Nagahama to Be, or Not to Be manga review

Nagisa may look like a delinquent, but he’s just a typical teen trying to figure out what to do with his life. Nagisa’s best friend, Issa, already knows what his passion is: fish! Issa often skips school to work at the Nagahama fish market, and the two friends hang out together near the ocean almost every day. When Nagisa suspects that Issa has a girlfriend, it turns his world upside down. Is Nagisa in love with his best friend? And could his best friend possibly love him back?

By Scarlet Beriko

series One shot

volume #1

genre Boys Love

age rating 13+    

publisher Seven Seas Entertainment

CW None

Rating ★★★☆☆

my review

I found myself with a long train ride ahead and a new manga in hand- with its 13+ rating, I thought it would be a light, cute read—perfect for passing the time. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect after reading the synopsis on the back, but it sounded like it would be a easy read.

The first thing that caught my attention was the art style. It took me a bit of time to get used to it; the characters occasionally looked a bit off, with their eyes being a bit further apart or seemingly looking into a different direction. However, overall it didn't bother me too much. 

As for the story, it wasn’t particularly deep or complex and the characters admitted their feelings to each other rather quickly. But it worked because those feelings were always there, since they were young, and even in the first few pages. The chemistry between the two main characters was cute, and you could really feel their longing for each other through the art- which is something the artist does really well. 

What I loved most about this manga was how very cute and innocent it was. Despite the lack of depth in the story and character development, the entire narrative was pure fluff. It was a very relaxing read with zero stressful situations. Well, maybe Issa going on a half-year boat trip added a bit of tension, but it was so sped through that it barely left a mark on the story's overall lightheartedness.

In the end, I would definitely recommend this manga if you’re looking for something to shut off your brain and just enjoy some cute, feel-good scenes! It might not be the most memorable read, but sometimes, a simple, sweet story is exactly what you need.