Starting Observe: This explicit evaluation does comprise character and plot level spoilers. Learn this at your individual discretion. Moreover, this was written earlier than quantity 4 was accessible. Taking that into consideration, the vast majority of my evaluation nonetheless stands.
Welcome again to a different set up of Library Loot and Instagram Beneficial! It’s one other double characteristic, the place we see how good Instagram was at placing a brand new title in my face and getting me to learn it. However with the feel-good components of I went by means of my library over making a right away fiscal dedication.
From the very fundamental premise alone, a young person discovering herself in love with an idol, who occurs to really be accessible to her – would have completely been my factor if I used to be nonetheless in my teenagers. As a former die-hard kpoppie, and now somebody who continues to be fascinated by, however has more and more much less time to decide to jpop teams, idol or in any other case, I’m curious how this may play out.
Wakaume Sahoko, having been brutally rejected up to now, has sworn off lovely boys. To the purpose the place she even needs fatness and baldness upon them! Nevertheless, in the future Kirigaya Kouta the chief of the idol group, Like Legend, dines at her household’s restaurant. She manages to inform him off, particularly for assuming she was his fan. Kouta fairly then lashing out himself, surprisingly apologizes and arrives the following day with signed items to win her over! Seeing how earnest the attractive boy Kouta is, will she be sturdy sufficient to resist his appeal?
I want I might say she was however that may defeat the purpose of the sequence, no? This sequence is someplace within the class of not fairly self-insert, however not fairly a full on fangirl fantasy story. It feels just like the Japanese model of an old-fashioned my-mom-sold-me-to-1D Wattpad fanfiction, however with a considerably extra affordable plot and motion.
I must admit proper off the bat, it was fairly arduous for me to take the premise significantly at my previous age. That’s simply because realizing some fundamentals on idol tradition, Japanese privateness legal guidelines, and some different tidbits kinda makes these tales completely unrealistic. Sahoko is the traditional, take off her glasses and abruptly she’s fairly woman. Coupled with the not-like-other-girls angle she has firstly that’s dropped by the top of chapter three, Sahoko seems like a number of characters I’ve seen earlier than and achieved higher, BUT I do nonetheless get pleasure from seeing her in motion. My teen self would have adored her.
Being coupled with Kouta, who’s an grownup by the best way, did give me some odd vibes. Sahoko and Kouta do have some distinctive chemistry. Kouta being the charming and happy-go-lucky idol with a painful backstory that he hid for awhile. That specific troupe of a plotline wraps up by chapter eight, with out an excessive amount of to revisit as of quantity three. I might’ve preferred to see just a little extra battle about this level as a result of issues like this don’t simply disappear in a single day. We’ll have to attend and see about that.
Nevertheless, it’s regarding that ultimately the facility dynamic of an grownup (Kouta) v. baby (Sahoko), AND celeb vs. non-celebrity hasn’t popped up but. Sahoko has expressed some semblance of recognizing her behaviors as harmful. She does know his deal with and displaying up un-requested to ship meals and issues. As soon as she’s fallen in love she compulsively tried studying every little thing she might about Kouta by means of interviews and television as a substitute of asking him straight. A few of her actions clearly falling into stalker territory, others devoted fan however the line is skinny.
It doesn’t assist that Kouta doesn’t appear to acknowledge how creepy Sahoko could possibly be. As an alternative both laughing it off outright, or ignoring it. Even Kanata, Kouta’s extra level-headed group mate has made a number of jabs at Sahoko’s habits however by no means condones it outright both. Which might result in an attention-grabbing, however perhaps too intense for this sequence’ present boundaries, storylines sooner or later, however I’m unsure how I’d really feel about that. It nonetheless seems like the facility dynamics and limits haven’t actually come up but for the reason that duo are nonetheless very early into their relationship, but the door is open for that dialogue. It’s additionally one thing my grownup self needs acknowledged, however one thing that my youthful self wouldn’t have given a single thought to. It’s a bizarre level in my mind in the intervening time, and I don’t have conclusive ideas but.
I’ll admit that I do recognize the supporting solid is beginning to have extra affect on the story. I actually like Yuko, whose Sahoko’s greatest buddy and fellow idol fan. She’s the one which helps Sahoko perceive the distinction between supporting Kouta as a fan, verses being in love with him. Plus, she’s comparatively regular together with her ardour and having different pursuits exterior of Like Legend. Like Legend’s Kanata is hilarious too. He’s unapologetically a darkish prince, deeply sarcastic, always selecting on Kouta, completely reads Sahoko like a e-book. I’m sincerely hoping he continues to be featured extra frequently within the story, since I feel he’s such a powerful character.
I’ve solely learn the primary three volumes printed in English, which is the primary twelve chapters however holy crap the pacing on this sequence is FAST. I poked round and realized it was printed with Bessatsu Margaret, which is month-to-month releases however nonetheless. It’s kinda refreshing that the tempo of the story is so brisk. This period of shojo will not be sitting and ready ceaselessly for hand holding after which an enternity for a kiss.
Nevertheless, I can’t assist however really feel a bit uneasy about this pacing. The story beats to date have all adopted a 3 to 4 chapter arc earlier than shifting on and forgetting something of vital from these moments. It could be the way it’s sure in English, I’d simply be getting higher at selecting up on arc’s. For higher or worse, I’m genuinely a bit in awe about how a lot has occurred in these three volumes alone.
Artwork-wise, I’m not significantly blown away by any component but. The male characters aren’t significantly distinct except for hair coloration. I do know folks make jokes that each one boy bands look the identical, however Like Legend actually look scarily comparable except for top to inform them aside. It didn’t assist that I genuinely thought that Kouta was the man who rejected her in elementary faculty. It was solely in later chapters, the place it was clarified that it was two totally different dudes.
Koda-Sensei is in any other case fairly competent. The panel layouts aren’t loopy experimentative, however are simple to comply with and properly constructed. Probably the most coronary heart racing panels have extra room to breath, the remainder of the pages working in the direction of that aim. It’s clear that she was informed by her editor to make Sahoko extra expressive, as she progressively has extra dramatic reactions within the latter chapters then the primary. It’s a fairly pure development although, and I recognize it. I gained’t throw her artwork into the generic class, however My Particular One does match into the trendy shojo artwork system. It will get some bonus factors for homage to works like Glass Masks and Swan with a few of the character’s extra over-dramatic reactions.
Total, I can’t outright advocate My Particular One for normal shojo followers. Regardless of my deeper commentary on the sequence right here, I do know it’s a fairly run of the mill popcorn leisure for a a lot youthful viewers then I. On the identical time, I’m majorly involved this sequence goes to expire of steam for a passable ending given how briskly it’s at the moment chugging alongside.
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However I’ll admit that I’m curious sufficient to maintain going. And that Instagram did job getting this title in entrance of me. Not within the fanatic “I-need-more-now!!!” kind of approach I might’ve been as a teen. However simply curious sufficient that after I see the latest quantity is out I’ll hope my library has it.
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