Middle school ... those two words conjure some shuddering memories, huh? I think we can all agree it was a dumb period of our lives. And I think Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu captures that essence of dumbness in a very enjoyable manner.
Story
Set in middle school, centered around two characters. Kyoutarou Ichikawa, a short, gloomy and awkward boy. Yamada Anna, a tall, pretty and outgoing girl. Despite their stark contrasting personalities, these two find themselves together in various situations and grow closer.
- If I could sum up this series in one word, it'd be subtle. The series does an excellent job with "show-not-tell" in character interactions, humor, character expressions, etc. What makes this series so enjoyable is inferring what's happening without explicitly being told. Combined with the amount of awkward and tense scenes, you'll find yourself chuckling.
- The progression of the two protagonists' relationship doesn't seem forced or unnatural. They find themselves awkwardly talking in the library, coincidentally eating at the same fast food, bumping to each other near the convenience store, etc. No lucky pervert oppai grabs or anything.
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Romance slowly develops. And it's not frustrating at all! Though it's not explicit, their feelings are obvious and inferable. Since they're just kids going through puberty, the awkward moments are charming and realistic. Hell, they add up to more romance that's happened in my entire 20 years of existence.
- Very little drama. The series doesn't follow a main plot line, instead breaking up into small subplots. Makes it very enjoyable to see the various idiotic shenanigans the two and their friends find themselves in.
Characters
- Ichikawa: A socially-awkward kid that had a brief edge phase and isn't the best with girls. Oh wait, that was me ... jokes aside, he's like any normal middle-schooler. He gets some development. He talks more, becomes more honest about his feelings and becomes closer with some other characters. His narration adds to the humor.
- Yamada: A funny, cute bubbly girl. However, she isn't free from awkwardness. Seeing her outgoing side with her friends and her awkward side with Ichikawa and various situations makes her more than one-dimensional.
- There are various reoccurring side characters that stick with you, too. They're just as fun as our protagonists, and sometimes help develop their relationship.
Art
- Nothing eye-catching. I think the art-style is cute and suits the lighthearted tone of the series.
- Going with the main theme of subtlety, the art also helps add to it. From character expressions to background art, you can infer quite a bit from just looking.
Enjoyment
- I keep enjoying the chapters more and more! The subtle humor is great. The relationship progression is lovely to watch. The characters act dumb, in a carefree sense that reminds me of my younger years.
Final Words
- Overall, a fun and enjoyable school and slice-of-life series. If you want wholesome and subtle, give this a shot.
