With a protagonist who has such a meek demeanor plus less than ideal visual aesthetics, I'm surprised it lasted as long it did in Japan. Usually it's one or the other, like meek demeanor but badass/handsome aesthetics, or ugly but cool and tough. Usually, anyway. Ending has some of that typical rushed to the finish line feeling. I felt it would have been nice if he had at least gotten the promotion rather than everything returning to status quo.
You know, if it didn't say 2006, I could have sworn this was something from a decade earlier. I actually thought it was from the 80's briefly. I guess it's just the art style. I thought it a decent read, but I can't shake off the feeling it's missing something that would have made it more memorable.