suddenly turn into a masochist after a single night of sex.
In comparison Story 4 is arguably the most generic. While it's a bit rare to see the seme's archetype--someone who is lonely because he is so beautiful--, the story and the relationships are happening in a very predictable manner. Nothing feels weird tho.
Story 5 is the shortest, but it's also the most bittersweet and impactful. Some parts of me feel like it can still be refined, but other parts of me feel that the roughness of the flow adds to the story. This is after all a story about young love--no matter its end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 9, 2026
There's so many things I love about this story, especially back when it was first scanlated.
The story's vibes are IMMACULATE. The peacefulness, the wistfulness, the loneliness and pain, the warmth, they are all felt from every single one of the panel. This is one of the few BLs that has that element of mono no aware.
The art also sells the seaside town setting too. Despite it being black and white, the vibes feel good and cozy.
Main characters are fleshed out well. From the MC, his nephew, and the ML, everyone is well-defined, with believable flaws and a vivid inner pain. I particularly enjoy that
...
the nephew isn't just cute figures but also a character with his own challenge and progress.
The romance I'm a bit more ambivalent at first, but in the end I'm in for it. At first the dynamic feels generic, your usual 'flirty service worker and the ordinary yet earnest straight man who gets overwhelmed by all the flirtation', but the more the story goes, the more the romance evolves the main couple into someone better.
MC becomes stronger and more determined to care for his loved ones. Meanwhile the ML has a more stark and enjoyable evolution. From being professionally nice, to intense yearning, to pushing the MC back, until the end when he clings to MC with all his heart.
The progression feels heartfelt and dramatic yet grounded enough to be believable.
I think it's just, with the abundance of slice of life slow life BLs, I now wish the story could be longer. It could have been longer in developing the bonds between the main couple, or it could have been longer in showing how the main characters live after they got together.
Right now, the story has an excellent framework but I feel like it doesn't have enough content to honor those framework. This goes double especially when compared to the greats of the genre.
But that's about it, really. I still love this story, and it still is a very good story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 9, 2026
**WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!**
Sorry, I am just so happy. One rare story where the sporty knight type actually gets the girl. And it's also well-written!
I can totally understand why [Victoria of the Many Faces] gets to be an anime. This story has a distinct tone that sets itself apart from most of the current roster of RoFan/Otome Isekai animes out there.
[Victoria of the Many Faces] reads more like an iyashikei with a bite, a combination of slice of life and childcare stories set in the backdrop of a typical RoFan.
Overall, it's a good story, though I do feel like this story will benefit much more in a webtoon
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format.
See, this story has a DENSE paneling per page. The pacing is actually not bad, and the writing is careful and steady, but sometimes there's a LOT of things crammed in a single page. That makes the pacing feel like it's rushed even though it's actually not. Like, while many manga can be turned into 2 webtoon chapters, this title will have to be divided into 3 webtoon chapters, MINIMUM.
Now let's shift back to the first point. And here, allow me to be biased and subjective and emotional, won't you? I'm just so happy that we finally get a second ML type as the main love interest.
(Okay that's a bit confusing. There is no 'second ML' at the point of writing; the main LI just looks like second ML type in other stories.)
But no seriously, Jeffrey Asher, the ML of this story, is an earnest yet dependable knight--exactly one of the favorite second ML types in your usual Otome Isekai and RoFan stories, played STRAIGHT. And his entire character is emblematic of this story's direction.
Y'see, the basic premise of the story ties around our titular [Victoria of Many Faces], a former spy who escapes her organization to live in peace alongside Nonna, a child she adopted in her escape attempt.
Whether manga or manhwa, so many other stories would have used this kind of premise to simply add intrigue and melodrama. In an utterly generic RoFan scenario, the narrative would have thrown Victoria and Nonna straight back into drama and conflict, where they will also meet a Duke of the North type LI who will bring them back into his palace because he's drawn by her skills. Then Victoria will not only deal with her violent past, but also the political intrigue circling around this supposed ML and his inner circle. Meanwhile the ML will pamper Victoria with scenes of excess and glamour while systematically breaking down her defenses and boundaries, and Victoria will then melt the supposed ML's frozen heart due to his veritable dark past.
This story refuses to do most of that.
It firmly and genuinely wants Victoria and Nonna to recover first and foremost, to be away from conflict and violence, and Jeffrey's character perfectly complements that direction.
While yes, he is a famed noble, and he has some dark past, but in practice he's no Duke of the North. And neither is he secretly yandere or possessive or anything. The story portrays Jeffrey unflinchingly as who he is; a solid, friendly, earnest and beefy knight whose charm lies not in how SUPERIOR he is but simply in being dependable and devoted. His past doesn't dim his light or gives him any hidden dark side at all, only adding a slightest bit of edge that only helps giving his character texture.
And then the story goes one step further by making him respectably smart. He's straightforward but not stupid. He's protective, but not possessive. He's caring and devoted, but not clingy.
Jeffrey immediately notices that Victoria is more than who she claims to be from their first meeting, and the story never lets it slip by even as his bond with Victoria develops. And yet, he never tries to pry in. He subconsciously knows where Victoria's boundaries are and respects that despite his own misgivings.
He's the kind of person who will spend his entire life looking for those he cares about, but he's also the kind of person who will respect that person's decision to walk away.
Everything about Jeffrey is so respectful, so protective, and it perfectly complements the healing theme this story is trying to give. His stability, patience, and compassion makes for a really nice contrast with Victoria and her numerous dark secrets, and their relationship development feels steady and comforting.
I hate that the story is VERY conservative about PDA, but their romance is palpable and heartfelt.
Don't get me wrong tho, while I have waxed so much poetic for the ML, that doesn't mean the MC is inferior in any way. The titular [Victoria of Many Faces] is a very enjoyable main character herself. Her calmness makes her look unlike most girlboss OI protagonists, but she hides a steel edge that rivals the best of them. And at the same time, she has a good heart that rivals the best of the white lotuses.
It's difficult to talk about Victoria's heart without connecting it to Nonna, the child Victoria has adopted. I appreciate the way the story uses Nonna; Victoria sees her not just as a cute Morality Pet, but also as a living representation of the hell Victoria has endured in her time as a spy--both the violence she inflicted and the pain and suffering etched deeply in her body, mind, and spirit.
The end result is that the childcare moment feels layered. As Victoria provides Nonna with love and care, she also gives herself the chance to do so. And on the flip side she also teaches Nonna many of her espionage skills, adding a bit of a student-teacher dynamic in the childcare part of the story. This direction turns Nonna into a more actualized character, a girl taught to be careful yet free, and she has a lot more agency than most non-MC child characters in the genre.
Not only does this match the direction of the story, it also gives Victoria's skills and flaws more weight.
I actually enjoy the way the story presents Victoria's skills here. At first I genuinely thought that the espionage part of the story will be just be an afterthought, a flimsy reason to give an occasional action sequence or two, but they do appear in the story repeatedly--just in less obvious forms. Victoria is collected, composed, and prepared in the face of conflict. She's a skilled yet evasive woman who keeps backup plans and cleverly dodges inquiries with excuses and distractions. Every single part of her evasiveness feels natural yet intentional, and I find myself thinking that "oh yeah this is believable for a former spy."
There are also moments where she undeniably acts reckless, bringing herself and her many skills into public display despite how unwise it would be. But again, the presence of Nonna turns these flaws from bad writing into intentional character flaw; the irrational actions of someone who acts rushed simply because she has people she cared about.
The supporting cast are nothing special, but they are still solidly written. So many of them are friendly and supportive, both towards Victoria, Nonna, and Jeffrey, and I do enjoy that none of them are particularly stupid in regards to Victoria's skilled talents.
The narrative has a solid sense of found family, and it's very consistent in supporting female independence. All in all, reading this story feels like a breeze...
But I do find myself humming and hawing over the general plot.
Again, there's the condensed panel I mentioned above, as well as the weird lack of PDA. While the story still contains lots of intimacy and affection, the PDAs are surprisingly low and chaste and I just don't know why.
But also, some parts of the narrative can be executed better.
The premise itself, Victoria's espionage past, reaches the climax in a very weird way. Characters that felt like they are going to be important just..don't...and the climax unfolds in a very weird direction. As much as I understand the narrative's refusal to put Victoria and Nonna in a fight, I feel a bit deflated when I reached the conclusion of that part of the plot.
And then there's the second major arc, a post timeskip arc. I actually like the significantly lower stakes compared to the first arc, except the fact Jeffrey has a surprisingly little role here. He still has some parts to play, one personally tied to his past, but that only last for a moment and then after that he just exists in the sideline while most of the adventure got resolved. He only returns to prominence AFTER the adventure's over, and I must admit it feels a bit lazy; like the writer doesn't know what to do with Jeffrey in that setting.
The manga's available chapters online stopped right as a new arc begins, so we shall see if things are different moving forward.
But overall, it's an enjoyable story; and I can't wait to see the anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 8, 2026
There's so much to love about this story. The art is clean, and the scenery looks really good and selling the solitude the story is aiming to tell.
I also like the dynamics and chemistry between the two MCs. Their relationship builds fast, but it's gentle at the same time. I enjoy how the narrative tells each character's pain, and how they put these two wounded souls together. The ending is not only refreshing, but it also works perfectly with the narrative, and I appreciate the direction altogether.
But I think the story has one major shortcoming, and that is that it fails to really deliver the
...
slice of life part. We don't really get to know the setting OR the characters before we are jumping into drama, and I think that deals a significant chunk of damage for the quiet and wistful narrative.
Just one more chapter would have been perfect.
That being said, what we've gotten here is also okay.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 8, 2026
So far, this is a steady slow burn shifter romance that only bears the slightest tinge of the Omegaverse. I'd even go as far as saying that this is one of the safe titles you can offer to people who thinks of dabbling into the slicky waters.
The plot does carry a misunderstanding / miscommunication as its main core, but luckily so far the narrative doesn't make it frustrating. The narrative conveniently offers no twists and turns so in the end you're just in for the ride to see the inevitable moment when the secret is revealed.
To that effect, it's a pleasant ride. The dynamics between
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the main two characters are playful and entertaining. I can absolutely buy the friendship between these two lonely people.
The Omega uke is a bit annoying in the way that tsundere ukes like him sometimes does, but the narrative still makes sure to add some earnest moments to balance the tsun. The Alpha seme isn't too much of a jerkass, and his clinginess nicely treads the lines between possessive entitlement and loneliness.
The art is also clean, and the interactions between the main characters are filled to the brim with chemistry. If the story lands the romance part well, this story would be GOOD.
So I cannot wait.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 8, 2026
This story is one golden example in how storytelling can very much influence how a story feels.
On paper, the premise of this story doesn't feel THAT different compared to dozens of other 'former classmates reunited as adults' stories. Yes, the uke's background is grim and anguished, but these days that's not enough to make a story distinctive.
But this story uses its art perfectly, from the bleak grayish tone to the general absence of visual effects and chibi barring certain specific moments, even the abundance of empty space and silent panels, to make sure that the story feels as gloomy and hopeless as the main
...
characters feel.
That also makes for a beautiful moment when the colors and the hues DOES change when their relationship improve. Things feel more vivid. The chibi panels are employed more. We see the progress not just through PDAs or grand moments, but through its most fundamental elements.
I enjoyed the main characters, surprisingly. Shinwoo, the MC, is suitably pained and suffering and I really want to give him a hug, but at the same time I also like his particular brand of hopelessness and negativity. He clearly has so much anxiety and self-hatred but he doesn't freak out and panic over it. He just...accepts it as a done deal, as an established fact that "of course no one wants me" and moved along anyway. It's a fragile and painful despair that also hides a quiet resilience, and this story portrays that delicate mindset really well.
Han, the ML, is also pretty enjoyable. He's not only 'refusing to pursue anyone who leaves', he actively casts things he no longer enjoys. It's a despicable behavior for sure, but the story manages to write him with such carefulness that he still ends up surprisingly down to earth. His brand of misdeeds feels as believable as he is outrageous.
The initial dynamics between the two feels painful and frustratingly delightful, especially because it feels different from its peers. There is no push and pull; what happened repeatedly is that Han would push and push yet Shinwoo will remain unmovable, like trying to push a mist forward. While the framing device of an amnesia feels a bit beyond my suspension of disbelief, the story's grounded writing makes it feel less aggravating and more like a mystery.
Where I feel the story can improve is in the road towards the ending. For one, the smut. While the art is generally clean and well-drawn, they lean more towards stiffness, and that becomes REALLY apparent in the smut scenes.
>! But also, while I do appreciate the beginning of Season 2, especially as Han finds out how much pain Shinwoo has endured and how much of it was his fault, I feel like Han's chasing arc happens too fast and too soon. There's only around 20 episodes before their issues got resolved, and the second season also dives significantly less to the career side of the narrative. This matters for the narrative because one of Shinwoo's main issues is his relationship anxiety and negative self-worth. He believes he will never be chosen, that Han will dump him as soon as he feels bored. That kind of negativity requires a gentler pace that this story fails to offer, and as a result I find the second season a bit too...lovebombing, in a way that makes me question Han's sincerity.
But while I can do with Han having a bit more life outside Shinwoo, I am absolutely relishing how devoted and persistent Han is once he sets his mind on Shinwoo. The way he tries to communicate and to engage with Shinwoo openly and earnestly feels nice. And even I must admit that the ending feels oh so terribly sweet.
On top of that, I DO appreciate how this story makes it a point that everyone in the main characters' social circle is aware that the two MCs end up together. Some of them are even frank when discussing Han and Shinwoo's past boyfriends. The openness is a refreshing change compared to so many BLs.
So while the flaws do stop this story from reaching greatness, I am enjoying it very very much.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 4, 2026
I am biased. I am yapping. Be very warned.
This is THE golden standard with which I judge every slow life isekai story. And so far, VERY few titles measure up to it.
Of course, this superlative review of mine comes because I like all three elements of the story, the 'Isekai' and 'Omotenashi' and 'Gohan' (or, in its English translation, 'Different World', 'Hospitality', and 'Meals'). So in that aspect, this story is actually quite niche.
One half of this manga is a cooking story; the 'Gohan' part of the title. And it's actually a pretty solid cooking story. The foods they feature are all Japanese staples, but
...
they are varied in their types. Sometimes they show trusted staples that have found their mark in the international world; things like karaage and onigiri and donuts. But other times we see more local offerings like dried fish and pickled plums, edamame and mountain vegetables and salted fish.
All in all, they are not as down-to-earth as [What Did You Eat Yesterday], but it's still a very unique selection; homemade dishes made in ordinary Japanese households and not restaurant kitchens, and I love the refreshing choice so much.
On top of the selection, the art is clean and neat, showing each dishes very clearly and eloquently despite being monochromatic. And while the online version I've read does not feature a comprehensive recipe, the story does show each cooking step almost beat by beat, making sure that the cooking part of the narrative remains prominent throughout the story.
The 'Isekai' part is...pretty standard; this manga was one of the OGs of modern isekai, after all. The manga came out in 2017; the light novel came out in 2016. Thus, both the premise and the setting resemble more of OG fantasy isekai stories like [Kanata Kara] or [Magic Knight Rayearth] rather than the modern isekai worlds of RPG stats and cheat skills and reincarnated characters.
But what makes it different is that the chosen girl is not the only one summoned. The MC of this story is not the chosen one, Hiyori; it's Akane, her Office Lady older sister.
Unlike Hiyori, Akane is an ordinary young woman by all means. And unlike other stories with this kind of basic premise, Akane is not 'secretly blessed' by any cheat skills or knowledges of the 'original story' or even any semblance of magical power; no, the only tangible 'gift' she possesses is the fact that their entire house is transported alongside her, and most of their appliances somehow works despite being in a different world.
But Hiyori loves Akane and her food, and so, it is from her perspective that this story was told, and it is from her humble hands that the 'Omotenashi' part of the story comes forth. in Akane's own words:
*"Cooking meals for my younger sister everyday. It's as simple as that. But it also means there's something I can do."*
Akane and Hiyori's relationship is one of the many reasons why I love this manga so much. In fact, I can say that this story delivers one of the best sibling dynamics even beyond isekai as a genre.
Their relationship are unlike the usual 'backstabbing younger sister who abuses the elder sister' trope that is so very common in Otome Isekai genre, but they are also different from the explosive sibling dynamics featured in manhwas like [The Housekeeper of the Dungeon] or [My Brothers, the Protagonist], which often uses the sibling bonds as a source of comedic gag as much as a genuine source of strength.
No; here, Akane and Hiyori's relationship are genuinely loving and affectionate and supportive. But from the very first chapter, the narrative has never run away from the darker side of that sibling love.
Again, in Akane's words:
"Cooking meals for my younger sister everyday. It's as simple as that. But it also means **there's something I can do."**
The narrative never runs away from acknowledging and exploring the darker side of Akane's psyche. The fact that Akane is helpless and powerless while her younger sister is risking her life somewhere out there, the fact that she's effectively there just as her younger sister's emotional support, the fact that her entire life is uprooted for the sake of a world she doesn't even know...and the fact that she has to shoulder all those thoughts while also being a pillar of strength for Hiyori... everything is let to marinade until the flavors seep in.
Akane's brightest and darkest thoughts are all centered around her younger sister. There's love, there's care, there's warmth, but there's also deep-seated concern, fear, annoyance, even a sense of codependency and an underlying resentment that both sisters acknowledge but refuse to admit for a long time.
And when the story goes for the kill, it doesn't pull its punches. It doesn't hide behind cheap miscommunications or silly misunderstanding. When Akane gets angry at Hiyori, it's not the kind of slapstick anger that [My Brothers, the Protagonists] uses; it's a genuine, resentful anger. The narrative is soaked in love and loss, anger and warmth, grief and concern, and it actually lets Akane resolves her own internal battles, whether by herself or with those around her. Readers who love communication in their stories would love this manga so very much.
Not gonna lie, the painful moments between Akane and Hiyori are few and far in between, and not only is it always a conflict per se, but they also got resolved very quickly. But those moments sink much deeper in my brain than so many other isekai stories.
Hiyori herself is also a pretty decent younger sister character, on top of being a really human 'Chosen One' archetype. She's young and spirited and excitable, but she's also...young and self-centered and directly shouldering the fate of an entire world on her shoulders. These layers of her character never feels conflicting, and moments where she serves as the chapter's antagonist feels very human and sympathetic for me.
That said, Akane's original bonds are not just centered around Hiyori. Her feelings and thoughts for the rest of her family aren't shown that often, but when they do, they are just as warm and nuanced as her feelings and thoughts for Hiyori. The bonds of family is very important here, and some of the best chapters of this story are all tied around it.
But the 'Omotenashi' part of the story actually comes when Akane starts interacting with the 'Isekai' part of the narrative, and here the story shines the brightest both as a story AND as a work of art. It is what made me love this work oh-so-dearly even years after reading it for the first time.
*Omotenashi* is a Japanese word originated in their hospitality culture, a concept as old and fundamental as their *wabi-sabi, mono-no-aware, or ikigai*. According to Travel Japan, *"omotenashi goes beyond “the customer is always right;” rather, it is an implicit understanding that there are no menial tasks if the result ensures a great experience for a guest."*
And this is embodied clearly in the very structure of the story.
Y'see, I haven't read every Isekai story in the world, but I have read my fair share, and as far as I know most if not all of Isekai story tend to focus on the fantastic regardless of the genre, the country of origin, or even the target demographic. Even reverse isekai as a genre tend to frame itself as "look at the bizarre and fantastic world of Modern Earth!"
None of the story has done what [Isekai Omotenashi Gohan] has done; standing so firmly by Akane's side, it ends up pulling the Isekai part into the mundane.
Because the narrative never strays from Akane's perspective, almost every single chapter starts off with a character visiting her house like a pilgrim visiting a temple. And every single time, the narrative would proceed to strip the fantasy elements of her guests. Whether royals or commoners, male or female, human or nonhuman, the narrative patiently pushes them towards that old Japanese house, Akane's realm and dominion, stripping all the roles and statuses and expectations until all that's left are individuals interacting as equals.
If Akane's deepest thoughts and feelings are centered around Hiyori, then her personality is shown most vividly around her many guests.
And sure, she ain't the girlboss type of MC, but she's still one hell of a wonderful protagonist. She is considerate yet principled, charming yet forthright, playful yet melancholic. She never lets the plot trample her down; even at her lowest, she still has full agency of her life and choices.
The rest of the cast starts off as more generic archetypes, positive and likable yet not that particularly remarkable, but again, the narrative does a wonderful job of stripping these characters from their own fantasy trappings. In the process, we get to see the characters as who they really are as individuals, and that is where the cast shines. Akane no longer talks with the knight, but a young man who has accepted mediocrity as his lot in life. She meets the queen, but finds a woman who's as maternal as she is sheltered.
Other than Hiyori and Jade, the ML, most of the cast appear in an episodic rotation, but their presence feels so vivid and fleshed out. And I totally understand why, seeing the author's previous work.
All of these elements combine to create a story that is as warm as it is wistful and melancholic, a story that looks at love and loss with equal strength and still manages to smile nonetheless.
But all of my praises does not mean this story is all perfect.
Well, it's more like 'I have things I feel sad about' rather than 'this story has flaws and weaknesses', but yeah.
The first unfortunate matter is the very fact that this story ended WAY too prematurely. I'm not sure whether it's axed, or whether it's a creative decision to streamline much of the narrative, but the fact remains that this manga contains much less content than the light novel.
Not only does this mean there's much less content, this also affects how the story presents Jade, the ML.
Jade is a very interesting character (with a very stupid-looking breastplate). He is far from your typical OI love interest; he is the knight who accepted mediocrity I mentioned above. The closest an isekai story has ever gotten to a salaryman, Jade has initially accepted his lot in life and just wants to pass things by...or so he planned, until he sees Akane and all of her efforts and got inspired by her.
This is an unique dynamic, one that would have been lovely to see blooming in pull. But the sudden end seems to affect a LOT of his character arc, and as a result for much of the story Jade just serves as Akane's sous chef, helping her with cooking and shopping and casting Identify on ingredients. And that's very unfortunate.
The last couple story arcs do try to push him back under the spotlight, a move that leads to one of the more interesting story arcs in the story, but by that time there's not much change that can be done. I'm sure other characters are suffering a similar 'cut'. Heck, at least two side characters have been erased in the manga version of the story.
The ending also ends up a bit rushed; there's an emotional resolution, for sure, but I still can't help grieving on the story we didn't get; wondering what it'd look like if we get the full story.
But that's neither here nor there. The end result that we've had now is still a complete story, a beautiful and wistful story about food and the other world and all the lovely things that encompasses those two words.
And that's more than enough, for me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 3, 2026
There's an almost nostalgic quality to this story. A rose-tinted view of those peaceful high school days, where the biggest problem you'll face is rejection, and the biggest challenge is your own self-doubt.
This is a very ordinary story, with very ordinary people and very ordinary problems. That's the strength of this story, really.
From the very start, this premise is simple: this is a story about Heesu in Class 2, and his love life. And the story mostly never strays from this. It's charming, it's chaotic, and it's surprisingly very grounded at certain times.
Heesu is an ordinary young man, the type of person who'd be the
...
extra in a different story, but here he's an excellent character and an endearing protagonist. His character is fleshed out and nuanced; his joys and struggles and concerns all feel real in the ways that very few school life stories get to show, especially when it comes to his love life.
Strangely, I particularly like the mental gymnastics he does when it comes to his own feelings. The way Heesu fidgets and fibs around when it comes to avoiding his vulnerability is very self-aware, yet also very conceited. It feels very raw for those who have been in his position.
I'm also enjoying Seungwon, the ML. He's a rare type of ML, the kind who's JUST stoic and quiet and devoted without much edge inside him. The contrast between the quiet him and the loud and fidgety Heesu alone will make a decent BL by itself, but this story goes one step further and develops a genuine bond between these two.
There is also an interesting dynamic between Heesu and Chanyoung, his best friend and first crush. Chanyoung knows Heesu likes him, and he finds that bothersome, but he also likes and cares for Heesu as a person. This particular awareness makes for an intriguing middle ground between 'you're my friend and I will forever be in your side' and 'I'm just using you, sucker'.
And when he takes the matchmaker role with Seungwon's friend, it's genuinely amusing.
Mind you, this story isn't perfect. It still relies on some amount of misunderstanding and cheap drama compared to other stories of this kind.
And not only does the story not flesh its side characters well enough, once the story enters the second season, and new characters begin to appear, characters that were important in the past begin to be sidelined and pushed into the background. RIP, Chanyoung.
And while the second couple faces more drama, as is wont for long-running stories like this, I think the narrative isn't solid enough to maintain the pace and it's forced to escalate the drama again and again to maintain momentum. Hence, the sudden plot twist for the second couple.
Combined, they do stop this story from reaching greatness. The cast aren't detailed enough to be Skip and Loafer or April Showers Bring May Flowers, but the drama isn't intense enough to be something like Megumi and Tsugumi.
However, the core of this story is already there, and it's delightful.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 3, 2026
The story is beautifully drawn, beautifully told, and yet at the same time....it's so empty.
Its main priority is to maintain the wistful atmosphere and the vibe of mystery. On that, I say they got it right. Every single part of the art is also beautiful, with soft gaussian blur and pale hue that adds to the mood it's trying to give.
But everything else feels painfully flat.
The main characters are all reserved and quiet, and as a result they are just going through the motions of the story. We hear the MC's inner thoughts, but most of them doesn't stray that far from curiosity, helplessness, or
...
affection towards the ML.
Their relationship, too, feels a bit unearned in a way. The yearning is there, and so is the tender protection, but the passion feels like a flickering candle than a blazing flame. The main characters got entangled with each other in a very arbitrary way, and then the ending already comes without much development from that point.
The most interesting character here is the antagonist, who's also hot as sin, but this kind of antagonist doesn't suit a 6 episode manhwa, and as such he gets painfully underbaked.
As the result, the ending feels....a bit faint. It's not entirely BAD, I think the feelings are there, but it's just unsatisfying.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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