Never Hollowed By The Stare

Mukou no Hito – Ueno Potato

Sano, who can’t seem to connect with anyone at all – not his family, not his coworkers – turns to SNS instead. One day, he decides to finally meet up with one of his mutual followers, “S.” His Internet friend turns out to be Narumi, a handsome young actor whose popularity recently shot through the roof! Although Narumi’s behavior seems to hint at something bubbling beneath the surface, Sano can’t shake off the feeling that he’s probably being toyed around with… An emotional, heart-piercing BL between a handsome actor and a salaryman who doesn’t do communication.

The Man on the Other Side is a story of two awkward loners awkwardly dancing around each other.

When Sano’s online friend turned out to be the famous actor Narumi, he didn’t know what to do with him, but he was also desperate to be his friend. Narumi, sensing a kindred soul in the very average salaryman, befriended him and soon found himself strongly attracted to Sano.

However, Sano is confused with Narumi’s hot/cold approach so how to convince him?

This is a dialogue-heavy manga, with big talky balloons alternating with thoughts of insecurity, confusion, and tentative hopes. The two have more realistic personalities that don’t fall neatly into the usual trope-y categories.

Sano is introverted but also blunt, occasionally hot-tempered and tongue-tied, then blurts out long dialogues. Narumi is cool and direct, sometimes flirty and then aloof but also needy.

He initiates a kiss and then drives a wedge between him and Sano. The two dorks wait for each other to call first until months pass with no communication, just stalking each other’s social media accounts.

The best part is Narumi’s interview on TV that lit a fire under Sano’s ass to finally do something because it’s about damn time!

The blurb called this “An emotional, heart-piercing BL.” I could see the emotions, but they didn’t pierce my heart. I didn’t squee, maybe because the execution is clumsy. Still, I’m rooting for the two dorks because they went about their romance so earnestly it was hella endearing!  

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