Kimi ni Todoke, vol. 1

I started reading Shiina Karuho's work when the first chapter was translated and put online about three years ago. Ever since, I've been a fan. I would say that I've read manga somewhat extensively (thousands of stories, but I have huge gaps in my knowledge), and I can certainly say that this is the best-written shoujo manga of this caliber that I have read. This is first and foremost a love story. It makes you go "Awwwwww..." and "Ohhhhhh!!!". I'll keep reading 'til the end, then I'll read it over and over again.

Kuronuma Sawako comes off as a terribly frightening person- the majority of the school mistakenly thinks her name is Sadako (from The Ring)- but is actually sweet, honest, and sincere. her hobbies include studying and picking up trash. Kazehaya Shouta is a super friendly, super nice boy who has developed an interest in Kuronuma- basically, he likes her. However, she doesn't fit in with the class, and Kazehaya partly wants to help her there, but he discovers that as she gains friends, he is able to spend less time with her. There is little doubt that Kazehaya likes her, and Sawako-chan is beginning to develop feelings for him, although she has no idea what those feelings are. The volume ends when another girl who likes Kazehaya (there are several) starts spreading rumors that Sadako is calling her friend Yoshida Chizuru a delinquent, and her friend Yano Ayane, essentially, a slut.

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