“Replica Datte, Koi wo suru.” is a love story that carefully depicts the pain of a girl living as “someone other than herself” and the brilliance of youth. The protagonist, Nao, is a “replica” created by Sunao Aikawa. She appears only on days when Sunao does not want to go to school or when a substitute is needed, spending daily life as her stand-in. Studying and exercising with all her might, fulfilling her role without anyone noticing was Nao's reason for existence. She was merely an existence supporting the original, and she must not wish for anything more. Such daily life that she took for granted begins to color little by little due to a single love.

As Nao falls in love with her classmate Shuuya Sanada, the world that had been gray until now instantly changes into a vivid landscape. The time spent together, dates in school uniforms, and promises they want to keep secret from everyone—each and every event becomes an irreplaceable treasure for Nao. However, the greater that happiness grows, the heavier the reality that she is “not the real thing” weighs on her. The conflict of whether she, who is nothing more than Sunao's substitute, is allowed to fall in love, or whether she is allowed to convey her true feelings, tightens her chest, and readers will also follow the story while holding complex emotions just like Nao. Meanwhile, Sunao, seeing Nao begin to change, also feels impatience and confusion, and a gradual change begins to occur in their relationship as well.

The charm of this work lies in the point that it delicately depicts not only romance but also the theme of “who am I.” While a peaceful atmosphere flows with a coastal town as the stage, the loneliness and suffering precisely because of being a special existence called a replica quietly accumulate, giving the story a deep lingering resonance. A life lived as someone else's substitute, and the desire to live as oneself. Nao's figure, wavering in the gap between them, is very human, and as you read, a feeling of “wanting to cheer her on” naturally wells up. The brilliance and pain of youth are depicted in an exquisite balance, making it a work where emotions are greatly shaken every time you turn a page.

“Replica Datte, Koi wo suru.” was a work that makes one think about the importance of the “meaning of existence” and “being recognized by someone,” rather than being just a simple youth romance manga. Despite Nao always continuing to make efforts for someone else's sake, she is not recognized for that hard work as her own. Even so, her figure trying to fulfill her role without forgetting her smile strikes a chord, and one cannot help but empathize with her change as she learns of love and gradually comes to wish for her own happiness. Because it does not end with just the sweetness of romance but carefully depicts the pain, suffering, and even the strength to move forward, it was a work that remains long in the heart even after finishing reading. The movements of the characters' hearts are extremely delicate, and since sure emotion is packed within a gentle atmosphere, it is a volume that can be recommended not only to people who like youth love stories but also to those who want to thoroughly savor human drama.