Actually kind of cute?! A gardener × a flashy college student — “The Star and the Hedgehog” by Nago Nayuta（那悟なゆた）

I’d like to introduce “Hoshi to Harinezumi” (MARBLE COMICS), published by Tokyo Mangasha! (※Please note that the new edition has been re-released under ShuCream from RED※)

The following is quoted from the back cover. This review does touch on the story’s content! If you just want a quick overview!! I’d be happy if you read only the red text and highlighted sections.

“That cuteness—stop it, Harukiyo-kun!!” …———

“Am I… being hated?”

Ikumi, who returns home during his university summer break, meets Harukiyo, the son of a local landscaping business and a gardener, while he is tending to the garden at Ikumi’s family home.

Although surprised by Harukiyo’s piercing-covered, not-at-all-gardener-like appearance, Ikumi approaches him with his natural friendliness, only to be met with an inexplicably cold attitude…?!

A heart-fluttering love story between the exquisitely shy, black-haired boy Harukiyo and the carefree, soft-spoken college student Ikumi ♡

From “Hoshi to Harinezumi” (MARBLE COMICS), published by Tokyo Mangasha

This title immediately draws you in with its beautifully layered colors on the cover, and it’s a wonderful work in which Nago-sensei thoroughly explores the appeal of black-haired characters (^^) Harukiyo-kun works as a gardener—a profession with a rather stoic image (purely my personal impression)—yet he appears on the page with a cuteness that completely shatters that first impression. He’s just too adorable for a gardener…!! While he generally maintains a cool demeanor throughout the story, Ikumi-kun’s explosively friendly nature gradually causes that cool exterior to completely transform.

Watching his guarded attitude gradually soften and his expressions grow gentler is an instant knockout!!

When a usually cool person shows a smile, a peaceful and wonderfully gentle world spreads out right before your eyes…!! Just as Ikumi-kun is completely knocked out, the reader is swept along with him. There’s no regret—because happiness is right there in front of you…(^^) He’s just too adorable… Harukiyo-kun. Even his inability to be honest only adds to the charm.

Ikumi-kun being adorably flustered and getting the order of things all mixed up is just too cute…!!

Just when they finally reach the point where they can talk naturally, the work on Ikumi’s family garden begins to wrap up, raising the fear that they might not see each other again… and then, at that very moment, they reunite at a local festival. A must-read for yukata lovers. The “blushing in a yukata” moment is absolutely perfect and highly recommended for anyone who loves traditional Japanese attire.

While they genuinely care for and cherish each other, Ikumi-kun can’t help but become a slightly jealous boy who wants to keep his beloved all to himself, and in contrast to his appearance, Harukiyo-kun is simply and purely captivated by Ikumi-kun’s coolness. Please be sure to experience their interactions firsthand…! To love and be loved like this is the ultimate form of healing (^^)