“Enter: Hatori Matsuzaki, the heroine of this love story. And her hero? Rita Terasaka, an infamous hottie with a (hidden) heart of gold. Sure, he might be a notorious playboy, but she's got nothing to worry about—after all, he's never serious about any of his paramours. Besides, she knows him better, has been by his side longer, and loves him so much more than anyone else possibly could. Okay, so she might not be dating him just this second, but what's the rush when destiny is on her side…right?” (Yen Press)
Everybody wants to be the hero of their own story, and many forms of media cater to that desire with romance manga being a genre with almost complete certainty in selling that fantasy. However, Momoko Koda takes a slightly different approach to the formula with her protagonist realizing that she may, in fact, be a side character in another girl's love story. Consequently, we see Hatori Matsuzaki witness fellow student Adachi snag the heart of her ‘destined' lover Rita Terasaka in a typical shoujo fashion.
A competent romance manga needs more than a gimmick to make an impact on its readership. Thankfully, the first volume of “No Longer Heroine” proves Momoka Koda is able to present her tale of unanswered love with humor, charm, and humility that makes the work instantly endearing. The moments of self-reflection, in particular, by the author written between chapters, place both Hatori and Adachi as representations of the mangaka's own uncertainty about how to approach romance. Adachi, who is the ‘ideal shy girlfriend', remains purposely underexplored to frustrate Hatori, while Hatori is so outspoken in her desire for Rita and their picturesque ‘manga-worthy' romance. These opposing personas combined with purposefully keeping certain elements vague work wonderfully to resonate with those who have had their own struggles with finding love.
The other aspect of the story which works well is the light comedy of Momoko Koda who plays with common tropes but, more notably, breaks the third wall to land the best moments of humor. For example, Hatori sometimes sees herself as the villain of the book in the form of over-exaggerated features that show when she is being petty or mean to Adachi. This includes a moment where she catches the cartoonish form in the mirror for a brief moment, which to her when she is actually playing the role of an antagonist. These moments cause her to shift her personality back in a desperate bid to stay the hero of her own book and are perfectly comedically timed as well as aid in pushing the story forward in entertaining ways.
The art in “No Longer Heroine” is slightly underwhelming for a romance title, lacking those picturesque images that capture the beauty of falling in love. However, the book's approach makes this less of an issue than more traditional shoujo, particularly when Momoko Koda's comedic timing via over-the-top expressions or reactions is so well executed. Would the book benefit from a more refined visual style? Certainly, but the lack does not hinder the enjoyment of the release.
For a first-volume release, “No Longer Heroine” has a lot to offer to romance fans with its slightly unique take on the genre and a sharp comedic wit, born out of the mangaka's own frustrations with finding love. Whether this momentum will continue into subsequent volumes is difficult to say, but it is certainly a strong start and a promising prospect for romance fans looking for something a bit different.
