The feeling of “loving manga” is probably something that many people have felt at least once. However, Kore Kaite Shine is a work that turns that “love” into a new step forward, moving beyond just being a reader to saying “I want to draw it myself.” The setting is a remote island far from the hustle and bustle of the city, where the main character, Ai Yasumi, found her greatest pleasure in reading her favorite manga. Her transformation, firmly deciding to take up the pen herself following an unexpected encounter with her admired manga artist, is so straightforward that it warms the hearts of readers as well.

The story really begins to move when the protagonist visits a doujinshi convention. The development where a girl, who had previously thought manga was only for reading, witnesses many creators firsthand and realizes a new possibility—“maybe I can draw it too”—is extremely impressive. Then, the surprising fact is revealed that the manga artist she had admired for years is actually a strict teacher at her school, and the story moves forward all at once. This unexpected setting further sparks interest in the work, making it impossible to stop turning the pages to find out what happens next.

After the Manga Research Club is established, its charm as a coming-of-age drama about working on creative projects while supporting one another with friends—rather than a solo challenge—is vividly depicted. The way the friends, each with different personalities and ways of thinking, clash opinions at times and encourage each other at others to grow step by step, feels very natural and warm. From participating in doujinshi conventions and showcasing work at school festivals to publishing creations via social media, the work carefully portrays not only the joy of drawing manga but also the delight and difficulty of delivering it to people, making it easy even for readers without creative experience to sympathize with the characters' feelings.

Another highlight of this work is how the advisor teacher, Teshima, who initially spoke harsh words like “manga is useless,” gradually comes to be moved by the students' earnest attitudes. Instead of simply changing into a passionate teacher, the depiction of his way of thinking changing little by little as he touches the students' passion—while harboring his own past and conflicts—has depth. Not only the main story, but also Lost World, which depicts his past, and the episodes that continue beyond it make his character more three-dimensional, giving richness to the overall work.

What you strongly feel after finishing reading is that this work is not a story that conveys “manga drawing techniques,” but rather a work that depicts the very feeling of “loving manga.” Pure emotions like wanting to draw because you love it, wanting someone to read it, and wanting to get better overflow throughout the story, and that passion naturally reaches the reader as well. The characters are by no means blessed with talent from the start, but there is great appeal in how each advances through trial and error, and anyone who creates—or anyone who has ever been obsessed with something—will surely be moved. It is a very memorable work where you can simultaneously enjoy a deep love for the culture of manga and the radiance of youth growing together with friends.