Slip – Epaule

Minori, president of a design company, thought that he knew by now how to hide his feelings and handle his life.
But then, at a friend’s wedding, he met his old business partner Takuya and one touch of his was enough to undo him.
“You’re like an old married couple,” people around them would joke. But were they really? And how does one even begin to navigate a relationship between two men like them?

Slip is a swoony, second‑chance friends‑to‑lovers romance between two mature men.

Minori reunites with his estranged college friend Takuya after twenty years at a wedding, where too much alcohol leads to an impulsive night together. The next morning, over coffee, Takuya jokingly suggests a repeat while Minori wants to pretend nothing happened and does his best to avoid the other man.

Takuya proves impposible to avoid as Minori’s design firm partners with Takuya’s company, sending both presidents and their teams to scout locations on a tropical island. Fate and meddling colleagues place Minori and Takuya in a honeymoon‑style bungalow. Their assistants and the tour coordinator, quick to sense the intense USTs, gleefully conspire to push them closer. They even literally shove them off a bridge to force the two men to confront their feelings.

Takuya and Minori are both in their 40s, successful, and so ridiculously gorgeous bystanders frequently wonder if someone is shooting a movie whenever they see them together. Back in college, they collaborated over a business idea while Takuya was secretly crushing hard on Minori who was oblivious. So oblivious that he even set Takuya up with a girl. Takuya, conflicted about his feelings, perceived that as Minori’s rejection and proceeded to marry and divorce the woman later on.

Some of the most poignant scenes are Takuya secretly not quite kissing a sleeping Minori in their college days. Takuya’s aching longing is so palpable, the illustrations of him barely holding himself back with his lips so very close to Minori’s yet not touching hit straight to the kokoro.

Their reunion had sparks bursting into nuclear explosion that even they couldn’t deny. Minori is the more conflicted one, still coming into terms with his feelings, while Takuya remains steadfast. Their dynamic is a wonderfully healthy, wholesome balm to the soul, both wanting the best and bringing out the best of each other. It’s a relationship you’ll want to inject in your veins.

One of the most fun parts are the fujoshi teammates, very supportive, very nosy, and very determined to see their bosses happy together. One subordinate attempts to dub-con Minori, a scene designed to make Takuya jealous. It was kind of unnecessary really. Still, it didn’t detract from how delightful this manga is.

Equal parts squee-tastic and soul‑soothing, overall, old men yaoi at its finest!

Also, suits moe!

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