-
MANGA: Tonari no Usotsuki
Tonari no Usotsuki – Rika Anzai & Shina Suzuka
While aware he’s attracted to the same sex, Takase has been living and lying because of his pride. One day, he gets to know Ito, who is always waiting for his male lover at a cafe. Takase, who was interested in how Ito always gave his true feelings to his lover, is strongly shaken by the unrelenting Ito whose tears are pure with the betrayal. However, even though he wishes to be more than friends, he can not say that he’s gay
The Liar by My Side is a charming salaryman romance about honesty and pride.
Takase frequently found himself waiting for his fiancée right next to Ito who is waiting for his boyfriend. Takase is intrigued, being gay but unable to admit it to himself. Later, his engagement was broken off, and he struck up a friendship with Ito after learning that he had broken up with his boyfriend.
Afterwards, the two started hanging out frequently. Ito was happy to have a straight friend who shares his favorite movies, while Takase wished he could confess he liked guys, too—especially Ito.
For a story about a liar, this is refreshingly non-toxic. Wholesome even!
Takase’s pride kept him from being true to himself, so he found Ito’s openness attractive and inspiring. Takase always treats Ito the way he should be treated, cherished, and adored, unlike the shameful way Ito’s ex treated him. Dude is first-time gay, but he’s turning out to be one of the best boyfriends out there!
You’d think Takase would be one of those stoic seme types, so I was thrilled to see his playful side during his dates with Ito. My favorite one was when he showed up with a fancy car, dressed like a yakuza, because Ito frequently mentions his face looked like that of a yakuza anti-hero in movies.
Another favorite is how the mangaka delivered the big confession. They had Takase and Ito in the streets, Takase speaking his heart out in the open, chasing Ito, a vivid contrast to all the lies and bottled-up emotions. It was quite a powerful scene!
Other key conversations were also in public, further reinforcing the theme of being out, with nothing to hide. The pacing is spot on, showcasing the development of Takase and Ito’s relationship in the most heartwarming way.
Overall, this slice-of-life manga is deceptively simple yet packs a punch, then soothes the pain with a whole lot of feel-good vibes. Truly, a keeper!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Suezen Kurau wa Otoko no Tachi
Suezen Kurau wa Otoko no Tachi – Tobi Washio
Sera, a sexually curious salaryman, has newly set his sights on Ryo, a new employee at his favourite bar.
He tries to talk to him about sex, a new kind of pleasure, but Ryo is popular with men and women of all ages and has a lot of experience.
But he can’t catch on, and when he pesters him, Ryo gets mad and teaches him about the pleasures of the backside…It’s Man’s Nature To Eat What’s Served is a golden retriever/black cat romance between a bi-curious salaryman and a rough-and-tough bartender.
Sera is a known playboy who exhausted all the games he could play when he learned how good in bed Ryo was. So good that women came to the bar begging for him, and Sera wanted a piece of that.
Sera started pestering the younger man, stalking, following, and generally making a nuisance of himself, so Ryo decided to teach him a lesson. Which backfired because Sera discovered he liked it up the ass. Which led to more pestering and more backdoor shenanigans.
Sera’s unputdownable merry disposition makes it difficult to say no, and Ryo’s cold, sharp demeanor hints at a vulnerability he desperately tries to hide. The salaryman affectionately thinks of him as a black cat slowly revealing his soft side.
Personally, I’m not so sure of the depth of Sera’s feelings. He seemed more like a guy who’s happily going with the flow since it’s fun for him. Ryo’s the one who is trying not to feel things because he doesn’t want to be treated like trash.
The ending feels a bit open-ended, and okay, maybe it did convince me that these two might work. While not as funny as Tobi Washio‘s other works, this is a good-ish example of lust-to-love romance with sex leading to conflicting feels to (hopefully) a genuine emotional connection.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Hochichirui Hitoka
Hochichirui Hitoka – Tobi Washio
Eiji is a guy who loves animals so much he will spend his entire paycheck to celebrate their birthdays. Today, he is as broke as always! He is also constantly frustrated, muttering he wants to go at it too while watching two lions copulate. But then, he wakes up in bed with his straight-laced co-worker Mitsuru, doing it with another guy for the first time…!?
This is a romance inspired by horny gay lions going at it at the zoo.
Mammal, Hominid began when two zookeepers watched the lions, and Eiji, the senior keeper, grew wistful about wanting sex.
It’s his birthday, and animal-obsessed Eiji just blew his paycheck on bananas for the gorillas. His subordinate Mitsuru offered to treat him to ramen, and many drinks later, they ended up in Mitsuru’s bed. Dub con ensues.
An awkward morning follows, then an angry confession by Mitsuru left Eiji’s head spinning. But, if their gay lions are happy, maybe he and Mitsuru can work too?
OMG, this one is a riot! From the hilarious way the animals’ expressions were drawn to the humans being complete idiots, this manga had me LOLing!
Eiji is a dork with no filter, and useless except that he really, really loves animals. He’s also endearingly open, honest, and comfortable in his own skin. Unknown to him, he inspired Mitsuru years ago to be honest with himself, and because of that, Mitsuru never forgot the boy who taught him not to be ashamed of liking what he likes.
I lived for the confession scene where the contrast between Mitsuru’s anger at Eiji avoiding him while baring his soul and vowing to make Eiji fall in love with him was intense and hella swoony!
I loved how the two always commnunicated openly no matter how embarassing the topic. It was fun to watch them navigate their personal and work relationship and it was a joy to see them grow as a couple.
This is a humorous yet heartfelt story full of awkward moments, honest confessions, and shenanigans, both human and animal. Overall, a romance worthy of love-struck lions!
P.S.
Their nosy co-workers are complete idiots too! I want their story!!!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Yankee to Carameliser
Yankee to Carameliser – Umeshibu Chiuko
Yasokawa Akito, a high schooler social media influencer, discovered that his classmate, Maki Naofumi, a yankee, was uploading photos of the sweets he had made, onto social media.Akito’s influencer spirit is ignited, and he manages to persuade Maki, who is stubborn about not wanting anyone to find out, to shoot a video and publish it.Maki is cool when making sweets, and his face is cute when he gets embarrassed when Akito compliments him.Akito is happy to discover this unexpected side of Maki, but each time Maki releases a video, he gains new fans, and Akito becomes increasingly possessive of him even though they are friends.One day, he sees Maki coming out of a hotel room with a guy…?!
Yankee and Carameliser is a delicious take on gap moe featuring a delinquent, Maki, who secretly bakes the best desserts, and Akito, the social media influencer who couldn’t get enough of them.
When Akito learned Maki’s secret, he approached the other boy and did his damnedest to let him to record videos of Maki’s creations for social media. Maki agreed on the condition that Akito kept his face and voice hidden. The videos became viral, and Maki was flattered by the positive responses.
Then one day, when Akito saw Maki coming out of a love hotel with a guy, he realized he wanted to keep Maki to himself.
This manga is as sweet as Maki’s desserts! Akito’s cheerful nature contrasts perfectly with Maki’s tsundere charm. He supports Maki’s baking and documents his journey, always encouraging him.
There’s a slight angst on Maki’s part. He had childhood trauma because of his parents’ negative reactions towards his interests in cute and feminine things. And so Maki forced himself to conform to what society considered “manly,” including picking fights with other boys.
Blushy Maki is adorbs! Akito was immediately smitten, and the two are just too cute for words! The whole vibe is pure and kawaii with beautifully drawn desserts and recipes included. The bonus scenes were the cherries on top, my favorite being the one where the convenience store clerk realized Akito’s girlfriend is actually a boyfriend. And so, a fudanshi is born!
This manga would be fantastic as a live-action, and happily, we’ll have a sequel soon. Overall, there’s always room for desserts and delinquents!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Nokemono Domoni Shukufuku wo
Nokemono Domoni Shukufuku wo – Fuyufusa Joe
In order to save his home village, Jonak seeks the help of the dragon god, who is said to grant the wishes of humans. However, Adain, the dragon god, demands Jonak himself in return. Despite being puzzled by Adain’s arrogant attitude, which is so unlike the benevolent image painted in legends, Jonak readily agrees to become the “dragon’s companion”…!?
[A haughty dragon god × a lonely orphaned youth]Blessings to the Outcasts is a fantasy romance between a dragon god and a village orphan who asked for his help to save his village. It is set in a vaguely Eastern European world where many magical creatures exist. It’s an intriuging blend of magic, science, and arcane manipulations.
Jonak crossed the cursed sea to the island where the dragon god, Adain, lives. After asking for help to stop the orcs, Adain gave his word. In return, Jonak becomes his mate. The two went on to save the village and, through the years, figured out why the orcs were abducting human females.
The plot follows the progression of their relationship throughout the decades and their interactions with various people, including Lucius, Adain’s brother. One significant character was Ilse, Jonak’s former fiancée, who married his brother when Jonak disappeared for 3 years. Adain found her aggravating, a.k.a. the dragon god is jealous, even though Ilse was off-page and far away most of the time.
As a grumpy marshmallow dragon, Adain could sometimes appear callous and cold-hearted when it comes to humans, but really saved humanity and even the orcs from their woes.
The dragon god made it seem like an impersonal business arrangement when Jonak asked him to teach him different languages. I laughed when Lucius pointed out, “You could just say, I want to fulfill your every wish.”
Jonak is an earnest, good-natured young man who took Adain’s quirks in stride. After the initial, rather intimidating encounter, he pretty much went along with Adain’s flow. He’s the type of honest, do-gooding sort who can’t lie. He’s a great influence on Adain.
The manga is dialogue-heavy. There are even scenes where Adain and Jonak were having sex while having lengthy conversations about human politics and governance. There were other parts where they talk about religion and orc affairs that made my eyes glaze over, so I skimmed plenty.
Despite the long talks, I still found the manga charming. The storytelling felt unique, and while some elements were confusing, the various plot threads were resolved satisfactorily.
It’s the endearing and enduring connection between Adain and Jonak that shines bright. It’s a literal forever for them, as dragons are immortal and so are their mates.
We get a tough, muscular uke who hunts and a lanky, refined seme who likes embroidery. Their contrasting personalities meshed well together, making the romance that much sweeter. The mutual care and the obvious affection for each other are giving me life!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Wonderlove wa Mayonaka ni
Wonderlove wa Mayonaka ni – Panda
Yashiro Haruka is suffering from insomnia after changing jobs. There’s only one reason for this- he’s been reunited with Isshiki, the source of his dark past.
Yashiro has been having one-night stands with men as a sort of “sleeping pill”, but one day, when he gets into an argument, Isshiki saves him, and for some reason, they end up sleeping together.
That night, in his dream, the Demon Lord Thomas, who looks just like Isshiki, appears, and he showers him with his extremely sweet affection!?
Even though Isshiki treats him coldly in reality, Yashiro is tossed about by the gap between his dreams and reality...
Wonderlove at Midnight is a workplace romance with a healthy dose of magic realism and concupiscent dreams.
Haruka’s cure for his chronic insomnia is to sleep with a man. He keeps it to one-night stands, never repeating his encounters with anyone.
When his boss Isshiki learns of Haruka’s predicament, he volunteers to platonically sleep with Haruka and cooks him delicious, healthy meals to help him sleep. The thing is, Haruka has been crushing hard on his straight boss. To make things even more complicated, Isshiki looks exactly like Haruka’s favorite BL game character, Lord Thomas.
Haruka’s friend Akira is an amateur tarot card reader who advised him on how to have better luck. Following his friend’s advice, Haruka started having smutty dreams of Lord Thomas and him going at it like rabbits. Meanwhile, he fell into a nice domestic, and still platonic, routine with Isshiki.
Awkward doesn’t begin to cover it, come morning, when Haruka eats breakfast with Isshiki. It’s hilarious how the lines of reality and dreams blur, frequently disorienting Haruka or making him horny at inconvenient times, or making it hard to meet Isshiki in the eyes in real life when he just boinked his boss in dreams last night.
Isshiki is aloof, gorgeous, and surprisingly good at taking care of Haruka. Lord Thomas is affectionate, doting, and smiles a lot. Haruka couldn’t help but compare the two, but is drawn to both. He’s pretty much resigned that platonic is all he’s getting from Isshiki. Oh, the pining!
It’s always a thrill when we get the love interest’s POV. Slowly, we get glimpses of Isshiki’s perspective and my favorite childhood connection trope, which was tragic on Haruka’s side, was actually hell of a lot swoonier from Isshiki’s view. There is sekuhara involved and Isshiki is the dashing prince to the rescue. Plenty of pining here too!
My favorite part was the little panel at the end, after present-day Haruka smiled brightly at Isshiki. Flustered, Isshiki thought, “If he smiled at me like that in middle school, I would have been so screwed!”
The real-life romance slowburned while the dream romance blazed like a wildfire, and the eventual reconciliation of the two was seamless and spectacularly executed!
While the themes and tropes are very familiar, the use of tarot and magic realism made this story fresh and unique. The artwork is colorful and fantastically detailed with beautifully drawn characters.
Overall, a wonderful, emotional story of wanting love and living the dream.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Sakurada Coffee Ten
Sakurada Coffee Ten – Kei Kuzuhara
“Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel…” Is that love or coffee?
Kusama Kou isn’t sure, especially after he rediscovers that his first childhood crush is now a widowed coffee shop owner by the name of Sakurada.
Sakurada-san’s kind, soothing, with an amazing voice, and much older than Kou – i.e. exactly Kou’s type. So he wastes no time in getting himself hired part-time at Sakurada Coffee Shop, but is there really any hope for his love to be returned…?
Sakurada Coffee Shop is an age gap romance between a college student and a much older man whom he considers his first love, having been drawn to the older man since he was a kid eating at his cafe.
Kou is persistent in his pursuit of his one true love, Sakurada, who was flattered but chalked it up to the passion of youth. No matter how many times he turned the young man down, he would not be deterred. The two spent time in close proximity since Kou worked part-time in Sakurada’s cafe, and slowly but surely Kou wormed his way under Sakurada’s walls.
My niggle is that the mangaka really laid the age gap pretty thick. Sakurada is drawn gaunt with grey hair and wrinkles, which led me to believe he was in his 60s. It made me sad because he and Kou only have a short time together.
It wasn’t until I saw the characters’ bios that I learned Kou is 19 and Sakurada is only 47 years young! Phew, I thought the old man was on death’s door; he got at least 30 years more on him.
Some readers might be put off with Sakurada looking so old, but don’t let it discourage you.
This manga lifts the spirits and brings comfort, blending Kou’s youthful ardor with Sakurada’s zen of maturity. But then sometimes the tables are turned, and it is Sakurada who needs assurances, and Kou offering himself as the rock the older man can stand on.
The romance was beautifully executed, and the dynamics are a wonderful play of contrasts that highlight why Kou and Sakurada fit so well despite their obvious differences.
Overall, as heartwarming and uplifting as a cup of perfectly brewed coffee!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: White Liar
White Liar – Tomo Serizawa
Shiraishi Kei is a talented freelance beautician who’s experienced more downs than ups when it comes to past relationships, and so has decided to swear off love. However, when the mysterious up-and-coming actor Taiga Jinnouchi enters his life, their casual one-night stand turns into much more. Unbeknownst to Kei, Taiga has been harboring a secret for years — something that changes the meaning behind “fooling around” as the line between lies and sincerity are blurred in this whirlwind showbiz love story!
White Liar follows that plot where one MC seemed to be mysteriously drawn to the other and a deeper, past connection is hinted.
Kei was assigned to cut the young actor Taiga’s hair, and after the session, he and Taiga hooked up. The actor frequently showed up for more encounters, then later expressed his feelings for Kei. Kei, who had his fair share of bad relationships, was wary, unsure if Taiga was acting, having noticed how the actor seemed to absorb Kei’s emotions and reflect them back to him.
I find this an interesting take on actors, almost a shade even. Taiga is known as a chameleon actor, sinking so deep inside a character that he sometimes gets lost. He’s often described as transparent and able to absorb any color; hence, he’s incredible at acting. Kei wonders if he ever shows his true character.
Even with the familiar story, the execution made all the difference, and setting it in the context of the movie industry made it fresh. The past connection is wonderfully pure and full of youthful hopes and dreams. The present is angsty and dramatic with gorgeously drawn characters pining hard for each other.
How Taiga and Kei came to terms with their insecurities and feelings for each other was poignant and I loved the slight sense of melancholy and nostalgia for more innocent times that hung in the air. The summer vibe is captured perfectly, especially in the last chapter set in the backdrop of Taiga’s island hometown. It made for a breathtaking climactic scene!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Happy Birthday Chitose-Kun
Happy Birthday Chitose-Kun – Ueno Poteto
College student Chitose Tada spends his birthday alone and remembers his classmate from high school —-. Koutaka, who transferred in his second year, was tall, handsome, and talented at sports. At first Chitose thought he was rude, but sees his true nature and is pulled in by him. A memorial love story between Koutaka and Chitose!
Happy Birthday, Chitose-Kun is about the lonely birthday boy Chitose reminiscing about his lost love, Koutaka, his high school boyfriend who drifted away after graduation. Chitose and Koutaka were both on their HS baseball team, Koutaka having transferred in their second year.
After starting off on the wrong foot, the two boys became friends and gradually, albeit awkwardly, developed a romantic relationship. Both of them found birthdays to be complicated due to family drama. However, as a couple, they discovered ways to celebrate their birthdays in enjoyable ways. The last thing Chitose remembered was Koutaka promising to celebrate his birthday in a big way.
Oh boy, this one tugged extra hard at the heartstrings! We see Chitose miserably wandering around Tokyo, very clearly heartbroken, and the overwhelming loneliness and pining made my chest hurt.
These scenes alternate with flashbacks to happier high school days of baseball and boyfriends. Koutaka adores Chitose and is always doing little things to make him happy, so it was a mystery why he suddenly distanced himself when they were about to graduate.
When it comes to the happy ending, this one went all out! It was one of the most satisfying reunions and grand gestures. It made me incredibly happy that my heart soared and my soul was cleansed!
Overall, a truly poignant and heartfelt story of sad birthdays and second chances!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
MANGA: Trigger Happy Session
Trigger Happy Session – Mirai Mitsuki
Chihiro is a high school student whose dream was becoming a basketball player, but it was cut short due to an injury. One night, he gets caught by Ryuuji, creator of the wall art which Chihiro and his friends were messing up in the park. At first, Chihiro was scared, but he grew attracted to Ryuuji’s good looks and then somehow became his assistant.
First, CW about a college-age man dub-conning a high schooler.
Trigger Happy Session is about a very persistent high schooler, Chihiro, trying to persuade the artist Ryuuji to accept him as an assistant. Chihiro was so moved by the older man’s art that he wanted to see more of it.
The plot chronicles the young man’s evolving feelings, as well as Ryuuji’s changing perception of the hyperenergetic boy, who had been making a nuisance of himself but somehow became indispensable to the artist.
There is the cheerful/dour, age gap dynamics with conflict coming in the form of rejection, and another boy.
I’m not a fan of Ryuuji because, apart from the dub-con, he left me unconvinced of his feelings for Chihiro. If not for Chihiro’s schoolmate stirring jealousy, it’s doubtful Ryuuji would claim the boy.
Chihiro is a friendly and likable high schooler who is always so full of life. He deserves a better love interest.
Overall, right boy, wrong man.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
