REVIEW: The Apology of Noumi-Senpai, Vol 1

All is fair in love and thought…

About The Apology of Noumi-Senpai

The Apology of Noumi-Senpai is a boys’ love series by Koala Omugi, published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. The story takes place in a university’s philosophy department when a junior and senior meet for the first time. Noumi Masataka is the senior who is brilliant, but living a slacker life. He’s more concerned with gambling and “living well” today. Tan Eito is the junior, and out gay guy who wants to find his “other half.” The two couldn’t be more different, but somehow end up starting a friends with benefits situation. As Eito and Noumi spend time together, the lines start blurring between friends, benefits, and something more.

My Thoughts

Can the person whose life philosophy and guiding principles are vastly different from yours be the one? Noumi and Eito seem to be living in completely different realities, with the only thing in common between them being their love of philosophy and their sexual attraction to each other. Noumi is here for a “good time” and Eito’s living his life for the “long time.” So how exactly do these two manage to fit together?

The discovery of that “how” ends up being my favorite part about this story. Initially, I thought the story would focus on the two finding common ground and it being that they were more alike than different. However, I felt like the story bypasses the common ground and instead showcases how these different philosophies can coexist. And not only that, those differences end up being what endears them to each other more.

Noumi has such a carefree and lax attitude, he’s not thinking deeply about anything, especially not the friends with benefits relationship he has with Eito. Eito is standoffish and cold, and this only draws Noumi to him more. He almost enjoys that Eito doesn’t fall for his cliche lines and actions that would have girls fawning over him. But he understands that Eito is looking for his “soulmate” and won’t take him seriously.

On the other hand, Eito has this idealized version of that his “other half” will be like and that is nothing like Noumi. He goes along with Noumi’s friends with benefits plan, almost to get one over him. But before he knows it, he’s falling in love with Noumi. But because he knows Noumi doesn’t take anything seriously and is straight, he’s convinced this he won’t be “the one.”

I love the fact that these two philosophy majors who love discussing and analyzing theories so much, do the thing of not talking to each other honestly about what they feel for each other. Which for us as readers, makes their eventual confession all the more delicious. I also enjoy that their understanding of each other’s philosophies is what causes such a disconnect between them. Noumi is convinced that he couldn’t be the soulmate Eito is looking for. Eito took Noumi’s “living for a good time” philosophy at face value, and then realizes the more he gets to know Noumi, there is so much more to him than the way he moves through the world.

Ultimately this story is the one that keeps giving. The more times I reread it, the more I take away from it. The Apology of Noumi-Senpai manages to perfectly explore some philosophical ideas in and out of the context of a romantic relationship. It also calls to question how the values and beliefs we hold on to move us through the world and shape our understandings of ourselves and others. It doesn’t feel forced or like a concept added for funsies. You can tell a lot of love and care has been poured into balancing the philosophy and the love, and I’m sure there’s more I have to discover in further readings. I’m incredible excited knowing there’s another volume coming because I cannot wait to see these two interact as official lovers.