Never Hollowed By The Stare

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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