(spoiler free review!)

Tsuiraku JK to Haijin Kyoushi (that will be referred to as 'Tsuiraku' going forth) is a story that covers the topics of suicide and depression, in a way that might be seen as ignorant at first glance.

The story begins with the female protagonist, Mikoto Ochiai, standing on her school’s rooftop, ready to jump due to heartbreak and humiliation following a rejection from her crush. Her physics teacher, Jin Haiba, interrupts her, initiating a conversation that ends with an unconventional request: he asks her to fall in love with him before she dies.

And that is how the story starts us off.

Jin, though an adult, often has a goofy and immature demeanor, contrasting with Mikoto's more mature attitude. However, when it’s time to be serious, he is. He never forgets that his goal is to help our female lead, to keep his promise of making her fall for him so she won’t have to jump off of the rooftop. He’s shown to have his own history regarding these dark topics, and it’s clear he genuinely wants to push forth this rehabilitation for Mikoto. He has been in her situation of despair, and wants to show her that giving up on life isn’t the answer.

Mikoto is a kind-hearted girl. She is introverted and doesn’t really have any friends, due to being seen as stoic and ‘having a personality drier than the Sahara desert’. She does question if Jin is actually in love with her, or if it’s all a lie to protect her, yet, she isn’t fearful of confessing to him.

They are aware of the taboo of their relationship. The age gap between them, and not to mention their respective roles as student and teacher, is rightfully controversial. Yet, this age gap is handled really well. It avoids becoming creepy or inappropriate, instead presenting a mature and thoughtful portrayal. Jin helps her grow, he pushes her to the problem and trusts she will find the answer on her own, it’s really nice to see.

Though, Jin and Mikoto aren’t the only characters the story covers. We also meet other characters who become relevant to the story. They cover the parts of depression and suicidal thoughts that aren’t covered by our main couple. Stress from overworking, hating the way you are, failing your exam 7 times, struggling to make friends, etc.

All of those topics are handled nicely, it’s realistic and relatable. There is a lot of dark humor surrounding these topics, yet, never does it justify it. The manga never forgets to make it clear that suicide is never the answer, no matter how tempting it can be. It’s relatable to readers who feel similar, but also manages to give you hope that everything will be okay. You should never give up the fight, because there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

The artwork is another highlight, expressive and well-suited to the story's tone. It effectively conveys the characters' emotions without being overly detailed or flashy, adding to the dark yet comforting atmosphere of the manga.

Overall, "Tsuiraku JK to Haijin Kyoushi" is a perfect mix of romance, dark topics, and comedy. It tackles difficult subjects in depth and provides both realism and hope to it’s readers. I give it a 100 points, for it has also given me a hope for the future.