Preface Is it possible for a story without any conflict to exist? If so is it possible for a story without conflict without drama and with such a slow almost imperceptible narrative progression where any problem is totally dismantled in a mere 2 frames all for the sake of an immense and devastating peace to exist? Would something like that be interesting enough to last longterm? For the lazies who refuse to read my review Ill answer in advance. Yes its definitely possible. Now for the curious the brave the adventurous come and explore with me the reasons why Maikosan Chi no Makanaisan a story so simple so raw so ordinary in an equally simple way is so perfect. Twoinone The moefication of Durga and Parvati 500https://i.ur.com/CTwyzcG.jpg First of all Maikosan is not a story without conflicts this information is entirely false. The manga does have conflicts there is drama there are problems what makes me sell the story in this way are its conclusions which never extend the problem presented to something beyond it. Problems obviously arise they are inevitable the question is what is done with them and for Maikosans narrative the answer is always short and to the point problems solved as soon as possible usually within the same chapter. When long problems that are difficult to solve arise the story often deliberately omits them in order to maintain the status quo of the manga which prizes a totally undisturbed peace. In a place where only peace exists for the balance to be maintained to sustain this totally unimaginable fable more unreal than a world with flying cars and talking animals the existence of two semidivine characters is necessary Kiyochan and Sumirechan. The rectification of two ideas shaped like two cute girls the moefication in action. Kiyochan is our main protagonist shes the one driving our story shes the one who primarily not solely moves its structure. Shes the one who prints the covers shes the one who starts the story shes the one who gives color to the colorless. We see in her a young girl who has left her hometown of Aomori in search of her dream to become a Maiko in the city of Kyoto. The manga begins her journey at its conclusion where we discover that Kiyochan failed in her mission didnt manage to become a Maiko didnt fulfill her dream but ended up becoming the caterer at the establishment that houses the Maikos in training. In contrast we have Sumirechan her best friend who together also moved to Tokyo in pursuit of the same dream to become a Maiko. Unlike Kiyo Sumire is spectacular at everything she sets out to do a character created to be totally skilled and dedicated a pure talent. From the start Kiyochan is presented with a clear and traditional dramatic scenario. The life of a young girl who left her hometown in search of her dream which was completely dismantled by her lack of skills leaving her nothing to do but watch her best friend live alone what she had dreamed of but had been unable to achieve herself. This is what the imaginary of a man eternally tormented by conflicts has built up but to my pleasant surprise I couldnt have been more wrong and farther from the mangas purpose. The malice of my disturbed heart couldnt even scratch the immense irresolute purity of Maikosan Chi no Makanaisans narrative. 500https://i.ur.com/JlCSgh9.jpg Always calm and detached with her mind constantly innocuous the thoughts that circulate in little Kiyo head are entirely concentrated on the wellbeing of others. In the world of manga Kiyo Nozuki is the closest character to achieving Buddha status. She doesnt feel envy shes proud of her friends achievements she doesnt complain about anything her happiness is found in making others happy pure and simple. Plus shes super cute. A goddess among mortals. Within a hostile environment that could have devoured her completely Kiyo chose to embrace and love it discovering a new and perfect aptitude for her own life. And what strikes me the most and what highlights the quality of the story is how the world itself and its characters make no point of highlighting Kiyochans situation on the contrary everything is naturalized there is no talk about it which only serves to further expose the detachment of its protagonist and her happiness found in other activities. Theres no room for mourning what has been lost when theres something much better to be celebrated. 500https://i.ur.com/TOLol3E.jpg On the other side of the coin we can discuss her best friend Sumire Herai. If we find in Kiyochan the strength of love acceptance tenderness and empathy we find in Sumire all the weight of that same love its consequence demonstrated by her characters resilience persistence and obsession with perfection. Sumire is someone who is obsessed with her own art the best of her generation is precisely the hardestworking and most fanatical artist who fills her head with only one thing: perfecting herself. Plus shes super cute too. While Kiyo distributes her affection and love Sumire carries the responsibility of expectations of others and of herself giving herself entirely to what she has always dreamed of and which she now carries for herself as well as for her friend. Kiyo is the scabbard Sumire is the sword the goddess of affection and the goddess of effort benefit each other each surviving through the love of the other. Both complete each other both love each other and recognize the value of each other a different but still unique entity. A cute entity. A perfect world: The comfort of eternal immobility 500 https://i.ur.com/2I8y3k8.jpg Stories of overcoming and not giving up on your dreams are countless Im tired of them. Now how many stories do we read about letting go of that dream and finding something more fulfilling? Well Maikosan Chi no Makanai wont give you that answer since its not a story about acceptance nor is it a story about perseverance its more a mixture of the two with a powerful leaven that solidifies the dough of the two helping it to grow a leaven called daily life the good old Slice of Life. I dealt with two central characters in the story Kiyo Nozuki the goddess of love compassion and patience. Sumire Herai the goddess of effort perseverance and resilience. In addition to the two there is a third protagonist a character central to the functioning of your story who serves to connect your plot both visible and invisible. Im not talking about you my dear Kenta you have your importance but not for my review more important than you though is the Kitchen. Not the kitchen environment as a physical material space but the kitchen environment as a historical space which only exists through the interactions of its characters. The Kitchen is where it all happens where the beautiful recipes take shape in the succulent and appetizing dishes that leave you salivating with each chapter it is in this space where we see the process of creation the love that Kiyo puts into each meal made the results of his labor manifested. The Kitchen serves to synthesize the perfection of everyday life which compels us to let our guard down forget about our problems and cling to a story so mundane that it depends on nothing more than the simple straightforward mediocrity of daily life. During my reading of Maikosan my greatest pleasure was to always read the manga before going to sleep. I didnt read it extensively and in a hurry I read it only at the end of my day because I knew it would be the most pleasurable way to enjoy the story both for its quality and as a personal benefit getting an excellent nights sleep. Maikosan Chi no Makanai became my bible. 500https://i.ur.com/vlwx3Rk.jpg The Kitchen that space that is more immaterial than material where the banal takes shape is what gives this wonderful story its beauty and quality. The plot doesnt allow any stain on its endless peace. Its structures are not swayed because they do not allow themselves to be swayed they cannot and should not be disturbed. The utopia of his narrative works because it is utopian it is utopian because it is ideal it is ideal because it is desirable and it is desirable because it is perfect. Maikosans world needs to be unshakeable in order to exalt the beauty of normality. And in its search for an eternally perfect normality thats where we find total abnormality the fruit of this absurdly unattainable utopia. With two alien protagonists endowed with human qualities that are immensely desired and rarely achieved who serve as inspiration and motivation inspiration not only to carry out challenging and complex activities but to simply carry out our lives in the best possible way in the most mundane accomplishments possible in the most mediocre banal and passionate way possible. All of this just for the sake of any other day just like a slice of our tiny life. 500https://i.ur.com/OBHiLpL.jpg