A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

An incident at the park one evening prompts Tanaka and Irie to consider what it might be like to kiss the person they care for, with their nervous imaginings enough to distract them during their daily routines. It isn't easy to be yourself when you like someone, but the distance between them is closing a little more each day...

When I first read volume 7 of A Side Character’s Love Story, I was a teeny bit impatient with Nobuko’s hesitance and self-doubt — in part because it’s so darn recognisable, and (as the reader) it’s clear that Hiroki is going to be patient with all of it. There were some moments in this volume in particular that just made me cringe a bit…

And then there were also some super sweet moments, particularly as Hiroki and Nobuko take a bit of a step forward. Seven volumes in, they’ve finally kissed!

Another thing I’m appreciating through this reread is that there’s a full cast around them, and they have remarkably separate lives from each other. I wish we saw a little more of that, because sometimes it seems like Nobuko probably hides in her apartment whenever she’s not working or with Hiroki, and every so often we get glimpses of e.g. her friendship with Fumi that really help to round things out. In this volume we also see a little more of Hiroki’s life outside of work and their relationship, albeit only a glimpse.

Rating: 3/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

After dreaming of it for so long, Tanaka and Irie are finally a couple. Even as she relishes her modest happiness, Tanaka can't help but worry that Irie seems to enjoy talking with other people more than he does with her. A small new adventure begins for this side character, who only wishes to grow closer to her boyfriend...

Aaaah, volume six of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story is so cute. In this volume, their friends urge them to actually use one another’s personal names instead of family names, and Nobuko meets Hiroki’s family.

I love how patient Hiroki is, telling Nobuko they can go at their own pace… but how she pushes through discomfort to be as brave as he is about advancing their relationship. It’s just, aaah, despite Nobuko’s anxieties and their mutual awkwardness, they are so sincere and so dedicated to their relationship.

This is #relationshipgoals right here.

Rating: 4/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

"I'm going to confess my feelings to Tanaka-san." Steeling his resolve, Irie-kun prepares to bid farewell to the relationship he and Nobuko have as "just friends," whatever that may bring. As one side character reaches out to another, this love story's ending may be in sight...

In volume four of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story, Nobuko and Hiroki finally admit they like each other… even if it takes most of a volume. This volume shows Nobuko and Hiroki both speaking to their friends, figuring out they want to say something, and going on a date — and that’s it!

The volume flies by, though it’s actually the same length as the others.

As ever, it’s really cute, and it’s also fun watching Hiroki and Nobuko develop, get a little braver, and figure out how to talk to each other. Some of Nobuko’s intense anxiety is beginning to fade, too, as she trusts that Hiroki won’t let her down.

Rating: 4/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

It's summer, and through sheer determination, Nobuko's achieved a small miracle: she can finally have a normal conversation with her crush. She hopes things can continue on like this forever, but her junior coworker Abe-san imparts a warning about trying to "keep things the same" when it comes to love. Could this fellow side character's love story be a glimpse into Nobuko's future?

In volume three of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story, the slow burn continues, but both Hiroki and Nobuko are starting to admit their feelings and take a few brave steps closer together. There’s some really cute moments between them, and like in book two, we get some glimpses into what Hiroki is thinking as well. Abe and Kaneko also give them some very good advice and a little push — I love that their relationships with the people around them, like their coworkers, get as much “screen time” as their relationship with one another.

They both remain really shy, and unsure of what they’d even like to do together, but they end up going for a trip to the zoo and having a good time.

The special chapter at the end kind of spoils the flow into the next volume, but it’s also cute.

Rating: 3/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

This side character's love story is rapidly unfolding... Emotions are running higher in volume 2, as we finally see things from the perspective of Irie-kun, who's fallen for Nobuko. Little by little they grow closer, and each gesture is leading up to something special. Everyone's cheering this couple on in the eagerly-awaited second installment!

Volume two of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story continues to be very cute but a slow burn, following the main character (the “side character” of the title!) as she navigates her growing feelings for a co-worker, and hesitant steps toward a relationship. Her anxieties and hesitancies about speaking up are maybe a little too real, as in the first book.

What’s nice in volume two is that we do get more of a view of what Hiroki’s thinking and feeling, where the first volume just followed Nobuko. Like her, he’s never really been interested in someone before, and he clearly overthinks things somewhat as well, but he’s a bit steadier.

There are some really sweet moments during their not-quite-date, particularly Hiroki noticing that her shoes hurt and giving her a blister plaster — he comes across as so sweet and earnest.

Rating: 3/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

Growing up, Nobuko Tanaka was always a "side character" standing off in the corner. Now in her 20s, she's fallen in love for the first time. While she isn't any good at being assertive, she will muster her courage bit by bit as she tries her best to close the distance between herself and her crush -- because even side characters fall in love. If you're tired of the same old romantic protagonists, this modest, refreshing love story is for you.

Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story is a really cute series with a hecking slow burn. The main character feels herself to be nothing but a side character — but as the manga opens, she starts on the very first steps of a romance of her own, a story that’s just hers. This is a reread for me; now that I’m following the series as each new volume comes out (after bingeing the first ~14 volumes originally), I was starting to get hazy about some characters’ stories, so it felt like a good time to revisit.

As the volume starts, Nobuko is working part-time in a convenience store while finishing up her studies. She has a massive crush on a co-worker Irie Hiroki, who realises slowly that he’s interested in her too. And that’s about as far as we get in this volume!

One thing I’d forgotten somewhat was how painfully awkward Nobuko (and Hiroki!) can be. Such self-doubt and agonising! Some of it is just being young and having a crush for the first time, because it’s new to both of them; sometimes it’s a really accurate portrayal of Nobuko having anxiety (though this is never explicitly discussed as such, it’s all too recognisable). That smooths out later in the story, because the manga also follows Nobuko and Hiroki maturing and navigating various milestones, buuuut it’s very prominent here.

And for those less gifted at reading visuals: the art is simple and easy to follow, and the important characters have distinct enough designs to be able to follow who’s who.

Rating: 3/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

As spring arrives, Hiroki's job hunt is in full swing. Nobuko, meanwhile, is thinking about the future - and in the process, must confront the truth of how she feels. When the choice is between the man she loves and the job she's grown attached to, there is no easy answer. The lives and loves of many now approach a crossroads...

The 19th volume of A Side Character’s Love Story by Akane Tamura doesn’t feature Hiroki very much, and even Nobuko really does feel like a side character at times. There’s so much focus in this volume on her new friends, and Hiroki and Nobuko don’t even see each other… which isn’t necessarily bad, but they also don’t interact very much, and I do miss that.

Hopefully the next volume will remember to spend a little time with the two of them, even if it means they have to have one of their discussions…

In the meantime, Nobuko’s new friends/coworkers have their own love stories going on, with different problems and different needs, and they’re fun to read about too.

Rating: 3/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

"My worries may be different, but I'm happier with her than I've ever been."

After their trip to Kamakura, Hiroki begins thinking of his future once again, his summer internship helping him realize what's most important for his future with Nobuko. Meanwhile, Nobuko and her coworkers each take their own steps forward, determined to do what they must to stay with the ones they love.

Volume 18 of A Side Character’s Love Story doesn’t really take any big steps forward for the characters — at least, not for Nobuko and Hiroki, though there are some developments for their friends, finding their own way through negotiating relationships.

It’s a sweet volume, though, with Hiroki spending more time with Nobuko’s family. There’s a cute bit where Nobuko is actually comfortable enough with him to sulk a bit about something, which her family correctly recognise as showing how much she trusts him with her inner self. (And Hiroki, as usual, tries to communicate about it, which is something I really love about them as a couple.)

So nothing startling, just a continuation of watching the two of them grow up and develop as a couple.

Rating: 4/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

Growing up, Nobuko Tanaka was always a "side character" standing off in the corner. Now in her 20s, she's fallen in love for the first time. While she isn't any good at being assertive, she will muster her courage bit by bit as she tries her best to close the distance between herself and her crush -- because even side characters fall in love. If you're tired of the same old romantic protagonists, this modest, refreshing love story is for you.

Volume 17 of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story pretty much typifies everything I’ve come to love about this series. Irie and Nobuko continue to be really sweet and supportive of one another, finding ways to stay in touch and communicate their importance to each other even now they’re not living in the same area.

Their relationship is always really cute, even when Nobuko gets insecure, and even when the two of them are shy with each other, because the whole time they’ve been trying their best to communicate with each other and talk openly. I love that Irie specifically pictures that happening throughout their lives.

When I picked up volume one of this manga, I didn’t expect it to be so cute, for the love story to be so mature and lovely (though when I say mature, I don’t mean there’s any explicit sexual content, because there isn’t). I always smile so much when a new translated volume is out.

Rating: 4/5