No one has any idea how much I want to rate this higher. I went to 5 different stores across London to find all 7 of these because I really wanted to read it. I haven't seen the film yet which Is what sparked my interest in A Silent Voice, that and Your Name. There are moments in this where I'm thinking this is 10/10 material! I read the thirst 3 Last night, and spent the whole rest of this day reading the last 4, now I'm emotionally distraught because I can't stop thinking about it. Well really I keep thinking about why I kept reading this even after it's disastrous pacing, that reason was Nishimiya Shouko.

(SPOILERS)

Despite the whole series existing because of her and the only reason Ishida is on his path of redemption is because of her. She is the best...and completely under developed character in this manga. I hope to God the film focuses more on her and Ishida and not...the making of the movie. Now you are all going to start by saying "Its not a romance! You didn't get it", no you are right that the story is not just so Ishida can have a romance with Shouko, but that doesn't mean they can't love each other. The sad thing is, Shouko goes throughout the manga unexpressed, her voice is silent and I mean that both literally and metaphorically.

The side characters (most of who are just a massive time waste, they only stand out on rare occasions, yes I understand they all represent something in Shoko's life but the story focuses way to heavily on them. It loses the whole plot all together after V3. Shokou's sis was one of the redeeming characters who had a believable friendship with Ishida) all have their motives and reasons expressed, but Shouko never gets that. There were so many moments - especially the tear jerking scene when Ishida wakes up to find her - where she could have explained why she forgave Ishida, why she put up with all the shit she went through, and maybe tell Ishida what she really thinks. But no, it never happens, she's a loving character who never gets the characterization as the side characters. To me, the manga ended with Ishida after he woke up and Shokou on the bridge if only Shokou was allowed to express herself properly. Some would argue that was the authors creative Genius, it represents her character of how she never allowed to have a voice. The story makes out that it was Ishida was the first one to hear her, but if he really did...then he would have gone with her to Tokyo to continue his path of redemption.

If the story actually focused on Ishida and Shokou after the chapter Moon (V3) and instead of mostly bad filler between the ending of V3 and Shokou's attempted suicide in V5 then not only would this be more enjoyable, it would actually be more realistic and make more sense! Seriously so many people seem to forget the SERIOUS LACK OF INTERACTION BETWEEN ISHIDA AND SHOKOU BETWEEN THE ENDINGS OF V3-V5. V6 Should have entirely focused on Shokou, but it doesn't sadly, instead it focuses on all the side characters who get more focus than the 2 main characters. I practically cherish every single damn moment between those 2 because of how actually rare it is. If its not suppose to be a romance, then its a slice of life, but these 2 so rarely have moments together and moments where they connect, it's just heartbreaking in the wasted potential and development, its not good writing.

I wouldn't be so empty, so disappointed if I didn't love this manga, there were so many moments I loved but there were also moments which didn't make sense, pacing and focus which could have been done better, and characters who deserved a voice.