“Spring Storm and Monster” official synopsis by Yen Press “High school freshman Ranko Haruno’s sole desire in life is to keep her head down and just get by with as little human interaction as possible. It’s working well, until a random guy is literally hurled into her path (and knocked out when his head hits the wall). The responsible party? A guy she later finds out is her new stepbrother, Kaya Amamine…How exactly is she supposed to live with such a creepy jerk who seemingly has a penchant for violence?!”
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Romance manga with a troubled bad boy as the point of interest is nothing new. Even said delinquent living in the home of their romantic interest due to bizarre family arrangements is also old hat at this point. That is to say, the jumping-off point and story that develops in volume one of “Spring Storm and Monster” will not offer anything that readers won’t expect. The only path to success is to tell a deeply engaging story with familiar tropes and character archetypes. Thankfully, Mitsubachi Miyuki delivers a competent and engaging tale, albeit one that may find limited appeal.
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“Spring Storm and Monster” works best as a character study of Ranko and Kaya, both individuals who have their reasons for being withdrawn from society, though taking drastically different approaches. Kaya often lashes out in hate and builds empty friendships, while Ranko is highly introverted and finds solace in being alone. It is a typical introvert meets extrovert plot, yet the extremes in which both fall under those labels make for a very intense courtship. Kaya thrives on intimidation, and how he treats Ranko often crosses the boundaries of social acceptance. However, the more time the two spend together in each subsequent volume is bound to soften Kaya’s harsh nature. For romance fans who like ‘taming’ a partner angle, “Spring Storm and Monster” presents one of the more extreme transformations of character.
However, this is also where some will find accessibility to the story limited. At times, there is an uncomfortable power dynamic between Ranko and Kaya. Kaya demands one of their first kisses in an intimidating manner. While Ranko ends up cherishing the moment, the forceful nature of the daring delinquent is not going to appeal to everyone. Moreover, the downside of using extremes in building a character is that it is hard to have empathy. Kaya brutally beats up other students in a few instances, and how quick he can be to antagonize Ranko makes him very unlikable. Readers must come to the work with their “bad boy” fantasy level of appreciation maxed out. Otherwise, there is a chance the work will seem unsavory.
Comparatively, Ranko is a thoughtful and adorable protagonist with an engaging internal monologue to push the story. As such, those who care primarily about exploring the protagonist’s thought process may be able to overlook how unsavory the love interest is (I fall into this category). Mangaka Mitsubachi Miyuki put it best in her afterword, achieving what she set out to do: “At once simple yet complex… easy to grasp but hard to understand.” An apt description of the story, and if one approaches the work with the desire for a story just like that, its unsavory elements do begin to melt away.
Visually, “Spring Storm and Monster” is not going to turn any heads. Most of the work is serviceable and does not contain the definitive panels one would want from a romance series; even the first kiss feels slightly uninspired from an artistic standpoint. The limited art is not a deterrent off the back of a well-constructed story that excels in monologues through its protagonist, but it will still be missed by some who want those swoon-worthy moments.
There is undoubtedly a hump to get over to enjoy “Spring Storm and Monster” in a problematic love interest to get behind. The tone could easily change with subsequent volumes, for better or worse. However, Mitsubachi Miyuki has already shown enough skill in the inaugural release that will hook fans of complex love stories with a challenging romantic interest.
