Just finished this, fucking no.
3/10. sub-mid.
if you are reading this for the potential, drop it. unfortunately, literally all of said potential gets squandered.
fundamental tension in the narrative is not resolved by the end, and I argue this needed at least 20 additional chapters to develop.
The story was severely undercooked and unfinished. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IF YOU ARE READING FOR POTENTIAL.
Although the depiction of relationship struggles esp with someone who has trauma was solid, the couple is never forced to overcome any of the issues that inevitably arise when that happens. This is deeply upsetting especially considering that many of the sweetest moments in a relationship occur when problems are discussed and understood, and both sides (hopefully) still accept each other and (uwu) I still love you and Mori cries and says I'm sorry I lied to you ;;-; I really don't deserve you and so on. While this was attempted in once when discussing Mori's inability to taste yes she cant taste food, you clicked the spoiler, Miho's acceptance was one-sided and the fundamental issue left unaddressed. She does not seek to understand Mori's trauma which caused her to lose her taste. on one hand, ok, leave it because you should give her space, maybe she can discuss her trauma more? but no they do not bring this up again and the issue is presumably considered resolved? which is absolutely unacceptable considering Miho is literally a pure foodie and on one hand like OK who doesn't love a partner who will love all your fave foods but also Mori will be unable to taste her best creations?? like how is that OK? what if someone Miho's friends decide that her food is wonderful and give actual adoring feedback? how will that affect the relationship? that won't feel good for Mori but it's not like she can just snap her fingers and, (bam!) trauma fixed, but then she must feel terrible being unable to bond with Miho that way. This is difficult to resolve and what I considered to be the primary conflict but literally a story is about resolving said conflict so they become a happily ever after couple. The fact this is unresolved is unacceptable.
Our MC Miho does not overcome the issues with Mori's friends literally bullying her like wtf why would you be ok with that and this will be a serious issue in the relationship going forward, but no like she just takes it?!?? even in the last chapter?? unacceptable that this does not resolved. This can and will also cause relationship tensions and if Mori is inevitably by her choice or by their choice cut off from her friend group which is what presumably will happen, since our main couple goes happily ever after. Mori will convince herself that she deserved to be cut off and it will hurt a lot and that is absolutely not trivial. If she grows to over-rely on Miho then this is not the basis for a health relationship. This is similarly unresolved. Saying 'oh Mori's friends were into her and they give up now' does not solve the conflict! what do they do, abandon mori entirely? stay in a one-sided love? This will adversely affect Miho to say the least. will she be worried? jealous? intimidated? physically injured? any way it is unresolved. unacceptable.
EDIT: I came back a while back, and saw a few other people saying "Oh, Axe kun~ T-T" in the last chapter comments; I call bullshit. this is not a valid defense. if Axe kun was at fault, you DON'T EXPAND THE CONFLICT FURTHER IN WHAT YOU KNOW WILL BE THE LAST CHAPTER. IF THE AUTHOUR DID NOT WANT TO WASTE OUR TIME, TIE THE THREADS UP RATHAR THAN EXPAND THEM. WHAT THE FUCK.
yes they were cute together but they never had the heart-pounding sweetness that some other series offer, but they were cute and the writing was accurate so that gives them a 3.
some may think this is harsh, and since the characters were cute they deserve higher. I disagree, since they could be cuter if the writing was better and I value my time and I despise having it wasted on a nothing-burger of a narrative.