This manga is… something. Boku no Ikezu na Konyakusha tries to sell itself as a sweet romcom with misunderstandings and hidden affection, but half the time it feels like watching two people suffer because one refuses to use her words like a functioning human being. Now, look, I absolutely abhor plot devices that make zero sense, especially when they hinge on characters behaving like contrived puzzle boxes instead of people. And Miyuki? She is the definition of an enigma wrapped in frustration, dipped in nonsense, and served with a side of “Why are you like this?” Story: 6 On the surface, it’s a straightforward romance: an engagedcouple navigating their feelings, their insecurities, and the social mess around them. Fine. Solid enough premise.
But then you look at the execution, and everything begins crumbling under the weight of forced misunderstandings that could be resolved with one honest conversation.

Take the engagement ring fiasco. She refuses to wear the ring. People ask why. Sorata clearly gets the wrong idea. And what does she do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She just lets him stew in self-doubt because her actual reason is… she doesn’t want him to think she’s fat since the ring doesn’t fit. Right. Of course. Naturally we’ll prioritize that over the emotional stability of the man you supposedly love. Makes perfect sense. And it's not like she doesn't have the ring at all, in fact, she wears the ring around her neck! Wonderful! It's the thought that counts right? Wouldn't it be logical and apologetic if she apologised if she created a misunderstanding or misconstrue about the whole "not wearing our engagement ring", and just clarified she isn't wearing it on her finger for other reasons (Without even revealing that it cannot fit her) and instead, wears it around her neck. Even better if she, i dunno, wear the ring and make it visible in her school unifrom so others will get the idea that she feels the same way as he does, but because of this, he's made fun of and is subject to rumors that she doesn't even love him. Real loving of you, really.

There’s this constant dance between affection and avoidance that doesn’t feel sweet or shy — it feels self-sabotaging. And it drags the story into this loop of “Oh look, another misunderstanding that exists only because she refuses to clarify one of her insensitive/emotionally unintelligent comments” or better yet, just act and show her true feelings instead of hiding them for absolutely no reason.

Characters: 5
Miyuki

A walking contradiction. She cares about Sorata — we see it, clear as day — but refuses to show it in any consistent, emotionally coherent way. She’ll make a comment that crushes him often unknowingly, realize he takes things to heart, and… SOMETIMES correct her way of talking, and other times just never confronts him about it and goes about her day wondering why he seemed a little down. She hides her feelings from him, shields tender moments from him (like that picture on their trip where she literally looks at him like he hung the moon), and then wonders why he’s insecure.

It’s exhausting. Oxymoronic. A self-inflicted tragedy of “I love you but I refuse to communicate at even a beginner’s level.”

Sorata

He’s actually fine. A shy but well-meaning guy who tries, feels deeply, and genuinely loves her. But of course, because this is the universe he lives in, he’s the punching bag for every stray insult, jab, and clueless remark thrown from every direction. The mere fact that half of these remarks are from his classmates who think Miyuki is just a childhood friend because she simply refuses to display the very object that reveals their love for eachother and even just explain to him that for her own personal reasons she doesn't wear it on her finger, but rather as a necklace. The other half of the unfiltered jabs and random strays Merry deals to him for simply existing and being engaged to her, lovely.

Side Characters

Merry — the Japanese-Canadian girl — is especially insufferable. She’s insensitive in ways that aren’t even realistic; she just fires off unnecessary digs at Sorata for sport. It supposedly reads as “banter,” but comes across as “What’s your problem and why are you taking it out on him?” She is honestly so insensitive it doesn't make sense. She can be funny without random strays and jabs at Sorata, who does absolutely nothing to her or anyone for that matter, he's a good guy all in all despite his shyness, but he's always catching these strays not just from Merry, but also from other random support characters whose names i do not even care nor remember to know. Along with the classmates whom I've mentioned before are just there to talk down on him because someone refuses to put effort in their appearance as a couple, and engaged one at that.

Art: 7

Honestly, the art is one of the manga’s stronger points. Clean, expressive, appealing — good enough that you want to like the story more than you do. Panels convey emotion well, and the designs fit the romcom genre perfectly. If anything keeps you reading, it’s the artwork carrying the experience on its back.

Overall: 6

The story isn’t terrible, nor is it impressive. The art is solid, the premise workable, Sorata is likable to some extent… but the character writing — particularly Miyuki’s contradictory behavior — drags the experience down. It’s the kind of manga that could be decent if the communication issues felt natural instead of artificially inserted to prolong drama.

Still, it’s not so bad that I’d tell anyone to avoid it outright. It just depends on how much tolerance you have for character-driven nonsense and misunderstandings that exist solely because one person refuses to clarify anything ever.

If you’re curious, check it out — but temper your expectations. The story’s fine. The art is solid. The characters… well, they’re the ones who need the most help.