Beyond the captivating art style, 7 Billion Needles falls disappointingly short. To put it plainly, the story is an ambitious yet ultimately nonsensical piece of work. While the premise may appear fascinating at first glance, it quickly devolves into a trainwreck of plot conveniences scattered throughout. The narrative becomes suffocated with philosophical musings that feel contrived and excessive. Equally disappointing are the characters themselves. Hikaru, the protagonist, is astonishingly dull and uninteresting. It bewilders me how I managed to endure four volumes of this mediocrity. The story suffers from poor writing, leaving everything feeling unrealistic and artificial. The characters lack depth and believability, failing to establisha meaningful connection with the reader. While there is some attempt at character development, it occurs abruptly, making little sense within the larger context.

Overall, I cannot recommend this manga to anyone. Despite its short length, it drags on, and I found myself wanting to sleep halfway through. The few redeeming qualities, such as the artstyle, are simply not enough to salvage this lackluster series.