Not everyone will empathize with Hideki, and I pretty much understand why.

He's not a very complicated character, in my opinion he was just supposed to represent the Everyman in this case and that's why he was so milktoast, but there's certainly room to argue that. The story didn't suffer from his inclusion but I think it could have benefited from a more realistic characterization instead of a broad, general one.

Chii is a very obviously easy person to empathize with and love instantly, given the nature of her personality, though I'll agree with some who say she was used as eyecandy and ended up being a bit of a Dibby at times, even though there's legitimate character under her very naked body.

It's not a remarkable story, nothing you don't really see coming, but it's so astronomically better than its off-brand, template anime adaptation. If you like the characters or you like the anime, you'll love the manga.