-
MANGA: Tsuranaru Stella
Tsuranaru Stella – Takano Hitomi
Hitomi Takano, the artist behind My Boy, explores love through this collection of BL one-shots.
“MILK”: Tomohiro and Shigeru are friends… with extra benefits. When Shigeru realizes he might have feelings for Tomohiro, their friendship seems to be on the brink of ruin.
“The Farther You Run, the Closer You Get”: After ten years apart, Keiki runs into Mutsu, his best friend in middle school. Though their reunion seems happy on the surface, Keiki discovers Mutsu’s memory of a secret still haunts both of them…
Shining Stars In Line is a collection of one-shots. There are several stories, but I only read the first two. Both stories are steamy and dramatic. They both feature friends in complicated relationships.
MILK is a play on the theme of “no use crying over spilled milk.” It talks about savoring the moment while we still have it before it’s completely lost forever.
It reflects the relationship of two friends/fuck buddies, Shigeru and Tomohiro. In the middle of one of their trysts, Shigeru was hit by the realization he was gay. A friend later suggests he try going out with Tomohiro since Shigeru’s recently dumped girlfriend doesn’t do it for him anymore. When he broached the subject with Tomohiro, he was hit by another bombshell. Surprisingly, he was rejected.
These two dorks needed to sort themselves out. A great thing about them is that they talk, even if these are painfully awkward conversations about their relationship. This is not a fluffy romance. It had a gritty rawness to it that brings to mind sweaty, clumsy fumblings. The characters weren’t drawn as pretty as the cover. They look like ordinary young men which goes with the story’s vibe.
The Farther You Run, The Closer You Get is a story of the unexpected meeting of two former best friends.
Keiki was surprised to learn his middle school friend, Mutsu, was now working in the sex industry. Keiki dropped out of school and had watched Mutsu in his school uniform from a distance. Before that, the two had a sleepover, and Keiki had an unexpected reaction to his friend. Since then, he had kept away.
This was even more dramatic than the first story. There are some psychological aspects to it as well. You got to feel it for Mutsu. I did expect he will seduce his friend, and you’d think he was a scheming bastard. Then BAM! The twist at the end was heartbreaking! Fortunately, it hinted at a more optimistic future. I really, really hoped it ended happily.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Perai Sekai
Perai Sekai – Hal
A freshman in high school wakes up early, excited for another “tryst” with his favorite classmate. Unfortunately for him, daydreaming in the shower may turn out to be the best part of his day. His sister destroys his uniform, and his parents stopped sending him money. He even discovers that his “boyfriend” has been seeing another girl on the side this whole time. When everything seems to be at rock bottom already, the last straw breaks…
Phony World is a psychological drama about an unnamed high freshman’s life that spectacularly fell apart.` It was the kind of rock bottom life, full of misery, lies, and despair that the only way to keep moving was to fake it. At his lowest, he smiles his most brilliant smile.
He lives with his equally disturbed hikikomori sister. Her presence is felt as the aftermath of the damage that she caused his belongings. Later, she makes an appearance after a particularly vicious attack. That’s when he had enough and threw her out in the snow in her sleep clothes. We could pretty much guess her fate.
His relationship with a schoolmate was a hush-hush affair. He is very aware that is built on deceit and that he is a dirty secret. It was sadly the only time he felt wanted.
The artwork and dialogue had a chaotic edge to it, reflecting the chaos of the boy’s thoughts and his life in general. The boy was drawn with a pretty face and too-long hair that made him attractive while conveying an air of neglect.
The manga opens with the boy appearing to talk to someone. Given the title, I thought this would be a story of hallucinations. But no, all that awful stuff is real. This is not romance. I had no illusions it would end in any other way that it did. It was that miserable.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Komiyama-san Chi no Dekiai Jijyou
Komiyama-san Chi no Dekiai Jijyou – Kodaka Teruyo
Aoi Komiyama enjoys his sweet time with his beloved partner, Riku Komiyama! One day, Aoi overhears a female co-worker talking about a man who caught his girlfriend having an affair with the delivery guy on a pet camera. Could his cute little Riku be up to the same thing?
Komiyama-san’s Doting Situation is that rare rom-com one-shot of an established couple.
Salaryman Aoi and his househusband Riku are happy and madly in love. One day, upon overhearing rumors of a man catching his girlfriend cheating via listening bugs, Aoi got it into his head to buy some. Not because he thinks Riku would cheat, but because the dork wants to make sure his beloved husband is safe. Riku is too cute and precious!
This is equal parts fluffy, steamy, adorable, and hilarious! Despite all his good intentions, things turned out differently from what Aoi expected. One time, he thought he heard Riku in distress only for things to turn XXX-rated really quick.
I love reading about established couples who are still very much into each other. It’s all too common for stories to end with the wedding. So it’s always a treat to see what comes after the happy ever after.
More stories like this please!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Cut-Over Criteria
Cut-Over Criteria – Omugi Koala
I haven’t heard that such a large-scale update is available at the age of 30, God.
To Seto, a system engineer who is feared and relied on by the company because of his ability, a new graduate’s subordinate, Jin-kun, came! Jin-kun can work, but he doesn’t know what he’s thinking. It was Seto who felt the glance at random from such Jin-kun!?
Cut-over is the transition of a company’s old telecommunications system to a new one. A very apt title for the upheaval of one system engineer’s sedate life by a very determined subordinate.
Cut-over Criteria is about Seto, all work, rarely plays. He is the head of the software development department. Jin is the new hire, a coding genius who fell in love at first sight with his boss. The young man had no hesitations whatsoever in letting his feelings be known to the older man. And thus, Seto found himself a boyfriend before he even knew what hit him.
These people are hardcore coding geeks. Majority of the chapters were told in Seto’s POV and he thinks of his life in terms of software development. Even as he talks about his relationship anxieties with another co-worker, he talks in terms of upgrades and bugs.
I loved how the manga incorporated the coding theme in the story. It brings the reader effortlessly into the world of system engineers while still making it understandable to the average joe. At the same time, it paints a clear picture of how Seto’s and Jin’s personal lives, as well as their relationship, are closely intertwined with their work.
Jin’s character could have easily been unlikable. While I admired his honesty and directness, the guy practically bulldozed his way into Seto’s life. The mangaka deftly created a balance between his pushiness and his better qualities, making it so that his obsession with Seto still comes across as devotion and adoration. It helps that he was sometimes drawn as a cat. It was pretty cute!
One of the things I enjoyed the most was how the relationship developed. At first, I was kind of meh with Jin being pushy. But as the story progressed, he gradually won me over. Seto’s bisexual awakening may have gone through some dub-con moments but Jin is still considerate with his adored boyfriend in his own weird way.
Overall, this manga is fluffy and super adorbs. Plus the artwork is fabulous! I didn’t think I would like it but I found myself loving the story and the two dorks!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much! -
MANGA: Iimon Warumon
Iimon Warumon – Yamada Papiko
Narasaki Naoto was born into a family of thieves. After committing a marriage scam, he is arrested and taken to the upscale apartment of elite detective, Oogaki Kaoru.
“I became a detective in order to distort that pretty face of yours.”
As the good-looking Kaoru with a stalker tendency calmly says that, Naoto slowly warms up to him as their peculiar living arrangement starts. A love story of captivity between a forceful detective x con artist.
Good Things, Bad Things is a psychological drama between an elite detective and the con man he kept captive.
Naoto and Kaoru go way back. Then high schooler Naoto caught a glimpse of Kaoru’s devastated face and became obsessed. Now adults, the detective’s sole purpose was to have Kaoru. Meanwhile, Kaoru is trying very hard to leave his criminal life. With the two in forced proximity, one of them is bound to snap.
I really liked that both characters are equally fucked up. However, I felt something was lacking. The psychological aspect seems to be holding back. I was expecting Stalking Killing levels of psycho craziness, too bad it kept things milder than I would have liked.
On the other hand, how the connection between Naoto and Kaoru gradually gained strength was spectacularly portrayed in their tumultuous everyday interactions. The magnetic pull towards each other was something both couldn’t seem to escape. There’s a lot of push and pull that frequently result in them having sex. There are a few dub con moments here.
I grabbed this because of the cover and the blurb. I loved the character designs, especially how the eyes were drawn. How they reflected the characters’ feelings, at least visually, came across with intensity and madness. Look at how they stare at each other!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Hadashi no Tenshi
Hadashi no Tenshi – Nonomiya Ito
One day, shoemaker Turner meets a mysterious young man, Benny, who calls himself an “ex-angel”. Worried about Benny going barefoot, Turner decided to make shoes for him. Moreover, because the production will take several months, Benny decides to live in Turner’s house.
Barefoot Angel is a gentle, slow-burn love story between a young shoemaker and the exiled angel he stumbled upon at the park.
Benny was exiled for breaking heaven’s rules. With his wings burned off, he was sent to earth to live as a human. Now Benny has always been fascinated with humans. Even while feeling vaguely melancholy about his old life, he eagerly embraced his new life and was even very gung-ho about traveling all over the world.
Turner, a caretaker by heart, wanted to make Benny’s dream happen. So he set about creating the perfect shoes for him. While working on them, he teaches Benny how humans live and love.
This is a pretty manga with artwork that perfectly captures the pure, wholesome vibe of the story. I love the softness and fragility of Turner and Benny’s dynamics. I loved how they cherished each other. Even with the more explicit scenes, there’s still a gentle, soothing mood present. It made them feel precious rather than erotic.
However, I found the flow of the story disjointed. There were a couple of chapters that started with a preview of a future event. This is perhaps to tease the reader. Then, it jumps back to the present. The execution was wonky. They don’t add anything to the chapter. They just made things confusing.
I was also not a fan of the separation near the ending. It made Benny’s dream come true, but I felt sad for Turner. But no worries, this has a happy ending.
I say, read this manga for the pretty boys and the wonderful mood.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Konokoi wa Unmeijanai
Konokoi wa Unmeijanai – Yamada Yugi
Tsukamoto is newly independent designer who wants his work to be printed with traditional movable printing at the Nakajima printing house. There, he meets the delinquent turned printing master, Seto. Seto’s skills and knowledge are undeniable, but his insensitivity and firm opinions cause him to butt heads with Tsukamoto. As they continue to work together, Seto’s passion for printing shines through, and Tsukamoto’s feelings begin to change. Then one day, they receive a huge job, and the client is none other than…Tsukamoto’s ex-lover, Soejima?!
This Love Is Not Destiny is a low angst, gay-for-you manga featuring the dying art of movable printing.
Tsukamoto, a level-headed man, has recently gone into independent design after a bad breakup with the director of his old company. He goes to Nakajima Printing upon the recommendation of a friend to have his design printed. There he meets the short-tempered former gangster turned printer, Tsuyoshi, and the elderly owner, Zen. After starting off at the wrong foot, Tsukamoto and Tsuyoshi realize they work well together.
According to the mangaka, they were inspired to create this story after visiting a movable printing shop for a business card order. You can clearly see the mangaka was fascinated because they were able to convey the appeal and the sense of wonder with the process and the printed designs.
Apart from the unique setting, the manga is peopled with lovable characters. I loved the clothes the mangaka chose for each of them. It really highlighted their personalities.
Tsukamoto is pretty with long lashes, described by his ex as “looks demure but is really sexually aggressive”. He’s a talented designer with a good eye for color. His character design perfectly portrays a well-mannered, creative professional neatly dressed in smart casual clothes.
Tsuyoshi is a grumpy sort whose care and worry is shown through scowl-y commands of “eat your snacks!” His bomber jacket with the roaring tiger print really suited him to a T. He’s very passionate about his work. By all accounts, he is straight but the more time he spent with Tsukamoto, the more he thought about it, the more he realized certain things.
The plot was well-executed, the romantic development, slow but wonderfully done. It’s a gay man pining for a straight guy in that as-long-as-I-can-stay-by-your-side-I’m-happy self-sacrifice that makes the chest feel tighter. This could have easily gone the full angst route but happily kept things light. I loved how everything was resolved and how the ending tied together their personal and professional lives.
There’s a bonus super cute love story for Zen, the old master printer, and his long-time love, Richard. I hope they get their own manga too!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Joou to Shitateya
Joou to Shitateya – Scarlet Beriko
It is said that if you wear the suits from that store situated at the antique street, SHIDA, you will achieve success.During a break in his work, interior designer Jouno Oumi visits the store and meets a frightening and blunt man. He is the legendary tailor, Shida. Seeing the appearance of Shida who takes pride in his work, Oumi begins to feel a longing for the man, and an attraction starts to form…This is a love story between an obstinate interior designer and a hard-faced man.
SUITS ♡ !!!!!
I have a serious love for suits. Love them so much I even tried studying tailoring. Didn’t have the knack for it, sadly. So this manga is a dream come true!
Queen and the Tailor is my first Scarlet Beriko and I got the impression this is fluffier than her usual fare. Shida is a middle-aged tailor whose suits were rumored to bring success. Enter young interior designer, Oumi, brash and arrogant, demanding a suit despite having been already told of the month-long waiting list. The two got off on the wrong foot but a month later, Oumi returns for a fitting and couldn’t help noticing things about the enigmatic tailor.
I was ecstatic this is about a tailor!!! I can’t believe how rare it is for them to be featured in BL manga or even MM romance. The measuring alone is rife with fabulous USTs, just like the scene here.
After their initial antagonistic interaction, watching Shida and Oumi coming together is a joy! Oumi is a blushy, bratty, tsundere who tries so hard to be cool. Shida is an unflappable individual who thinks Oumi is cool no matter what he does. I adored how they adore each other! I squee-ed so hard when Shida called Oumi, his beloved queen.
I had the privilege to watch an interview of the mangaka during last year’s Fujocon. She said she likes drawing suits and older men. You can really see that in how she renders them. Nobody draws beautiful older men better than Scaberix! Just look at Shida!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Nigeta Hitsuji no Tsukamaekata
Nigeta Hitsuji no Tsukamaekata – Aoyama Toomi
Reporter Oikawa Hidemi, Hide for short, chases after the mysterious professor Eli Y. Stafford, the reclusive medical researcher that managed to solve the “Alice conjecture,” the math problem of the century. He is dead set on interviewing the secretive genius. Feigning an illness, Hide infiltrates the soft-hearted professor’s residence and makes himself at home. How will Eli deal with the sudden nuisance?
Not sure if horn moe is a thing but if you like ’em horn-y, you’ll love this manga!
How To Catch A Runaway Sheep is the main story about intrepid reporter, Hidemi, who was very determined (his editor gave him an ultimatum) to interview elusive scientist and mathematical genius, Eli Y. Stafford. So determined that he was willing to stoop to faking illness, live with the professor, gain his trust and betray him. Little did he expect to catch feelings. When it was time to betray the professor, he found he couldn’t do it. Then he learned why the professor and his young ward were always on the run.
This is a story about building trust. It touches upon genetics, diseases, experimentation, and discrimination. It is told in a humorous tone but also has sad undertones.
Eli is an herbivore tsundere, the kind who gets easily flustered and blushy. He looks so pretty with his horns. He lives with a young boy, Conia, who also has horns. The two were on the run from their sad past, making Eli suspicious about everything and everyone. He does his best to keep it together, but there is a fragility about him that’s hard to miss once you know him better.
I didn’t warm up to Hidemi. I didn’t like his too pushy, too suave demeanor. Plus, I’m not a fan of manga characters with facial hair. Later on, he redeemed himself by helping Eli and Conia with their predicament. And that he made himself worthy of the trust Eli gave him.
My favorite part was the Hide Times, a makeshift newspaper Hidemi created and posted on Eli’s wall. He encouraged Eli and Conai to contribute their articles there. The morning after he and Eli made love for the first time, he wrote only three words in big letters on it. Eli read it, scowled, blushed to high heavens, and added his own article. Also with only three words. Kyaa~♡
Sparkling You is a one-chapter, almost kiss story about college buddies Yuuto and Shiro.
Shiro is popular with girls. He turns them all down because he knew, they only like him for his horns. Meanwhile, Yuuto has it bad for his friend. So bad he thinks Shiro positively sparkles.
This is one of those hopelessly pining after one’s best friend stories. It teased the reader with a brief, intense moment, then left it hanging. Why Yuuto can’t confess wasn’t really explained so I didn’t understand why he didn’t.
Transfer Student Tsunoi-kun Grew Out Horns is about high schooler, Ogata, who befriends the new transfer student, Tsunoi. He soon found himself becoming fascinated with the other boy’s horns to the point of having wet dreams about them. He also learned Tsunoi lives alone and is actually an experimental subject of a research facility.
I loved this chapter too! Tsunoi first came across as a stoic, poker-faced character but as soon as Ogata came to know him, he was more animated and cheerful. He has a lonely life, moving from city to city, depending on where the researchers want to place him. He even has a transmitter embedded on his left elbow. My heart went out to him.
This has a more subdued and melancholy mood despite the raging hormones. I even thought it was going to have a sad ending. Thankfully, it wrapped up on a happy note. This one deserves a full volume.
The Lake Of Nul is a tearjerker story of a man who came to pay respects to a former college schoolmate. He was received by the dead man’s brother who listened to his story.
It seems that the late scholar, a man known for his strong personality and equally strong gaze, had been heard by his brother frequently complaining about the deer man before. The deer man, in turn, poured his heart out to the brother about his feelings for the late scholar.
Meanwhile, the brother gazed into the deer man’s clear blue eyes and promptly lost himself in its depths. Realizing at the same time, his brother was in love with this man all along.
This is a heady experience of feeling grief and new love all at once. It’s why I want this as a full volume, but I”m also very relieved that this is only one chapter.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Mitsumei
Mitsumei – Katou Erena & Totsuki Eko
Ivan, Lieutenant and spy in the service of the Russian army, must investigate the right arm of a mafia boss. But his target is a very close friend he made in the military academy and who he hasn’t seen in ten years, Edward. Ivan can’t help but wonder, how could such a compassionate man with a passion for art, become a part of the mafia? When they meet again, Edward seems to be as nice to Ivan as in the past and Ivan, facing a dilemma in his mission, is invited back to his home. But, the next day Edward’s attitude completely changes and Ivan realizes that he’s been kidnapped!
Dive into the frigid depth of Russia, in the heart of St. Petersburg, and discover the exciting story of two men who oppose each other! Will friendship and love be enough to overthrow fate and bring two ruthless enemies together again?
Secret Life is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story of military school buddies Ivan Asimov and Edward Zelenin. The two drifted apart then were reunited after ten years. Ivan is now a lieutenant and a spy for the Russian Army, Ed the second in command for the Russian mafia. Ivan was tasked to infiltrate the mafia through Ed to get information about a virus capsule.
The first couple chapters set the stage and give us the backstory of the two childhood friends. Ivan is a rarity among manga characters. He is half-Georgian. His mother is a ballerina. His distinct Georgian appearance makes him stand out in Russia but makes him blend in with other parts of the world. He is considered a good spy who does not let his feelings get in the way of the mission. He is also known for his honesty and incorruptibility. These were sorely tested in this mission.
Ed is the son of a politician who joined the mafia after his father died. He has always been a stalwart friend, always offering comfort to Ivan. As a top-ranking mafioso, he is cold, ruthless, and cunning. He had no qualms using his and Ivan’s shared past to trap the spy and keep him chained in isolation for days. This while hopelessly in love with said friend since forever. The friend was clueless.
We get mostly Ivan’s POV. Through him, we see Ed, as a kind friend in the past and a hot/cold frenemy in the present. I prefer the dual POV but the manga was able to effectively convey Ed’s intense feelings for his friend even when he’s being mean. After the mission was complete, he was sweet and adorably possessive.
This is a story of forbidden love set in the middle of political intrigues. The plot has all the twists and turns I always loved in spy novels. The middle chapter rushed to conclude the mission while the last chapters are more on the lovey-dovey side. I enjoyed the romance, but the mission deserved a few more chapters to cover some plot holes. I also found Ivan too weepy for a spy who doesn’t let his feelings get in the way of the mission.
There’s a lot of liberties taken and handwaving done to give the couple their happy ending. However, there is enough conflict present that kept the things from being too much like a fairy tale. I really enjoyed this! I hope there is a sequel.
Look at that cover! The artwork is pretty! I loved the character designs. Ivan looks especially good in his military uniform.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
{koi}