Scumbag Loser

Masahiko Murai is a judgmental and bizarre high-schooler with an acute sense of smell—a gift he uses to fetishize people’s foul scents—and no redeeming qualities. When Masahiko lies to his unhygienic classmate, Yamada, about having a girlfriend for competition’s sake, things become strange. The “pretend” girlfriend, Haruka Mizusawa, transfers into his class the next day. Just one problem: the real Haruka has been long dead and Masahiko knows it. In order to avoid becoming the biggest loser among his peers, Masahiko strikes up a deal with the fake Haruka, unaware of the danger she poses. This setup seems a promising springboard, but the plot soon devolves into a series of forced events through implausible plot conveniences. Yamaguti’s generic and uninspired artwork does nothing to rescue it. A cast of unlikable characters, poor writing, and forgettable art gives this manga a sour aroma. (Nov.)