I'm so tired of the tropes and characters used in like... 2005-2012. I'm hoping to find more manga that is modern. It's hard to find a good balance because I'm American so things like hugs and kisses between friends don't always seem like a big deal.
But this manga is good at stepping up a little with modern times in Japan. You know, still a little more reserved than us crazy Americans but not so "prudish"? That's an awful way of putting it but ya know what I mean.
Female lead- 17, nothing special but is trying to become more independent like most teens. I like that she doesn't have that ONE amazing ability, like being able to cook extremely well. She can cook simple dishes and does her share of housework well, which makes her a great housemate and the others enjoy her. She's the only kid in a roomshare of adults so it's interesting to see her meet these adults in their situations and blush a lot. For example, her roommate was in his boxers in the shared restroom brushing his teeth- not really a big deal for people living together. But she's new to this stuff and has to learn to be like "Yeah man, we're roomies so this is just normal. No need to Kyaaa~ and run out of the room." Her attitude is stable. Like, still a kid but still not annoying in her youth.
Male lead- 27, graphic designer. How the hell does he have those amazing abs by sitting on the couch working so much? A Mystery. His attitude is intense but believable? Not so SLAPSTICK over the top, but you could envision him as a scary and impatient roommate without being evil. He has a short temper but he does take to the female lead as a paternal figure-- at first? He takes on showing her around and helping her get settled in. They spend the most time together since he works from home and she gets home from school when the other roommates are at work. The pacing is really good!
The manga is about them working together as housemates and friends but also the male lead worrying over her. He's stuck in that weird place of seeing her as "family" but rejecting her suggestions of her being like a daughter to him (he says the age is all wrong!), a younger sister (he thinks that's weird), or an older sister (lol) and being in denial that he might like her as a young woman. He is a bit harsh on her with regards to school and curfew but after she rightfully confronts him that he's not her mother, (and the other roommates also chime in that he's being too strict) he struggles with "not caring" what she does- like going on group dates and still being a friend. He teases her about working hard and gives her playful nudges or smacks that could be easily happening between siblings or roommates. It's interesting to see her happy he sees her as family because that makes her an important person to him, but she feels discouraged they could be anything else. The age gap is talked about with her school friends, who root for her. And the roommates start to suspect that the male lead's strict attitude is something more than just being a substitute guardian while the female lead lives away from her mother. It's all done in a good story way.