Itou is a socially awkward teenager, she has never really understood how to fit in. In Common-Sense Monster, Volume 1, when she sees her popular, well-liked classmate Takahashi is really an unspeakable monster that has just eaten a sex pest teacher, Itou immediately confronts Takahashi…and asks her how she passes as normal. 

I don’t actually know if the premise is meant to be funny or not, but it is played with absolute seriousness. Itou is earnestly trying to figure out the one simple hack to be normal, while Takahashi is mostly just jerking Itou around for fun…while also giving her world-shakingly good advice. Despite the fact that Itou is in terrible danger – as Takahashi frequently reminds her – she really likes the other “girl” and believes there must be more to her than just eating humans. 

Takahashi definitely fucks with Itou, reminding her constantly that she, Takahashi is an unspeakable monster who has no likes or dislikes and doesn’t give a shit about humans, but when asked if there is a hack to getting along, says something so simple and profound, advising Itou to lust like whatever is popular. Insert exploding brain emoji here. Takahashi goes on to explain the most teens are desperate to separate themselves from their peers but also terrified of being different, which I swear to you is not just relevant to teens.

Again, I don’t know if this is intentional or I am over-analyzing this manga, but there are a number of horrors on display here. The terror of just not fitting is a level of existential DEFCON 1 that I presume is familiar to many of us. The real-world evil of a sexual predator teacher is, also something that I expect we understand too well. Coming in at the bottom of the list for Itou is an eldritch horro who has stated that it will consume her.  Like, in comparison with high school life, which is the worst of the three, really?

When the awful teacher appears once again and seems to target Itou, calling her a monster, we’re probably pretty sure we know who we’d rather have on our side.

There is little Yuri here, but there is room for it, if it develops. I just hope it’s not just Itou throwing her feelings at Takahashi. 

Ratings: 

Art – 7
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – Bath scene, so 4
Yuri  – 1

Overall – 8 

For fans of creepy monsters walk among us manga, this is some fun. Volume 1 is available now from Yen Press.