I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to get this attached to the characters in this novel. The story starts off feeling like a typical high school drama with a bit of an edge, but it quickly grew into something way more. The two main characters, Sakaki Sui and Hiwa Arina, have a dynamic that, at first, feels a little contrived—Sui, the oddball high schooler who’s all about his "going-home" club, and Arina, the girl with the sharpest tongue in the school. At first glance, it’s easy to think this is just another “quirky guy meets cool girl with a bad attitude” kind of setup. But honestly, they end up being so much more than that.

The best part of this story isn’t even the premise; it’s watching Sui and Arina slowly change each other. What starts off as a forced interaction (thanks to a teacher pushing Sui to help Arina with her issues) turns into something much deeper. Sui, who had previously just wanted to go home and be left alone, finds himself more and more involved in Arina's life. She’s reluctant at first, but little by little, she begins to open up. I don’t want to spoil too much, but seeing them both grow was honestly one of the most satisfying parts of the novel. Their relationship evolves from awkward to really heartwarming, and by the end, it’s not just a story about them; it’s a story about how relationships can shape you.

That’s where this novel hits hardest for me. It’s not just about high school or growing up; it’s about how the people in your life can change you for better or worse, and how those changes aren't always smooth. At times, the story can feel like a nostalgic look back at what it means to connect with people—whether it’s over lunch breaks with friends, late-night conversations, or just the mundane stuff we all go through. It reminds me a bit of Three Days of Happiness- might be because it's the only other light novel I've read but that too was quite emotional and beautiful. I'd recommend that if you want to explore a novel with themes of value of life, love and regret.

Anyways back to this novel, I’ll admit, not everything about this novel is perfect. Early on, the pacing is a bit uneven, and given that it also has a webnovel release (which is what i read), the reading order i found on sites were at times kinda confusing- with some claiming X is an official chapter, and other's saying the author has reworked the novel and therefore it's not. All that jargon aside, the story as whole is worth reading- if you're a bit patient you'll find out why) What really made me stick with it was how it consistently brought a smile to my face. There are moments when I laughed out loud, and others when I just sat there, feeling all sorts of emotions. It’s that balance of lightheartedness mixed with deeper, more poignant moments that make this story work.

The real turning point in the story comes a bit after we've progressed mid way through the story, when things start to get... intense. It takes a sharp turn, and that’s when the tone of the story changes in a pretty dramatic way. (I really can't say anything more as it would be a spoiler) At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this shift, especially because it felt kind of sudden. But tbh, it was honestly a great decision by the author imo. It brought so much more depth to the story, and gave me an understanding of the core characters of the story- whom till that point on were still a bit of a mystery in certain regards.

Speaking of the ending—wow. By the time I reached the final chapter, I was honestly a mess. The last few chapters brought out a level of emotion in me that I didn’t think was possible for this kind of story. It reminded me of a manga I finished recently- ReLife. That too is a standout in this genre, it takes the typical of slice of life high school setting and creates a really beautiful story out of it, with characters that feel really memorable. I suppose in that sense they're both similar, though what they end up doing with their respective stories is what seperates them, and they're both special to me in their own way.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but if you’re expecting a typical, sweet high school ending, you’re going to be in for a ride. I'm not sure if I should classify it as a sad ending, but it’s certainly emotional, and in a way that left me teary-eyed. The way it all wraps up just felt... real. Like life itself. Not everything can have a neat, perfect conclusion, and that’s what makes the ending so impactful to me.

In all honesty, I can’t believe how much this story made me tear up, I saw another review posted about this novel talking about how great it was, but i didn't really have my expectations up too much. Maybe its because I've rarely ever read light novels, let alone web novels. In the back of my mind, I was always thinking- no way its that good, its a web novel, you can just publish it online from your bedroom. But I'm glad to realise that I was conceited. The novel quite aptly disillusioned me, and while I'm not going to pretend I didn't wish some parts were shorter than others or cut out entirely, the story taken as a whole is nothing short of a masterpiece, and so imo, it deserves a 100 score.