“When Ryou Takamori confronts a groper on the train, it turns out he's come to the rescue of his estranged childhood friend, Hina Fushimi. The two drifted apart in middle school as the social gap between ever-popular beauty Hina and plain loner Ryou widened—but this incident might be the catalyst Hina's been waiting for to rekindle their friendship. And she's got her fingers crossed that it'll spark something more…if only Ryou would get a clue!” (Yen Press)
An easy-going romance title with a frustratingly long name, “The Girl I Saved on the Train Turned Out to Be My childhood Friend” is the manga adaptation of the light novel of the same name from creator Kennoji. As with most manga adaptations of light novels, there is always a concern that details of the book become muddied, a fact that can even be apparent having not read the light novel in the face of awkward dialogue and the assumption the reader is already ‘in the know'. Whether this is a result of transforming the content to a different medium or having too many names attached to a single project, these kinds of projects' success vary drastically from one book to the next. Thankfully, “The Girl I Saved on the Train…” manga offers a quaint love story with complimentary visuals.
An overly formulaic narrative of an awkward student finding themselves the object of affection by a popular classmate has been overdone, yet “The Girl I Saved” has all the elements you would want in the romance genre. Notably, the characters carry a sincerity that develops an instant connection and desire from the reader to see the relationship succeed. This is complemented by a light comedic tone that adds levity to the drama unfolding. The first volume is also quick to establish the past between the two characters that make Ryou & Hina's teenage courtship an inevitability. Essentially, “The Girl I Saved” is a comfort read that offers light escapism with a story whose predictability works in its favor of offering a relaxing experience.
The art of Yoh Midorikawa, based on the character design from ‘fly', is not overly complex but complements the light tone of the story. The most important aspect of a romance title, the emotional expressions/mannerisms of the characters, is executed with enough flair to keep the reader invested. Undeniably, this book lacks a strong visual direction or defining panels that could add to the experience, but the lack of polish does not diminish the quality of the story.
Manga like “The Girl I Saved” is, admittedly, formulaic to a fault. However, the value of the book lies in it completely bringing together a story equal parts wholesome and romantic. Ideal to unwind with after a long day, the book won't surpass expectations but it knows its audience and its purpose, capturing both with a simplistic, yet endearing, charm.
