Finished
“Childhood friends Arata and Shotaro's bond transforms when hidden feelings surface through photography and confession.”
Strobe in the Dark
くらやみにストロボ
7.64
2,289 rank · 9,026 readers · 79 favorites
School
Boys Love
Romance
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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
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Synopsis
Childhood friends Arata and Shotaro's bond transforms when hidden feelings surface through photography and confession.
This sweet coming-of-age BL story follows Arata as he admires his childhood friend, Shotaro, from behind his camera lens. As friendship blossoms into something more, Arata and his camera seek to capture the fleeting joys and beauty of youth. Arata, a member of the photography club, and Shotaro, a member of the basketball club, are childhood friends. The photos of Shotaro that Arata takes are very popular with girls. While Shotaro continues to turn down confessions almost every day, Arata continues to hide his own feelings for Shotaro. Then one day, Shotaro tells Arata that there's someone he likes... and their lifelong friendship changes forever. (Source: Tokyopop)
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 4 sampled reviews
8.5
/10
What 4 readers settled on.
100%
recommend
Score distribution
median 8.5
mode 7
σ 1.12
Agreement
Mostly aligned
σ 1.12 · some divergence
The polarity gap
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
Score over time
↑ 0.50
Running avg · Jan 2014 → Apr 2021
Snap verdicts
· shortest highly-rated reviews
- 7 “This manga is a highly enjoyable read featuring absolutely loveable characters, a well-balanced mix of romance and comedy, and surprisingly effective execution within its short seven-chapter run....”
- 10 “This manga is a masterpiece that excels with its incredibly cute art, expressive character designs, and a realistic, well-developed take on the childhood friend trope. While the lack of explicit...”
- 9 “The art style is incredibly natural and unique, while the story offers a deeply wholesome and realistic exploration of anxiety, homophobia, and the challenges of being in the closet. There are no...”
Verbosity
Short · 75%
Medium · 25%
Long · 0%
Read Order & Related
Explore the Strobe in the Dark universe
Cast
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See all →Publication slate
A Manga Publication
- Format 7 × 1 ch × vol
- Total read 0h 56m approx
- Published Dec 2011 – Aug 2013
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M18433 catalog