Sore Machi (and yet the town moves)
If ever there was a holotype specimen for slice of life manga, this would be it. Out of every slice of life series I've read, there's been 1 or 2 problems in each that just blemishes the whole thing. Whether that be jokes or characters that don't age well, or simply the passage of time not moving forward, there's always something. The passage of time is something we all have to deal with, so in slice of life manga it makes sense for it to be something lingering in the background. Something we have to deal with whether we like it or not. Yet this is rarely ever the case. Seasons will pass, and the characters will be unchanged. The same year of school, the same age, the same everything, for years at a time. Sore Machi is a rare case of not doing this. Instead, dealing with this issue by jumping around a solid timeline. Time will move, as it does for everyone. The town will move. The passage of time isn't a sad thing. What's important is the memories you make inside it.
Like most slice of life manga, Sore Machi stars a lot of characters. For my purposes, I'll just talk about three. Hotori Arashiyama is the main character. She's a goofy, slightly ditzy, wannabe detective. She's extremely outgoing and friendly towards pretty much anyone. She's just a normal girl. She helps her Gran out at her cafe and just lives her life day to day. She holds on to the status quo more than most people but understands that it can't be kept the same forever. She's always willing to try something new and make new friends, but she will always treasure her old friends just as much. Hotori is the first to break the mold with a lot of people who seem unapproachable. As time passes, she makes a lot of friends with people of varying circumstances and situations. She's not as dumb as she may seem at first. She spends a lot of time reading mystery novels. The Hotori under the surface is one who cares a lot. About her town, the people in it, and even the people outside it. Even if people tease her, they all know she's a good person.
Toshiko Tatsuno (Ta-Tsun from now on) is the first friend of Hotori's we meet. She's pretty much Hotori's opposite. Straight-laced, extremely serious about most things, even her interests are opposite. Ta-Tsun is the character that is seen the most around Hotori. They hang out a lot due to Ta-Tsun deciding to work at the same cafe as Hotori. At first, Ta-Tsun doesn't seem to really like Hotori all that much. She gets mad a lot at Hotori's antics and doesn't really open up about her interests. Slowly, as time passes, she opens up. She lets down her serious guard and allows herself to be herself. Her silly memories with Hotori and hanging out so often allows her to be proud of who she and Hotori came to be. Best friends. Through time and slow change.
Futaba Kon (Kon-senpai from now on) is my favorite character in this manga. Kon-senpai does not like being around or talking to people. She keeps to herself and her cat, and that's it. Until Hotori steps into her life. Out of all of the characters, Kon-senpai gets a lot of focus. She's the one that needs the most development. Hotori needs to find a life's path. Ta-Tsun needs to learn to loosen up. Kon-senpai needs a complete rewiring of how to go about things. To other people, it looks like Kon-senpai has a barrier around her. Not that she's purposely putting one up. She's just extremely awkward. Other people have tried to get past that barrier and break it, but no matter what, Kon-senpai wouldn't open up. She wouldn't let anybody in. Then, one day, her cat goes missing. She runs into an alley with Kon-senpai, following behind when a girl in a maid outfit comes up to help. The maid introduces herself as Hotori Arashiyama and mistakes Kon-senpai for a younger boy. From there on, the two are friends. Hotori will drop by Kon-senpai's place unannounced, and the two will just hang out. As time passes, Hotori grows closer to Kon-senpai, and Kon-senpai opens up more and more to Hotori. Even more, Kon-senpai leaves her barrier and talks to her classmates. She'll even hang out with them at karaoke. Hotori allowed Kon-senpai to grow and change. Moving the hands on her clock again when they stopped. Kon-senpai is an amazing character in an already great story. Adding a touch of heart to the manga.
That heart I mentioned is what makes me love Sore Machi so much more than I was ever expecting. Sore Machi presents itself as a comedy first, slice of life second. In kind, I expected to have a good laugh and move on. Instead of just that, Sore Machi adds so much more. I mentioned the passage of time a few times, and that's what I'm talking about. Sore Machi is about the passage of time and the memories made inside. How people affect each other for the better, and how inevitably, it moves on. Things will change. Memories will be made. Strange occurrences may happen. You just need to take a small leap and see. Put down that comforting barrier and go somewhere you haven't before. A strange cafe called seaside, perhaps, despite being nowhere near the sea? You may find a spry old lady in a maid outfit, a trio of men slacking off, and some high schoolers chatting, but pay them no mind. Ask for some coffee and curry, and just maybe, you'll see what makes that town move.
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