They Are Still Being Shaken This Morning

I never get far in this because the feeling it provokes is not a feeling I crave. Nonetheless, it is very good at provoking those feels, and many people love it. It’s very well done. You know how a TV sitcom would have two characters that were attracted to each other but were afraid to take the first step? And every couple of episodes, there would be a misunderstanding that made you think they were going to accidentally discover the attraction was mutual, but they never quite did? It’s a great source of tension in a story that’s too comfortable. This manga cuts out all the relaxed comedy and distills that tension until it feels like you’re having an aneurysm. It does go beyond that, but it’s all advanced levels of Japanese social anxiety and cuteness. I strongly recommend that you try it, but also that you give yourself permission to get off at the next stop, because the train ride isn’t going to change that much.

Summary: Teen boy and girl sit next to each other on the train every day, longing for each other but afraid to break the ice. The other passengers form a text chat group to discuss this compelling daily drama, and that is the real story.