Have you ever wanted read a manga that has two tsundere MCs, is filled with psychological battles, an amazingly written cast, impeccable comedy, and dashes of romance? Well if you have thought that you wanted to see this odd concoction of different elements thrown into a manga then this shit is your shit- (sounded better in my head). And with these different themes mixed together Kaguya-sama gets what other high school romance can’t in this day and age, an actual original concept that isn’t milked dry and gets repetitive and cringey within the first couple chapters. So why is it so good at making a concept such as making the other confess through melodramatic mental games? Well read the rest of this shitty review to find out. :)

The Plot: 40/40

In the ever so saturated genre of “high-school-romance” manga you can never expect a mind boggling plot, I mean there is only so much you can do with two highschoolers trying to fall in love with each other before you add fantasy. But even without the help of Devil Fruits, Soul Reapers, and Amanto Kaguya-sama still manages to have an exceptional plot that never ceases to entertain.

A key part of the plot in Kaguya-sama is the over-the-top, dramatic, but engaging psychological warfare between a group of highschool students. Each little scenario the cast is put into may at first seem like a simple everyday occurrence such as wondering where you will go for summer vacation, playing board games with close friends, or giving advice to others, but you are so very wrong! These are no simple occurrences! Because slowly but surely the mind games start to get woven into these stories and build, creating a sense of tension between each warrior. As these battles start to layer the situations only get more entertaining and by the end you’ll find some of the most hilarious build-ups that have climaxes that will make you die from laughter.

But alongside these witty and amusing mental battles you’ll find some very unexpected emotional moments that shake the bounds of story writing. These touching moments are few and far between but never feel out of place within the comedic chapters. The best part about these more emotional climaxes is they cover very relatable and real dramas that can hit very close to home, and more so the fact that these drama oriented arcs always end in deep character growth and serve a purpose to move the story.

All in all, this one of the best and most consistently amazing plots you will find among the vast sea of RomCom manga. The amount of bits and games that play throughout my head still bring me smiles and joy, and the heartfelt climaxes still bring me to tears each time.

The Characters: 100/40

This is the golden light of Kaguya-sama and honestly is one of the greatest casts in all of media. Each character in this manga whether it be a main or side character starts at a very low point in their journey through youth, these problems the characters face can either be not being accepted by others or a raging inferiority complex that got a little out of hand. But from these low points each character is elevated alongside the story as the characters slowly grow. The cast develops in a very human-like fashion that isn’t shoved in your face and takes time. This method is a very gratifying and fulfilling way of developing each character because as the chapters pass it feels as if the characters are ever so slightly changing and becoming more grounded as people.

Development aside, the dynamics present in this manga are some of the best I’ve ever read. Each character plays off each other so well making each situation enjoyable, fluid and feel like it's truly a group of friends causing mischief and shenanigans. And as their personalities grow we see this silly group also grow closer too. It’s genuinely beautiful seeing this cast deepening their bonds; we see people who were once enemies turn into very close friends, friends turn into brothers, and even enemies into lovers. These inspiring character arcs are ones that will not be forgotten and have set a new standard of writing quality within comedic manga.

The Art: 10/10

In terms of art Kaguya-sama kills it with great paneling and stunning spreads. Each character has very distinct facial expressions that add a lot to the comedic timing of the story. Though the most impressive aspect of the art is the evolution it undergoes as the story progresses. Just like the characters the art was rough around the edges but by the end was polished. Nothing much else to say in this section, overall great art that only added to the story.

Personal Impact/Conclusion: 100/10

Kaguya-sama was the manga (and Anime) that really got me into anime; I’d seen some Anime and read some manga before but Kaguya-sama is the one responsible for keeping me in this medium and community. Ever since 2019 I read Kaguya-sama weekly and through this ride I’ve laughed, jumped with joy, cried, but most of all Kaguya-sama taught me the importance of connections in your early life and not to throw away your youth. As the art, characters and art grew, I grew. The little dumb mind games brought me so much joy and will always live in my head rent in my head. So thank you Kaguya-sama: Love is War. Thank you Aka Akasaka. Thank you Kaguya, Shirogane, Iino, Chika and most of all my main man Ishigami. It was a fun ride.

Thanks for reading my corny (and) ass review!