Waiting for Spring is a fun read. Mitsuki the shy quiet girl finds herself surrounded by a group of popular guys who each bring something unique to the table. I like the popular guy x shy loner trope so ate this up and the side characters are also amazing. Towa Asakura is my favorite here. Quiet and emotionally oblivious he had to grow up quickly after the death of his parents and promised his dad he would always be strong. But what he learns over time is that being strong doesnt mean shutting out his feelingsit means being able to rely on his friends and loved ones. This contrasts sharply with Aya who believes that being strong is the most important thing and tries to make Mitsuki rely on him. Towa on the other hand helps Mitsuki grow into a more confident person showing her that strength is also about vulnerability and supporting each other. I also love how quiet and thoughtful Towa ishes not one for flashy gestures but speaks volumes through his actions and quiet presence. Ryuji and Nanas relationship was another highlight for me. Ryuji is so pathetically in love with Nana and its honestly endearing. The way he expresses and shows his feelings is both funny and touching and the payoff when they finally get together is incredibly satisfying. It was so cute with Ryuji being both goofy and earnest in his love for her. It feels like a slow burn with him yearning one sidedly but the end is totally worth the wait. Kyosuke though is my favorite friend of Towa. Hes genuine caring and always has Towas back. Hes just a solid reliable guy who cares about his friends. Rui and Ryuji on the other hand are the silly ones of the group. They add a fun lighthearted energy to the story and I love how they balance each other out. The way the guys treat Mitsuki is another reason I adore this manga. They treat her like a little sister they often tease. Theres this protective almost siblinglike vibe that adds warmth to the story and its clear they all value her in different ways. Mitsukis growth both emotionally and socially is truly inspiring and the guys support plays a huge role in that. Aside from the characters and their dynamic I also really enjoyed the whole basketball team rivalry storyline. It was intense and the personal stakes with Mitsuki caught in the middle made it even better. Every game had me on the edge of my seat rooting for the Seiryo boys as they worked so hard to win. Watching them give it their all was so exciting It made each arc so entertaining and fun to follow. Team Seiryo for life Now what I disliked about it... While Waiting for Spring has plenty of great moments the love triangle was definitely a major turnoff for me. In the early chapters I was absolutely loving every second of itthe rivalry was so entertaining and the dynamic between Mitsuki Towa and Aya kept me hooked. It was clear that Mitsuki liked Towa but the jealousy and tension between him and Aya pushed Towa to finally act on his feelings and it was delicious to watch. But by around chapter 35 or so I cant remember I started to get frustrated. When Aya confessed his feelings Mitsuki started to waver and it felt like she was stringing both of them along. I get that she didnt want to hurt Aya because of their history but by not being honest with herself and choosing between them she ended up hurting both guysespecially Towa. At first I really liked Aya because he was smooth refreshing and totally different from the typical goody two shoes second male lead. He brought something new to the table and I appreciated that. But by the end his pushiness started to wear thin. He became too arrogant for my liking and I lost interest in him. The worst part for me was that the romance felt cheapened by Mitsukis indecision. It didnt feel like Towa was her choicehe felt more like an option and that made the whole love triangle drag. I just needed more reassurance and more time with Towa and Mitsuki as a couple. The romance couldve been so much more fulfilling if we had seen them grow together without the constant back and forth. It really took away from the otherwise sweet and heartfelt romance that Towa and Mitsuki had building up.