I am amazed that this series has such a high average (currently ~7.8), considering it is one of the worst shoujo manga I have read. But, if you're like me, you'll read the series to the end because you're running out of lengthy shoujo and you keep hoping that it will improve.

It does improve a little...somewhere in the 30's. Up to that point I was astonished that a series could so blatantly promote blind, unwarranted devotion from a naive girl towards an abusive, sadistic guy. I read some of the fan's comments throughout the later chapters, and I was surprised to read that they perceived Kyouya (male lead, sadist) to be really improving. It's true, he softens up considerably in the last quarter of the series, but what a let down! Because he is so cold and reserved the whole series, the reader has to cling to every morsel of a compliment or expression of happiness that he dares to let drop. Maybe that is exciting for some people, but for me I couldn't help thinking like so many of Erika's (female lead) friends, "What are you doing?! Get out of there! He doesn't deserve you!"

As I mentioned, fans of the series will argue that Kyouya was not as undeserving as he seems on a surface level, and they will also defend his rotten attitude by attributing it to his "rough childhood" stemming from his parents divorce. The heck?! Okay, that kind of reaction is supportable only from the standpoint of "he's not quite so despicable now. May he continue to improve." But from the perspective of being the primary love interest...absolutely unacceptable! It is exactly this kind of twisted mindset that causes girls to stay in abusive relationships. The more accurate end to the series would be Erika crying her eyes out saying that she's made the biggest mistake of her life by holding on to such a careless man. While the manga tries to spin it as Erika being selfish and impulsive, Kyouya is actually, brazenly, the more selfish and impulsive character. He's mad? Tell her to get lost. He's regretting it? Go grab her by the arm and tell her she belongs to him.

It's disgusting. Even when I consider the improvement towards the end, I still cannot recommend this series based on the type of relationship it promotes. You are worth more!