Story: (7/10)
It's a great coming of age story that follows 2 kids that don't know what love is or even how to successfully pilot a romantic relationship, discover the ins and outs of having a relationship and become closer and closer together. While the pacing of the very beginning of the manga is quite fast, it soon mellows out and paces itself really well.
The story is quite predictable but it doesn't take much of the excitement away from the romance between Satoru and Saotome. I found myself reading chapter after chapter, being encapsulated by the way that the manga blends sports with romance. It never gets dull or played out. Neither the boxing aspect nor the romance of the manga get dragged out for extended amount of time. At times, the sports theme in this manga makes you feel like your reading a true sports manga, the likes of Haikyu! or Ahiru no Sora. Just to hit you with a reminder that it's a romance. The balance between Saotome's boxing matches and Saotome's and Satoru's secret dates makes the story enjoyable to follow.
Characters: (5/10)
Outside the main characters Saotome and Satoru, the supporting cast is quite forgettable. The rest of the cast are mainly there to bolster the development of Saotome and Satoru. However, even though the other characters don't leave a lasting impression, the development of Saotome is well done. You get to experience this cold, tomboy looking character come out of her shell and show the others around her that she's still a girl, she still faces the same romantic problems that every other girl faces. With Satoru by her side, Saotome gets to experience a side of school, no, life that she's never experienced before. Love.
Art: (5/10)
The art in this manga is nothing to write home about either. It's definitely something that won't catch your eye or make a last impression on you for years to come... for the most part. For the majority of the series, the art itself is average. However, during Saotome's boxing matches or when displaying muscles, the art jumps up a notch. The impacts of punches, the movement of the boxer's swings, the well defined muscles, all of this gets brought to the foreground during boxing matches and really captivates the readers attention.
Enjoyment: (7/10)
I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. When it comes to romance series, I have a hard time getting into them if they are overly depressing or rely on one of those typical tropes for the female (Tsundere, Yandere, etc.). So, that's why I enjoyed this series. There are sad parts but they get eclipsed by the happy moments between all the characters. I loved seeing how Saotome's and Satoru's relationship progresses from the first chapter to the last, and even though the manga being a romance manga mainly, I enjoyed that the creator spent the necessary time to develop the sports aspect of the manga.
Verdict:
Would I recommend this manga? Yes. It's a cute coming of age story about a girl who's always focused on her craft (boxing), branch out and explore the world of romance. The story does a great job of mixing the major themes of boxing and romance. You get to see Satoru and Saotome progress further, their love of boxing and their love of one another. Even though the art and characters are a bit lacking, it all aides in developing the story between Satoru's and Saotome's love for their sport and one another.
