Ryu makes a decision about Asuka.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Izumi Miyazono
Translation/Adaptation: JN Productions
What They Say
Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters popular newscaster Ryu Nanami. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This levelheaded pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As you might guess from the cover art, this is the final installment of the series, and yes, Asuka and Ryu join the ranks of the married. However, the way this romance concludes is a real disappointment.
It opens with a promising start. Asuka tells Ryu they’re breaking up and refuses to change her mind. While Ryu’s stewing about this overseas, Kamiya makes a move to take Asuka home on a stormy night. Asuka’s emotionally vulnerable, and as Kamiya responds to that, you can feel the sparks flying between them. But Asuka can’t stop comparing Kamiya to Ryu, and the scene ends in a handshake. Personally, I think the comparison should drive her into Kamiya’s arms, but if she’s going to pass him up because she can’t get Ryu out of her head, then Ryu needs to do something spectacular to get her back.
Unfortunately, that spectacular effort doesn’t materialize. The most telling lines are Ryu saying, “To me, Asuka, you’re no less important than my work,” juxtaposed against Asuka’s thought, “Ryu is the most important.” Ryu finally returns for a visit but almost immediately gets orders to return to Washington so Asuka’s the one rushing to see him. Then he says that he’ll honor Asuka’s feelings—by focusing on work and waiting for her. (That’s no different than what he was already doing!) And even though there’s no proposal or promise of marriage, Asuka’s heart wavers toward him.
It gets worse. The story fast-forwards three years. Rio has changed her mind on marriage and is marrying Hiroki while Asuka, although she still desires marriage, doesn’t seem to have dated anyone since Ryu. Of course, Asuka and Ryu run into each other at the wedding. They haven’t kept in touch, and as they have their first conversation in three years, Ryu proposes to Asuka. One might argue that this is romantic because Ryu hasn’t been able to forget Asuka after three years. However, he also hasn’t done a thing for her in three years. He says he focused on work for her sake, but those words ring hollow considering how he put work before her throughout their courtship. Yet despite having been ignored three years, Asuka readily accepts the proposal, no hesitation.
The last chapter depicts the couple’s “happy ending.” Just as Ryu’s changed his mind on marriage, Asuka’s changed her mind on what she wants her married life to look like, and somehow everything beautifully works out. Even so, Ryu keeps doing stuff that makes me want to scream at Asuka to call the wedding off.
Extras include story thus far, bonus manga, and author’s afterword.
In Summary
The series concludes as most romances do with a joyful wedding. However, Ryu doesn’t put in the effort to earn Asuka at all. A male lead who completely drops out of a woman’s life for three years and returns to the scene expecting her to marry him isn’t at all compelling. As for Asuka, I find myself wondering about her judgment rather than being happy for her.
Content Grade: C
Art Grade: B+
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B-
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Viz Media
Release Date: March 5th, 2019
MSRP: $9.99
