Ano Koro no Aoi Hoshi or The Blue Star On That Day by Kani https://anilist.co/staff/173768/Kani is a comingofage yuri manga that follows Koumoto Umi a rather ordinary high school girl in a seaside town who finds herself drawn to the beautiful yet enigmatic Segawa Shouan aloof schoolmate with a deep almost spiritual fascination with the sea. Story The story starts rather simple and typical for a romance: the affable Koumoto Umi notices Segawa Shou a quiet and solitary girl known for her academic brilliance and who stands out for her striking beauty. What sets this manga apart is its distinctive storytellingone that conveys raw unfiltered emotion through both its expressive paneling and carefully crafted dialogue. The pacing is deliberately unhurried the plot layered and moving. I found myself weeping on more than one occasion during my reading. Their first encounter albeit brief occurs after school when Umi goes to retrieve her confiscated phone and unexpectedly finds Shou waiting assigned to return it. At the time Umi had already been aware of her beauty and quietly admired her from a distance in a manner that was purely platonic. That is until an unforeseen incident shifts the course of their nonrelationship : after a conflict with one of her roommates Shou is permanently relocated to share a room with Umi and her roommates. Her moving indeed proves eventful : on her very first night in the shared room Shou quietly slips out unknowingly waking Umi who concerned decides to follow her. Together they walk along the shoreline where Shou confesses a secret : she is searching for a mermaid she believes she once swam with during her childhood. From that moment on Umis feelings begin to unravel messy and confusing. She cant seem to keep the peculiar Shou off her mind and before long she finds herself asking if they might take another walk alongside the shore together just like the night before. The more Umi observes and comes to understand her the more helplessly she finds herself falling in love. Shous fascination with marine life is a constant but not overwhelming element in the story and plays a significant role in its development. She finds solace in caring for planktons small fishes and other sea creatures that she raises in the schools tanks even as the only active member of the schools aquarium club. In my opinion the recurring image of the mermaid and the sea suggests Shous longing for something distant maybe unreachable. It kind of mirrors how Umi initially sees Shou inaccessible and full of enigmas and how Shou views her own memories. The plot unravels gradually and realistically. There are no moments prone to hyperbole or unnecessary drama or misunderstandings as is common in stories that take place in a high school setting. Certain moments that may initially feel disappointing like but are in reality deliberately constructed by the author because they serve a purpose in the narratives thematic and emotional development. The characters actions and dialogue always align with their established personalities which allows the plot to unfold organically from their traits and choices. This coherence reinforces the storys realism because nothing feels forced or out of character. Its not that Hey Im in love with you let me just abandon everything Ive ever known and loved and shout my love for you to the world kind of story. Yes they grow but their own qualities insecurities and backstories are also acknowledged. Growth happens through compromise learning and respecting each others boundaries. Some points were I feel purposefully left blank such as the reason behind Ibus resentment for Shou or the cause of her being kicked out of her former room in the first place. As I previously stated the plot is layered and unfolds progressively and we never really know what is to come. But I do think that is what keeps the story thrilling and live. It is easy almost expected for a romance to fall flat when it takes place in a small school in a remote town where the number of exterior factors is inevitably more restrained than in the city. However I find that the authors clever use of this stillness is what makes this setting so charming it allows the characters to evolve comfortably through acts of routine. Yes it is frustrating for our protagonists who can hardly find a moment for themselves but it shows how far they are willing to go to spend some alone time with each other despite the restrictions. Rather than relying on dramatic gestures the author emphasizes the quiet intensity of simply being near someone of learning their rhythms noticing their silences and choosing to stay close despite the discomforts of growing affection. Characters Through Umi and Shou the story traces the fluctuating shape of adolescence : the confusion of finding ones place of reaching for meaning in others while still trying to understand oneself. Koumoto Umi As the storys protagonist Umi obviously plays a significant role in its progression. Yet the narrative does not conform to her will. She makes choices : some misguided others awesome. . The consequences of her actions remained. Still Umi is far from selfish. On the contrary she often makes quiet sacrifices to be accepted and liked by those around her even if the relationships are shallow. With Shou however the depth of her feelings cannot be subdued. Thats why her sudden confession is so clever: a character who usually weighs every word and action finds herself cornered her emotions brimming until they spill out unfiltered. The spontaneity of her confession underscores the sincerity and rawness of her love for Shou. It was a powerful expression of emotion however clumsy or embarrassing it may have felt to her in the moment hehee. I also love the effortless way she reaffirms her feelings even when its unprompted : how free she looks every time she says I love you feels deeply genuine. Umi has never truly had anything wholly to herself before. With parents preoccupied by her siblings she experienced a quiet sense of neglect one she never revealed perhaps out of a different kind of selfishness : the fear of burdening others with her needs. I initially expected her character to be shallow and unremarkable but it seems that there is far more to her than she lets on. She is kind and affable caring and thoughtful and Ive grown incredibly fond of her. Theres also her internalized homophobia which initially prevents her from acknowledging the nature of her feelings and makes her hesitant to express her love for Shou openly. As I mentioned earlier Umi constantly tries to fit into whats considered normal which makes the subtle discomfort she feels about her own difference all the more compelling. Im excited to see her evolution how some other characters will react upon hearing the truth knowing that half the school hates Shou already Segawa Shou Weve previously mentioned her quiet and aloof personality but that is merely how other people perceive her. In reality she is warm and passionate sometimes awkward sometimes even blushing. She is by far the most interesting and intricate character in the story. I find that her body language often speaks louder than her words: her eyes drifting instinctively toward the ocean the tenderness with which she interacts with Umi the quiet vulnerability she reveals. She isnt emotionally closed off shes simply someone who has never been cared for. Her relationship with her father is contradictory because it is clear she resents him yet she cannot bring herself to abandon him entirely. Theres a painful loyalty there rooted in a complicated love. Her discomfort with her financial background also speaks volumes. I wonder about her mother who feels like a missing piece ? I feel like her apparition could shift the trajectory of the entire story. Shou has always been bullied by her peers for a multiple reasons : her strange fascination with the sea her absent mother her unusual personality. She pretends it doesnt affect her. But it hurts. Its left lasting scars on her selfesteem no matter how unaffected she may appear on the surface. As for her relationship with Umi her love is unmistakably earnest. Its true that never having been cared for before she might have confused friendship for something deeper. But as the story unfolds it becomes crystal clear that what she feels for Umi is real love. The narration deserves praise for this subtle evolution. You can feel how she slowly lets go of the mermaid the mysterious saviour she has been chasing her entire life and opens her heart to Umi who stirs a far more chaotic but sincere human longing. Art I am no expert when it comes to the technical terminology of art so everything I say here is based purely on my personal enjoyment and subjective impressions. What stood out to me the most is how deeply the authors love for sea creatures comes through in the artwork : their illustrations of marine life are by far the most detailed and captivating. The panels of the aquarium in particular were breathtaking. Also their knowledge of the marine life is just insane. I learned so much on that subject just reading the story. The early chapters had a rougher almost etched quality to them which makes me think the author might not have initially anticipated such a positive reception or a full serialization. But the evolution of the art is clear because it improves remarkably with each chapter. Im truly amazed at how the author manages to convey such raw emotion through the characters expressions. The abstract elements are especially striking. Every panel seems to carry meaning though often subtle and its a genuine pleasure to read and interpret. Another aspect I deeply appreciate is that the series is available entirely for free which is rare considering the exceptional quality of the work. Conclusion I would recommend this manga to anyone. To sum it up this story really stands out. What starts off as a quiet familiar school romance slowly grows into something much deeper and more meaningful. It takes its time letting the characters develop naturally and never rushes their emotions. The relationship between Umi and Shou feels honest and always genuine : thats what makes it so powerful. The writing is thoughtful the pacing steady and the emotions are never forced. Every small moment feels important and the story makes you care deeply about these two girls figuring themselves out. The art especially the way emotions and the ocean are drawn adds a lot to that experience. Its not loud or dramatic but its beautiful in its own way : full of longing growth and the kind of love that sneaks up on you. Even after finishing it I keep thinking about certain scenes and what they meant. Its the kind of story that stays with you and I honestly cant wait to see where it goes next. Thank you for reading :D