To say this manga was shrouded in controversy since its inception would probably be only the tip of the iceberg.
Domestic Girlfriend is a series about a character who loses his virginity to some random chick named Rui. Something he then sort of regrets because he already had feelings for someone else. This girl in question being his teacher, Hina. Natsuo (MC) gains feeling for her as she figures out that he wants to write a story. So Hina is constantly pestering him for another chapter of his book while Natsuo gets flustered and slowly but surely gained feelings for her. Now the story actually starts when his dad actually marries another women giving Natsuo 2 step-sisters. Lo and behold the younger sister is the girl he slept with and the older sister is his teacher that he's in love with. Now he has to deal with both of these under one roof.
Now the series is awesome. The love triangle between Natsuo and Rui and hina is the best part about the series. It is exciting and invigorating. I loved seeing all the emotion between these characters fall into place. These 3 characters are easily what carries Specifically Natsuo. His growth throughout the series was really fun to watch. This alongside Rui and Even Hina. The side characters however did fall short somewhat. Some of them were actually really good namely Miyabi and the librarian chick. But some of them fell short as well. Al for example was pretty unlikable for most of the series.
Did i say the love triangle was the best part about the series? I was actually lying because the art was the best part of the series. The art is just magnified by the story. The reason for that is because the romance of the series works really well. The author does a great job of making the characters show that they love each other rather than tell them. This is the artistic detail in the face and the eyes. Especially the eyes. It really shows that the character is in love. And i think the author did a good job in making the character look like there in love.
Now back to the um.. series. The series kinda sucks dick.
MASSIVE SPOILERS
Now i did love the story of the series. For 27 volumes this series was fantastic, Until it did sort of fell apart near the end. Now i don't think the series sucks as much as people have stated, but it does sort of break apart and the reason for that is because of How Hina achieved her victory.
The series for the first 75 chapters is about Hina and Natsuo. Rui slowly also understands her feelings. But mainly about Natsuo falling for Hina harder and harder and Hina falling for Natsuo. Over the course of the series though Hina being his teacher was a relationship that probably wouldn't last. So they end up breaking up after someone finds out about there relationship. Natuso than heart broken tries moving on,on which Rui decides to be honest with herself that she is in love with Natsuo. Natsuo as well overtime garners feelings for Rui moving on from Hina.
Natsuo absolutely adored Rui and wanted a future with her. He wanted to be her husband and have a future with Rui. This is shown for over 150 chapters. The series is almost all about Rui and Natsuo. They break apart only to get back together. The claw through so much together and apart to be together only for it to be some bullshit for them to not end up together.
Now I've heard some people say that Hina was always the true victor and that Rui was nothing more than a rebound and if that sounds like complete Horseshit thats because it is. These thoughts however are pretty much par for the course for any romance harem series. You will always have people saying that x heroine was back up anyway. If Rui had won many people would pretty much be saying the opposite about Rui instead and calling Hina the invertible loser instead.
Hina gets into an accident trying to protect Rui. Which results in Hina becoming a vegetable. Rui plagued by guilt decided to give up on Natsuo and several years later after she wakes up Natsuo ends up happily married to Hina.
This is very much a weak ending by the author.. The manga had setup for so long for Rui to win only to end up changing her mind at the last second. Im not saying it doesn't make sense but its still pretty bullshit. The reason for that is because Hina didn't really win. Rui surrendered. After so long of Rui and Natsuo we are just supposed to accept that they are not gonna be together that after so long of Natsuo finally moving on from Hina rejecting confessions because he is still in love with Rui he ends up with Hina anyway.
If Hina had won over Natsuo this would've been much more enjoyable to watch. But it feels more like she got lucky rather than something she deserved. If Kei Sasuga really wanted Hina to win as she stated she did. Then she should've made Natsuo choose Hina rather than her being the only choice avalible. This is the biggest issue of Domestic Girlfriend. Hina's victory is hollow rather than deserved.
I did however say that i didn't hate the ending as much as eveyrone else and that is because the first 75 chapters are still fresh in my mind. Every single promise that Natsuo made to Hina is still rinigng in my head. But every single hollow promise to Rui is also ringing in my head.
END OF MASSIVE SPOILERS
I do understand that this is a very negative and critical review of the series. But I still enjoyed this manga. Its carried by interesting characters, Certain episodic events and the artistic talent of the author. I do wished that the ending would be better. I do wish the heroine that i was rooting for won. and I do wish that the author wrote a more fleshed out ending as it does feel like there are 4-6 volumes between volume 27 and volume 28. Its not that i don't understand what the author tried to do. Its the fact that she did it poorly.
I honestly don't know how to rate this series. I did love it and I did hate it. But Despite that i do think this is a good enough to be worth reading.. And part of the reason is because its over now. ITs finished Binging this series for the last 3 days has been quite the experince.
TLDR: Half the people who told me the ending sucks haven't even actually read the manga. I know I asked. I myself did not enjoy the ending all that much but i would still recommend this series. I do think you guys should check out this series. ?/10
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