Mairimashita, Senpai

Since there is no review about this yet, I'll give it a go.

This is a fast-paced, (probably) rather short and lovey-dovey romance story between the two characters Koshino and Mizukawa. There is no big drama yet, and the main characters don't have any super special and unrealistic features to them (like being the most popular, beautiful, etc.). If you enjoy following 2 people being cute together, you'll probably like this.

Story:
The story felt a bit weird in the beginning. Basically, Koshino falls in love with Mizukawa and more or less immediately confesses to him. Mizukawa agrees to date her, even though he didn't even know her name at that point (lol). After that, the chapters mostly consist of spending time together at school, home, dates, including the usual stuff like birthday and valentines day. In those 16 chapters which are out so far, roughly a whole year passes, so it's pretty fast paced.

Characters:
Koshino is a first year (later on second year) student at high-school. She's cute, very open towards others and pretty squirrely. She seems like the kind of person who's always smiling. She fell in love head over heals for Mizukawa and is always eager to make him happy and spend time with him.

Mizukawa is a second year student with a rather cool character. He's basically the opposite of Koshino; he's calm, sometimes a bit sarcastic and less open towards others. But at the same time he really puts effort in making her happy and also showing (and telling) her how he feels about her over and over again.

A lot of people who read this manga might say that this manga isn't that good or it's just a regular romance story. But they read the manga without delving into their emotions.

This manga is about a healthy relationship between two people which is really rare in the world of manga. And some forget how difficult that is to find.

They struggle with communication and jealously. And they both try to show their love to the other with gifts or words. Both people in the relationship aren't outcasts or part of the popular clique. They're normal highschool students who get along with their classmates which is easy to relate to.

Give this manga a shot. Try not to think of the manga on a 1 - 10 scale, but on how much you enjoyed it.

i bloody hate shoujos, romance in general i would say, it makes me feel nauseous and i end up just wanting to keel over and die, but i also happen to be a masochist so i spend a lot of my free time going through shitty shoujos just to feel something. no one reads reviews in their entirety especially not about some niche shoujo that isn’t particularly popular unless you’re some form of nerd so i just come here to rant - before that i’ll be serious and actually try to review this in a somewhat beneficial way

serious review >:|
i think the manga portrays a very healthy relationship, we’re so used to seeing some toxic couple have way too many misunderstandings to be humanly possible that seeing two people just be in love seems terribly unique, this isn’t slow burn like at all, which i didn’t think i’d say this but i kinda miss slow burn, you’re expecting them to make out, sure as fuck they will so don’t expect butterflies everytime because the mangaka won’t make you yearn for it, the story is kinda wack , no deep dive into their past or character and shit but hey i don’t mind it, the art style is so lovely that couldn’t help but want to praise it, it’s cute, it’s healthy, it’s a breath of fresh air and it was enjoyable so give it a read!

rant, to get shit off my chest;
oh my fucking god, are there no public decency laws in this universe, goddamit the two MCs absolute fucking horndogs, making out everywhere, park bench, bloody school stairs straight up foreplay out in the open, jesus at least mention their into exhibitionism, at first i was like dude there’s no way they get that amount of privacy literally everywhere, but we see a short comic about a friend walking in and just immediately turning around, they make out in every goddamn chapter, every. single. one. and the art style is cute so i’m not complaining but like i’ve read some really shitty mangas where the slow burn is so goddamn strong that i’m physically combusting the first time the MCs touch, here though it’s kinda like yeah they’ll make out in every chapter so i does absolutely nothing for the butterflies in my stomach, also they’re so goddamn lovey dovey it makes me want to punch a wall like can you shut up for one goddamn second, “oh my god i want to spend the rest of my life with you” and “the only girl better for me is tomorrow’s you” like i’m absolutely gagging, wth, can you two relax, i can’t even hate them they’re so adorable, i don’t write reviews unless i absolutely hated something or i had a really good time and i’m pleased to say it’s not the former. what else can i grill - i think that’s it uh i’ve got everything off of my chest and i won’t spend the entirety of today absolutely bitter and frustrated (in the best way possible i really do love torturing myself with scenarios i would rather die than be in) this makes me seem like some romance starved asshole but i’m really not, you can enjoy shoujos without being particularly interested in people romantically right?

How do you imagine your ideal relationship? Possibly good communication, reassurance, affection, and making happy memories together? Mairimashita Senpai checks all of those. This manga has one of the best, strong, and healthy relationships I've seen in a manga or anime.

The story is fast-paced compared to many other romances. The two characters get together right from chapter 1. Usually, there's the "chase" or a confession many chapters later. But this manga is like, "You wrote cute song lyrics on my desk, I like you, so let's date" within a day. The story focuses on their relationship and how they handle different situations like Valentine's Day, amusement park date, being at home together, etc. There are plenty of sweet moments in the series.

The art is very fitting for a shoujo manga. I like that quotable dialogue, Serina's inner thoughts, or times when they are together, get a big placement on the page. Some of the art looks beautiful and memorable.

The relationship between the two characters is very strong. Other shoujo mangas have insecurities in the relationship because of misunderstandings or jealousy. However, this couple openly talks about their problems and how they're feeling at the moment. They work out their concerns which many relationships fail to do. They both reassure each other all the time in how much they like one another. As for physical affection, characters do the right amount of teasing without being forceful.

I think the only problem is that the characters aren't particularly special themselves. Like you only know them on the surface-level. Also, the side characters are there but don't matter as much; later on, they will be. Looks like that's where the manga is headed.

I looked forward to reading each chapter. I like the cute dynamic between the characters. The manga has teasing moments like a little fanservice which I liked. Overall, you will like this manga if you want to read about a great relationship. Not sure how realistic this is but you can learn from it or dream about it.

tl;dr - An outstanding pure romance manga that not only provides a couple with great development but also one with a high level of maturity. Arguably one of the strongest and healthiest relationships relative to most manga at least. At the end of the day though, it is more on the average SoL type of side, so you might not be getting the muh deep characterization if you are looking for that.


To be honest, shoujo manga never really gets that much attention here on MAL, not controversial enough I guess? While yes the vast majority of them do follow some cute at best, frustrating at worst tropes, there's always a few hidden gems hidden behind the blushing and forced kisses. This is definitely one of them



Story:

The story is pretty simple. 1st year Serina notices a love song's lyrics scribbled on her desk by an upper-year senpai (later to be known as Mizukawa), and before you know it, they're already dating. Straight away you can tell this isn't your average shoujo manga top kek.

Rather than being a dragged out story leading up to the final confession/kiss, instead what we get is a story of how the 2 of them learn to grow with one another, and learn the pros and cons associated with romantic relationships. The plot mainly follows their everyday lives, as we see them laugh, have fun, flirt a little (ok maybe a lot), have a couple of petty fights here and there, makeup and continue. But through these moments, the 2 learn more about each other, they get to realize the flaws in each other, and themselves and they use them to grow into better people, for themselves and for each other.

Most importantly though, we see them actually communicate with each other. That already puts it way above lots of other shoujo manga. One of the key plot points for drama within this demographic is the introduction of a classic misunderstanding that arises from a lack of proper communication. While yes, it can be a way to spice up the story, more often than not it ends up being just plain annoying.

See, what I think this manga does right, is it shows the natural progression of relationships and how important it needs to be reminded that it's a 2-way street. What starts off as an overly romantic/fantasy relationship starts to regress a little here and there once issues start popping up like exes or entrance exams. However, unlike most stories of this nature, which chooses to portray a linear decline type of relationship (like for instance, Love Calander) this decides to give it a big fat 'nope'. Why? Because. they. com-uni-cate. Seriously the amount of times they actually talk through their problems and their feelings towards one another, what they're thinking right now and so on is like a big slap in the face to a lot of other series' that fail to do so, as you realize scenarios which usually would've taken like 5 chapters to resolve, get's resolved in the matter of 2 pages.

One thing I will say though is that at times the pacing can be a bit too quick. I mean, if you're already having (consent) kissing and nearly sex in the first 3 chapters of a non-smut-josei manga, then you know there's some lighting speed there


Art:

The art is really well drawn, some proportions seem a bit off at times and Serina sometimes feels like she has 60 different faces but otherwise, it gets the job done and more



Character:

The characters (as in the main couple) are the best part of this series and will easily make or break it for you.


Serina - The main MC of this story, she is the first-year girl who initially falls in love with senpai and gets the ball rolling. Straight off the bat you can tell she isn't like most shoujo protags, in that not only is she not shy to express what's on her mind at times, but she's also not hesitant to actually do couple-y things like holding hands or better yet.....kissing!!! Throughout the story we see how Serina develops from not only getting rid of her insecurities in dating senpai, but also how she learns to develop her own ambition, and become a better person so as to not become a burden on their relationship and cause it to become toxic.

At the end of the day though, she's still a shoujo protagonist. Expect lots of blushing to happen.....lots


Mizukawa - Arguably the best character in the series, he's pretty much the bigger reason why this relationship is as good as it is. The moment he realizes something is up, he immediately starts asking what's wrong in an attempt to de-escalate the situation before it can get out of hand. If only more guys in shoujo manga can do this then it'd be a whole other situation. But he is not flawless mind you, we later see that he still has his share of flaws and will not always have the right answers, but that's why he's growing alongside Serina, not just with her.


Ultimately, I find that the 2 of them shared not only some great romantic moments, but also some mature ones. Yes they may have started out a bit awkward in the beginning, but you slowly start to realize the impact that each has on one another and how their characters have changed as a result of their relationship




Enjoyment:

Now I'm obviously a sucker for series' that show daily lives of couples that are actually intimate with one another, and on top of that having one as mature as these ones are is like a field day so obviously I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see the fast pace being a hindrance to some at times, but I think the experiences that are shown tell the tale perfectly enough

There is nothing really exceptional about this series except for the artwork, which is rather nice, but not unique. Not much about this series is unique at all and the characters are banal at best, but that may just be this manga's power. It's believable. I can see middle school and high school girls being able to relate to this manga, as the manga clearly tries to play up to what society perceives the emotions and dreams of an excitable teen girl are like.

There has literally been no original plot here, with each chapter being the typical fare of the shojo genre: Valentine's Day, Summer Vacation, White Day, Amusement Park Date, Going Over to Each Other's House, Friend's Crushes, School Festival, Skipping Assembly, Movies Date, etc. There is no overarching plot or arcs, so the series feels more like an anthology of one-shots. Each chapter culminates in a super fluffy and quotable moment, which I will admit are very cute.

In my opinion, there are much better entries to the High School rom-com genre than this series. The only thing I can really commend this manga on is that the main character's relationship is non-toxic and unexpectedly mature for their age, and is a good model for young couples in high school to follow. No over-over-over-protective boyfriends. No overly-insecure girlfriends. No physical violence. There is trust and growth. Cute, sweet, fluffy moments. Boy doesn't pressure the girl to do "H-things". No emotional blackmail or sexual abuse. No cheating.

One thing I am so happy to have been deprived of is the hackneyed bullying trope. I am so glad the girl isn't conveniently homeless either, or that the guy is conveniently rich. They are very ordinary and as real as it gets, which, as I said at the start of this review, may be this manga's power after all.