Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu

Based on the popular Vocaloid series, by HoneyWorks, called “Kokuhoku Yokou Renshuu (Confession Rehearsal)“: Natsuki, a third-year at Sakuragaoka High School, who holds unrequited feelings for her childhood friend, Yuu, who’s in the Film Club. However, instead of being honest about her feelings, she makes him be her confession “rehearsal” partner. Unable to say her true feelings, things start to get complicated when Miou and Akari, who are also in the Art Club, get involved! Will she ever be able to confess for real!?

Original Publisher

kadokawa

Original Language

japanese

Type

Light Novel

## My Thoughts on Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu ### First Impressions Alright, let's dive into *Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu*, a story born from the popular Vocaloid song. Going in, I was curious to see how a short song could be fleshed out into a full-fledged narrative. The premise itself – confession practice – is inherently cute and ripe with potential for both comedy and heart-wrenching drama. I was definitely expecting a healthy dose of both, considering the shoujo and romance tags. ### What Works Well The story really shines when it captures the awkwardness and anxieties of young love. I found myself relating to the characters' hesitations and clumsy attempts at expressing their feelings. The author does a decent job of portraying that feeling of being utterly terrified of rejection, which leads to some genuinely funny and relatable moments. The core concept of practicing confessions before taking the real plunge is charming and provides a solid foundation for the plot. Also, the way the story weaves in elements from the original song is a nice touch for fans of the music. ### Areas of Concern However, the execution wasn't entirely flawless. At times, the characters' actions felt unnecessarily convoluted, leading to some frustration. It felt like the story was dragging its feet a bit, drawing out the misunderstandings and delaying the inevitable resolution. I think the added details, while intended to enrich the narrative, unfortunately contributed to this feeling of unnecessary drama. Some of the character moments also felt a bit off, almost like they contradicted established personalities. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Okay, here's where I'm going to touch on some specific plot points, so proceed with caution if you want to avoid spoilers! I understand some readers might be disappointed with how certain characters are portrayed in the novel compared to their song counterparts. The specific example that stood out to me was Koyuki's behaviour, which seemed inconsistent with his established character. ### Final Verdict Overall, *Kokuhaku Yokou Renshuu* is a mixed bag. It has moments of genuine sweetness and relatable awkwardness, capturing the essence of young love. However, the unnecessary drama and some inconsistencies in character portrayals hold it back from reaching its full potential. If you're a fan of the song and are willing to overlook some flaws, you might find something to enjoy here. But if you're looking for a perfectly polished romance, this might not be the one for you. I'd say it's a decent, albeit slightly frustrating, read.