- Status: Completed
- Platform: Kodansha
- Volumes: 10
- Genre: Shoujo
- Creators: Azusa Mase
- Release year: 2016
- tropes: early relationship
Is You Got me Sempai!? Short review
I. love. this. shoujo. To be honest, at first I thought it was going a bit fast because Serina develops feelings for Mizukawa in literally the first 10 panels. Moreover, they get together in the first chapter, but somehow it works. Both of them communicate openly, and throughout their relationship, they show a good level of maturity.
You Got Me, Sempai! is probably one of the most down-to-earth and fluffy (except for volumes 7 and 8) newer shoujo you can find. There are many heart-squeezing moments – trust me, you won’t regret reading it.
artstyle: sketchy but good; premise: see below
I find the premise under which they meet interesting: Mizukawa scribbles this onto Serina’s desk:
- „Every fight leaves us that much happier
- All the time, we get a little closer together
- Maybe our love won’t change the world
- But I think It’s safe to say, I was born to love you“
Serina then confronts Mizukawa about the lyrics and he tells her he likes it cause it says „happiness doesn’t come that easily“, which could be seen as the theme of this Shoujo.
romance: very fast, great tension – trouble in between
Both of the MCs really work for their relationship. At first, it’s Serina who tries (and succeeds) to get Mizukawa to like her, and then the roles reverse, and Mizukawa finds himself chasing after Serina.
There are so many lovely interactions between them. Mizukawa really tries to be a good boyfriend to Serina, and vice versa. Furthermore, I like the pacing of this shoujo. There are often several panels for one situation, and as a result, you feel like you’re right there in the moment with them.
characters: many friends but no focus in them
Both protagonists have friends, especially the male lead, but the story doesn’t focus on them. They do play a part in the story, but there is no significant side couple to root for. There is a second ML though.
protagonists: strong FL, green flag and popular ML
The female lead Serina is very forward
The male lead Mizukawa is extremely smooth. The “single teasing finger” is a great scene. You will know what I mean when you read it.
If you’re wondering why it’s written Sempai and not Senpai: You might sometimes see “sempai” instead of “senpai,” but “senpai” is the correct and standard spelling. “Sempai” comes from the way the word can sound in speech, but it’s not officially used in Japanese.
And for readers who want to develop their weebness a bit more: A senpai is someone who has more experience or joined a group earlier than you, whether that’s at school, work, or in a club. It’s not really about age, but about seniority
Read if you…
- like seeing interactions between them almost every chapter
- love when the relationship feels mature and realistic (They want to hold hands, kiss, touch, etc. and don’t pass out while holding hands)
- like when they fight and make up and best of all: they COMMUNICATE. Their love isn’t unconditional – they both work for it
- love reading a story with great tension. I will promise you butterflies with this one
Skip if you…
- mind the lack of backgrounds in the panels (sometimes the art feels a bit too like a sketch because of that)
- don’t like second love interests, especially when the storyline feels very unnecessary
- love fleshed out side characters
- don’t like the „I have to work/study, so we can’t see each other at all“-trope. The way the author handles it is nice and how he portrays Serina’s thoughts and doubts because of that, but still
Serina arrives at school one day to discover her desk has been vandalized—someone’s scratched the lyrics to a love song in it … and that someone turns out to be Mizukawa-sempai, a boy who’s one year her senior! She wants to get to know him better, but if his frosty demeanor is any indication, she doesn’t have a chance! But it seems he might be awkward—not simply mean—and before she knows it, she’s asking him out … ! With each passing day, her heart races a little faster!
You want to read another Shoujo Review? Go this way: Lovesick Ellie.
