Ah, some sweet Vanilla goodness from NaPaTa! I'm definitely happy to see it.
Just a nice and simple Vanilla filled story between a Senpai and her Kouhai. I like it.
The story was bland. The scenario was generic. But the release was made by Napata, whose speciality is taking bland, generic storylines, infusing them with mesmerizing artwork, and somehow making them really fucking good.
idk, I think Ikuhana Niiro is better at it. And I know this is a really fucking unpopular opinion, but I don't see what makes this any more special than some other vanilla studying story. Like you said, it was bland and generic. And (another unpopular opinion incoming) I don't see how NaPaTa's art suddenly gives it a pass. They have good and well-developed art, but in this release there was barely any movement and it didn't have any energy to it really. Compare it to like, Izure and the sexiness levels aren't even close. Not saying this is always the case, just felt this was not as strong a showing as other NaPaTa works.
I agree with everything you said, especially with this being not as strong as other Napata works.
I felt that this was really good because Napata's style made this kind of barren storyline passable without going heavy on the cute fluff. That is something I think most hentai artists can't attest to. Yeah, the sex scene was completely lackluster, but the angles that Napata chose during the foreplay scene created this sense of intimacy that I really enjoyed. And being able to have me stop and enjoy something in a storyline as empty as this is a win in my book.