The novel is currently translated to 44.2% of Chapter 1, Volume 1.
The character we'll be looking at today is the male lead of the semi-harem series, Tsunemura Ryouto (常村良人). He's a 16-year-old high school student who is also an otaku who enjoys reading light novels, manga and watching anime. He's a quiet person, as seen by his low profile in the class, but secretly enjoys ranting at the people around him in his mind. After getting mistaken for a light novel author due to having similar clothes, he got to become a broadcast program host with Miss Otonashi Madoka, a seiyuu idol. As in light novels nowadays, he got into an accidental harem with quite a few beauties.
While it may not be apparent, I must applaud the author for using the contrast of different literary devices to develop the story. Unlike most semi-harem male leads like Shido Itsuka from Date A Live, or Kinji Toyama from Hidan No Aria, Ryouto's character changes quite dramatically from the beginning of the story when he was just a 16-year-old boy who got dragged into a high school drama into a 18-year-old young man who is not afraid nor hesitant to work hard, even if he still fails, so he could bring happiness to himself, and the person he loves.
In fact, you could say that the synergy of Ryouto's change of character, along with Otonashi Madoka's change of presence, which we'll look into next time, is what drives the story, and what makes it so interesting and warm to read.
Ryouto's idol love, which could also be called as puppy love, is something we all have experienced during our young age. It is love without responsibilities, a carefree liking towards the best parts of another person of the opposite gender. However, what happens when you know the ugly side of the other person? While the person may be all smiles when he or she faces the public, he or she might be an rough and rude person behind the scenes. When that time comes, will you be able to accept them as they are?
The younger Ryouto didn't. Who wouldn't like a soft and gentle person who treats them well, and who would like a person who treats them like trash anyway?
Then he grew up and understood what he enjoyed and wanted in another's presence.
Love comes with responsibilities and sacrifices. It's something you have to take action for. Someone you love will always have weaknesses that they will only share with the people they love in return. The reason behind loving someone else might even elude you for your life, but you know that you'll still continue to love them in spite of what they are, for the reason they are.
This is something that not many anime with romantic elements take note of, preferring instead to give in to mass appeal.
Another problem most teenagers face when they reach the age of 17-18 is their future plans. Do they work for something they enjoy, or do they follow social norms and work for the purpose of work? Both are equally viable, given the circumstances. Not many people are able to work what they enjoy like Otonashi Madoka, or even Kahou Meari from a young age. The rest of us, like Ryouto have to work hard for it, even though we may not really able to make it big due to limitations in our abilities.
Ryouto is an exceptionally brave male character. His normality is a mirror reflecting shounens in real life, exemplified by the abnormality around him. He started out a clueless sheep caught in the web of life and slowly grew into a valiant lion who takes charges of his own life.
I would have liked to see more light novels be more serious about the development of the male lead like Aitsuko, but what I could only do now is only to hope.
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