HMMMMMMMMMMM

Let's go about this review through the different categories.

Story: The story started out promising (I enjoy these types of cliche shoujo plots) but it turned out to be quite disappointing when the story and the characters turned out to be pretty one dimensional, without depth. It was getting better by about halfway through the series (the part where the childhood friend comes in) because it was getting interesting, but after that it was a bit of a let down. I kept waiting for something more to happen, something more meaningful, but was not given it.

Art: I enjoyed the art, it's definitely the type of style I look for when picking out a manga to read. I also really appreciated the fact that the hair lengths changed to signify the years going by– although this is only true for the female lead (Erika), it's still appreciated.

Character: Okay, here's where I have mixed feelings, and it had to do with the male lead.
I don't mind a controlling male lead (depending on the type of control, of course) but I had a problem with Kyouya. FIRST, the way he was portrayed in the beginning, aka the first few chapters, was so different from after those few chapters. He ended up being more recluse than what was originally implicated. SECOND, he was controlling and he was MEAN. He sincerely never gave Erika any inclination of how he felt about her and didn't show it enough. He was emotionally abusive and Erika was a very weak female lead. Avoiding spoilers here; when choosing universities, thank god for San-chan because if it had continued in that way that would have just truly thrown me off and I would've regretted reading so far with just a few chapters away from finishing.

I did finish this manga. Disappointed in the male lead and also not satisfied with the ending. But it is what it is. Great art, decent story, poor leads, and unsatisfactory ending.