I’m torn on how to rate this manga. On one hand, the plot was interesting and felt like a fresh take on the romance genre. The unique premise surrounding the love triangle definitely caught my attention. On the other hand, the characters felt distant throughout the entire story, and I struggled to connect with or sympathize with any of them. While the story initially frames Hazuki as the protagonist, the narrative ends up spending far more time with Shimao. Meanwhile, Rokka never really comes into her own as a character. She’s just sort of there, without much personality or development. The romance between Hazuki and Rokka didn’tresonate with me either. They simply didn’t spend enough meaningful time together for me to believe in or feel invested in their relationship. Most of the story’s emotional weight is given to Shimao, which makes the central romance feel underdeveloped.

I wouldn’t necessarily discourage someone from reading Natsuyuki Rendezvous, but I also wouldn’t actively recommend it. It’s a mixed experience, with a unique premise but emotionally distant execution.