*Review contains spoilers*

Beware: this review is going to be a rant and therefore, probably very long. Thank you in advance if you really read through the whole thing!

Story 8/10
So, before I even start, I am going to put out there how very frustrated I feel I can't rate this manga higher. The story began very intriguing and was based on premises that would surely keep you invested into knowing what happened, what happens next. The manga has a very strong beginning and up until chapter 22, boy was I feeling that rollercoaster of emotions!! So many powerful and beautiful moments between Kou and Futaba!!...However, from that point forward, the story unfortunately starts going downhill with the inclusion of those "love triangles" (put into quotation marks because Kou wasn't even dating Narumi or had romantic feelings for her).

I feel the story between Kou and Futaba was very compelling itself and did not need for Touma and/or Narumi for it to have been more interesting. On the contrary, adding Narumi and Touma was a drag and just kept things in a long, unnecessary loop that really subtracts from how heart-wrenching but also heartwarming the whole story could have been. It would have been more realistic if Kou had just not felt ready to be in a relationship with Futaba (out of fear to commit and lose someone again), than adding another "love interest". It also would have been more interesting for Kou and Futaba to actually discuss how they felt when being separated from the other person more in depth than what they did. This story had so much more potential, so many things that could have been done with the main characters, without going into those cliche love "triangles". I really expected a lot more from this manga (based on the first chapters) and after reading the manga I understand why the anime left off where it did.

Side note: this kind of material is what give young girls the idea that if you love a "bad boy" enough, he will turn into a sweetie pie later...

On a positive note, the manga does have its funny moments (ex: Kou following Futaba while she ran from him at the school festival, the guys dressed as maids for the festival, the pillow fight between Kou, Kominato and Touma).

Art 8/10
The drawings were cute and I really liked the inclusion and details of silly faces for funny moments and the more serious drawings when the situation required it. I think characters' bodies and facial features were very well drawn according to their personalities, specially Futaba and Kou.

Characters 7/10
Where to begin?
I think Futaba was a great main character and really liked manga Futaba way more than anime Futaba. I liked how she really wanted to help Kou, and went above and beyond while doing that, but also knew when to stop and thought a bit more about what she deserved. I also liked how she was strong-willed and did what she felt was right no matter what the others thought. I found it admirable how she never led Touma on (I will get into Touma in a bit) and was always honest with him about her thoughts and feelings.

Kou...I feel Kou could have been one of the most interesting characters in manga/anime history. I really felt for him and somewhat understand his behavior was a result of inadequate coping mechanisms (although I think his trauma didn't necessarily justify him being a jerk to Futaba or his friends). Yet, what was the most disappointing to me was watching him entertain Narumi guided by some "moral duty" (and 'till this date I still don't understand why he couldn't support Narumi while going out with Futaba as well? why did he have to choose between them when his feelings towards them were not even similar?). On top of this, his behavior towards Futaba was very ambivalent and confusing most of the times. At first he would do things and then brush them off as meaningless, he would even verbally attack Futaba, specially when jealous. Then when Futaba was moving on with Touma, Kou was completely selfish, childish and out of characters even for him (as he is supposed to be very "kind" despite appearing not to be). I do understand people make mistakes and have regrets, but I felt he was tormenting Futaba while not really offering much in return. Kou went through something that should have actually make him more mature than people his age, plus he always had Kominato telling him what was bound to happen...
I will say however, Kou's behavior is not that surprising given what he went through.

I think Kominato was a great sidekick (him and Futaba being my favorite characters), while Yuri became 100% more likable when she exited the "love triangle". Yuri, surprisingly, always was the voice of reason for Futaba. Murao...what was the purpose of her character again? I guess so Kominato would have someone to vent to.

Oh Touma, you fool...why?! why would anyone do that to themselves?? his character was the representation of people that set themselves up to get heartbreaks. He always knew Futaba liked Kou, he knew he was "taking advantage of a weak moment for her to get in" and even while dating Futaba he was "afraid" all the time...so why keep putting you and her through that? He even recognized "a weight was lifted off his shoulders" and how "she never told him she liked him" when she breaks up with him...why is it that we tend to ignore life signs like that?! Interestingly enough, I think Touma is a similar version of what Kou would have probably been like if things hadn't happened the way they did (a soft, sweet, caring, thoughtful and kind guy) or I least I found resemblance between Touma and young Kou. I believe his character was made so Futaba would have a taste of the treatment she deserved as opposed to the treatment Kou was giving her until almost the end. However, I felt he was too pushy and was constantly getting himself in things that were not his business.

And Narumi? what a manipulative b*tch.

Enjoyment 10/10
Come on, you must know that if I hadn't been that invested in this manga, this review wouldn't have been so long! Again, very solid premises for a good story, very powerful and moving moments...screwed by the "love triangles" and Kou going back and forth with his words and actions.

Overall 8/10
Up until chapter 22, this manga would have been a 9 or even 10 for me. I so wanted it to be a 10. But unfortunately, more than half the manga got into unnecessary drama (while having so much material they could have used instead). It did have a satisfying ending (not surprising though because to me it was obvious since day 1 that Kou and Futaba belonged together). I would recommend to stick with the anime (disregarding the ova/chapter 13).