A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

Nobuko and Hiroki venture to Kanazawa to celebrate their graduation, and are enjoying every minute of their trip. But as night draws closer, Nobuko struggles with nerves over the possibility that they may do more than just kiss. On top of that, it seems as though Hiroki has something he wants to tell her...

In volume 13 of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story, Hiroki and Nobuko finally go on their graduation trip! That’s the bulk of the volume, and it’s a delight: they spend their usual amount of effort on clear communication and sharing their feelings, and they also follow up on the previous volume’s dilemma by finally deciding that they feel comfortable enough to do more than kissing.

(It’s not explicit, by the way — we see them holding hands and kissing, and we’re told that Hiroki was very gentle, but that’s as much as we know.)

Hiroki does also tell Nobuko that he wants to marry her, and that feels surprisingly-for-them undercommunicated: he kind of springs the idea on her, and later affirms he will propose to her properly when he graduates. I guess they do swing back to it, and it’s clear it makes Nobuko happy, but she was so surprised… I don’t think they talk about it again, either.

Strange to think they’re at least two years into their relationship — the volumes have flown by!

Rating: 4/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

"The long summer is finally at an end, and I've just realized that I don't have much time left as a college student."

With her job hunt concluded at last, Nobuko accepts a position in Ehime after graduation. Though she enjoys what little time remains of her college life with Hiroki and Fumi, she is constantly plagued with anxiety for the future. And as her graduation trip with Hiroki draws near, thoughts of doing "more than kissing" are on her mind, as well...

In volume 12 of A Side Character’s Love Story, Hiroki and Nobuko are thinking about “going further” than kissing. It feels surprisingly “immature” from my point of view, given how long they’ve been dating, but it’s a different culture and also, people just develop at different paces — I felt cross at myself for being kind of judgy. Hiroki is lovely about it, of course.

One thing about this volume is that we do hear a bit of detail about Shirosaki-san, which is new: she tried dating, but found that she had no real interest in kissing or going further. The way it’s described in the scene, I wonder if Shirosaki-san is meant to be asexual.

As ever, Hiroki and Nobuko are really cute, all the same.

Rating: 4/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

The last year of Nobuko and Hiroki's time together as college students is upon them.

It's springtime, and job hunting is in full swing for college seniors. Hiroki does his best to support Nobuko, who is caught between studying for the civil service exam and searching for a private sector job. Facing her first real barrier of entry into society, Nobuko worries for the future. What can Hiroki say to help when she begins losing sight of herself?

Volume eleven of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story keeps up on the theme of the last volume: Nobuko and Hiroki are growing up, having different sorts of trouble, and sometimes being kept apart by circumstance.

It’s really quite a bit of development for Nobuko as a character, with Hiroki somewhat in the background, as Nobuko tries to navigate interviewing for jobs and figuring out what she wants to do, and how to show her interest and passion for it. As ever, Hiroki is willing to support her no matter what, and shows his support even when the outcome isn’t what he might prefer.

Really, they’re #relationshipgoals.

Rating: 4/5

A Side Character's Love Story

by Akane Tamura

Synopsis:

"What can I do to move towards a future with you?"

As spring rolls around, Nobuko and Hiroki celebrate their birthdays together. Their third year of college brings with it a number of changes, causing plenty of anxiety for Nobuko -- until Hiroki makes a suggestion... The two of them begin fumbling towards a future after graduation, even as they grapple with their more affectionate impulses.

Volume ten of Akane Tamura’s A Side Character’s Love Story is all about Hiroki and Nobuko navigating their relationship as it becomes both more settled and a bit more difficult — when they’re rushed off their feet, studying hard, and not able to see each other so often, so there’s a risk of distance and growing apart.

I really love that they repeatedly communicate their way through problems and make promises to each other about it. It’s cute, and also a great model for how you can work through a relationship if you’re brave enough to talk — even when that’s difficult, as it is for Nobuko.

Rating: 4/5