What many people imagine from the word “living alone” might be a quiet space all to themselves. A time when you can enjoy what you like as much as you want without being disturbed by anyone. For people with hobbies, that is a more precious place than anything else. “Tadaima, Ojamasaremasu!!” begins from the moment such a “space of one's own” suddenly crumbles away one day in an unbelievable way. However, it was not an unfortunate event, but an entrance to an unexpected encounter and a noisy yet warm daily life. Contrary to the gentle impression received from the title, it is a work that makes a quite intense start.

The protagonist, Rinko, is a 24-year-old office worker and a closet otaku who never talks about her hobbies openly to anyone. In her daily life tired from work, the time she immersed herself in anime, manga, and novels was her healing. There must be many people who can sympathize with the time spent forgetting the busyness of reality and soaking in the world of their favorite works. However, an abnormality suddenly occurs in that peaceful time. Every time she enjoys anime, a violent protest like banging on the wall flies from the next room. Just when you think it is an annoying neighbor problem, the story proceeds in a direction far exceeding expectations from there. As a result of trying to talk it out, the development where the wall is actually broken down, and the person beyond it was the original author of her favorite manga “Usaneko-bu”, is shocking enough that one would not normally think of it.

The fun of this work lies in the fact that it is not just about romance beginning. Because the wall broke, the three people, Rinko, the refreshing young man on the left next door, Satsuki Akito, and the popular manga artist, Usada Haruma, end up shortening their distance semi-forcibly. Originally, relationships with neighbors often end at about the level of greetings, but in this work, the boundaries disappear both physically and psychologically due to the hole in the wall. It is different from a complete room share, and they are not complete strangers either. This ambiguous sense of distance is very exquisite. Precisely because it is a relationship that seems too close yet far, and far yet close, a strange heart-throbbing feeling is born from slight words and actions.

Speaking of romantic comedy works, there are those that focus on laughter and those that focus on romance, but the balance of this work feels very comfortable. Since it begins with an outrageous event of a wall breaking, at first glance it might look like a gag work with only momentum. However, as you read further, the process where the characters gradually get to know each other and shorten their distance is carefully depicted. The figure of Rinko, who is a closet otaku, becoming able to expose herself has a charm that naturally makes you want to cheer her on, and with two men of different types, Satsuki and Usada, being involved, it is structured so that the whereabouts of the love triangle also become highly intriguing.

What I felt after reading “Tadaima, Ojamasaremasu!” was that the distance between people might unexpectedly change greatly due to a small trigger. It is very impressive that the wall destruction incident, which originally should have ended as the worst trouble, becomes the beginning of a new relationship. Even though it is a situation that would absolutely be troublesome in reality, precisely because it is a manga, it makes one think, “I want to experience this kind of life just a little bit.” While it can be read with laughter, there is warmth in the interactions of the characters, and it was a work that somehow softens the heart after finishing reading. It is a piece that makes you want to recommend it not only to people who like romance manga, but also to people who are seeking a slightly unusual stimulation or healing in their daily life.