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My disappointment with this is immeasurable.

For those unfamiliar, this started with a one-shot called Koroshi to Uso no Marriage (殺しと嘘のマリアージュ), released on April 27, 2024. It was a police-crime romance thriller packed with action and violence. If you haven't read it, go check it out—it's amazing. Initially, if I remember correctly, the artist announced that it would be serialized around November 2024, but it ended up being "delayed."

However, as you can see, the premise and story of the one-shot were completely abandoned. Instead, the serialized version was rewritten into a generic high school setting, retaining only the MC's name and design, the FMC’s design, and ... the action/violence. What a letdown. This is basically Kakegurui, but with gambling replaced by over-the-top, unrealistic fights.

I genuinely cannot comprehend why they would throw away such an interesting premise for something so uninspired. The one-shot had so much potential… Seeing it reduced to a cliché-ridden high school setting is a disheartening change. What a colossal waste of potential.

It’s not surprising at all that this manga isn’t being widely read. It’s not that it lacks meaning or depth, but it leans too heavily on being overly tragic, edgy, and filled with sexual violence. When these elements are overused, it can overwhelm readers and make the story feel excessive. Even when the themes are meaningful, if there’s too much of them, it starts to feel like the manga is trying to shock the audience rather than telling a balanced story.

Take Berserk, for example—it’s packed with tragedy, violence, and dark themes, but it uses these elements in a way that enhances the story. The pain ... and trauma that Guts goes through are intense, but they’re balanced with moments of character growth, reflection, and even hope. The darkness in Berserk serves the plot and the character development, giving readers a chance to connect with Guts’ journey despite the brutality.

In contrast, this manga feels like it’s piling on the tragedy and violence without giving the reader much of a break or a chance to fully digest what’s happening. It’s simply too much, to the point where it risks alienating the audience. Even though there might be depth behind the tragedy and edginess, it becomes hard for readers to stick with it when they’re constantly bombarded by overwhelming content. That’s likely why it hasn’t been able to draw in a larger readership—it’s just too intense for most people to handle.

I thought it might be interesting, so I decided to take a look—and I deeply regret it. It’s horrible. The author completely jumped the shark by the end. In chapters 9-10, the main character (MC) meets Hasegawa, the ex-girlfriend of the guy who likes her, Kawamura. They talk for a bit, and Hasegawa asks if MC is dating him, which MC denies. Then, the girl invites MC to karaoke, and for some reason, MC agrees. At karaoke, the girl’s boyfriend and two other guys are present. The two guys ask MC to put on a cosplay outfit, and Hasegawa convinces MC to do it. Hasegawa ... changes and goes ahead, and when MC arrives, she finds Hasegawa making out with her boyfriend. The two other guys grab MC, one holding her while the other rapes her. Hasegawa films the entire ordeal while having sex with her boyfriend. An attendant shows up, and MC runs away. Hasegawa then sends the video to her ex-boyfriend, Kawamura.

MC gets raped and doesn’t go to the police, Kawamura gets the video of the rape and doesn’t report it either, and the cherry on top? The next day, in chapter 11, Hasegawa shows up to return the belongings MC left behind when she fled, and MC lets Hasegawa—who orchestrated the rape—into their house just because she "wants to talk." Seriously? Give me a break. How are we supposed to suspend disbelief when every decision feels so forced and illogical? Is this plot point necessary for the story? In some way, yes—since one of the conditions for MC to become a man again is abstaining from sex. But in the end, this condition is irrelevant, as despite being raped, the goddess who genderswapped MC comes up with some mumbo-jumbo to revert the change. Why did the author include this scene? Simply for shock value. I’m not surprised it got axed. Honestly, I’m baffled that it even got published in the first place. This has to be one of the most immersion-breaking stories I’ve ever read. Thank god it was axed. Honestly, this manga is why I’m always side-eyeing any manga with the genderswap tag now.

It's a misery porn disguised as romance and involves underage prostitution. The genre should be drama and not romance. MC's story is a dumpster fire. Basically, MC's mother has a huge debt because after the divorce she became a NEET who keeps bringing different guys home every day. To pay the debt, one of the debt collectors forced MC to prostitute himself. The divorce was his father's fault for having an affair, but MC's mother is a piece of shit. She used emotional blackmail to keep MC away from his father. The FMC story is completely generic and unoriginal. Basically, FMC comes from a wealthy ... family and is struggling to meet her father's expectations. If you like manga like Shounen no Abyss, MAYBE you'll like this one.