Inazuma to Romance: An ongoing work that unfortunately should have remained in the depths of imagination and never been published.
Inazuma to Romance is a romance between a young man and a high school girl who, due to circumstances, end up talking and getting to know each other. However, several problematic aspects need to be addressed in this ongoing work.
Personally, I find both the art and the plot to be quite average and not to my taste.
The story focuses on two characters: Simure, our female lead, a high school student with a heart of gold who is always ready to help others and doesn’t rely on rumors. She is confident with a strong sense of justice, knowing what she wants and doesn’t want. She is somewhat spontaneous but also very naive and not very thoughtful in her actions.
On the other hand, we have Léo, the male lead, who is not particularly comfortable with others and has a somewhat cold and hostile aura, maintaining distance from people. This is accentuated by the scar on his face, which feeds into his bad boy image. He does nothing to change this and, on the contrary, continues to reinforce this stereotype to keep his peers at a distance.
Given their profiles, they complement each other relatively well, with the introverted Léo and the extroverted Simure.
However, as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly problematic and disturbing. An age-gap in a story can be acceptable if handled well, adding depth to the plot, serving a narrative purpose, and enhancing the story. Unfortunately, this work fails to do so.
Simure, being only 16, is not fully responsible, and her behaviors and choices can be attributed to her immaturity. However, what about Léo, who is in his twenties and starts a relationship with a girl 5-6 years younger than him without acting appropriately?
The romance is based on Léo’s lack of maturity and Simure’s illusory desire for a love story.
Currently, with only one volume released in France (and the second coming soon), the work minimizes Léo's past actions. Simure does not question Léo’s previous behavior or actions. She easily accepts and yields to Léo without any serious questioning. While love can lead to overlooking certain issues, should the work ignore the need for questioning and concern about the character’s actions?
The story romanticizes an age-gap relationship where the protagonist is manipulated by a love illusion, ignoring logical reflection and her father's concerns.
It feels like a poor parody of an adolescent crisis where everyone sees the danger except the person involved, who thinks they are mature and heads straight for trouble while neglecting others' concerns.
Furthermore, the praise for the work, calling it interesting, endearing, or cool only for its "beautiful" art, is troubling. A problematic work that trivializes age-gaps, minimizes kidnapping, and ridicules a father's concern cannot be defended just because the "art is beautiful.
9.5 out of 14 users liked this review
