MANGA: Unmei to wa ie Kono Teido

Unmei to wa ie Kono Teido – Mineshima Nawako

Shirato has always had terrible luck, even with the simplest things. When it seems that he might have a bit of luck going to his usual ramen place, it’s stumped by the bawling, but very handsome person sitting beside him. Pitying the poor guy, Shirato offers him his handkerchief to comfort him. Turns out, the handsome person was Tatsuki Kurose, a famous actor and with his presence, it seems that Shirato’s fortune has gotten better. But when one night reveals that Tatsuki’s feelings for Shirato goes beyond friendship, Shirato’s not sure if his terrible luck has gotten worse. Did it?

That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles is two interconnected stories on the themes of luck and destiny.

Shirato is an perpetually unlucky middle-aged salaryman whose luck turned when he met the famous actor Kurose at a ramen shop. The actor was bawling his eyes out, and Shirato offered his handkerchief. Touched by the kindness, Kurose fell in love with him and proceeded to sekuhara his way into Shirato’s heart.

This could have been super cute and fluffy. It’s cute, but I thought Kurose could have just wooed Shirato in the old-fashioned gentlemanly way instead of harassing a drunk salaryman. Kurose is a heartthrob and has no problems charming people, so a charm offensive would have been a better approach.

The mangaka laid the age gap thickly with a grey-haired Shirato often referring to himself as “old man.” Dude is only mid-30s while Kurose is late 20s, so I think age shouldn’t have been a big deal.

Still, Shirato has that endearing cinnamon roll vibe, and Kurose has that adoring seme going for him, so I kinda enjoyed their story.

The second couple is Shinoda, a blue-collar worker, and Tozaki, a grad student. They had a high school connection that drew them together now that they were adults. They were reunited when Tozaki came into the convenience store Shinoda was manning, and soon, they became fuck buddies.

I did not like this story. Tozaki has no business groping a sleeping Shinoda, then sekuhara him a couple more times. Again, Tozaki has natural charisma so why not just use that? These two needed proper communication, and it took them a while before they talked.

The saving grace is the last chapter that brings the two couples together. This is my favorite part because they were enjoying themselves on their double date.

Overall, they went about it the wrong way, but was still lucky enough to get a happy ending..

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