Ano Yoru no Pool

nathandouglasdavis Jul 16, 2021

7

Koizumi is awkward and clumsy. Fe has debilitating anxiety at the thought of people staring at fem, which just makes the awkwardness worsen. Hayato is much more socially competent, but doesn't have any interest in girls. Fe may be aromantic. This manga shows the initial development of a friendship between these two people who have aspects to them that could be labeled "abnormal" and acts as a nice reminder that normality shouldn't be treated as the ideal (since that just unnecessarily excludes people). It's a simple and pleasant story where not much happens, dramawise. I like the sorta off-kilter, sloppy way the faces (and chins especially) are drawn. The eyes draw me in. The arms can look kinda noodly. And many of the lines are squiggly instead of straight.

Vyou Jun 7, 2023

6

Honestly not much happens, and because not many positive interactions are shown between Koizumi and Hayato, it makes me feel like Hayato's only reason to become friends with Koizumi was pitty. No likable redeeming qualities were shown for Koizumi, so he just comes of as this anxious socially rejected archetype with nothing more to his personality. Meanwhile Hayato seems like a decent guy who takes pitty on the outcast. I like aro/ace spectrum characters but here it was hardly really explored. I'd give it a chance if it were to expand into a longer story, but so far I didn't like it much.