Playboy Decides to Date a Man and Ends Up Learning How to Love
Sections:
About
Tags
Warnings
Synopsis
Review
Results
About:
Author(s)
Artist(s)
Platform(s)/Publisher(s)
Media Type(s) Available:
Length:
Color(s) of Comic:
Work Type:
Tags:
Tropes
Genres
Relationships
Jobs/Professions
Settings
Unique Character Types
Specific Acts
Explicitness
Additional Content
Warning:
This review will contain spoilers for the manga and anime series I Don't Know How to Love. While the manga may vary slightly from all other forms of media, it may have similar story elements and could be considered spoilers.
Content Warning: There may be references to breakups (not between the main couple), homomisia, gossiping, manipulation, and implied bullying, as they appear in the manga.
Synopsis:
Aimi is well-known across his college campus. For one, he is very handsome. For two, he is super cool. But maybe what he is most well-known for is his dating rule. Simply put, he will date anyone who asks him when he is single, but they have to be okay with him doing anything he wants to do at any time, including allowing him to cheat. As one would expect, many people decide not to pursue him, but even those who accept his condition and try to date him end up breaking up with him (or get dumped by him when they start complaining). At the end of the day, Aimi just wants to do what he wants to do, and there’s no stopping him.
But even Aimi is sometimes surprised, especially when a man asks to date him right after his latest breakup.
The man is Aimi’s underclassman, Kaede, and he is all too happy to accept Aimi’s condition for dating him. This is new, but Aimi has no doubt it will end like every other relationship has: with Kaede growing jealous or heartbroken and leaving Aimi single once again. But as time goes on, Aimi’s entire perception of dating and love is thrown off. Kaede is all too happy to say hi in the halls, see Aimi kiss and flirt with women, and barely do anything date-like. Kaede supposedly likes Aimi, so what gives? And why does Aimi care to begin with?
Review:
To be honest, the art style in this is rough. It is very sketchy and inconsistent, and actually reminds me of Miecohouse‘s work. And while all of this sounds negative, if you know how much I like Miecohouse, you’d know I think this actually really works for this story. I like it. If you want perfection in your art, this is certainly not for you, but if you want a style that is down-to-earth and melds with the equally down-to-earth story, then this is a real winner. I wasn’t expecting to like it when I first saw it, but once you get into the story, it all works really well together.
Speaking of the story, let’s delve into that. It has a similar premise to Seven Days or Date Me, Too!, a popular guy who dates anyone who asks, but ends up being dumped for one reason or another. However, what this does differently from those titles is that it focuses on Aimi’s viewpoint, the one who is always asked. I love this, as it gives us clear insight into how Aimi’s feelings change and what he does that always leads to his breakups. It is refreshing seeing it exclusively from his side of things, and it helps characterize who would usually be seen as a cruel, cheating playboy as someone who is just ignorant of how love and jealousy feel. It makes him a much more endearing character than he initially seems.
But what I love even more than that is how different Kaede’s love is from the start. We are meant to presume that Kaede truly does love Aimi, but it is clear that his love is unique. He has no problem with Aimi being mean, seeing Aimi be kissed by a woman, and even assumes that when Aimi agrees to go to a concert, he intends to go with someone else. As it turns out, Kaede does love Aimi, but almost as more of an idol. Kaede never felt that Aimi should belong to anyone, much like idol fans feel their idols don’t belong to any one person. It is very interesting to have a relationship start off with that kind of love for someone who isn’t an idol, and then both of them have to come to terms with their feelings for one another. For Aimi, it was realizing what love truly feels like from the side of the person who falls first, and for Kaede, it is realizing that he can be selfish and want something more from the one he adores. It is so sweet watching these two fumble around to get to the point where they finally confess to one another, and it is done in such a refreshing way.
As much as I love this story, though, it has one major issue: it ends so quickly. This is a single volume, which works sometimes and doesn’t work most of the time… but it does work here. Sure, I hate that it ends, but I think the pacing and length are perfect for the story it tells. I have been reading a bunch of short titles recently, many of which don’t work within the confines of their length, but this one doesn’t have that issue. But, inevitably, I am selfish and long for more when good stuff like this comes out. I miss these characters already, but I wouldn’t want the perfection of this narrative to be ruined by my selfishness, so short it is.
Results:
If you couldn’t tell from my review, I loved this. This was undoubtedly a favorite the first time I read it, and it was only solidified by every rereading I’ve had since. Is it perfect? Not at all, but it is still so, so good. If you are looking for something slow-paced and lighthearted, this is a great one to read. If you’re looking for a smutfest, that isn’t what this is. Yet, despite the lack of smut, even for a degenerate like me, it doesn’t get much better than this. I highly recommend it.
Have you read I Don't Know How to Love? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!
