The ending is quite important to any story, since the entire plot leads up to that moment, and is more or less where the payoff is. Citrus, unfortunately, is a good example of how a romance manga with a noticeable improvement midway through falls flat at the end.
The story is about a girl named Yuzu, who, after her mother marries, ends up transferring to a very strict private school, Aihara Academy. She almost immediately runs afoul of the Student Council President, Mei, who happens to be her new stepsister (whom she's apparently never met or heard about before). Against all odds, the two end up falling in love.
I'll admit that's a fairly harsh description of the main romance arc. While there are some things that don't make sense, and it's fairly hard to like Mei at first (particularly forcefully kissing Yuzu on multiple occasions), there are some parts in which it's apparent that the two are falling in love, and might just have what it takes to make things work. A lot of these moments come after the part when Yuzu and Mei do, in fact, get together as a couple midway through the story.
While we're getting to that point, we're gradually introduced to various friends and prospect love interests of the main duo. Their personalities and relationships with the main characters are often fairly interesting, but unfortunately, their narrative role largely boils down to serving as a rival of sorts, who helps the main couple reach some sort of epiphany to make progress on getting closer.
Potential Ending Spoilers Ahead
Unfortunately, the story falls flat in the last six chapters or so(out of 41). Without spoiling too much, a dramatic situation arises (which, admittedly could have been averted if one of the two *cough*Mei*cough* had actually talked about it). Said situation is dealt with in several pages during the final chapter (mostly offscreen), and the story then proceeds to a happy ending. It isn't too surprising that Mei and Yuzu do ultimately get together, but it's quite disappointing that it involves such a cop-out.
End of Potential Spoilers.
If the above paragraph isn't a deal-breaker for you, or you're prepared for possible disappointment, then Citrus may be worth a read. Otherwise, I suggest you take a pass on it.
So-So Beginning, Decent Middle, Disappointing Ending
The ending is quite important to any story, since the entire plot leads up to that moment, and is more or less where the payoff is. Citrus, unfortunately, is a good example of how a romance manga with a noticeable improvement midway through falls flat at the end.
The story is about a girl named Yuzu, who, after her mother marries, ends up transferring to a very strict private school, Aihara Academy. She almost immediately runs afoul of the Student Council President, Mei, who happens to be her new stepsister (whom she's apparently never met or heard about before). Against all odds, the two end up falling in love.
I'll admit that's a fairly harsh description of the main romance arc. While there are some things that don't make sense, and it's fairly hard to like Mei at first (particularly forcefully kissing Yuzu on multiple occasions), there are some parts in which it's apparent that the two are falling in love, and might just have what it takes to make things work. A lot of these moments come after the part when Yuzu and Mei do, in fact, get together as a couple midway through the story.
While we're getting to that point, we're gradually introduced to various friends and prospect love interests of the main duo. Their personalities and relationships with the main characters are often fairly interesting, but unfortunately, their narrative role largely boils down to serving as a rival of sorts, who helps the main couple reach some sort of epiphany to make progress on getting closer.
Potential Ending Spoilers Ahead Unfortunately, the story falls flat in the last six chapters or so(out of 41). Without spoiling too much, a dramatic situation arises (which, admittedly could have been averted if one of the two *cough*Mei*cough* had actually talked about it). Said situation is dealt with in several pages during the final chapter (mostly offscreen), and the story then proceeds to a happy ending. It isn't too surprising that Mei and Yuzu do ultimately get together, but it's quite disappointing that it involves such a cop-out. End of Potential Spoilers.
If the above paragraph isn't a deal-breaker for you, or you're prepared for possible disappointment, then Citrus may be worth a read. Otherwise, I suggest you take a pass on it.