[Sungchan Eul's Comic Book] Capturing Academics, Dreams, Love, and Friendship in 'Skip and Loafer'

There is a comic that I had in mind since the time I was preparing to serialize this corner. However, I had put it aside for a while as I had previously covered it, but lo and behold, this comic has recently been featured on Naver Webtoon. If I don't promote it at such a good timing, I won't be fulfilling my duty as a fan. Therefore, the work I will introduce this time is Takamatsu Misaki's 「Skip and Loafer」.

「Skip and Loafer」 is a high school academy story that has been serialized since 2018. The main plot revolves around a rural girl, Iwakura Mitsumi, who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and enters a Tokyo high school as the top student, meeting various friends including the handsome and kind but laid-back Shima Sosuke, and experiencing various events. It has been officially published up to volume 10 through YNK Media, and 12 volumes have been released as e-books. A TV animation produced by P.A.WORKS aired in 2023, and season 2 is currently in production.

While the Japanese manga industry is overflowing with academy stories like an unending spring, 「Skip and Loafer」 possesses an unmatched charm compared to other works. In fact, the concept of academy stories is somewhat broad. It refers to the 'background' of a school rather than the subject matter, so most academy stories often encompass other genres set in a school background, such as romance among students or sports through club activities. 「Skip and Loafer」 is very much a classic academy story in that regard. It focuses on the events that Mitsumi encounters as she forms connections with friends and goes through the semester, thus creating a broad sense of empathy for readers who are currently in or have passed through their school years. While it can be categorized as a shoujo manga depicting the love between Mitsumi and Shima, the reason I repeatedly use the term 'academy story' is this.

What fills this school life is the ensemble of characters. The greatest strength of 「Skip and Loafer」 is that it highlights each character's flaws while also showcasing their lovable sides. All characters, including Mitsumi and Shima, have their own shortcomings. Sometimes these flaws are outwardly visible, while at other times they are kept inside. The work carefully examines both their inner selves and actions, trying to embrace those limitations. The characters also strive to become better as they face various moments, making their flaws a starting point to showcase their charm.

In fact, when I look back at my school days, it's rare to find someone who is completely satisfied. Most will recall their clumsy selves. Therefore, the portrayal of friends in 「Skip and Loafer」 who reflect on themselves and try to keep pace with those around them will evoke individual feelings in readers. When a girl, who was once trapped in inferiority, gradually tries to affirm herself, and when a boy who simply liked girls discovers true love, the intersection of the charm of a coming-of-age story and moments that touch the reader's memories is the appeal of 「Skip and Loafer」.

And at the center of it all is the charm of the character Mitsumi. Mitsumi, who boldly declares her ambition to become a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Internal Affairs because she is good at studying, is initially portrayed as somewhat naive. However, as time goes on, her quirkiness, confidence, and her attitude of honestly acknowledging and facing everything shake not only Shima and her friends in the story but also the hearts of the readers. Mitsumi, who says, "You know, Shima-kun, I often fall in a rather grand way, but I get up just as magnificently!" is a character that perfectly embodies the word 'self-esteem.' I believe she conveys the essence of a character that 'shines just by being there' most vividly.

I recommend spending a new school year at Tsubamenishi High School with Mitsumi, who seems ordinary yet strong, and Shima, who appears perfect but cannot escape his childhood. The animated version is available on platforms like Raftel, Tving, Wave, Watcha, and even Netflix, so if you need a little warmth to forget the winter, be sure to check it out. (As I mentioned before, I sincerely ask you to at least watch the opening once)