After I Save The Ice Princess From Another School From a Mol*ster, We Started as Friends

Minori Souta is an ordinary high school student. Today, he lives his daily life as usual. Even though he’s like that. Every time he went to school, he felt happy. Because there was a beautiful girl on the train that he boarded. She had pure white hair and blue eyes. Her Western-like face was somehow fragile and pretty. She has an outstanding style and is so beautiful that she could be considered an idol or an actress. Souta followed her with his eyes every time he got on the train. She rejected all the students that tried to talk to her, and now there are no other high school students on this train except for him and her. He thought he would just go on with this ordinary life. He had no desire to get close to her. He never thought about it. But—one day. An incident occurs. Souta saw her being mol*sted. No one tried to help her. Souta gathered up his courage and saved her. The next day. Souta thought that he would return to his ordinary life, but she appeared in front of him. “Um…you helped me the other day. I just wanted to say thank you.” Shinonome Nagi, aka [Ice Princess]…… She was the girl he had saved yesterday. Souta was puzzled, because she was someone he only saw from the distance, nonetheless, he accepted her gratitude. ….But, he kept his distance again. He was. Because he doesn’t hate his daily routine. It was then. “Something, I want to ask. To you.” Souta couldn’t bear to hear those somewhat sorrowful words. And decided to listen to her request. “While I’m on the train. I want you to……stay by my side.” At those words–Souta couldn’t even refuse. He accepted it. However. Souta didn’t yet know that he would be toyed around by her again and again.

Original Publisher

kakuyomu

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on After I Save The Ice Princess From Another School From a Mol*ster, We Started as Friends This title is a mouthful, but the premise is simple: a fluffy, sweet romance between an average guy and an "ice princess." I dove in hoping for a lighthearted read, and while the initial chapters delivered, my experience became a bit of a rollercoaster. ### First Impressions The beginning is undeniably charming. We have the classic setup: a kind male lead, a beautiful but aloof female lead, and the slow burn of their relationship. The slice-of-life elements are well-executed, creating a comfortable and engaging atmosphere. I found myself enjoying the small moments, the shared meals, and the tentative steps towards intimacy. ### What Works Well The core strength of this novel lies in its ability to deliver pure, unadulterated fluff. When the story focuses on the developing relationship between the two leads, it shines. The male lead isn't dense or indecisive, which is a breath of fresh air in this genre. He's proactive and genuinely cares for the female lead, making their interactions all the more heartwarming. The progression of their intimacy feels natural and earned, which is a huge plus. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: the arranged marriage arc. Around chapter 35, the story takes a sharp turn into melodrama, introducing a conflict that many readers found jarring and out of place. The female lead's sudden willingness to enter an arranged marriage, driven by a sense of obligation to her adoptive parents, felt forced and inconsistent with her established character. It felt like a needless injection of drama that threatened to derail the entire narrative. ### Areas of Concern While the arranged marriage conflict is eventually resolved, it left a sour taste in my mouth. It felt like a plot device solely for the sake of creating drama, and it temporarily damaged my investment in the characters. I think the author could have explored the female lead's relationship with her parents in a more nuanced and less contrived way. ### Final Verdict "After I Save The Ice Princess..." is a mixed bag. When it sticks to its strengths – the sweet, fluffy romance – it's a delightful and engaging read. However, the forced drama of the arranged marriage arc detracts from the overall experience. If you're willing to overlook this stumble, you'll find a heartwarming story with likable characters and plenty of feel-good moments. Just be prepared for a brief detour into melodrama along the way. I'm giving it a cautious 3.5 out of 5 stars.