Season two, baby! Let’s gooooo!!!
As much as I loved the first season of the Horimiya anime, I did feel that something was missing. There were some pretty obvious gaps in the plot where cut content from the manga should have been. And my admiration for this series had become so deep so quickly that I needed those gaps to be filled!
So, here we are. Having read the manga. Should you do the same? Or should you just wait for season two to fill in those gaps?
The premise is simple. A wild coincidence brings Hori’s life together with her gloomy classmate, Miyamura. The two quickly grow close, learning more about each other and who they really are. High school shenanigans and teenage romance ensues.
Hori and Miyamura are one of the best couples I’ve ever seen in a romcom. Their chemistry is so natural and realistic, every single scene together with them is a delight. Especially since the scenarios they find themselves in are completely grounded in reality.
I’m sorry, but seeing Miyamura uncomfortably trying to appease Hori’s submissive kink will never not be funny.
The side cast are all great, as well. Most of them got axed in the anime for time, but here, we get plenty of time with each and every one of them. There are long stretches of this manga where Hori and Miyamura simply aren’t there and it’s up to the side characters, and it’s just as solid, fun, and compelling as it is with our main duo.
There’s also a strong balance between romantic comedy and teen drama. This manga goes to some pretty dark places. Moments like these make the series even more wholesome and pleasant; knowing how rough Miyamura had it before only makes his newfound happiness even sweeter.
It certainly helps that the artwork on display here is really impressive. Daisuke Hagiwara’s work here is truly incredible. He took HERO-sensei’s original four panel comedy and made it into a genuinely beautiful slice-of-life romance. Every panel is a treat on the eyes, and the full page spreads are jaw-dropping!
Pacing is this manga’s worst enemy. There are several stretches of the story where it feels like nothing is happening. No plot or character progression, just teenage shenanigans. Sure, it’s fun, but when over a dozen chapters pass without anything happening, it starts to get a little tedious.
But it’s so worth it to get to the ending. The final volume even has a few special chapters for some extra stuff! It can be a little dull in getting there, but it is completely satisfying.
Horimiya is a must-read for romcom fans. It’s a wonderfully fun and grounded slice of life story that feels so good to read! If you’re looking for a good time, I can think of few reads better!
I’ll see y’all there for season two of the anime!
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