Adachi to Shimamura
Adachi and Shimamura

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Mild spoilers.

I'm actually surprised no-one slapped a seinen label on this one. While it initially masquerades as a cutesy slice-of-life yuri, the story quickly reveals a somber, even depressing underbelly. The narrative is driven by two complex characters locked in a bizarre clash of personalities: one is profoundly emotionally detached and self aware, while the other is intensely codependent. This dynamic allows the author to contrast philosophical internal monologues about loneliness with suffocating bouts of longing, greed, and emotional instability that occasionally boil over into toxic outbursts. Amplified by a supporting cast that sometimes borders on the psychedelic, their moments of pure romantic bliss are ... constantly laced with dread—a lingering sense that this fragile bond is doomed and an inevitable crash is just around the corner. It's a bittersweet story that leaves me wanting more.

Adachi to Shimamura is unlike most girls’ love manga. Whereas other shoujo-ai stories tend to be fluffy, trite, and unchallenging, Adachi to Shimamura deliberately embraces discomfort. Characters in this series are maladjusted; the main couple’s chemistry is stilted, and their conversations often feel unnatural. At points, It can be downright difficult to read. Among these instances, “Shimamura’s Sword” stands out in particular as one of the most raw and emotionally poignant chapters in its genre. That’s all to say, Adachi to Shimamura is engaging, in a uniquely uneasy way. If you’re looking for a comforting romance series, however, this manga is not for you.

I originally wrote this review for the light novel, but since this manga adaptation continues to be very faithful, I would like to leave it as a form of recommendation to anyone who wants to.

It is from the perspectives of Adachi and Shimamura, two friends who met at the start of the high school year. The first volume starts about a month after that. The premise is relatively simple but the way it is executed is simply magnificent.

This is not like in other manga. In other romance manga, both sides are usually at least a little interested in each other by the third volume. I'll ... just say that this one is a bit slow. It may sound like a negative characteristic, but is exactly the opposite, the story is extremely well written and realistic.

We have two extremely different main characters, with their own worldviews, personalities and tastes.
Both Adachi and Shimamura are exceptionally well-written characters, they have depth, sometimes I feel like both are real people. It really is a delight to enter the minds of these two, the alternation between the two points of view is something that makes the reader captivated, excited, begging for the next chapter to know what's going on in their minds.

I recommend reading the light novel, however if novels just aren't your thing, this adaptation is worth it


Well, this is my first review and I am not fluent in English so please forgive my typos.

Story: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Art: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10

Although it is the same story, it is inevitable that the original (light novel) is superior and more elaborated, so the overall score drops to 9.

Overall: 9/10