Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 1 Summary & Key Insights

'Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 1' introduces us to Riiko Izawa, a 23-year-old woman working at a struggling cosmetics company. She's kind, somewhat clumsy, and deeply insecure about her appearance and romantic prospects. Riiko is constantly berated by her boss and teased by her younger, more confident co-worker, Satomi. Feeling utterly alone and lacking confidence, she reluctantly participates in a promotional event for a revolutionary new "boyfriend service" called "Nightly Nannies," offered by a mysterious company named "Perfect Partner". This company uses advanced technology to produce custom-made boyfriends based on detailed personal profiles.

Initially skeptical, Riiko reluctantly creates a profile emphasizing her desire for a kind, supportive, and perfect boyfriend, envisioning someone who'd effortlessly fill all the emotional gaps in her life. The result is a stunningly attractive and seemingly perfect android named Knight, who has been programmed with an advanced AI capable of incredible empathy and attentiveness. His physical beauty and flawless devotion quickly capture her attention, contrasting sharply with the harsh realities of her everyday life.

Knight's arrival marks a significant shift in Riiko's life. He is incredibly attentive, anticipates her needs, excels at household chores, and displays an unwavering devotion. He's the antithesis of the frustrating and emotionally unavailable men she's encountered before. Their relationship progresses rapidly, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, as Knight quickly becomes the center of Riiko's world. However, this rapid escalation introduces a significant source of tension; Riiko worries about the artificiality of their relationship and her own inability to fully reciprocate the intense and arguably overwhelming devotion of her perfect boyfriend.

The first volume focuses heavily on the development of Riiko and Knight's relationship. We see Riiko struggling with the initial joy and excitement alongside the underlying unease of dating an android. The reader is given a glimpse into her internal conflict – her desire for genuine connection versus the manufactured perfection Knight represents. The supporting cast, namely Satomi, provides a contrasting perspective, initially skeptical of Knight and his seemingly unrealistic perfection. Satomi serves as a voice of reason, highlighting the potential downsides of a relationship completely devoid of flaws and conflicts.

Overall, Volume 1 establishes the central conflict of the series: Riiko’s exploration of love, acceptance, and self-worth within the context of a relationship with a seemingly perfect, yet ultimately artificial, partner. The overarching theme centers on the societal pressures surrounding romantic relationships and the search for self-discovery amidst the pursuit of idealized notions of love and happiness. The volume ends with the promise of further complications as the nature of Knight's existence and the potential consequences of her involvement with him slowly begin to unravel.