Reviews for Waiting for Spring
Back to MangaAs soon as I noticed there wasn't really a proper review of this manga yet, I decided to grab my keyboard and tell you a bit about this interesting story - without spoiling the main plot. Story: So the story evolves around a girl named Haruno, Mitsuki. She has always been a bit of a loner, because she tended to concentrate on studying a lot and just didn't quite fit in. It was her childhood friend Aya-chan, whom supported her in finding a reason to keep going. And so Mitsuki enters her high school, determined to make friends. It's hard to make friends, because nearlyall the girls in her high school tend to fangirl around 4 guys - 4 members of the basketball team. Let it be that they start to visit a café which is an important place for Mitsuki, she works there part time and it is her place to relax. And they start to tease her a bit, etcetera ectetera..
Anyway, I'm trying to show you by this quick summary that it kinda feels like a typical reverse harem, but don't get me wrong, it definitely isn't one of those stories. It's just your typical romance involving basketball, and which girl doesn't like that? But to be real to you guys, I don't like the story that much, it is surely passable not a thing I'd normally enjoy. That's why I have graded it with a 6.
Art:
Eventhough the story cuts a bit short and reading what this manga was about didn't get me all that excited. I decided to read it anyway because the art style is really pretty. Hell.. I only decided to look into this manga because I thought the cover was pretty and the guy looked pretty amazing to me. Haha. So yeah, the art is a 10 worthy.
Character:
I got to admit that I don't think the characters have that much depth.. But that might just be because the story hasn't come that far yet and the mangaka just simply needs to give the characters more in depth. But as it looks right now, the girl is one of those typical shoujo girls and the guys in this story are those typical type of guys, that you also find in otome games and reverse harems. But yet they have small treats that makes them diverse from the rest and that made me give the characters a 7.
Enjoyment:
Eventhough this manga lacks in some aspects, it's pretty enjoyable to read and surely underrated. A 9 for enjoyment, mmmmhmm! So yes.. Start reading you bastards~! ;)
Overall:
And if you count those all up and do some math, it all comes back to an 8. It's fun to read, so it's definitely worth the 8.
If you are interested in a shoujo manga involving basketball and very cute guys, you should start reading it now ^^
I really like it! The artwork is amazing and it fits my style hehe.. The story is great as well! What I like the most is the characters! Haruno Mitsuki the most is who I relate to! She doesn't seem to be the type of girl that would blush so easily like getting grabbed by the arm from anyone ( I hate things like that) She's a normal girl :) The boys....oh my lord. Praise Anashin-senpai! (Author) The boys are hot asf and their really nice :) If you want to read a manga that feels connection with the characters than this is DEFS the right mangafor you!
(I really like this type of mangas so I keep on reading it over and over again and never bored!(
Harumatsu Bokura is a light romantic story about love, friendship and rivalry that can easily be read by anyone. The plot is simple but executed brilliantly. The best part of this manga is the little moments between the two main leads and the secondary leads. There isn't too many grand scale misunderstandings (except for one) and the author instead focuses on the little pockets of character development for each cast. The comedy is great and the direction of the plot is pretty clear from the start. The main lead girl, Mitsuki is self-aware in a sense that she fully understands her feelings and abilities, which makesher different than most female lead. The lead guy, Towa is also a breathe of fresh air as unlike most lead guy, he is oozing with warmth and gentleness but with enough angst that makes things interesting. Rival lead guy also has good characterization and keeps the plot moving forward.
Overall, it is a story that is light but oozing with lots of doki doki moments. The friendship of the four main guys is also such a fun thing to read.
Sidenote: This is far from being harem. There's only two guys competing for the main girl.
I thought the character development was decent because there's obvious change and the author incorporated scenarios that would highlight that development which was nice. Overall, it was a good manga to read if you're looking for something easy and light that packs cute scenes, emotions, and good ol' camaraderie/rivalries. One thing I thought this manga did a good job at was actually showing what the leads liked about one another; it was clear and it seemed more thought-out than other mangas I've seen. But I had pretty serious second-lead syndrome with this one as well... I hope you enjoy reading this if you choose todo so!
This manga has great art, and physically attractive characters, but it is too realistic for me. What do I mean by realistic? The characters are mostly self-absorbed or downright narcissistic. Towa, the main male character, is overly concerned for others, to the point that he is a doormat. Mitsuki, the female main character, strings along the male characters, refusing to make a decision because all that matters is her ego. And the love polygon story is kept going because the editor and author are trying to meet a quota of chapters. If MAL had a category for most hated characters, I might put a couplefrom this manga in that list. Like all the male characters, I fell for Mitsuki early on. I didn't make it to the end. But even if she "redeems herself", her bad behavior made me sick, and I couldn't keep going.
If you like love polygons, where the main characters don't want to commit to one person but want to string everyone along for 60 long chapters, and generally are total jerks to one another, then you might like this. The art is good. The characters are well drawn. But if you prefer neat and tidy escapist romances with happy endings and everyone behaving themselves, give this one a pass.
Coming here after Unmei no Hito ni Deau Hanashi, I guess one might expect the same level of writing, but no, Harumatsu Bokura is nothing but a snoozefest. While the art is gorgeous and stylish, this is the only strong point of the entire series. The story lacks depth and the characters are either boring or annoying. The only good character is the second male lead, but he is the second male lead and of course he doesn't get what he wants in the end. It's quite weird how the author chose to focus on this particular character instead of the two protagonists who actuallyfall in love. The problem might be with the fact that they were boring from the start and one simply cannot care about what they do and what they want. Funny fact how the manga ends with a chapter about the second male lead as well. That says a lot about the manga altogether.
This manga was a pleasant surprise for me. When I first saw the cover, I almost groaned as I thought it might be a harem between the main girl and the four boys but I was wrong - though spoiler alert, there is a love triangle mixed in because it's not a shoujo manga without a love triangle, right? STORY - 8 The manga follows Haruno Mitsuki, a loner girl who struggles to make friends. She finds solace in her work, which is across from a basketball court with she holds precious to her as that was where she met her childhood friend, Aya. The cafe whereshe works is also where she meets the four "famous" boys from her school's basketball team - Kyousuke, Rui, Ryuji and Asakura Towa, who she forms a good friendship with. Mitsuki and Asakura are in the same class and she begins to like him, despite the basketball team not being allowed to start relationships, and Towa shows similar feelings when Aya comes back into the picture, who also has feelings for Mitsuki.
The story sounds kind of cliche with the love triangle - childhood friend, girl, cute boy in the same class, but what I really enjoyed about this manga was the friendship between the four boys and Mitsuki. It feels really genuine and it's fun to see them altogether and how Mitsuki's friendship with each boy differs - each boy has their own personality and it's fun how they interact with each other, Mitsuki and the other characters (Towa is also the best boy tbh).
ART - 7
It's a really cute manga style - it's cute but not super cutesy like, say, Koisuru Harinezumi but it's very clearly a shoujo style. It's cute but it doesn't stand out shoujo manga art style wise (if that makes sense). I don't get same face syndrome from the characters though so that's always nice.
CHARACTERS - 9
All the main characters - Mitsuki, Towa, Ryuji, Rui, and Kyousuke - all have different personalities and their personalities manage to shine throughout the manga so they're all memorable in their own ways. None of the main characters are forgettable and their designs all being rather different make them much easier to remember and enjoy. As mentioned above, the relationships and interaction between Mitsuki and the four boys are what really makes this manga for me, their friendships feel genuine and the blossoming romance between Mitsuki and Towa never feels out of character or place.
ENJOYMENT - 9
I'm an absolute sucker for shoujo manga, it's my ultimate guilty pleasure, so this manga was right up my alley. I had my hesitations about this manga, seeing as I thought it may be a harem and I don't particularly enjoy that genre, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that Mitsuki doesn't have to struggle with all four of the main boys liking her. As mentioned, there is a love triangle and it does take up a lot of the manga once Aya is introduced and that can get a little annoying, but the manga makes up with the relationships and interactions with Mitsuki and the basketball boys.
OVERALL - 9
I'm really enjoying this manga so far and am looking forward to see the relationships between Mitsuki and Towa, and Mitsuki and Aya and how they're going to play out. More than that though, I'm looking forward to reading about Mitsuki's friendships with the four basketball boys, as that's really what sells this manga to me.
If you're looking for a cliche, light-hearted, love triangle "harem", with a little bit of sports, I would say this manga is for you! Most of the characters are pretty likeable, and the story progresses relatively well. The male and female lead have a decent amount of growth throughout the series, and you find yourself rooting for the side characters too. The only thing I wasn't too keen about was the love-triangle, as I didn't find Aya a particularly pleasant character, and found his behaviour a bit overly possessive. I also would have preferred if the female lead was more decisive and sure of her feelingswith the two guys, as after a while watching her going back and forth between the two male love-interests got a bit tiresome and repetitive.
I would say the number one thing that made this manga so enjoyable to read was the art! The characters are very well drawn and you can tell that the mangaka took their time and effort with all aspects of the characters, the backgrounds, set-design, etc. They are all distinguisable from each other and have their own defining features.
Harumatsu Bokura is the kind of shoujo romance that pretty much uses all elements that have been done before, but where it shines is in the execution. The art is, if not particularly pretty, at least very consistent, and the writing is quite solid. The characters are consistent and fleshed out, and it never feels like a flimsy excuse for a tropey "swoon" moment, unlike so many shoujo manga. I think what's particularly good about this manga is the friendship between Mitsuki and the basketball player boys. They legitimately feel like friends. I know their friendship was written to appeal to reverse harem fans, but itdoesn't give the usual vibes that these harem friendships usually give. Perhaps because usually the guys are exclusively interested in the protagonist, and so she is the one thread that ties them together, whereas in this, the boys were all friends first, and it feels really natural rather than forced for fan service.
Also, I like the way the romance between Towa and Mitsuki is written. It could have easily been really dull because Towa and Mitsuki aren't very flashy characters, yet the author has such a good grip on their characterizations that it feels like a sweet and natural romance between two people that are really suited to each other.
Really I just have two nitpicks. The first is that Mitsuki's friend Reina kind of sticks out like a sore thumb for being such a fujoshi. She almost feels fourth wall breaking or like an author self insert, although she never quite goes that far. Her friendship with Mitsuki feels the most forced, as if the author felt obligated to give her a female school friend, but they didn't want to bother writing another character, so they wrote an in joke.
The other nitpick is the way the love triangle is written. It's really obvious that Mitsuki has zero romantic interest in Aya, yet they treat him as if he's a real threat to Mitsuki's and Towa's relationship. Mitsuki is written to both clearly have chosen Towa, yet at the same time is anxious over Aya's advances, almost as if she has no choice in the situation, and she feels she might have to give in because Aya is just so insistent. I suppose the author is trying to go for Mitsuki feeling obligated and guilty towards Aya due to their past as childhood friends, but the problem is that no one at any point points out that no one has to date anyone else out of past obligation, and no relationship is going to work anyways if you're just dating them out of pity or something. Everyone just treats Aya like a serious rival, and it continues on like this well past the point of believability, so it just makes it all seem a tad silly.
But, on the whole, I think this is a particularly good shoujo manga, even if I wouldn't call it a top tier, and would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.
The story is pretty compelling and it does the love triangle trope extremely well. I'm tired of reading romance manga where the "new love interest" is supposed to be a big deal but only last for a few chapters, or the main couple are already endgame by the time they appear so they just get in the way. The back and fourth of who you're rooting for is created really naturally, and even the side characters plots and stories and feelings have impact. Art is pretty, some really jaw dropping panels, but overall just normal romance manga art. Overall I give it a 9/10.
Story: Harumatsu Bokura is your typical school romance. I wouldn't say it's the most original out there nor the most exciting, since from the very beginning you already know how it's going to finish. Besides, the ending wasn't that satisfactory, since in the last 2-3 episodes the author rushes all the characters to end up paired with someone else and it doesn't give time for the relationships to develop. However, there are some other aspects that make it worthreading. Art: The drawing style is really beautiful, all the characters are really pretty. Character:There are 3 main characters and the story revolves mainly around them.
The main girl, Mitsuki, is your typical protagonist, she doesn't have a very strong personality and she's basically a goody two-shoes. This, although makes the story a bit boring it allows to avoid useless drama.
The main love interest is a very polite and sincere guy. He's very conscious about the situation Mitsuki finds herself in and acts very respectfully. I didn't find him particularly interesting but it was a nice change from the typical love interest.
Aya, the love rival, is, in my opinion one of the most interesting characters of the story. He is a complex character, very passionate and goal-driven, and this makes him stand out.
The rest of the characters are there for comedic relief, which is a pity because they are very well written and I think they could have appeared more in the story, or at least have a more prominent role.
Overall:
Although it may not be the most innovative story, the drawing style and the characters make this story a nice read.
Oh my gosh. This was the first manga I've ever bought as a physical copy and just wow. Holy crackers this manga was such a cute wholesome high school story! Mitsuki is such a nice female lead with Towa being the chill male lead! The friends are hilarious too! I love how even though they make fun of each other, they care and listen to each other's hardships. I love Aya but I'm team Towa. Though the moments Aya and Mitsuki shared were so cute. I love how the romance pacing is not too slow or too fast, it's perfect! I will definitely miss theway I felt reading this for the first time, but I will of course enjoy re-reading it!
Harumatsu Bokura is the kind of shoujo manga that gently tugs at your heart with its warmth, sincerity, and charming cast. I really enjoyed this one, it’s a soft, feel good story that balances friendship and romance in a way that feels both comforting and refreshing. The story follows Mizuki Haruno, a shy, reserved girl who wants to break out of her shell and make friends in high school. Her life starts to change when she forms an unexpected connection with the school’s popular boys’ basketball team, including the kind and reliable Towa Asakura. As she gets to know them, especially Towa, the story blossoms intoa gentle romance wrapped in themes of self discovery, trust, and growing up.
What I loved most was how wholesome and steady the development was. Mizuki’s emotional growth is gradual and believable, and Towa is a genuinely sweet male lead who respects and supports her every step of the way. Their relationship is built on quiet moments and mutual care, rather than over the top drama, which makes it all the more meaningful.
The friendships are also a huge highlight. The dynamic between Mizuki and the basketball boys is funny, supportive, and incredibly heartwarming. Each character brings something special to the story, and none of them feel like empty side roles. There’s real depth here, especially in how they deal with personal goals, past hurts, and the emotional messiness that comes with growing up.
The art is gorgeous, clean, expressive, and full of the kinds of subtle moments that make your heart skip. Whether it’s a blush, a side glance, or a small gesture, it all adds to the emotional payoff.
If you’re looking for a cozy romance with a kind-hearted heroine, a sweet male lead, and friendships that’ll make you smile, Harumatsu Bokura is a perfect pick. It’s not about flashy twists, it’s about sincerity, slow growth, and the quiet magic of falling in love with the right person at the right time.
I enjoyed this manga as a feel good romance story until the ending. I honestly would have rated it higher if not for the ending. We basically spend the entire manga waiting for the main characters to get together with their respective crushes, and then NOTHING. Basically a few chapters until they've suddenly moved on, graduated, and the manga is over. I was honestly disappointed. I was hoping to see the characters into at least some of the future and getting to see them within their relationships. There was also a lot of openness left to Aya's story that I didn't like, and we didn't getto actually see a reunion with him and Mitsuki.
Overall, it was a nice romance story, but I was disappointed with the ending and wanted to see more. Some of the nice parts of reading romance manga is getting to actually see the characters together.