Review: I’m Here, Beside You, Vol. 1
I received this book from Edelweiss/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
I am so delighted that I was granted access to this title! I just LOVED the sound of the book, I always love a good second chances story and if that one also includes a nice dose of time travel? Yes, please.
In this gorgeously illustrated manga we meet Ibuki Doi. A boy who has never forgotten his first love from high school, Mikami Baba, a handsome boy. For most our MC thought he never had the chance and that is also how we meet him in the future in which he finds out that the guy he liked is marrying another guy. Aka, he could have had a shot. And that is how it starts, because the next thing he knows he is back in the past. I always love those moments when the MCs figure out that they are either isekai-ed or get a second chance at something in their lives. The shock, the confusing, and then the determination to make something out of it. The most of it. And at first our MC is a bit confused, because what the heck. But then he decides to take his chance and I found myself rooting for him, hoping that he would get a chance with Baba. I loved seeing our MC bring Baba snacks, we see how he fell in love with Baba, and more.
But yeah, I wasn’t always a fan of Baba. How he handled the confession by our MC. How he was constantly on his guard around the MC as if the MC would do something funny which I just hate. Yes, he is in love with you but he isn’t going to jump you. Good lord. Baba did get better with the story and we also learn why he was so angry, but still, I wanted to shake him. I am at least glad that he seemed to listen when Doi told him why he knew certain things or why he acted the way he did. But given the ending… I wonder if he will still do that in the next volume.
Yep. Because next to a second chance for Doi… he also plans to stop a murder from happening. Yep. I didn’t expect that one. But I definitely like the addition. Plus, we all know how restarting a timeline can change things, so will Doi be able to stop it, or will something happen still?
Oh, and I am definitely curious what happened to Doi we saw in the beginning before he got a second chance. What happened to him? Did he die? Or is this all a dream?
The art was absolutely gorgeous, the characters designs were so pretty.
The ending, ARGH. I need to know how this one continues. I need to know what is next. OK, I am also worried, but my need to know is stronger, haha.
I would highly recommend this one to everyone.