Boarding School Juliet takes place at Dahlia Academy, home to two distinct factions, the White Cats and the Black Dogs. Romio Inuzuka, leader of the Black Dogs challenges Juliet Persia, leader of the White Cats to a duel. At this very duel, however, Romio unexpectedly confesses his love to Juliet, and her response? The start of a romantic comedy following Romio and Juliet's troubles of expressing their love.
My initial thoughts of Boarding School Juliet were that it was your typical Romcom with the intriguing racial divide between the Black Dogs and the White Cats. However, while being typical, it becomes atypical, and that's what I started to enjoy as I was reading it. What made the series interesting, as said before, was the tension between the Black Dogs and the White Cats, and Romio and Juliet's struggles to change this racially segregated society.
The story is as follows. Romio Inuzuka and Juliet Persia become a forbidden couple to society, with one goal in mind: To change the world. However, changing the world's views is one hefty feat. With this comes the hardships of changing a majority view: How can one gain enough support to change what had been set in stone and drilled in peoples' heads since the day they were born? Romio along with Juliet must take this task head on if they want their love to be accepted.
Boarding School Juliet's cast is filled with so many characters and they each get to show why they're a part of this wonderful cast. However, I want to focus on the two main protagonists for a little bit.
Juliet Persia, leader of the first-year White Cats, home to the aristocratic Persia household, has fallen in love with Romio Inuzuka, a Black Dog?! Juliet, through interacting with Romio, begins to see what he means by "changing the world." Through donning the alias, "Julio" to be with Romio, Juliet begins to recognize the Black Dogs as people she can be friends with. From there, she begins to see the world in a whole new way. Along with Romio, this Romeo and Juliet story will not end in despair.
Romio Inuzuka, leader of the first-year Black Dogs, home to the Inuzuka household, who has had feelings ever since childhood, confessed to Juliet Persia, a White Cat?! Romio, throughout the manga, undergoes a lot of change. By the time you reach the end, you'll be wondering "is that the same person?" Romio starts off as a brash and blunt delinquent who could not care less for the White Cats, instigating every fight with them. However, one fateful night, he stops putting up a front and expresses his true feelings to Juliet. From thereon, in a relationship with Juliet, he slowly begins to change and realizes that it's not just Juliet he's fighting for, but the entire academy.
Spoilers about Inuzuka
While I could go on and on about the side characters of Boarding School Juliet, I will not. However, the cast of Boarding School Juliet is nothing to scoff at. I personally found it to be one of the most interesting and dynamic, featuring women and men of all types, shapes, and sizes. The character design was superb. Every character felt unique in their own little way while portraying their trope. As you read through the manga, more characters are added to the cast, and overall, are a good addition. Chances are, you will find a character you like out of this cast.
While I have not read that many manga to give an objective view on the art for Boarding School Juliet, I will commend the author/artist. The mangaka, Yousuke Kaneda, did an amazing job at making the characters in the series be instantly recognizable and stand out in my opinion. As said above, the character designs are really top-notch and unique. The overall art style continuously kept the pages turning for me. As soon as I knew it, I was just dashing through chapters because I was so captivated by the world and its characters. Once you get in the rhythm, it's hard to put this one down.
I was recommended Boarding School Juliet by a friend and put it off for some time, but I'm glad I decided to read it. Compared to Romeo and Juliet, which will leave you in shock, Romio and Juliet will leave you with smiles and laughter instead. However, when the series has its dramatic moments it does not disappoint. Although a little cliche, it does what it sets out to do; make you feel. Would I recommend Boarding School Juliet? Absolutely. If you are in the need for a romcom that is quite unique and refreshing, this is it.
Till death do us part, Juliet.
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