Maddies Manga

The cute model just so happens to be one of Madoka’s classmates!? Will he be able to help Madoka properly confess her feelings to Shikura, or will she try to preserve their current friendship? They’re only just gotten on good terms, after all.

Scroll to the bottom for a link to sample and buy volume two!

Author

This series was written by Nakaba Harufuji

Genre & Tropes

High school romance, romance with “gap moe” character.

Info about this series (ongoing?)

This series is potentially completed in Japanese with 10 volumes. I found some sources claiming there will be a volume 11, but cannot confirm.

It is ongoing in English with 10 volumes currently released digitally. Kodansha has the English version listed as ongoing.

TL;DR rating

I really enjoyed this volume! This series is very nice for when you’re looking to read something cute and easy to digest.

My thoughts on this volume (Mild spoilers!)

I’m really enjoying watching the slow progression from two coworkers who don’t like each other, to friends, to maybe more? While I did find Shikura to come off a little strongly in the first volume, I really liked him from start to finish in volume two.

Makoda was also clearly affected by his attitude when he first appeared in her restaurant, as the poor girl is still sometimes walking on eggshells when around him. Thankfully he does eventually notice this, and goes as far as apologizing for his earlier actions. Honestly, it was very refreshing to see! Normally with more tsundere characters, we don’t ever get an apology. While it’s usually made clear that they’re sorry through their actions, sometimes I want them to actually put words to it—points to Shikura!

He still does have his “tsundere” or “gap” moments in this volume, but rather than flipping between mean and nice, he flips from being a bit aloof to cute. For example, when he clearly really wanted to get cotton candy at the fair, but couldn’t bring himself to express it. This is my favourite type of “gap” personality! Honestly it just made him all that more cute in my books, as he stayed kind to Madoka throughout it all.

This volume introduces a brand new character to the mix—the model from one of Madoka’s “cute boys” magazines. At first I was a bit worried that he would be a romantic interest, but thankfully he seems to just be an ally for Madoka. I loved watching him consult with her when she was trying to decide whether she should confess her feelings to Shikura or not! I think I’m going to really enjoy their friendship throughout the next few volumes, so long as there are no misunderstandings.

Please let there be no misunderstandings… I’m really enjoying this series because it’s a more straightforward romance. It doesn’t need extra drama! Let them be cute together!

Check out a free sample below!

You can check out volume two of this series for yourself below!