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[Light Unspecific Spoilers]
Kimi ga Kirai na Koi no Hanashi is a short and cliché shoujo romance manga best enjoyed by readers who are willing to suspend their disbelief and focus on its positive qualities. Neither of the leads are shy or awkward (at least, not for typical high schoolers), and their romantic chemistry is immediately palpable.

The female lead, Chihiro Hiyoshi, is a people-pleasing pushover, while the male lead, Haruka Kisaragi, is an attractive delinquent who secretly has a heart of gold... bear with me for a moment. Although the plot is overly simple and redundant, its brevity and small literary nuances make for an unexpectedly ... endearing experience.

Most of the narrative revolves around proving the background characters wrong for their prejudiced view of Kisaragi. Despite that, I found Hiyoshi to be the standout. Her actions and personality feel authentically human, and many readers will likely relate to her or recognize someone like her. Hiyoshi doesn’t harbor any deep, dark secrets, but she carries a heavy sense of responsibility that allows others to take advantage of her kindness. Around Kisaragi, though, she becomes subtly assertive and lets her guard down, which makes their connection feel more genuine.

I’d recommend this story to anyone looking for an “opposites attract” romance featuring a cheerful, kindhearted heroine and a troublemaking male lead who both possess a little more depth than they first appear to.

P.S. Some of the male lead’s actions would definitely be problematic in real life, but I found them to be charming within the confines of a fictional story.

Watashitachi wa Koi wo Shiranai is simple but effective, a wholesome and lighthearted romcom that delivers exactly what it sets out to. Its standout quality lies in its two leads, who are both likable and genuinely compelling. They’re fleshed out just enough to rise slightly (and meaningfully) above their respective archetypes.

The female lead is an aloof, introverted bookworm whose hobby is writing web novels. The male lead is a clumsy yet popular “golden retriever” type who is jokingly infatuated with his little sister. Seated next to each other in their first year of high school, the two gradually grow closer. It’s far from a unique ... setup, and you shouldn’t expect much more depth as the story progresses, but it’s charming.

One plot point I found particularly interesting was the female lead writing about her friendship with the male lead. The author doesn’t handle it with much subtlety, but it’s a realistic portrayal of the naïveté and earnestness of young love.

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a soft, feel-good “fluff” manga with likable characters and minimal drama.