Author: Venio Tachibana
Manga-ka: Rihito Takarai
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: August 2010

Synopsis: “It is rumored that Touji Seryou, one of the more popular boys at school, would go out with anyone who asks him out on a Monday morning. But on this particular Monday morning, the first person he meets at the school gate is no other than Yuzuru Shino, Seryou’s sempai at the archery club. On a whim, and well-aware of Seryou’s reputation, Shino asks Seryou to go out with him. Thinking that it will be treated as a joke, they’re both guys after all, imagine Shino’s surprise when Seryou takes him up on the offer!”

Touji is on a quest for true love – or any love really. Half-scorned and left dangling mid-affection by his brother’s girlfriend, Touji has spent his school year dating a different girl every week. But only for one week. Date them on Monday, break up with them on Sunday – it’s a seven day ritual that he’s yet to find reason to break. Until he gets out a by a guy anyway – cue Monday to Thursday!

I quite enjoyed the part of the story where Shino asks Touji out. Sure it was predictable for us third-party viewers but the casual delivery was so just that. Shino asked it almost rhetorically, like he was simply challenging Touji’s answers to his questions about his dating habits, not seriously meaning to ask him out. Touji sticks like a genie to a wish though and soon the two are ‘officially’ going out. Touji immediately takes to the casual dating steps – getting Shino’s contact information, walking with him to school, oh, and actually learning his name. Shino for his part accepts it easy enough as well, he was the one who asked after all, but I was sort of surprised to see him actually push it more than just simply going with the flow. He was pretty taken to being able to tell Touji what to do (which is simply demanding he actually show up for archery practice) and even requests they go out on a date.

What progresses over the rest of the book is the two spending time together and… that’s about it. Again to my surprise the story shifted its focus to Touji, showing a lot more of him than I originally thought it would. It was cute seeing him note the immediate differences dating Shino, aside from the obvious of course. In the first of said moments, he texts Shino first thing to bid him good morning – only to be replied to with a crass ‘what-the-hell?’ equivalent for having woken the other boy up. Dating random male classmate, not the same as random flighty girls- noted.

Admittedly, and unfortunately, this book can get a little boring. It has some charming moments but the whole book is very low-key and the only real drama comes in the form of Touji’s relationship with his sister’s boyfriend. It doesn’t come up enough to warrant much thought past ‘man, she’s a b****’ but the book’s cliffhanger end suggests that, should there be another volume (this isn’t listed as a volume one), that trouble is brewing when she is finally outright rejected as a result of Touji’s growing affection for Shino. Past that however the rest of the book is very mundane, and though I did like reading it and don’t feel it warrants a label of dull, it still felt as such. It’s a pleasant read but not a riveting one. Even the relationship itself gets no further than a supposedly accidental kiss, which makes the book great for new comers to the genre or those underage (the book is rated 16+) though may alienate those who like more spice than sweet.

While Seven Days isn’t likely to blow anyone away with its slow pace and often fizzling attempts at drama, it’s still a very sweet story that actually feels like it’s playing out in a more feasible than-usual way. Cute but not overly compelling, I’d still like to see how things play out when (and if) Friday rolls around.

Review written August 27, 2010 by Lissa Pattillo
Digital copy provided for review by eManga

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About the Author: Lissa Pattillo

Lissa Pattillo is the owner and editor of Kuriousity.ca. Residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia she takes great joy in collecting all manners of manga genres, regretting that there's never enough time in the day to review or share them all. Along with reviews, Lissa is responsible for all the news postings to the website and works full time as a web and graphic designer.