It’s amazing how the quality of this manga almost corresponds with the quality of its scanlation. Amazing and alluring during the premise and the final dozen or so chapters, meh in the middle. (no offence of course, beggars can’t be choosers)
The premise is invigorating and bewitching. I’m sure this manga isn’t the first of its kind, but it executed the blackmailing trope perfectly, and ended it just in time for the plot to proceed. Then comes the love triangle. Definitely this manga’s weakest link, both love triangles throughout the story are extremely shallow and dull. This isn’t helped by the fact that the cousin character and the male lead’s childhood friend are just, more or less, MacGuffins. Plus the fact that they take away screen time from the male lead, who ends up undeveloped and boring, makes the middle part of the manga all the more dull. The younger brother character, though creepy due to his questionable ways of doing things, is a good wrap to everything. Love his “interesting” personality as well.
Loved the development of the female lead as well as the story altogether. From being cunning, to painstakingly indecisive, to finally determined on pursuing her love, honestly, Yukina is even more interesting than I originally remember. The art is absolutely gorgeous, the supporting cast is charming and full of life, and the comedy and pacing hits just right. It just has all the right ingredients to be a charming shoujo manga that get people captivated and forgot all its many flaws. For me, this is one of the best shoujo mangas, perfectly capturing the essence of middle school love. These are some messed up middle schoolers. All and all, what an amazing read.