MANGA REVIEW | "You’re My Cutie!!" - Volume One
Rom-coms about cute girls falling in love with cute guys are as bountiful as smutty romance novels in your local Wal-Mart’s clearance bin. There are some that do shine more than others, especially the manga that pokes fun of the genre it’s technically a part of. You’re My Cutie!!, the debut series from author Nakaba Harufuji, is one such series that attempts to playfully jab at the shojo romance genre. But does it succeed in making fun of it, or does it fall victim of becoming what it was trying to parody?
Madoka works at her parents’ diner, serving customers with great care. But when she’s not working, she’s nose-deep in her favorite romance manga. However, a new coworker named Shikura enters Madoka’s life, looking as cute as one of her manga protagonists. But his true personal is the complete opposite of her fictional crushes, acting cold and distant rather than sweet and caring.
When a student from Shikura’s school arrives and starts taking unsolicited pictures, Madoka starts to realize why he acts the way he does. Constantly swarmed by girls due to his looks, Shikura does everything in his power to shoo them off. Now understanding his situation, Madoka does her best to make sure Shikura’s comfortable enough to work with her. Yet every time he does something that’s remotely cute, Madoka begins to feel warm & fuzzy in her heart.
One of the things that You’re My Cutie!! attempts to do is make the pairing of Shikura and Madoka as incompatible as possible. At most times, Harufuji does a decent job showcasing the polarity between the two of them. However, it’s when lines are crossed when the manga’s laugh-out-loud moments come out of the woodwork. This is evident when Shikura kisses Madoka in front of a bunch of crazy students, a motion that confuses both the stalkers and Madoka herself.
The comedy works best when Madoka is conflicted about her feelings for Shikura. Despite him being cute, his personality is the complete opposite of what she likes in a guy. Yet when he misplaces his cellphone, gets lost in a nearby shopping district, or comes down with a cold, Madoka sees the real puppy dog mentality Shikura possesses. These moments also showcase Madoka’s true personality, which is — pardon the old Zooey Deschanel terminology — adorkable!
Harufuji’s art style keeps to the traditional aspect of shojo rom-coms. Everything is bright and pretty, with a bit of haze thrown in during moments of tenderness between Madoka and Shikura. But it’s the author’s facial expression game that bests them all, with the various looks of surprise and endearment from Madoka making this review snort out loud on many occasions.
However, the first volume of You’re My Cutie!! leaves things off with a cliffhanger, in a way that seems to do the very thing that Harufuji was trying to avoid. Could it be a fake out? Considering one was pulled in the second chapter, it’s quite possible. With that being said, if what Madoka says to Shikura is real, then we may have a problem with the way this series could be progressing later on.
Nevertheless, You’re My Cutie!! starts things off on a pretty good note. Both Madoka and Shikura are likable-enough characters to make any fan of the genre want to see how it all turns out. Harufuji has a good knack of what works in shojo romance manga, and does well when working against the grains of said category. But with the way things end in Volume One, You’re My Cutie!! might be in trouble of going a little too fast with its progression.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Tomo Tran of Kodansha Manga
