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In this manga we will follow Nagi, an outstanding young man in school who, one day by chance, discovers the secret of his life: he was switched at birth. He and another girl, Erika (of the same age and school) were switched at the hospital, so they grew up with the wrong families. After the meeting with the families, they decide that, to keep the families together, both young people get engaged in marriage (as if we had gone back two centuries). Since then, Nagi and Erika will try to break their commitment to show their parents that they cannot decide for them.
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Plot to what we are used to seeing.
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The harem revolves around Nagi and her indecisiveness about her love life. Thus, more girls join the "battle" for who Nagi will finally marry... And with that I have several problems. But let's start with the members of this circus.
Nagi: Unbelievably I don't find it annoying. Usually in harems, the "all the women fight" guy is either very boring or overly perverted. Nagi doesn't fit these roles 100%. Yes, he is quite cold, serious and antisocial, but he is not extremely annoying. With him I can understand that someone falls in love with him; he is very intelligent, kind, tolerant, calculating and always arranges the benefit of others for his own. But of course that doesn't mean he's dumb enough not to notice the VERY direct hints from the girls around him.
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Erika: The "rich girl" description, too energetic and positive. Which is perfect for being the contrast to the introverted Nagi. I repeat, she's not essentially annoying, but she's very stereotypical. Erika is famous on social media (for no logical reason other than being beautiful and charismatic) and lives completely in her world. She is the one who is often in charge of moving the "story", she is the one who advises and pushes the characters to move and make a decision, and that is why she is the one who gets stuck the most in development. And I think it's a shame because she has a lot of potential: A rich teenager but lacking in family love who seeks independence and rebellion from the strict control of her parents… As I said, it bothers me that there is not much potential shown.
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Hiro: Nagi's crush. The "perfect model girl from school". Intelligent, supportive, kind, dedicated and committed. In theory, she's a very mysterious character, but little is revealed about her, and the "secrets" she reveals don't seem serious and shocking enough to keep secret... I mean, I'm disappointed that her mystery isn't about of something SO indispensable to the plot. And, what's worse, that's what most of her presence in the story is based on.
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Sachi - Nagi's "younger sister", who begins to visualize a crush on her "brother". She sincerely worries me that her personality is so based on the Japanese cliche "himouto". A lot of what Sachi does is so childish and selfish, but she brushes it off because "oh, she's her little sister, she's okay with her being wrong." She worries me how stereotyped her whole situation is... Not to mention, yes, they are not blood brothers, but neither Nagi nor Sachi stop calling each other brothers even in matters of romantic love.
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The lack of logic.
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I KNOW this is a fictional wizard and a lot is not to be taken seriously or personally... But the level of reasoning in the plot doesn't let me brush it off that easily. I'm going to list a few (needless to say these are my personal problems).
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The exchange: It seems so bad taste to me that the decision of both families to solve a problem as serious as the exchange of their children, THEY GET MARRIED NOW?! It is assumed that with this commitment families would be "united" or more in contact with those who are supposed to be their children... but no. They rarely interact, even between parents. (Are you seriously telling me that neither parent was upset by such an unexpected situation? My God, your son/daughter spent his whole life with the wrong family and that doesn't bother anyone?)
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Problems are solved so easy: It seems that the manga is a constant cycle in which: a problem arises, they don't solve it the first time, it gets complicated, someone becomes inert, it is solved and we move on to the next. ??????
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The goal is marriage: I find it so funny that everyone's ultimate goal is to marry the person they like. But don't first think about getting to know each other better, start dating, graduate, work, etc... Just that, "someday I would love to get married--" or "I don't want you to get married-- ". I think Erika is the only one wondering if marriage is the happy ending she wants. Still, it is very strange that it is so idealized.
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My honest conclusion:
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From what I read every week, this manga has no intention of outdoing itself. At no time do I see the interest and affection in the story that apparently wants to be told. But I suppose that it is an advantage that does not intend to worsen what has already been built. He doesn't take risks but he doesn't falter either, he just stays on the tightrope.
It's been fun to read, despite my complaints I've been able to turn off my brain and keep reading each chapter. I don't know if it would be good to highlight that, but the reading becomes so light that the chapters fly by, in the blink of an eye.
Anyway, I'm not too excited about how things will end, the "mysteries" of the story don't interest me much because they're solved. And I haven't been able to get attached to any particular character either. I guess I should wish him the best, whoever enjoys this manga cliché continue to enjoy it, no problem for me if this becomes popular. But I'm careful trying to recommend this. It's an "ok, read it, but it's not a big deal."