Please note

This review is all subjective and my own personal opinion. You do not have to agree with it, nor am I asking you to. I hope that this just helps you get an idea of what the anime I am talking about is like and form a basic and general consensus on it. The ratings I give anime and manga are mostly my personal overall enjoyment. This review will be spoiler free, with the images mostly only sourced from the first chapter. TL;DR will be at the bottom.

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Introduction

Set in a time perhaps not too long ago, 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo' sees the cast in a school named 'Girl's Only Army School', specialised in training girls to become military officers. The main character finds herself enrolling in this prestigious school despite being from the countryside, and it is there she meets cold Kagami. What seems to be just a fleeting encounter soon evolves, the two lives become deeply intertwined in ways they never could have imagined.

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Plot and Setting

If I am to discuss this manga, I cannot ignore its setting. When one thinks of yuri, most of the time a school setting would come in mind, which is expected given that a majority of yuri takes place between two schoolgirls. Whilst this manga does take place in a school, what makes it unique is that it is not taking place within modern times, and on top of that it is a military school. A yuri taking place within a military school is unheard of to me, and so I was intrigued in what it would have to offer other series did not.

So, what does having a romance (of all things) in a military school add? Firstly, it adds class dynamics that are different to most other yuri. In other yuri the senpai-kouhai dynamic would be often seen, with senpai-kouhai relationships not being uncommon. Whilst that dynamic is still in 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo' at its core (the main couple can essentially be described as a senpai-kouhai relationship), it does have differences, that being military ranks. This does play a role between the two protagonists, but it also influences the interactions between the other members of the school. They have to refer to a person in a specific manner, speak with certain respect, and so on.

Touching on that, a military school demands more respect and discipline, which is seen here. The dialogue presented in this manga showcases the kind of speaking one would have to use when speaking to a higher up in the military. However, this as a consequence makes moments where the characters speak to each other more casually emphasised, showcasing their relationship dynamics. Obviously this kind of thing is present in school manga's, but it is exemplified in this one specifically.

This type of school also requires their pupils to learn different skills as compared to a conventional one, but that is not really something to focus on, as with most stories with schools as their setting. The actual academic side of things is merely the background to the main show, the characters.

Having a romance in such a strict environment also adds another struggle for the couple to overcome. It is harder to openly show and pursue romance in the military, so they have to find ways to build their bonds despite that.

Moving onto the plot now, 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo' is quick to get things started, it first establishes Indou Shinobu as a cheerful girl, yet in a pitiful state. It then introduces two of the most major characters, Kagami Fujino and Ooba Koto (with the third most prominent character Aisen Miharu being introduced soon after), and Indou entering 'Girl's Only Army School'. It can be a lot to take in within the first chapter, and it is a little indicative of the pacing that is seen through some of the earlier chapters. This is something a lot of short manga have to do, as they do not have precious time to spend on spreading out introductions. Luckily this eases down once everything has been established and it becomes an easier ride.

The plot mainly concerns the relationships and struggles of the main couple. At its core it may be very simple, but simple does not mean boring. In fact, being simple may make it easier to get hooked onto, which is certainly what happened to me. After a few chapters as I got behind the characters, I realised that I found myself wanting to read more even when I was busy.

A core part of many romances are the conflicts the main couple go through together, and eventually come out stronger and better developed before. This is certainly the case with 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo'. Indou and Kagami are presented with different obstacles throughout the story, and then they have to overcome it together in order to progress to the next stage of their relationship. The complications themselves may be nothing new, but what makes them far from being bland is a combination of the characters and the setting. What starts as a fleeting bud eventually blooms into a beautiful flower. Witnessing such a journey really can be mesmerising, and it was for me here.

It is common for manga to start to focus on the side characters more once the main cast has had enough time of their own, however that is not exactly feasible in a manga as short as this. Indou and Kagami are in the limelight throughout, with some side characters there supporting them along the way. During that time, they get their own development too.

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Characters
There is a decently large cast in 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo', but I will just be focusing on the characters that are on the character page.

Shinobu Indou is first presented like this to the reader, showing us her pitiful state and the dramatic changes she goes through. It is clear from the beginning that Indou does not come from a very desirable upbringing. Wearing what could be described as rags and hair that obscures her eyes, she certainly does not exude the appearance of one heading to 'Girl's Only Army School'. This appearance is short lived however, as she soon goes through a makeover as she enters 'Girl's Only Army School'. This appearance is maintained throughout majority of the manga. Her appearance after her major makeover. As a character Indou is clearly one of the more cheerful characters in the cast of 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo', heavily contrasting the rigid school that she is in. Thus, she can be an appreciated comedic relief, bringing some joy to the manga. It is easy to like her. She does get some development in the manga, but the other character's development is more significant and Indou plays a major role in shaping that. Kagami Fujino certainly stands out from the rest, being one of the two main characters in the story. Fujino is Indou's senior, being one of the people that guide her through her new school life. An important steppingstone to her next stages, she serves to be another major influence on Indou, just as she is to her. Fujino is cold and somewhat abrasive, like that one strict teacher you like to avoid at school. But underneath all of that, she truly has a softer, kinder side, one easier to get behind and engrossed in. The kind and caring Ooba Koto is a stark contrast to many other members of the school. One could describe Koto as the motherly figure to many of the younger characters in the school. Due to Fujino's more rigid personality, the others are more likely to drift to her for her warm nature. With this motherly nature also comes important advice which further bolsters the cast's development and growth.

Aisen Miharu is one of Indou's friends within her year level. Miharu is shyer and timider in comparison to Indou's bright and perhaps a bit loud personality, but she soon warms to her within time. Later on in the manga she gets more focus placed upon her, in which more of her backstory is unveiled and her character is further explored. It is within this time I found her to be the most engaging. Natalya appears later on in the manga, but she is still a vital character to the story. Natalya plays a key role in some character's backstories and development, but as this happens a little later on in the manga, I would like to avoid discussing it in order not to spoil it. Regarding her personality, she can be quite humorous and was able to bring a smile to my face. Her character was also fascinating as her backstory was delved into, on I easily got immersed in.Romance between Indou and Fujino Being a romance, the love between Indou and Fujino is the forefront of the manga. Their romance starts at the very beginning chapter of 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo', at its very early stages. Even though I say early stages, they do some actions that one would expect that would only happen later on in the track. With almost no notice, this happens at the end of chapter 1. Given that Fujino was not acting very friendly towards Indou not too long before, it was a surprise to see this happen so soon with no notice. I was taken aback, and thought it happened too early. I too, was left in a daze as to why Fujino did such a thing. The reason behind her actions is revealed in the later parts of the story, but at the moment I read it, the scene felt like it happened too early, or it was out of place. At the beginning it takes a little bit for the relationship to finally get fully established and gain its footing, but after that it becomes all good, so the aforementioned is a minor issue.

At the beginning it seems that it is each other’s appearance that draw them to each other, but it soon blossoms into something more.

Regarding the dynamics in the relationship, Indou and Fujino reflect a trope that is often seen in many romances, not just homosexual ones. A pairing of a serious individual and a goofier one is not uncommon, as the two personalities provide contrasts to each other. 'Opposites attract', as they say.

Another common trope present in their relationship is the fact it is a bond between a senpai and kouhai. Again, this is not uncommon within yuri. Having the characters not in the same year level makes it a bit more difficult for the two to interact, providing another hurdle in the relationship. However some of that difficulty is alleviated as Fujino is assigned to look over Indou's group.

There is a theme that plays throughout the romance between the two, which is only fully explored as the manga plays on. The theme of

Spoiler, click to view

clinging to the past and obsession are vital themes that influence their relationship. We see the obsession that both Fujino and her mother have over Indou, clinging to the past of her passed mother. Obsession is a powerful, yet very dangerous emotion that can easily drive one to do irrational things, which is what we see happen to Fujino and her mother. It is only through Indou they are able to leave the past behind and walk into a new future.

These themes were some of the most engrossing parts of the manga and I felt that they were executed well.

This is a romance that takes its time to build up (as it should, in my opinion) and you are taken along for the ride. You see the subtle changes in their relationship, and only when you look back at the end you realise how far they, and you, the reader, have gone.

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Art
Personally I liked the art Tamasaki Tama illustrated for this manga.

It complimented the characters, although one could say it does not suit the military tone of the manga. There are only a few moments where the violence of war is showcased, most of it is within the school and focusing on the characters. In the seldom moments it does however, it still manages to encapsulate that foreboding feeling quite well.

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Conclusion and TL;DR
As I reached the end of the story, what I felt was reassurance that what I read was something worthwhile. It was something I enjoyed, and in the end I ultimately wished for more. The combination of likable characters and an engaging romance coupled with a unique setting created a manga that was a joy to read. An easy recommendation to any yuri fan. In summary:

• The manga takes place in a unique setting as compared to most, making it easier to get hooked.
• It can be a lot to take in the beginning, but it soon finds its pace and becomes an enjoyable ride.
• The development of each character, including the side cast, is deeply engaging and well executed.
• The 'cute' art style may not be befitting of a military setting but is able to depict the violence that comes with it whilst also complimenting the characters.

I went off a lot in this review and I probably talked about many unnecessary aspects, but I hope some of the review helped you see if this is the manga for you. If would like to send me feedback on my reviews, please post a comment on this thread. Hopefully you were able to get something out of this review. If you did not like this review, then I apologise for wasting your time.

You may also want to check out the author's pixiv page, as she posted some follow up artworks of 'Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo'.