Mars no Kiss (manga)
rating: 9/10
date: October 2026
I've had this manga in my TBR list for a while now. I wanted to read a short manga series, so it was the perfect opportunity to read Mars no Kiss. We follow Yukari, a high school student with a university boyfriend. She is at odds with her mother all the time due to her mother being controlling. She seemed to be one of those mean girls
and constantly belittled others due to her own insecurites. When she meets Miki, a girl in her class, she initally judges Miki as a good girl
, something Yukari isn't in her mother's eyes. It isn't until Yukari accidentlly witnesses Miki kiss a statue that the two begin to become closer and develop a friendship.
I loved reading this manga! It's a bit bittersweet, but I honestly think it fits the theme. We see these two young girls struggle with their mother's expectations. Yukari's mother makes her feel caged in and doesn't allow her to be herself. Therefore, Yukari seeks acceptance and love from her older boyfriend, who's only interested in a sexual relationship. As for Miki, we learned that she's insecure about finding love due to her mother isolating her from the world in order to stay a good student
. She simply accepts that she'll never escape it. However, when the two girls begin to talk, they both help each other grow the confidence and get the hope they needed. Yukari breaks up with her boyfriend and begins questioning what she really wants, not just what her mother doesn't want. Miki is given the hope that she'll one day find someone to love. As they become closer, Miki becomes irreplacable to Yukari. She treasures Miki's small details , such as her smile, her flustered face, her hands, and the shape of her lips. Yukari has fallen for Miki. However, Miki ends up getting a date with an old friend from junior high. It broke my heart my heart to see Yukari hurt from the possibility of Miki getting into a relationship. I felt so proud to see Yukari apologize to Miki for storming out and put her feelings aside in order to help Miki. While there being selfish intentions behind it, Yukari offers to kiss Miki as a way to practice for the date. It's such a beautiful moment as Yukari finally gets something she truly wants, Miki. Then, Yukari accidentlly blurts out she likes
Miki. Yukari becomes scared to see Miki's reaction as she thought maybe Miki will outright reject her, but instead, Miki replies with I like you, too.
Although, not in a romantic way, but to Yukari, it was enough that Miki accepted her. And honestly, I think that what makes the story beautiful. While the two don't get romantically together, they found acceptance and love in each other. That's what's most important.
