Wondance understands anxiety, jealousy, and competition.
Yes, the visuals, characters and character interactions, and ability to get you interested in a sport you previously didn't care about, are all very impressive. And I'm not just breezing past those. It's a very impressive sports manga that does these all pretty well.
That said, what really stood out to me was how realistic and relatable the main character's thoughts and emotions are. Intrusive and racing thought bubbles flood the screen when he begins to doubt himself or worry about others' opinions. Posture, speech habits, and facial expressions change multiple times within the span of a single exchange to reflect how a single word or perceived response can change a million things in his head. There was one scene specifically that had me applauding the author for prioritizing a home-hitting relatable and realistic response over an impactful or entertaining one.
Because the protagonist is so understandable, his growth and others' perceptions of his growth are that much more impactful. This is the ultimate version of the "He is my child and he deserves the world" relationship I'm sure you've felt towards a character before.
