Maitsuki Niwatsuki Ooyatsuki, while not bad by any means, is difficult for me to wholeheartedly recommend. Yuri-- even yuri focused on adult relationships-- is no longer a sparse genre by any means, but is certainly not yet prolific enough that I feel great about scorning an entry whose worst offenses are poor prioritization of focus and a weak endgame. There are things I could praise about it. The art, while not exceptional, perhaps, is still sleek and pretty. Character designs are distinctive yet realistic (at least in terms of the main couple; side characters do tend to blur together). There aren't any annoying jealousy arcs, misunderstandingsor other sorts of pointless manufactured drama. It does have some genuinely cute moments, which is admittedly a low bar to clear, but still worth praising.

Miyako, one half of the main couple (and titular live-in landlord), is a cute character. I liked her quite a bit. Asako, the other half, ends up feeling a bit underdeveloped, with a flimsy background and personality outside of her work-- which itself doesn't come up more than once or twice. The manga really revolves around Miyako-- or rather, around her unwieldly cohort of former colleagues, superiors, friends and fans. More time is given to characters who are tertiary at best and entirely forgettable than the main romance, with disastrous results for the emotional development of the main couple in its latter half. Interactions between Miyako and Asako feel rushed, obligatory, perfunctory; even important, tender moments such as a first kiss. With no time to showcase their growing attraction properly around the incessant Miyako farewell concert side-plot, the main couple begin to feel more like actors half-heartedly following a script than genuine lovers. Eventually I started to feel like I was only turning pages out of obligation, too.

The progression of MNO's chronic side-character-itis only really takes effect around chapter 20 or so. I enjoyed the first half, more or less, or I wouldn't be recommending it at all. Even so, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with anything appealing in their backlog.