Because You Were by My Side

“Would you consider dating me with marriage in mind?” This story began the day I, Haruki Daisuke, a senior at a national university who had just secured a job offer, heard those words from Manaka Sonomiya, a beautiful coworker I had never spoken to before. There was someone I needed to forget. And Manaka also had a boyfriend she was about to break up with. “I love him. But with him only chasing dreams, we can’t build a stable family,” Manaka said. Manaka’s family had been torn apart by poverty. Not wanting to repeat that sorrow, she confessed that she had chosen me, someone with a stable job, as a potential marriage partner—not the man she loved most. Naturally, I couldn’t agree with her way of thinking. But I understood all too well what had driven her to feel that way. Her circumstances were painfully similar to mine, and because of that, I couldn’t bring myself to push her away. Through an unexpected and heartrending tale of love, and with the support of kindhearted friends, we began striving toward a new way of life.

Original Publisher

kakuyomu

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on Because You Were by My Side "Because You Were by My Side" is a completed original web novel that I recently dove into, and it's definitely a story that left me with mixed feelings. With genres spanning adult, drama, romance, sports, and even tragedy, I was expecting an emotional rollercoaster, and in many ways, that's exactly what I got. ### First Impressions The premise intrigued me right away. The blend of sports and romance is always a draw, and the added element of tragedy hinted at a depth I was eager to explore. The "beautiful female lead" and "male protagonist" tags are fairly standard, but I was hoping for characters with compelling personalities and motivations. ### What Works Well The novel clearly excels at creating an emotionally charged atmosphere. The author isn't afraid to tackle difficult themes, and the story definitely pulls at your heartstrings. The depiction of loss and grief felt raw and authentic, making it easy to connect with the characters on a deeper level. There are some really beautiful moments sprinkled throughout, particularly when the story focuses on the bond between the characters amidst trying circumstances. ### Areas of Concern Unfortunately, I also encountered some issues that dampened my overall enjoyment. The pacing felt uneven at times, and I felt like certain plot points were rushed or underdeveloped. I also struggled to fully connect with some of the characters, specifically Manaka, the female lead from the intro. Her actions sometimes felt manipulative, which made it difficult for me to root for her. Additionally, the ending felt a bit too convenient. While it does deliver a happy resolution, the way it was achieved felt somewhat contrived and relied on too many coincidences. I feel like there was a lot of potential with some of the side characters, but these were not fully utilized, which made me feel like the story could have been more expansive. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning I'm going to tread carefully here to avoid ruining the experience for other readers. However, I do want to briefly touch on the ending. While I appreciate the desire for a happy conclusion, the way it was executed felt a little too neat and tidy. ### Final Verdict Overall, "Because You Were by My Side" is a mixed bag. It has moments of genuine emotional resonance and explores some compelling themes. However, it's also hampered by pacing issues, character inconsistencies, and a somewhat unsatisfying ending. If you're willing to overlook these flaws and are prepared for an emotionally intense journey, it might be worth a read. However, I personally found myself ultimately a bit disappointed.