Bakashite Damashite – Akabeko

Honda, a gym trainer with a dry love life, can’t help but be attracted to Konno, a man whose face is his ideal type. When he finds out that Konno is gay, he gets turned on by him, and finally realizes that he is in love. However, Konno has been in an unrequited love with someone for quite some time…… A pure and lewd love story of two clumsy men.

Seduce and Deceive is an endearing love story of misunderstandings, bisexual awakening, and two lovable doofuses thinking themselves unlovable, you just had to root hard for them.

Also, the cute nicknames!!!

Gym trainer Honda, affectionately called Ponta, a.k.a. racoon, is attracted to the new member Konno, a.k.a. Konosuke or fox. Upon learning he’s gay, Ponta, had these complicated, confused feelings for Konno, so he befriended him.

All these seemed innocuous, but then Ponta learned about Konno’s seven-year-old unrequited love that lead to heartbreak, and he couldn’t help offer a shoulder to cry on. One thing led to another, and they soon found themselves sleeping together. But is it going to be just sex?

This might be kawaii, humorous, and fluffy, but there is realism here, too. It portrays relationships as they are in real life, that many are mostly physical and never really progressed beyond that. It is often hard to find a true connection, and sometimes even if you take a chance, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll find it.

But this is not a sad story. Even with Konno’s tears and Ponta’s struggles, this manga is funny, uplifting and heartwarming. I hate the misunderstanding trope, but here it was resolved in such a satisfying way that I actually liked the way it heightened the drama. It made Ponta and Konno more open to each other.

All in all, an adorkable story of finding the right man, right words, and right connection.

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