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MANGA: Ore ga Suki nado Warawaseru
Ore ga Suki nado Warawaseru – Sato Tsubame
After a night of heavy drinking with his competent and dependable coworker Kamiya, Kaji slowly begins to regain his consciousness… Only to find Kamiya straddled right on top of him, legs spread and wearing nothing but a half-unbuttoned shirt. When Kaji is finally able to muster the energy to get up, he immediately asks Kamiya to explain himself. His response? “Things went sour with my hook-up buddy, and I’ve been pent up lately. That’s all.” Since that day, for some reason, Kaji begins feeling drawn to Kamiya.
This is the story of a recently divorced man, his coworker who’s secretly promiscuous, and the attraction that forms between them, set in the world of the ever-competitive Toto First Bank’s head office.
You Love Me, Huh? Don’t Make Me Laugh is a refreshing salaryman romance that might have started with sekuhara but turned out to be surprisingly wholesome.
Kaji and Kamiya, the bosses from Ore ga Sukinara Hizamazuke and Ore ga Suki nara Kobitemiro, joined the bank at the same time and have been workaholic comrades ever since. One late night, they end up sharing a hotel room.
Kamiya, who’s gay and has always been attracted to Kaji, finds himself so overwhelmed by desire for his newly divorced colleague that he starts getting off on the sleeping man. When Kaji wakes up, he isn’t offended, instead, he asks Kamiya out. Confused, since Kaji has always been straight, Kamiya turns him down. But Kaji doesn’t give up, and this time Kamiya isn’t exactly resisting.
What makes this manga shine is how these two consummate professionals balance work and romance. They juggle deadlines, conflicts, and stolen kisses behind office doors with an ease that feels both mature and deeply charming. Their ability to stay professional, even when emotions run high, makes their relationship all the more compelling.
The art is a feast for us fujin with suits and hair moe. The mangaka draws realistic, office-appropriate hairstyles and beautifully tailored outfits that make Kaji and Kamiya look stunning whether they’re in three-piece suits, crisp shirts, or casual wear. If you like ogling gorgeous salarymen, this manga and its prequels are pure eye candy.
Despite the many office scenes and technical dialogue, the pacing never drags. The plot moves fast while the romance slow-burns in a way that’s both satisfying and emotionally rich. What make this refreshing is watching two grown men communicate openly, handle conflict with maturity, and resolve issues without unnecessary melodrama.
That’s not to say there’s no drama, quite the opposite. The pining and yearning is heartmeltingly delicious, and the very grouchy Kaji with his compulsive do-gooding and tender caring is pure squee-tastic! Lowkey yet impactful, logical yet passionate, this is one seriously swoony manga!
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MANGA: Harenai Sekai de Kimi Dake Mieru
Harenai Sekai de Kimi Dake Mieru – Mikka Mita
He’s incapable of recognising other people’s faces. The only exception to that symptom is a handsome young man who’s his exact opposite?
I Can Only See You In A World That Doesn’t Shine is an angsty tale of childhood trauma and the fragile reconnection that follows.
Yuuhi, scarred by a childhood bully, develops prosopagnosia—his brain refuses to recognize faces. One day, while working at a restaurant, he’s stunned to clearly see a customer’s face. That customer, Itsuki, wastes no time and asks Yuuhi out.
Curious why he can only see Itsuki’s face, Yuuhi agrees. What begins as tentative friendship turns into something deeper: Yuuhi finds himself enjoying Itsuki’s company, and soon, he’s falling for him. Still unable to see anyone else’s face, Yuuhi realizes it may be time to seek help.
Tender yet dramatic, the manga captures the loneliness of living with an invisible disability. Itsuki’s open affection offers Yuuhi solace. Itsuki hints at a past connection and his admiration for Yuuhi’s bravery.
Slowly coming to terms with his feelings for Itsuki, Yuuhi finds the courage to talk about his condition. Everything came full circle later, a sweet revelation that Itsuki was fulfilling childhood promises all along, and also, a closure with the bully.
I rooted hard for Itsuki and Yuuhi. Their childhood was tough, and I loved how they found strength in each other. There are no miracle cures; Yuuhi didn’t magically see other people’s faces, but there’s healing, courage, and the promise of brighter days.
Overall, a poignant story about finding a beacon of happiness in this dark world.
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MANGA: Fake Fact Lips Break
Fact Fact Lips Break – Suehiro Machi
Ryo and Zen, who were in the same year in the sales department and had been rivals since their high school days, competed in all sorts of things.
In the midst of some drunken spree, they decided to become a couple after a silly competition: “Whoever gets the girl first wins.”
The two still can’t be completely honest with each other, but as Ryo and Zen continue their “competition” – a form of communication – they start to act a little more like a couple, but they’re both so busy with work that they don’t have time to spend together and they keep missing each other…
As they get jealous and anxious over trivial things and are tossed about by emotions they can’t control, Ryo and Zen’s colleague Futami, who has just returned from being transferred to the Osaka branch, asks to be included in their match—!?!?
The two become lovers, and restart their careers and love lives with an upgrade!!
Love slowly turns into love. Just the two of them, spending everyday like this.Fake Fact Lips Break is the sizzling sequel to Fake Fact Lips, the brilliant rivals-to-lovers salarymen romance.
Ryou and Zen are now lovers, but with work so hectic, they barely have time for each other. Enter Futami—a newly transferred co-worker and former schoolmate—who eagerly inserts himself into their rivalry, unaware the two are now boyfriends.
Futami challenges Zen, claiming Ryou was special to him. Jealous and determined, Zen refuses to back down, desperate to prove he’s Ryou’s only true rival. Meanwhile, Ryou worries Zen spends too much time with Futami. Ryou and Zen struggle to communicate what they really feel, and this could make or break them.
Ryou and Zen navigate work and relationship and the sheer amount of mutual pining and their unspoken feelings, leap off the page! Ryou’s desire for Zen is so all-consuming that he thinks “I’m greedy” for his boyfriend’s presence.
Zen finds it difficult to express his affection openly, and his time with Futami taught him it’s best to be straightforward with Ryou. When he finally finds the words, it’s a devastating hit to the kokoro, the scenes so swoony I died of squees!
If I thought Fake Fact Lips couldn’t be more perfect, this two-volume sequel is the cherry with chocolate drizzle. From the silly fights that spiced their relationship, to that desperate, desperate longing that makes the heart ache, to the most squee-tastic confessions, and that ridiculously romantic proposal, this manga upped the ante, doubled the steam, and completely slayed with the swoon!
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MANGA: Kotaete My Drifter
Kotaete My Drifter – Kamome Ohshima
It’s the hedonistic New York of the roaring ’20s. One night at a dazzling party Elliot meets Robert, a suspiciously suave man who reminds him of his first love. The two handsome gentlemen hit it off right away and soon their relationship takes a romantic turn… However, the paths of history are often cruel. Can they withstand the challenges thrown at them? Let Ooshima Kamome’s newest work captivate you with its sweet and dark atmosphere…
Answer My Drifter takes us to 1929 New York, just before the stock market crash. At a party, Elliot meets Robert, and the two quickly become lovers. Robert stirs memories of Elliot’s childhood friend from Chinatown—a half-white, half-Chinese boy he once loved.
Though Robert hints at ties to the mafia, Elliot remains his lover. When those connections and dark past catch up with Robert, Elliot is forced to fight for the man he loves.
This manga beautifully juxtaposes sweet and angsty, innocence and violence. Past and present Elliot dotes on Robert, unaware of the horrors in Robert’s life. Learning Robert secretly saved him from those when they were kids only made his resolved to keep Robert safe even stronger.
Chapter 4 is particularly harrowing in its graphic depiction of violence, so tread with care. Robert went through the wringer and was forced to work on the streets to survive, making him feel unworthy of Elliot.
His farewell letter is heartbreaking, but Elliot would have none of the goodbyes, determined to have him no matter what. Cheered so hard whenever Elliot was always there to catch his man. That ending made my heart soar!
This is a poignant tale of enduring love, resilient against poverty, tragedy, and time. Overall, friends may drift apart, life and love can always bring them back together.
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MANGA: Shitateya to Bocchan
Shitateya to Bocchan – Ohshima Kamome
Since he was a child, Takamiya has had a one-sided love for Katayama, the owner of a small tailor-made clothing store. With the age difference between them, Takamiya does not expect his feelings to be reciprocated, but he decides to make a declaration of his love anyway… and is bluntly rejected by Katayama! But Takamiya does not intend to give up. With his stubbornness, will he succeed in melting the heart of the reluctant tailor?
Ecstatic to find another manga about a tailor!
Tailor and Scion is a poignant age gap romance between Takamiya, a college student, and Katayama, the reserved tailor he adored since childhood.
Takamiya first fell for Katayama as a boy accompanying his father to the shop. Now an adult and determined to be seen as such, he confesses his feelings—only to be bluntly rejected. But Takamiya is nothing if not persistent, and slowly, ever so slowly, Katayama begins to tolerate, then rely on, his presence.
Whether Katamiya will ever lower his walls completely is another matter. And to make thing more complicated is an invitation from a fellow tailor, offering Katayama a chance to work abroad—an opportunity Takamiya refuses to hinder, even if it breaks his heart.
Our boy is a ray of sunshine with unputdownable determination to make the love of his life happy. Seriously, Katayama is spoiled rotten. Takamiya does everything from shower him with gifts, to cooking for him, to nursing him when he’s sick.
Katayama cuts an elegant figure in his shirts and waistcoats, always perfectly groomed—until he isn’t. Those rare moments of dishevelment are the tells, the cracks in his composure that reveal how deeply Takamiya affects him. As the older, unflappable one, he often appears cold, and it took a while before I was convinced he has feelings for Takamiya.
This is slow burn at its most potent! This manga gradually squeezed my heart tighter and tighter. The sheer amount of pining is almost overwhelming as Takamiya contents himself with whatever crumbs of affection Katayama deigns to throw his way.
I almost thought Takamiya deserved better but the mangaka works subtle magic. No L-words were exchanged but in Katayama’s nuanced reactions, his half-said truths, and fleeting softness we glimpse the melting of ice. Then he would go say something swoony and completely slay Takamiya!
Overall, crushes your heart first then stitches it back in place with the most exquisite care!
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MANGA: Ore no Itoshi no Neet-kun
Ore no Itoshi no Neet-kun – Shina Suzaka
Chiaki, who is afraid of interacting with other people is a great neet. He wants to change and decides to show a cool part of himself to Naruse Keiichi, who has taken care of him since kindergarten, and decided to actually find a permanent workplace. However, recently, Keiichi’s attitude has been somewhat aloof … !?The start of a love with a strong classmate “Bokuto boyfriend” also included!
I Love Neet-Kun is a hilarious childhood-friends-to-lovers romance between a hapless NEET and a dependable salaryman.
Chiaki, blessed with good looks but cursed with terrible luck at jobs and social interactions, has been cared for by his childhood friend Kei since kindergarten. Secretly in love with Kei, Chiaki tries one job after another in an effort to prove his worth—until he was scouted as a model.
His striking appearance is the only thing going for him and it quickly made him one of the most sought-after faces in the industry. Meanwhile his bond with Kei deepens into something more.
But Chiaki has a predicament: whenever he and Kei get frisky, he gets too excited, leading to premature mishaps that fuel both comedy and embarrassment. His overthinking, daydreaming himbo ways often cause him to blurt out bizarre comments at the worst possible times, creating ridiculous misunderstandings.
The most hilarious scenes are Chiaki’s interactions with Johnson, a fellow model secretly crushing on Chiaki. Distracted by his PME anxieties, Chiaki stares at John’s crotch and makes awkward references to sex—leading John to believe Chiaki is interested.
When John invites him to his room, Chiaki panics and screams for help. Kei swoops in to rescue him, then immediately performs a dogeza apology on Chiaki’s behalf, because Kei knows his man is an idiot and had unwittingly led John on with his spectacularly clueless ways.
He might be an idiot, but Chiaki is endearing, earnest, and utterly devoted to Kei. Kei, in turn, enjoys being Chiaki’s steady anchor and biggest supporter. Taking care of Chiaki is his joy in life. Together, they’re dorky, adorable, and impossible not to root for!
The side story Bokuto Boyfriend is equally intriguing and deserves a full volume. It follows a gay high schooler crushing on a classmate who turns out to be homophobic. He befriends a notorious delinquent who isn’t really delinquent at all.
When the bully targets the boy, the delinquent steps in to defend him. Impressed, the boy asks if the delinquent could ever look at him that way.
I really liked the dynamic here. The delinquent is the strong, stoic type, but is surprisingly quirky. The boy is the friendly, cheerful type who talks while his friend listens. I particularly liked how the mangaka drew the delinquent and his subtle expressions. AND his blush when he thought of the boy that way!!!
P.S.
John is an fabulous character and a good person. Let’s find him a boyfriend soon!
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MANGA: Yakimochi wa Kitsuneiro
Yakimochi wa Kitsuneiro – Suehiro Machi
Akiha came to Tokyo to attend school, but on his first day, he’s molested on a crowded train. Surprised by it, he was struck dumb but one young man stepped in to help. As they talked, he suddenly hugged the young man to thank him…?
A slapstick love story between a college student who is loved by animals and a pure new student who is possessed by a fox!
Fox-colored Jealousy is a sweet manga about fox spirits and cute boys.
Akiha’s family is cursed with a fox spirit for generations, and it’s now his turn to be possessed. When he’s stressed or nervous, the fox’s ears and tail appear, and the fox can control his body. It was getting out of hand, so he was sent to live with relatives at a temple in Tokyo.
En route to the place, he was molested in the train and was rescued by a college boy, who later turned out to be the younger son of his relative. Yuukuri is well-liked by animals, and the fox spirit is drawn to him. Akiha feels awkward towards Yuukuri, especially when the fox spirit gets extra frisky and affectionate towards Yuukuri.
This could have gone ecchi, but I loved that it went extra fluffy instead. The character design of Akiha is just ridiculously adorbs, with fox ears, tail and little fangs, and so blushy too! Yuukuri looks good too, but his older brother is more attractive, IMO.
Akiha struggles with the possession, his ears and tails popping at an inconvenient time or when he cannot control his body. Yuukuri is the fox whisperer, able to convince the fox spirit not to show his ears and tail until Akiha is home. Akiha is also strongly attracted to Yuukuri but worries that the always kind Yuukuri only likes him out of pity.
Interestingly, while the fox spirit is a key character, playing the matchmaker to Yuukuri and Akiha, they never gave them a name. Akiha doesn’t shift into a fox; we only know the fox spirit is in control when his eyes changes and the ears and tail appear. The fox’s personality is also more forward compared to the timid Akiha.
While the (mostly visual) fluff was doing its magic, I didn’t squee as hard. The overall swoon factor was muted by the not-so-interesting dialogue that I glossed over. Still, the cuteness factor is high, and plenty of readers love it.
For me, it’s fun eye candy, just missing that extra spark.
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MANGA: Kowagaranai de, Soba ni Ite
Kowagaranai de, Soba ni Ite – Long Utsumi
I thought it would go well for you and me from here on after. “Let’s pretend it never happened. From the very beginning.”
Ono Shizuka is a baker who got into an argument with his partner Sakai and fell off the stairs. The accident caused him to forget about Sakai entirely. However, he now is very interested in the beautiful but lonely man.
Don’t Be Afraid, Stay By Your Side is a straightforward amnesia romance that nonetheless packs quite the emotional punch.
After an argument with his partner, Sakai, Shizuka accidentally fell off the stairs and developed amnesia. Following his accident and loss of memories of Sakai, Shizuka still found himself strongly drawn to the man who rescued him.
After being discharged from the hospital, Shizuka returned to work at his bakery. He saw Sakai again there and wanting to thank him for the rescue, Shizuka served Sakai his recommended cakes. Unaware of their history, he chose Sakai’s favorites—a gesture that pierced Sakai’s heart, knowing Shizuka no longer remembered their relationship.
The magic lies in Shizuka’s subtle yet earnest wooing of Sakai, doggedly determined to win over the beautiful, melancholy man despite knowing Sakai is in love with someone else. And so Shizuka competes with himself; each gesture is a shot to Sakai’s heart, closely mirroring pre-amnesia Shizuka’s behavior towards Sakai, who couldn’t bring himself to tell Shizuka of their connection.
It was painful, bittersweet, and so achingly poignant that it transformed a commonly used trope into a deeply moving second-chance romance that made my chest ache and made me smile. This is a manga that breaks a heart and puts it back together again.
Overall, love and memory can be rebuilt—layer by layer, just like the perfect strawberry shortcake.
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MANGA: White Pawn
White Pawn – Tobi Washio
Kuroki, a freshman in college, becomes infatuated with his senior Shirasawa, who enjoys dominating men, and plans to seduce him at the school’s entrance ceremony, but ends up being the one who gets captured. Despite the setback, Kuroki is determined to win over Shirasawa’s heart and comes up with a cunning plan to turn the tables.
White Pawn is another gem from Tobi Washio, mangaka of Hochichirui Hitoka and Enishi Majiwaru Haguremono.
Kuroki spotted the gorgeous Shirasawa at the school’s entrance ceremony and fell in love at first sight. One day, he was approached by Shirasawa, who asked him to be his model for a painting. Jumping at the chance to get close to his crush, Kuroki agreed and began his seduction.
He thought his scheme was working when Shirasawa asked him to come to his house. Kuroki thought he was a tiger ready to pounce, but Shirasawa proved that Kuroki was nothing more than a kitten.
Oooh, yandere in the wild! Not as common as tsundere because they’re not as endearing as love interest. It took a while for me to warm up to Shirasawa. He borderlined sekuhara Kuroki, but our boy wanted to sleep badly with Shirasawa, so yeah. The sticking point, if we may use the phrase, is that Kuroki wanted to top.
Quite a refreshing dynamic! Far from a tsundere, Kuroki loudly proclaims he’s in love with Shirasawa at every opportunity. Shirasawa boldly challenges Kuroki to flip the table if he can, and he will top until Kuroki does so. A challenge Kuroki is determined to win, only Shirasawa is a martial arts expert who can easily manhandle the taller Kuroki. But our boy isn’t giving up anytime soon.
My only complaint is that this is such a missed opportunity to switch. Vers couple is a rare thing in BL, and I was really hoping Kuroki gets what he wants. Maybe a sequel?
The whole time they were together, Shirazawa was seemingly just there for the dominance and sex. My favorite part is when Shirasawa’s big brother crashed the party to stir trouble, and Shirasawa had to stake his claim. Kuroki wonders if Shirasawa has any feelings for him. Only for Shirasawa to fervently declare, “It was never one-sided.”
I get such a thrill every time we get glimpses of the confident and unflappable Shirasawa’s deeper feelings coming to the surface, the rare times he gets flustered or passionate! And the gags were hilarious because we know Kuroki is never getting Shirasawa’s ass.
This is what happens when a cat thinks he’s on top, until a tiger comes along.
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MANGA: Fake Fact Lips
Fake Fact Lips – Suehiro Machi
Ryou and Zen are two men who hate to lose—especially to each other. From high school rivals to rival co-workers, these two men have always been locked in fierce competition. They’ve competed over grades, sports, and even the number of Valentine’s chocolates received! And now that they’re salesmen at the same company, their rivalry has reignited. One night, while out for drinks, the two begin arguing about who’s more experienced in love. Suddenly, their newest competition is set: the winner is whoever makes the other fall in love with them first! But will this competition of hearts really lead to a win or something far more complicated?
Fake Fact Lips is a rivals-to-lovers romance that once again proves that one’s biggest rival is one’s greatest love.
Ryou and Zen have been bitter rivals since high school. Their rivalry reignited when they found themselves working for the same company, and their competitive spirits were so fierce that they competed over everything, from sales records to who could finish a drink first.
One drunken night, they were so hellbent on winning, they came up with a brilliant contest of who could make the other fall in love first. Needless to say, their game quickly became a little too hot, a little too real.
Ryou and Zen became friends as their rivalry began. Zen’s drive to be on top came from an inferiority complex; Ryou felt pressure from his father to excel at everything. They bonded over dropping others’ expectations to focus on each other as worthy opponents.
The manga brilliantly portrayed Zen’s endearing mix of vulnerability and cockiness, his indefatigable desire to win warring with his slowly growing need for it not to be a game. And Ryou’s cool confidence and sudden bursts of passion hint at something fierce and deep. Because we know, oh, we just know, he lost even before the game began.
From the intensity of their rivalry, to the conflicting feelings, to all that delicious pining, and the glorious win, this is a rivals-to-lovers story heated to perfection!
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