We Should Have Slept While Only Holding Hands, And Yet?!

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My childhood friend who lived next door since preschool, Ja Saeyeon. On the outside, she appears like an adequately pretty girl who’s like a drawing, but only her body has grown; she was a girl whose mental age was truly that of an elementary schooler. We’d spend time together from time to time, but Saeyeon’s parents, who were often not home, would pay me to take care of her, so we merely had a ‘work’ relationship. But this time her spoiled behavior was more severe for some reason. She fretfully asked for me to sleep together with her since she was too scared to sleep by herself. I even sang her a lullaby, but she thought that I was going to run away so, with great care, she asked if we could sleep while holding hands. We then slept together. Really, seriously, we merely slept while only holding hands.

But the next morning⎯⎯⎯there was a young girl lying down between us?!

Associated Names
One entry per line
Handholding
손만 잡고 잤을텐데?!
Related Series
N/A
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Ordinary I and Extraordinary Them (1)
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Recommendation Lists
  1. Masterpieces in their own category
  2. Maids | Empregadas
  3. Interest
  4. mylist
  5. Some romcoms

Latest Release

Date Group Release
09/27/20 Shalvation Translations v4 extra
09/27/20 Shalvation Translations v4 afterword
09/25/20 Shalvation Translations v4c9
08/24/20 Shalvation Translations v4c8
07/24/20 Shalvation Translations v4c7
05/07/20 Shalvation Translations v4c6
03/01/20 Shalvation Translations v4c5
12/24/19 Shalvation Translations v4c4
11/28/19 Shalvation Translations v4c3
10/25/19 Shalvation Translations v4c2
10/20/19 Shalvation Translations v4c1
10/20/19 Shalvation Translations v4 prologue
10/20/19 Shalvation Translations v4 illustrations
12/20/18 Shalvation Translations v3 afterword
12/20/18 Shalvation Translations v3c9
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10 Reviews sorted by


rizzumeow
rizzumeow rated it
September 17, 2017
Status: v1 afterword
The whole Volume 1 took all of my emotions. I admit that I'm not the most kind guy while reading this. I even enjoyed the Main heroine's suffering but dang. The ending of volume 1 kicked me of and stabbed me through the heart while making me happy.

I can say that the MC's attitude is pretty logical so I can't blame him and yes it's kinda annoying but you gotta face it. His past is what made him that way. The FeMC is the one that really broke me. I... more>> recommend to just read it until the end of Volume 1 & if you didn't enjoy the ending then you can drop this.

As for me? I'll continue reading this gem in hopes of cleansing my soul from NTR & despair. <<less
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DreadNaught
DreadNaught rated it
August 31, 2017
Status: v1c6
Spoiler

A story about a guy that is a complete d*ck to his future wife and was even worse in the future resulting in their divorce and having their daughter go back to the past to make that guy's head "work" properly before it completely shuts down... Oh and up to this point he has made progress showing emotions to the daughter but as far as emotions to the wife is concerned, he seriously doesn't seem to care... having it be 8 volumes long of this seriously has me question if this is good or not but... meh

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bonkleboi
bonkleboi rated it
December 21, 2018
Status: v3 afterword
If you were following the translator, you'll know that he told most of us readers to not read this until volume 3 was completely translated. That is because volume 1&2 are a build-up to volume 3. Now, I didn't care and still read it anyways, because it still was an entertaining and interesting series. Still, the translator said big things were coming for volume 3.

And boy was he right. It's such a big twist that it makes it all worthwhile even if by some chance you weren't enjoying the novel.

From... more>> this point on, though I try avoid spoilers im going to be giving impressions of each volume, and as such im gonna be giving away the direction the novel is going. And that can be considered spoilers as well.

Spoiler

So this series is about MC who claims to be the mad scientist of this era and is pretty much a dislikeable guy. The novel explains you why he became the twisted person he is, and unless you're reading this hoping for some self-satisfaction or self-insertion, you have to understand the guy and why he does what he does. One day he sleeps with his childhood friend while just holding hands and the next morning her daughter from the future appears in the same bed, saying she came from the future to fix her family because MC and his childhood friend are divorced in the future. That's basically what volume 1's all about. At best it may be "interesting", but mainly because of the focus in the character's psych and emotions. Plotwise this is just another romcom with a twist where the MC is crazy.

Volume 2 evolves this concept a bit. It remains a romcom but now you see how the plot of future travel starts being more relevant to the story. You get a glimpse of the reasons he and his childhood friend broke up and realize that whatever happened in the future may be more important and dark than what you think.

Volume 3 is where sh*t goes down. Whatever romcom-esque feeling this novel gave you was just a buildup so you'd realize how grave the whole situation is, to the point it even becomes despairful. This is now a drama built on a 2 volume preparation of relationship building and some quamtum science. It's no longer about saving a marriage or making a child happy, or just getting the girl. It's about trying to fix an unfixable broken person and family. And if that doesn't get you pumped up and willing to read this novel then just go ahead and skip it bacause it's only gonna get heavier from now on. The characters are flawed. Even if it is obvious to you and your morals brought by common sense, you'll be forced to understand that when faced with adversity, a person may not able to change, even if its the obvious solution. It gets hard to read to be honest. Not because it's cringy or badly written. On the contrary, its so well written that even if on a personal level you reject what's happening, you gotta understand and just hope things change soon.

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Perhaps you won't enjoy this as much as I did. Im a lover of drama and psychological plots, and instead of stories that throw enemies to a hero-like MC, I prefer watching a cast of flawed characters that during the course of the story interact and change. For this im willing to take some melodrama, and to be honest I even enjoy it.

Anyways, this is good stuff. Go and read it. Persevere, and you'll be rewarded. <<less
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Elgon
Elgon rated it
April 6, 2019
Status: v3 afterword
Honestly, not what I was expecting at all. Starts off fairly slow, but goes from 0 to 100 with some crazy plot twists. The appeal of the story is likely subjective to the tastes of the reader, and it's definitely a more serious read from what I've seen until the end of volume 3 (You really can't only read volume 1/2, as mentioned by the TL quite often in his notes). It should be noted that the chapters are fairly long.

Overall, it has an actually interesting plot & the English... more>> translation is excellent quality. <<less
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AliceSynthesis80008
AliceSynthesis80008 rated it
February 14, 2019
Status: v3
So, I actually have an account before but forgotten my user and pass, which is why I even had to go my way to create a new email account and an account for NU.

Why? Cuz this novel is just that awesome that''s why. I had never expected the amount of character build ups in this novel and its plot twist in Volume 3. Many here who aren't used to a cynical MC and wants a justice loving harem type dudes would surely not get past after 3-4 chapters in volume... more>> 1.

If you have seen the anime Steins; Gate, you can say it has similarities on this novel and by similarities I didn't just mean the mad scientist and time travelling part, but the feels it will give you and the suffering of the MC.

For those who are in doubt, at the very least, like what the translator said, read it up until volume 3. If you still didn't like it then drop it immediately since I highly doubt you will like this novel no matter what it does in the future and is simply aren't up in your alley.

Don't let other's opinion dictate whether you like this novel or not. I just implore you to read it up until volume 3 that's all. <<less
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elricboy
elricboy rated it
December 7, 2018
Status: v2 extra
Amazing, just amazing. Just volume 1 itself is amazing, even if you dont want to read the rest I implore you to atleast try this out.

The MC and ML finds a little girl sleeping between them in the morning. The girl in question tells them that they are her parents, and should take responsiblity. Normally this wouldn't be much of an issue its just that the MC DESPISES the ML. He is aware of her feelings but wants absolutely nothing to do with the ML. As such the girl egging... more>> him isnt really sitting well with him...

The characterisations for the MC and the "daughter" are phenomenal, every single one of their interaction is perfectly written. And the MC's hatred for the ML while at first might make him look like an ass but its actually very understandable given his life. <<less
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dalekrule
dalekrule rated it
November 20, 2020
Status: v4 afterword
An amazing story built around its setting and characters.

The world of handholding isn't built from scratch and added onto like many other light novels, and the author intentionally dangles the needed information for attentive readers. When you read far enough, you'll discover that the entirety of the story is planned from the start.

While not apparent at first, the world building is complex, yet sensible. The plot is revealed to us slowly in a way which is shocking– yet even readers who already piece together incoming plot twists have no choice... more>> but squirm in realization of how devastating the implications of the unrevealed bits are, and in anticipation of the reactions when our MC inevitably learns a bit more about his world.

This story will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Its characters are flawed yet human, and the dilemmas they face leave no perfect solutions in sight.

Handholding is not a highly eloquent work which seeks to impress you with its sentence structure, nor a fast paced one which draws you in immediately. It slowly familiarizes you with its characters, for all their strengths and flaws, and reveals how the characters' goals and emotions create the world they live in. Do not make a quick judgement on a character's moral alignments and immediately write off the story. You'll find out that every character, without exception, is both a victim and at fault for the world they are thrown in, with their knowledge or otherwise.

For better or worse, this is a story you must commit to if you want to fully enjoy it, but believe me it's worth it. <<less
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Apia
Apia rated it
September 30, 2020
Status: v4 afterword
5 star for sure. The concept, story and the execution is so amazing. This got me very emotional. The character in novel is interisting and always have a reason when they do something. I don't know why many people give one rating but for me 5/5
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Anonreader14
Anonreader14 rated it
September 9, 2020
Status: v4c8
Despite what the translator says the first two volumes were amazing, only narrowly losing out to the drama and anguish of the latter two novels he has translated.

The novel is a beautiful story of one's love in the face of inexorable fate. There are joyful moments that make you laugh with the daughter Jaim which provide the laughter and 'slice of life' feel which veils the deeper moments which abound in the novel.

I encourage readers of romcom and melodrama alike to read this book. It will make you smile at... more>> the innocence of Sayeon (heroine of the story) the motherly touch of Jihye (a robot) and the playfulness of Nabom (classmate). And the drama that unfolds around the protagonist of the story, Jaro, much like Rintarou in Steins Gate, show you the humanity of the character and, vicariously, the tragedy of life and fatherhood/love (in this case, in contrast to the idyllic pattern of high-school life).

Also, a word of appreciation goes out to the translator whose rendition shows the complexities of Korean (and the novel) in English well. Hopefully, the translation will pick up its pace ;) as more come to understand the beauty of this novel.

(Although this review may come off as excessively pleasing, my thoughts are much like watching Clannad; beneath the surface of us ordinary watchers we glimpse at the drama and beauty of high school love.)

Edit: to those who say the protagonist is a d*ck in the first few volumes, I agree. But, likewise, as we find out it is not as simple as that and we should not be to quick to pass judgment; his situation is very empathetic. <<less
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fim33
fim33 rated it
March 2, 2020
Status: v4c5
Solid 4.6 imo. I believe a large portion of the 1 star reviews feel like they come from readers who've only read the first few chapters. While I agree parts of the first volume frustrated me, rereading them after I've read the latest chapter adds a whole new dimension and makes me appreciate it a lot more. Definitely recommend
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