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A majority of the time it’s focused on developing Naho and Kakeru (with the one exception of Suwa, the friend/love rival), but with that said, the supporting characters are all intricately characterized when they do appear, and there is never the feeling of anyone being a “cardboard cutout” stereotype, not even the antagonists. This is a story about characters coming together and trying to change the future, so as expected there is character growth involved, particularly for protagonist Naho. The story skips from past to future, and the future that they are trying to change is a sad one. Its pacing and actions are revealed in a way that genuinely feels believable, unlike many shoujo protagonists whose reactions/actions feel grossly exaggerated (“I resolve to be x from now on!” *transform* etc), and the knowledge of the future you have from the letters makes the internal debates in Naho’s head more interesting, because you’re just as invested in knowing how her actions may affect Kakeru and whether she can change the future, whereas typical shoujo monologues (“Will senpai like me?!?!”) can get old even if done well.īe prepared to cry. The premise isn’t the most realistic, but it’s interesting, and the growth that emerges from it is fresh and lovable as well. Takano Ichigo has a way with his characters that bring them very close to your heart, and it’s the small intricate interactions between the friends from day to day that make the series so enjoyable to read, NOT the setting or specific events.

However, putting all of that aside, what makes this story so delightful is not the actual plot, it’s the execution. It hits most of the typical school life romance cliches (classroom interactions, love triangles, rooftop scenes, fireworks festival, school festival… etc) with the added twist of letters from the future. To be honest, a lot of this story is filled with cliche shoujo tropes. Not a purely “visual” style like The Pale Horse, but a down-to-earth, character-centric style. All in all a solid, mature, evocative style that isn’t flashy or unbearably beautiful, but takes you straight into the hearts of the characters and evokes corresponding feelings in you.