Super Cub

[bongione]

Genre
Drama, Slice of Life, Motorcycles, High School, Female Friendship

Author
Tone Kōken

Artist
Hiro

Japanese Publisher
Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko

Year
2017

Number of volumes
8

Manga
Yes

Anime
Yes

Synopsys
(Mostly based on the anime)

Koguma (小熊) is a junior in high-school student without parents or friends, living a lonely and colorless life.

One day she decides she wants a motorcycle instead of her bike for the school commute, and ends up buying a Honda Super Cub on the cheap.

Slowly life begins to show more colorr. Reiko (礼子), daughter of a politician who lives on her own, is a classmate who also rides a Honda Cub. They slowly develop a deep friendship, and in time they are joined by Eniwa Shii (恵庭椎), a girl who rides a bike and helps her parents running a coffee house.

The series narrates the slow blossoming of Koguma and her relationships with the other protagonists, with the motorcycles acting as the vehicle that opens up their worlds.

My thoughts
I love slice of life stories. This one focuses on platonic love between girls who have a tough life. Nicel unusual.

Koguma's gradual discovery of happiness is constantly heart-warming, sprinkled with subtle humour, bike rides and bike maintenance. If you have not watched the anime, I think it's one of the best of the Sring 2021 season. I would very much love to read the source material.

[bongione]

Cover images for volumes 2 - 8

spoiler