To summarize this series in one word: PAIN 420https://9gagfun.9cache.com/photo/aMYVPpV460s.jpg Story Widowed and with an estranged relationship with his daughter Kousuke works hard to maintain a good image of himself in the work place and society. However the exhaustive effort has built up and he has to swallow up all the stress he faces with his personal life. But lo and behold heaven presents to him Koto his daughters friend who he can find escapism with. However its not all a blessing. As they spend more time together they learn more about and intertwine their gloomy lives and face the dark consequences. This is genuinely painful to read. In a great way. Musume no Tomodachi portrays the unblemished consequences of the societal taboos namely agegap relationships and failure to follow societal norms. The darkness is much more relevant and empathetic than something intense like murder or rape because many of us may struggle and question some of societys unspoken rules making this series painfully relevant to our lives. Whereas other sliceoflife drama series generally follow plot structurehttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/sPequw4aHi9oYB8jEg3kvdW8E7UtpmdlXOiRBOkaVCvJ4LT1x53jRjehmTCpjzwHMxrVUJpOPhqA2eAMJlA3oKHHkJzcpGNrFLXEEq9bzsEMOK3zlgehDvX9l7UkVYTKnSr this series seems like its in an infinite climb of rising action. The slow steady looming drama and excellent cliffhangers make for an unreachable climax. Just when I think shit cant get any worse each chapter proves me wrong. The suspense and indefinite delay of resolutions really claws at my heart. Every time I see a new update my heart always sinks and my breath tightens in anticipation for what else will go wrong. Im a sucker for agegap series its always interesting to see how authors tread upon delicate taboo matters. Musume no Tomodachi portrays the subject of agegap relationships in a refreshing manner. The consequences follow through in the most dire manner and we see how their relationship affects everyone around them. There is not a speck of hope or acceptance only hardship and disapproval. 420https://pbs.tw.com/media/EbhJV6U0AMICOW.jpg Characters The characters are to put it simply fucked up. Its clearly conveyed just how shitty their lives have been so their questionable sometimes downright wrong actions have never annoyed me. Instead it just strengthens their character. Kousuke the main character. Lost his wife has a shutin daughter who wont talk to him works like a dog and silently pressured by societal norms. So when his only salvation is Koto a teen girl he jumps at the chance at escaping his life temporarily. However this seemingly rehabilitative relationship only worsens his mental/emotional state tipping his moral scale and turning his life for the absolute worse. Hes nearly never in a healthy mindset. Eventually the only thing he yearns for is escapism from societal demands in the form of Koto. Thus he traps himself in an eternal downward spiral of despair and angst. Koto the main heroine and femme fetale. Initially presented as an angelic deus ex machina for the exhausted Kousuke shes steadily characterized as someone the same as Kousuke. Someone that lives to maintain a constraining image. As opposed to Kousuke maintaining his image in respect to societal norms Koto maintains her image in respect to her mothers wishes. Her family life is just as broken as Kousukes. As opposed to Kousukes family situation where hes rejected by his only family Koto is latched onto by and is necessary for her mother. Rather shes an object for her mother a mere possession to fill in the missing holes in their family. Koto is just as broken as Kousuke and equally seeks out escapism in him just as he does. Kousukes daughter shut herself out from the world and her father after her mothers death. However she eventually opens up again to Kousuke and their situation seems to have taken for a better turn. However upon witnessing Kousuke and Kotos intimate relationship her parentchild relationship was once again severed. She isnt characterized by societal/familial pressure as intensely as Kousuke and Koto but instead by her utter confusion. Kotos mother arguably the antagonist of this series. Left by her husband her personality takes for the worst. Manipulative controlling and selfish she will do whatever it takes to keep Koto wrapped around her finger. Her character is defined by her chaotic love for Koto. Seemingly a more moral cause than what Kousuke and Koto possess as a parents love and nurture is expected but her motives are arguably much more dark and worse than anyone elses. 420https://i0.wp.com/lh3.googleusercontent.com/JsK9mFGOT0/XmRdql467I/AAAAAAAAB84/AkyOcQQ6fEsykkjbKVEE3FYipSxDdJcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/004.jpg Art Stylistically aesthetically pleasing and works incredibly well. The art is finely detailed and wonderful to look at but its strength lies in the show not tell. The facial expressions never warrant explanatory dialogue for a characters feelings and motives. Its quite literally all there plastered on the face slight gestures and body movements. It creates the usual stuffy tense atmosphere and smoothly conveys the internal. Sometimes its almost like Im watching not reading. The character designs are quite nice as well. I especially love Kotos design. Her blush big teddy bear eyes and soft looks exudes a feeling of relief and angelic ... but theres also something there that contrasts that perceived image. 420https://i.ur.com/cXKHJAp.jpg 420https://cdn.mangaread.co/manga5db3e217551e5/ch034/021.jpg Enjoyment Yeah Im probably a masochist since I love reading despite the pain. Its rare for me to not get annoyed by the characters dumb actions in drama but here? Its painfully enjoyable to see it all. Honestly Id put this on the same level as Oshimi Shuzos works like The Flowers of Evil and Blood on the Tracks. I love the dark empathy and immortality the sense of catharsis is one hell of a drug man. 10/10. 420https://i.ur.com/chutZzN.jpg Final Words If youve enjoyed The Flowers of Evil Oyasumi Punpun Blood on the Tracks and other heavy drama series I believe youll find great enjoyment in Musume no Tomodachi. Successfully creating a constant air of quiet tread and discomfort and portraying the dire consequences of societal selfimages and taboos I think this is one of the best ongoing sliceoflife drama manga.