In TADD's "While Cross-Dressing, I Was Hit on by a Handsome Guy!" (the original title), we never learn "why" Iori wants to crossdress, or why Hazuki is a tomboy attracted to femme guys. Deep psychology? early trauma? gender politics? all eighty-sixed before chapter one. These people just are, and this is refreshing, because we get to jump right into the common pitfall of dating, worrying about: how assertive we should be; if our words or tone or actions set a bad mood last night; how to appear eager for the next date without pressuring the other person; managing expectations; and learning from your new significantother.

The serious fears and worries are given due weight, but it never quite capsizes the fun of dating, and the richest mine of fun is our incompetence at dating itself. The story's shape does not devolve into formula, and the characters progress along very small arcs; no one is "transformed" by the end, but everyone is a little bit different, even if only by seeing their friends in a bit of a new light.

Enjoy.