It's been a few years since my last reread of the series, so the details are not as vivid for me as to try and describe the story as best as it deserves, but the experience and feelings it left me with are something I can't put into words, it's like something very personal on an intimate level, it's like the experience was my own, truly, it made me take a moment and let my self be impressed by man's genius and marvel at it, because this was man made... right?
One thing I recall that made the manga hit home for me is how the characters were on a first name basis, and the names really easy to remember, it was as if this wasn't a Japanese setting but instead it was all happening in the next town, or maybe this was all set in a school in the neighborhood, it was funny at times, painfully agonizing at others, magnificent at all times, the relationships are real, you'll think about your real childhood friend when you see the MC's and the rowdy crowd of kids you were, you'll appreciate what you have now and treasure it.
One special moment that left me not knowing how to feel, is when the world was crumbling and falling apart (literally) and the MC and heroine treasured their bond, with what little resources they had left, I'm a guy and I never ever imagined that I'd shed tears for anything real much less fiction, this made me cry like a little girl (well almost).
So does this series have no downside to it? the only downside I can think of is how I couldn't enjoy any other series after reading it for weeks, it left me looking for the next Saikano desperately, but there's only one of those, too bad for me.
Cute Chise and awkward Shuji will live on in my heart for ever.