Zettai Kareshi

「絶対彼氏。」
Mangaka: Yuu Watase
Categories: shoujo, romantic comedy

Summary: Riiko (who just got dumped), by some twist of fate, tries an online dating site which enables you to specify the traits of your ideal mate. The ideal mate, a sort-of android with all the good stuff you are looking for, will then be delivered the following day. In Riiko's case, her perfect boyfriend came in the person of Knight. Good-looking, smart, sweet, devoted, romantic -- he was perfect. Her neighbor and childhood friend Shouji doesn't seem too pleased though. Could it be that he likes Riiko, too? (Note: Shoujomagic did a way better job of summarizing this.)

Comments: Zettai Kareshi, or Absolute Boyfriend, is your typical shoujo manga fodder. You have your love triangle with the girl-who-can't-decide-which-one-she-likes caught in the middle. I guess the best thing about love triangles is that you'll keep guessing on who is going to end up with who. However, given the android vs. childhood friend premise, we pretty much have an idea on how it's going to end, don't we? Success of the story then lies on what happens till then and how we get there. Will Yuu Watase deliver? It's likely given her track record and since so far, story development seems to be better than other shoujo mangas. And the android component, although not a new concept, adds an interesting twist. It's cutesy, it's mushy, it has bishounen -- if you like that kind of stuff then this is for you.

Warning: suggestive sexual themes but nothing too explicit. PG-13.

Scanlator: Shoujomagic