“After a messy breakup, college freshman Yoh Yagisawa returns home only to find she has an unexpected male roommate! Introducing himself as her old childhood friend who moved abroad, handsome Haruma Hirose is back to do a homestay. He's totally hot, super nice, and always there when Yoh's in trouble… but could Haruma's timing be a little too perfect? Plus, the house next door, where he claims to have lived-didn't the family there all commit suicide…?” (Yen Press)
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A notable downside of online culture is people's ability to hide their true intent, with scams such as cat fishing and blackmail performed easier when hiding in anonymity. Often these crimes don't end up with face to face confrontation, but in “Love and Heart”, Chitose Kaido gives the reader an unsettling scenario of manipulation and deceit, bolstered by digital harassment. Essentially, antagonist Haruma Hirose uses social media to push Yoh into a constant state of disorientation in order to gaslight her into a relationship built on self-doubt. Undeniably an unsettling scenario, but an utterly engrossing one that will keep the readers transfixed on the plot.
Notably, the success of “Love and Heart” rests with Kaido's character work. Both Yoh and Haruma have charisma and charm that have adverse effects, making Yoh empathetic and endearing and Haruma devious and dangerously determined. In addition, the mangaka draws each side-character into the web of lies to give all the players an important role in the unfolding drama. As a result, the readers' desire to see Yoh stay safe and learn the truth escalates at the same pace of concern driven by Haruma's toxicity. Chitose Kaido has crafted an ideal drama with potential to evolve into an unforgettable tale.
In comparison, the artwork is more serviceable than standout. Certainly, there are moments where Kaido captures the beauty of her protagonist as well as light comedy through alternating between styles, but the series is unlikely to draw people in on aesthetic alone. However, off of a strong narrative, this is hardly a deterrent from deeper engagement with the work.
A real page turner, “Love and Heart” crawls under your skin in interesting ways, offering an unsettling scenario which feels all the more believable within the modern era. It is somewhat difficult to see how the story will evolve at this point, perhaps there is an actual reason for the deceit of Haruma. As it stands, there is more reason to be weary of him going into the next volume. Personally, I can't wait to see how the story pans out. “Love and Heart” was a pleasant surprise in the way it exceeded any expectations I had going in, manga fans should give this one a shot.
