Spring Storm and Monster Manga Is Epitome of ‘Because You Were Nice to Me’

“Because you were nice to me” is a common literary trope, often showing up in anime and manga. So much so that there are some romantic ones that make it major plot point. This is the case of Spring Storm and Monster, one of Yen Press’ latest shojo series. As the first volume constantly illustrates, the whole relationship between the leads Ranko and Kaya exists because of that principle. 

Editor’s Note: There will be some spoilers for the early parts of the first volume of the Spring Storm and Monster manga.

Implementation is important when it comes to a manga that uses the “because you were nice to me” trope as a crutch, and Spring Storm and Monster handles things in a way that keeps it from being too saccharine. As such, it makes the resulting relationship and pay-off feel stronger throughout the first volume. Ranko is a traumatized young woman who wants to live as peacefully and quietly as possible. So much so, she foregoes friendships and avoids interactions with anyone who isn’t her mother or pet pig. She’s an extremely anxious and avoidant individual who doesn’t connect with anyone.

This means when she first meets her new stepbrother, she comes across more shocked and terrified than anything. Especially since she first “meets” him when he’s a stranger beating someone else up. Then when they actually interact, he’s equally damaged and attempting to push people away, so he exploits that fear. He suggests the pet pig is for eating. He asks her for money. He breaks into the storage shed she turned into a bedroom to hide from him. He pushes boundaries.

Which means we also get a shocking response from what otherwise seems like a passive person. Ranko strikes back. She lashes out verbally. She, unaware of what he went through, says something that taps into his trauma. However, she realizes this later, and was astute enough to understand his pain earlier, so responds in the way we expect from a “because you were nice to me” trope in manga. She seeks him out and shows him the kindness he isn’t accustomed to. 

And that’s when the magic happens in Spring Storm and Monster.

This does mean that, like many manga involving step siblings, we can see the direction the relationship between Ranko and Kaya is headed. Even early in the volume, before the two start to get along, Miyuki Mitsubachi lays plenty of breadcrumbs teasing certain situations. Not to mention, someone could interpret Ranko’s early reactions as being fueled by more than her typical anxiety and insecurity. 

I honestly hope that the idea that the relationship and romance in Spring Storm and Monster is being influenced by the fact that, in the case of each character, it is happening “because you were nice to me” comes up more in the manga. We already see Ranko sort of touching on it or referencing it in a way in the first volume. I’d like to see it come up further as they explore how healthy the relationship is (or isn’t), then perhaps use that to grow as characters and develop into a more positive couple later on. 

Volume 1 of Spring Storm and Monster is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 2 of the manga on January 21, 2025.