This is my third time rereading the series. I absolutely love it. Also, how can it be so wholesome but also have this looming depressing vibe? The art underlines this feeling, too. I want Umi to make Shou as happy as possible. Heal that poor girl properly.
I wouldn’t quite say it’s an outright depressing vibe, but I have very much picked up on an underlying atmosphere of melancholy, and perhaps something like a slight wistful nostalgia? There’s definitely some general slightly sad vibe to it, even with the happy scenes and the romance being so innocently sweet, it’s still a lingering feeling that sticks with you.
There’s just something about this story that gives me the impression that you can’t put a tragic ending past it, and that definitely makes me uneasy. But, it’s generally quite well-crafted, and has something of a beautiful allure in spite of the ever present sensation of moroseness and longing… I guess almost like a siren (mermaid) song.
I’ve had this series on my planned reading list for a while now, and seeing the new update released today made me finally dive in and binge it all from the start. Now just comes the dreaded waiting game!