absentia's manga / #5 stars(108)

This one surprised me - in a good way - and I quickly found myself pulled in to the gritty, yet engrossing tale. Be forewarned that there is some incredibly dark and potentially triggering subject matter here, which the mangaka doesn't in any way shy away from.

A satisfying, lighthearted read. Feels like there are a few places that could be filled in or clarified a bit better, but it's definitely something I'll return to in the future.

Rated primarily for chapters 4-5-8. Something about the panels and the dialogue mesh so beautifully in this story, and even in the other oneshots that I didn't love nearly as much. But even if I don't like the way the stories pan out (looking at you chapter 2), I still love the way this author tells those stories.

There's something delightfully endearing about the main couple. I had originally given it four stars, but their story and chemistry stuck with me and just wouldn't let go.

SERIES ORDER: 1. Nobody Knows 2. Non Tea Room (Ch.4)

Wow. Just wow. This is one of the most intriguing and engaging stories I've read in a while. I'm so thankful that I happened upon it because it's a genuine masterpiece in storytelling. SERIES ORDER: 1. Koujitsuei no Tobira 2. Jin to Neko wa Yobu to Konai (spin-off)