This was probably the last genre I'd ever thought I'd end up reading, but I did anyway after reading a post on Manga Therapy about what a good manga this was. I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the flaws, I am very glad that I had the opportunity to read this.

Story: 7
Like I said, I haven't read much slice-of-life, so I cannot accurately compare this storylines to the storylines of any other slice-of-life manga. However, I can say that the storyline was pretty linear until it showed the future; then it was a little negligent. I would have liked it more if the storyline showed the troubles of the other characters; that would have made it more touching to know that despite the troubles of the characters, they still are trying their hardest to make Kakeru happy. Then there's that weird time travel stuff. That was just....whatever. Not a lot of effort was put forth in developing the whys and hows, but it gave the manga a neat twist.

Art: 9
The art really fit. It wonderfully portrayed emotions, and I loved how the text from the letters was shown as the story progressed; that gave it an eerie feeling....

Characters: 6
Meh. You know those super illustrious individual characters that everyone loves to love or hates to hate? Not found here. The characters were really great as a group. The little things that they would do, the lengths that they would go to, made me cry (and I'm rather cold-hearted as is). Separately they were bland, generic characters with thin veneers of personality. "Bland" in the sense that they were unrealistically pure in their motives, feelings, etc....I think Suwa and Kakeru were the most well-developed characters.

Enjoyment: 8
I cried when Kakeru described his depression. Accurate to the point of being eerie (second time I've used that word to describe this manga).

Overall: 8
Would be a 10 if not for the characters. But despite your misgivings, whatever you heard, you inclinations, whatever, read this. There is some beautiful insight in this manga that you shouldn't pass up the chance to read.