Associated Titles: 高台家の人々, The Koudai Family
Status: ongoing [raws completed at 45 chapters + 1 special]
Author: 森本梢子 (Kozueko Morimoto)
Key words: multiple MCs, mind readers, hilarious, romance, drama.
Koudaike no Hitobito, members of the Koudai family. As the title indcates, this manga focuses on the (love) life of the different members of the Koudai household. And precisely so because it is a household off the charts in all aspects: they are rich, good-looking, successful, with English nobility lineage… and mind readers.
We often find ourselves wishing we could read other people’s minds and know exactly what they are thinking. But hearing the true thoughts of everyone around you all day long may result in acquiring a rather twisted personality, and it would definitely be very difficult to meet someone you can wholeheartedly trust, not to say love.
Kie Hirano is your average office worker, average looks, average achievements… totally average person. But she has a talent. A totally useless talent: the knack of daydreaming. She often stands in a daze daydreaming about the most ridiculous things. But this behaviour that gains her criticism more often than not is actually what draws in Matsumasa Koudai, the young heir of the Koudai family. When a wave of the most nonsensical but hilarious fantasies crashes directly into his mind, he can’t keep himself from laughing. Such a refreshing feeling, that he finally approaches her in order to know her better ( and so as not to become a stalker 0.o).
Kie’s woolgatherings will accompany us as she develops her relationship with Mitsumasa and meets the rest of the family. We also learn more about the other two Koudai siblings and their love lives, as well as the love story of their parents and grandparents. Contrary to what I mistakenly assumed before reading the story, there isn’t any love triangle between the 3 people in the cover, they are siblings!! >.< silly me ah.
The first half of the novel (for now translated till chapter 20) is completely hilarious, Kie’s fantasies take you by surprise by going through the weirdest but funniest twists. Morimoto sensei’s drawing style is still as peculiar but less accentuated than in Gokusen, still not shoujo-ish at all but at least the Koudai people look gorgeous, while the rest look kinda dumb. Although this is about their love stories, so there’s romance, read it for the comedy, as it is the highlight of this comic. If you’re looking for an earth-shattering love story you picked the wrong book, this won’t make your heart race but might make you roll on the floor.
I recently discovered that there is a movie adaptation (The Koudai Family), which is quite loyal to the manga, although of course it cuts some events and daydreams in the manga. Still I found it pretty funny, me recommends^^. Since I had only read the translated chapters up till now, it spoiled me the ending. The second part of the story actually leans more towards the drama than towards the comedy, but it’s not heartbreaking or anything and it is a HE.
Read at: Mangadex
Other mangas by Kozueko Morimoto: Gokusen ~ Ashi girl ~ Deka Wank
Other mangas with mind readers: Mousou Telepathy
Blooming Translation 