My Divorced Crybaby Neighbour (Batsuichi de Nakimushi na Otonari-san) is a Rom Com / Slice of Life Manga by Zyugoya (Of Musuko ga Kawaikute Shikataganai Mazoku no Hahaoya fame), which was first published on Twitter in August 2021 before being published in print by Kadokawa starting in May 2022.
The manga concerns a divorced woman named Ochiai-san who is a bit of a crybaby, who lives next to her kind neighbor named Sawatari-kun.
My Divorced Crybaby Neighbour provides examples of:
- Aroused by Their Voice: A variation. One chapter extra features Sawatari falling asleep while on the phone with Ochiai. Ochiai promptly grabs a set of headphones, tucks herself into her futon with it, and droolingly listens to his sleeping breaths. All while wearing an ecstatic face and with only one hand visible.
- Awful Wedded Life: By all indications, Ochiai was miserable in her previous marriage, though she feels far from good now that it ended, as her ex-husband's abuse has left her a self-loathing wreck. In fact, the whole manga is about Ochiai healing and recovering thanks to Sawatari's good natured heart, all around optimism and capability of taking responsibility when it counts, in stark contrast to her former husband.
- Boob-Based Gag: Aside from the fanservice, visual and situational jokes are made of Ochiai's huge rack. From difficulty looking down at her heeled shoes to a written "smooosh" when she presses up against a wall, the mangaka is cheerfully sure to remind the reader that Oichiai's endowments have their drawbacks.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Sawatari will always help people whenever possible, with his very first proper interaction with Ochiai is defending her from a drunken molester. Chapter 33 reveals that being a firefighter was actually his childhood dream.
- Chronic Self-Deprecation: Ochiai has practically no self-esteem and is quick to blame herself for everything.
- Dark and Troubled Past: It's heavily implied that Ochiai-san's former married life was an unhappy one, with her former husband being emotionally distant and criticizing everything she did. She specifically says that he NEVER once complimented her for anything during their entire marriage, which is why she was so taken aback when Sawatari does nothing but showering her with compliments for her cooking.
- Domestic Abuse: Everything we hear about Ochiai-san's ex-husband paint him as being very emotionally abusive towards her and the main cause of her current self-loathing nature.
- Exotic Eye Designs: Ochiai has unique spiral-shaped irises, made even more bizarre because every other character so far has normal ones.
- Extreme Doormat: Ochiai-san at the start of the series. With Sawatari's support, she slowly starts to grow out of it.
- First Kiss: Ochiai is confirmed to have gotten one in with Sawatari in Chapter 52.
- Good Angel, Bad Angel: Come chapter 18, Ochiai realizes that she achieved her happy "date" at the hot springs with Sawatari based on a lie about a raffle ticket (she pretended that she won, instead buying the tickets herself). Cue the Angel Ochiai (possibly embodying her fledgling self-worth) on one side saying that it'll be fine if she tells him, and Devil Ochiai (possibly embodying her self-loathing) advising silence on the other, for Sawatari would never forgive her if she confessed. The Angel promptly pulls a knife on the Devil for daring to call Sawatari so unforgiving.
- Good Is Dumb: Sawatari, the nicest person around, but not particularly quick on the uptake. His thoughts are not very complex, and one chapter extra had Ochiai favorably compare him to a dog. Nonetheless, his care is steadfast, and he will listen to Ochiai wants to say, even the uncomfortable subject of her ex-husband.
- Heal the Cutie: Ochiai's entire Character Development. She goes from a miserable, self-hating wreck of a divorcee to an eager and confident woman with Sawatari's care. And from there, a warm and loving girlfriend who would like nothing better than to start over right this time.
- Hidden Depths: Sawatari reveals that his lifelong dream was to become a firefighter to save people, but he couldn't pass the written exam, leaving him in his current office job.
- High-Pressure Emotion: Not a few times has Ochiai's head been covered with steam and a written "PHWEEEEE" from some compliment or careless remark out of Sawatari.
- Hotter and Sexier: The manga in general is fairly tame, with just the very occasional Male Gaze for Ochiai. The extra pages however, go full-on Fanservice with Ochiai dressed in revealing outfits.
- Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Sawatari is at least a head taller than Ochiai. The difference is especially noticeable in panels showing them standing together, to the point where Ochiai looks like a dwarf in comparison.
- Laser-Guided Karma: A woman steals Ochiai's umbrella in Chapter 3. The umbrella already had a few small holes that rip open and falls apart on the thief in the middle of the rain.
- Literally Loving Thy Neighbor: As time goes on, Ochiai starts to develop a serious crush on her neighbour Sawatari. In Chapter 26, he reciprocates and they start living together.
- Love Confession: Ochiai lands it in Chapter 51, confirmed successful in 52.
- Love Epiphany: Chapter 19. "Ahh...I knew it. I... I want to...stay by Sawatari-kun's side forever."
- Minimalist Cast: The only named characters so far are Ochiai, Sawatari, his younger sister Yuika, Ochiai's senpai at her part-time job Karasuma, and Karasuma's neighbor Takanashi.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: The drunk guy who Sawatari defended Ochiai from in Chapter 1 turns out to be an important client of Sawatari's company, resulting in him getting suspended with his pay cut. Subverted Trope, since Ochiai, feeling guilty for his situation, offers to cook for him during his suspension, which helps to start their friendship. In Chapter 21, as soon as his suspension ends, he learns he's getting reassigned and has to move. Sawatari turns this into another opportunity by asking Ochiai if she'd be interested in coming with him, going from neighbors to roommates.
- Official Couple: Starting from Chapter 26, Ochiai and Sawatari start dating and even move in together.
- Older Than They Look: Takanashi looks like he's barely out of school but he's actually 24.
- Sexual Karma: If the Fanbox content is anything to go by, Sawatari rescuing Oichiai and helping her overcome her self-loathing paid off in dividends.
- Shipper on Deck: Sawatari's sister Yuika starts shipping Ochiai with her brother from pretty much the moment they met for the first time. She goes as far as to offer tips and question how far Ochiai has progressed. Karasuma is similar, in part due to wanting a fellow divorcee to find happiness.
- Shrinking Violet: Ochiai's self-worth and confidence are at rock bottom at the beginning. She's still shy and gets tongue-tied easily for a good chunk of the manga's run.
- Single Woman Seeks Good Man: More like Divorced Woman Seeks Good Man, but Ochiai starts to fall for Sawatari in this way.
- Smells Sexy: Oichiai loves the smell of Sawatari's clothes, bordering on Perverted Sniffing. It's a definite turn-on for her to wear his clothes with his scent still on them, and at least once she experienced a pleasurable daze from it which resembled a narcotic trip.
- Supreme Chef: Ochiai, according to Sawatari. In fact, their whole relationship began when Sawatari had no idea what to do with all the vegetables his Granny gifted him. Delicious meals followed the moment Sawatari let her into his apartment.
- Tears of Joy: After cooking for Sawatari, Ochiai decides to go to Sawatari's place to tell him she is being too much of a burden to keep visiting. She is caught off guard when Sawatari asks what beverage she wants, visible happy she's coming over.
- Prone to Tears: It's in the title: Ochiai's tears come up in most of the chapter pages, and there's at least one moment per chapter where she cries.
- Younger Than They Look: Karasuma is 28 but the stress of being a divorced single mother made her look more in her 30s.
