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Even though high school romances haven't been my go-to for a while, I've recently delved back into manga from that genre. Recently, my interest was piqued by "Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date," which has been serialized in English by Yen Press since November.
How was it?
Yuuki and Natsuha have known each other since childhood because their apartments are right next to each other. One day, during lunch, Natsuha drops a bomb: she wants to break up. Yuuki is surprised because he didn't even know they were a couple. It turns out that Natsuha has feelings for Yuuki but is so convinced that a relationship with him won't work that she thinks it's easier to skip the entire dating process and just break up from the start. Additionally, she wants to dispel the rumors in school that they are a couple. Instead, Yuuki suggests that they just become a couple now...
The story of "Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date" is neither profound nor complex. Two childhood friends decide to give a romantic relationship a try. In these few words, the manga could be perfectly summarized. They find themselves in a new situation where the person they know best is now the one they are exploring love with—a familiarity that is both a blessing and a curse. How do they handle all the firsts they can't really have and the feeling that a different kind of relationship now exists between them?
The episodes consist of loving interactions between Yuuki and Natsuha, such as the first time they hold hands as a couple, not just as friends, or their first date, where they face the challenge of making it truly feel like a date. It wouldn't be a date if they ended up going out together from their apartment complex. Because then, it would be just like when they were still friends.
Yuuki has a good heart, but his tendency to joke a bit too much in the wrong situations often leads him into awkward situations. Natsuha, on the other hand, is a big romantic and has had a crush on Yuuki for a long time, so their approaches to the new situation differ. Nevertheless, you can feel that they are doing their best.
Add to this Yuuki's sister from middle school, who learns about the relationship and wants to make sure everything works out, stumbling naively into her own love story.
With "Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date," readers, especially those looking for a quiet romance without drama in the form of rivals or a long dance around becoming a couple, are rewarded. The title skips all of that and instead focuses on the sweet and sometimes awkward interactions of the first relationship.
The short series features an art style that stands out in the genre. Mangaka Perico's line work is sketchy and often equipped with thick lines, giving the manga a rough character. The backgrounds are also relatively simple.
Yen Press publishes the series in a large format. At the beginning of the volume, there is a color page that reproduces the first page.
In conclusion, "Fifteen Minutes Before We Really Date" explores the question of what changes when childhood friends become a couple. The manga may not be particularly exciting, but for those seeking low-key high school romances and can appreciate unusual art styles, this series will definitely bring joy.
15 Minutes Before We Really Date GN Vol 01
€13,50
€15,00
Yuki and Natsuna live in the same apartment complex and have been childhood friends for ten years. One day on the way home, with their high school graduation fast approaching, they make a decision on a whim-to start dating! In… read more
