You Might As Well Be the One by Megumu Seto tells a classic romance storyline well.
Ichika’s in college and looking for a boyfriend. She wants a serious relationship, with someone she can talk with, someone who sees the real her.
She meets someone at a meetup that she thinks is a nice guy… but Kosei soon tells her he only goes out with girls casually. Their friendship continues to develop, but she realizes she has feelings for him.
The manga is full of misunderstanding moments, as when he pulls her close. She’s thinking it’s an embrace, but he’s keeping her out of the way of traffic. They share interests and hang out together, but where do they draw the line between friendship and more? He does thoughtful things for her, like getting her a drink she likes, and asks her to do things together, but they’re not dating.
The art slows down with key moments, as when he takes her hand, giving emotional emphasis to her confusion. But then he says things like “You’re wasted on someone like me,” in a backhanded compliment.
This isn’t particularly deep, but it’s a great read for those who want to move beyond schoolgirl romances to something a little more mature. (The publisher provided an advance digital review copy.)
English (US) · 