Bitter Cigar – Panda/Kumaneko

Go to work, go home. Go to work, go home. That’s the daily routine of 26-year-old Wataru Toyohashi. One night, he heard a terrible groan coming from next door, so he rushed over, only to find his neighbor, Takatsuki, on the verge of tears and slumped on the floor. The reason? Hunger. Takatsuki said he forgets to eat when he gets caught up in his work, which he does from home. Toyohashi, unable to ignore the situation, decided to treat Takatsuki to dinner since he was in the middle of cooking anyway. Overjoyed by the simple home-cooked meal, Takatsuki exclaimed, “I want to eat this every day!” And that’s how their weekly weekend dinner parties started. At the small dining table with Takatsuki and his own two cats, Toyohashi’s days change bit by bit…

Bitter Cigar is a gentle tale of home‑cooked meals and good company.

Toyohashi, a game developer, discovers his neighbor Takatsuki weak with hunger and begins feeding him. When Takatsuki delights in his cooking, they establish a weekly dinner routine. Toyohashi finds Takatsuki irresistibly cute, and his neighbor is thrilled to hear it.

One day, however, Toyohashi bumps into Takatsuki in the hallway and is surprised when Takatsuki avoids him. Embarrassed by his disheveled appearance, Takatsuki grows increasingly awkward about meeting again. Yet Toyohashi, invested in their blossoming friendship, does his damnedest to reconnect.

The story shines with beautiful non‑binary representation. Takatsuki, with long hair and soft, loose clothing, enjoys being cute without wanting to be a girl, simply loving what he loves. His novel Bitter Cigar reflects the forbidden things he longed for growing up.

Told mostly from Toyohashi’s perspective, the narrative captures how he slowly falls for Takatsuki, wooing him with delicious food and heartfelt praise. It’s ridiculously sweet, swoony, and pure squee! The subtle reveal of Toyohashi’s sexuality ties everything together like the perfect cherry on top.

Overall, a pure, uplifting comfort-food connection!

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