Feb 23, 2024
Ran-chan might just be my favourite depiction of social anxiety I've seen in anime and manga in the last few years. Unlike in anime like Bocchi and Watamote, her social anxiety isn't just a convenient trope that's constantly played for kicks, and she's not made to be "adorkable" (although she is adorable). She's awkward, yes, and she has trouble speaking to others, but she doesn't froze into a glitched out impressionist painting nor is she constantly plagued by negative thoughts and paranoia for us to laugh at her. She's her own person, or at least she thinks she is: she chose to be like that,
...
and it's refreshing and interesting to see her slowly allowing others in her life, and growing out of her desire for solitude. I like her a lot, and for me reading it was worth it just because of her. I'm not saying that those other depictions of social anxiety are bad, but it's just good to see a different approach to it.
Sadly, this is a romance manga and not just a character-driven slice of life story, and everything gets ruined because of the male lead, Kaya. I wish that the "not related by blood" siblings was the most problematic thing about this story.
"Monster" is quite an apt term for this creep, even more than it was in Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun. If in the latter Haru feels like a "monster" because of a slight disregard for social conventions and immaturity, Kaya feels straight up dangerous. He's forceful and abusive, constantly forcing himself on Ran to prevent her from escaping or forcefully kissing her, stalking her, throwing her things away, trying to prevent her from interacting with others. He acts like a spoiled kid who constantly wishes to be pampered by the girlfriend/mother figure he sees in Ran, only he's a man that's way stronger than her and it all just makes for uncomfortable and weird situations. Not only that, but every time Ran seems to be growing a bit, by accepting herself and others and opening up to them, Kaya comes crashing down and ruin everything because of his narcisism, jealousy and selfishness. The worst thing about it is that the story seemingly try to justify his acts as if they were cute or even "hot", as if he was just a confused guy in love and not an abuser. This feels less like a romance story and more like a thriller sometimes.
I don't think I'll drop this, at least not definitely, but I can't say I'm enjoying reading it as much as I wanted. If only mangaka were bolder enough to use the "third wheel wins" ending more often, then this might come around, but as the story is going, I doubt it will. As it is, this is just getting more painful to read each with each new chapter.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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