My Little Monster

My Little Monster ("The Monster Sitting Beside Me") is a Japanese manga turned anime intertwining the lives of a cold-hearted, anti-social and slightly controlling high school girl and that of an outgoing delinquent boy who inevitably fall in love.

Plot

With a mother who's always away on business and a father that's working full-time, Shizuku Mizutani keeps her interests on the bulk of her studies. Her obsession with getting phenomenal scores and building up a valuable career for herself gets in the way of social circumstances. She's the preferred teacher's pet and obviously not one to be messed with by other classmates more so in awe of her determination.

One day, after class, Shizuku is given a task to take handouts printed by her teacher and to drop them off at a fellow classmate's home. Haru Yoshida, who barely ever attends class, is floored by Shizuku's appearance and immediately starts off this friendship which she personally isn't interested in.

While Haru is quick to confess his love for her, Shizuku is left to think and look back on her own feelings. Both individuals, who inevitably fall for one another, are people that naturally had a hard time accustoming to relationships and friendships, but together, Haru and Shizuku start on a journey to understand their own feelings, the feelings of each other and to start opening up their vulnerabilities while also changing their ways for better or worse.

Overall

I naturally don't look into things that are seen as romantic or based around growing relationships, but My Little Monster is the epitome of adorable and innocent. I really loved the way Shizuku was seen as this cold-hearted person that often gave off the wrong vibe. A lot of people were naturally intimidated of her fierce ways and little to no human interaction. It made her very realistic and very relatable. Haru on the other hand was seen as a violent delinquent that was given a 'monster' label by those around him, but inside, both he and Shizuku (whose first impressions tarnished their reputation) were seen as kind and gentle people.

There really are no cliché's in this anime. I assumed because of Shizuku's stubborn and thoughtless ways, Haru would find someone else to declare his feelings for, but he stuck by her side until she was ready to fully confess. Though there were other options coming to and fro just to catch his attention, Haru's loyal ways and love-filled heart keeps him drawn to Shizuku and Shizuku only.

This was honestly an anime that nabbed a high rank in my book holding only thirteen episodes. What with innocent feelings and obvious hardships to overcome, My Little Monster revolves the story of two people who have never been in close encounters of anyone else. And when their paths cross, it's inevitable that they'll fall for one another due not only to their similarities but their differences as well.

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