To be upfront, let me say that I've essentially read this author's work in reverse (starting with Midnight Secretary and 'ending' on Kindan), so it's a bit difficult to review this work without comparing it to her later pieces. Although it's also been interesting to see how similar her male characters are between different works - I just hope she doesn't repeat her two main "looks" too many more times!

What I love about Ohmi Tomu's work is the characterisation, and in her later works, overarching plot. There's smut, but aside from this manga it's never just there for the point of being there, and her female characters are always more than brainless hormone-driven females (esp in her later works). Best are the little side jokes you see every few chapters - there's always some genuine slapstick/cheeky humour which is refreshing, considering how cliche a lot of romance manga are. Underneath it all, you always think "wow, this author is actually... intelligent? And thinking about her characters?"

What I don't love so much about this manga is the actual storytelling itself (although evidently this has improved over time). I didn't really feel any kind of true plot arc until about 2/3 into the story (chapter 25 or so? Possibly because she hadn't figured out how to go about implementing longer plot cycles), and even then it was still very short and not transitioned as well as it could have into later parts. The ultimate conflict of the story also seemed a bit "oops I'm near the end, better create unforseen conflict!" and the resolution was the same.

Ultimately, I'm giving this manga a 7. There are some really good points (characterisation, intelligent cheeky jokes, realistic but non-cliche plots - things that really set this author apart from other authors of this genre) but I was disappointed in how it didn't reach the potential I felt it could have. If you want to see great potential *reach* potential, then I highly recommend her latest work - Midnight Secretary.