Io Sakisaka can take the most basic romance plotlines and make them so powerful as a manga. This is shown in Ao Haru Ride, where the two main characters fall in love when they're younger, separate, and find each other again later in life. What I really appreciated was the unfolding of Kou's sort of backstory and how the two main characters heal together over time, as opposed to a sudden rekindle of romance. Along with its brilliant art, Ao Haru Ride really shows how human the two are when they realize they can't just fall in love and how they fight obstacles throughout the manga. A beautiful story for anyone who loves nostalgia-fueled romance.