Let's begin the year with a cheesy manga: Kimi ni todoke, a manga by Shiina Karuho.
![](http://pics.livejournal.com/mayezinha/pic/0017frc5/s320x240)
The chibi version, of course
Put on the blender an average girl with a gloomy vibe (Sawako, nicknamed like The Ring's Sadako) plus a "refreshing", popular guy (Kazehaya).
When Kazehaya begins to talk to this girl everybody avoids, her world will expand because people will begin to talk to her and eventually, get a couple of friends, the cutie and the loud (which makes me thinks of Hanajima and Outani from Fruits basket)
![](http://pics.livejournal.com/mayezinha/pic/0017g28t/s320x240)
Kazehaya, Chizu, Sawako and Yano-chan
![](http://pics.livejournal.com/mayezinha/pic/0017d3qg/s320x240)
Another character to the mix: Kazehaya's best friend who sees everything and sometimes talk, Sanada Ryu, who happens to have a Mori-sempai vibe (he's so tall and has that kind of voice on the anime too, also he's barely talks!) and he's so chilvarious, as you can see <-- Yes, he's my favorite character so far. XD
And he gave Kazehaya's dog its name: Pedro Martínez, AKA Maru-chan. O.o
'
![](http://pics.livejournal.com/mayezinha/pic/0017eefg/s320x240)
The best part is that Sadako, a simple girl is the one Kazehaya likes.
Be prepared for absolute denseness and failed love declarations, as any first love is about.
It's so cute that is exasperating. XD;;; (sorry, been there).
When they mean you see this manga is on the "slice of life" genre, they meant how cruel high school can be, it seems. It comes with love rivals and a few bullying, but Sadako's honesty give her lots of courage against any evil fiend. XDD;;
This could be a lame High School manga in which nothing will happen until like the 11th volume but it has certainly an interesting topic: communication.
I believe the "reaching you" part means that you'll reach people until you make an effort of trying to convey your feelings, speaking up. It's all a small step and then everything comes out easily.
It's this a generational issue or only a japanese culture issue?
Being a teenager isn't easy, I can see it with the Brat and stuff I hear about middle schoolers, trying to grasp and comprehend your place in the world isn't an easy task.
But probably the idea is so average and common that it might not attract you, but gives a bit of thought.
And you might think that Sawako is so innocent that can be retarded. ^^;;;
The anime (released last october) respects a lot of the manga art, that sometimes makes me think about Karekano, and the splash page on every episode we can see the chibi art of Sawako the author often uses in the manga.
I can'tr believe an anime like this jumped over Kobato on my preferences, but it's really, really cute.