Well, way to take a trope, turn it on its head, and then shove your boot up its arse as you kick it out the door.
That's really the only way I can even begin to describe this manga. Taking one of my most loathed manga concepts, that of 'netorare' or 'NTR', turning the antagonist into a kind of reluctant anti-hero who is a lot more noble than he wishes to be perceived, and making him a likable, if complex, character? Talk about whiplash!
Most isekai manga tend to follow a predictable pattern - some schmuck gets reincarnated, pretty much immediately figures out ways to 'game' the system (no pun intended), becomes stupidly powerful/rich/drowning-in-pussy/all-three, and basically steamrolls every so-called challenge that gets dropped in their path with nothing more than a take-charge attitude and a bit of pointless exposition.
But this is good. Like, really good! A total subversion of the NTR genre, the reincarnation into an established bad-guy isn't new, but the dude inside isn't some power leveling mook with a titty fixation for a change - Ryuuichi is very similar in aspect to Ichigo Kurosaki of Bleach in that he's perceived (and perhaps rightfully so, in the past) as a violent delinquent. Every interaction of his that others see is viewed in its worst possible light, but the new Ryuuichi is thoroughly likable; rough, lacking in social graces, and abrasive he may be, but he has a genuinely good heart and thank Buddha he has the wherewithal and capability to explain his reasoning and behaviors in a way that isn't 'comically' misconstrued! I can't even begin to tell you how irritating the 'oops I mistook your good intentions for bad ones' trope is to me, and so seeing communication, real communication, between characters is an absolute joy to behold.
I think the best part about it is that Ryuuichi isn't some flawless avatar of morality. He doesn't have endless foreknowledge, though he does have a casual understanding of the 'normal' route the life he entered is supposed to take, he doesn't have some cheat skill, and he doesn't waltz through his new life with nary an issue. He's gaining the interest of others by doing what he thinks is ethical, and he's very explicitly not taking advantage of them, even if he could. It turns him from what could've been just another rapey jackhole (or conversely, a soulless, stereotypical saintly nobody) into someone with real depth. You can feel his awkwardness shine through, even as he does what he believes is the right thing to do, and while he does have his protagonist's 'hero' moments and the women in his life do seem to be getting attached (or at least interested) a little quickly, it isn't some "Oh you saved me let me rip off my panties and shatter your hips with the enthusiasm of my fucking" nonsense, either.
This is more a series of character interaction studies, and I think it's wonderful. The art is simple, but serviceable - could be a lot better, but there isn't anything wrong with it. Give it a B, maybe a B- for the artwork, but damn if the actual story doesn't make up for it. A truly solid 9/10.
