If you judge this book by its first five chapters, you might think you are reading a dark psychological thriller about manipulation. Adam Tsuda enters the story like a villain, forcing Akane into a fake relationship to save her from a toxic childhood friend. But if you stick around, the story pulls a complete 180. It transforms into a genuinely heartwarming slice-of-life story about a group of misfits finding a family in each other. It is Toradora! meets Classroom of the Elite, but with more orphans being saved from fires.
What I Loved
• The Competence Factor: It is incredibly satisfying to read about a protagonist who is just good at everything. Adam doesn't just scrape by; he dominates. He breaks school track records without trying, destroys bullies in alleyway fights, and cooks restaurant-quality meals. It is a total power fantasy, but it works because his internal monologue is so tired and done with everyone's nonsense.
• The Supporting Cast: The "Buddies Forever" squad steals the show. Minato is the perfect loud chaotic friend to balance Adam’s silence, while Hikari and Ryusei add a gentle grounding presence. The scenes where they just hang out at the beach or the ramen shop are some of the best written parts of the book.
• Akane’s Glow Up: Akane starts as a bit of a pushover, but seeing her grow is the highlight of the volume. By the end, she isn't just Adam’s fake girlfriend; she is a successful model who is confident enough to tease him back and stand her ground against his terrifying uncle.
The Warning
The "edginess" is dialed up to eleven in the beginning. Adam slams Akane against a wall and bites her neck to "mark" her in the early chapters. It is framed as a necessary evil to scare off her stalker, but it is intense and borders on assault. If you can push past that, the relationship becomes surprisingly healthy and consensual, but that first hurdle is high.
Best Scene
The orphanage fire arc. It is the moment Adam stops pretending to be a bystander and fully embraces his role as a hero. Watching him run into a burning building while Akane rushes from her photoshoot to be by his side is pure cinematic perfection.
Conclusion
This is a guilty pleasure read that turns into a genuinely good story. It is dramatic, occasionally over-the-top, but deeply sincere about its themes of trauma and healing. If you like redemption arcs and power couples, you will love this.
Rating: 8.5/10 (Would read Volume 2 immediately)