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MANGA: Ore no Itoshi no Neet-kun
Ore no Itoshi no Neet-kun – Shina Suzaka
Chiaki, who is afraid of interacting with other people is a great neet. He wants to change and decides to show a cool part of himself to Naruse Keiichi, who has taken care of him since kindergarten, and decided to actually find a permanent workplace. However, recently, Keiichi’s attitude has been somewhat aloof … !?The start of a love with a strong classmate “Bokuto boyfriend” also included!
I Love Neet-Kun is a hilarious childhood-friends-to-lovers romance between a hapless NEET and a dependable salaryman.
Chiaki, blessed with good looks but cursed with terrible luck at jobs and social interactions, has been cared for by his childhood friend Kei since kindergarten. Secretly in love with Kei, Chiaki tries one job after another in an effort to prove his worth—until he was scouted as a model.
His striking appearance is the only thing going for him and it quickly made him one of the most sought-after faces in the industry. Meanwhile his bond with Kei deepens into something more.
But Chiaki has a predicament: whenever he and Kei get frisky, he gets too excited, leading to premature mishaps that fuel both comedy and embarrassment. His overthinking, daydreaming himbo ways often cause him to blurt out bizarre comments at the worst possible times, creating ridiculous misunderstandings.
The most hilarious scenes are Chiaki’s interactions with Johnson, a fellow model secretly crushing on Chiaki. Distracted by his PME anxieties, Chiaki stares at John’s crotch and makes awkward references to sex—leading John to believe Chiaki is interested.
When John invites him to his room, Chiaki panics and screams for help. Kei swoops in to rescue him, then immediately performs a dogeza apology on Chiaki’s behalf, because Kei knows his man is an idiot and had unwittingly led John on with his spectacularly clueless ways.
He might be an idiot, but Chiaki is endearing, earnest, and utterly devoted to Kei. Kei, in turn, enjoys being Chiaki’s steady anchor and biggest supporter. Taking care of Chiaki is his joy in life. Together, they’re dorky, adorable, and impossible not to root for!
The side story Bokuto Boyfriend is equally intriguing and deserves a full volume. It follows a gay high schooler crushing on a classmate who turns out to be homophobic. He befriends a notorious delinquent who isn’t really delinquent at all.
When the bully targets the boy, the delinquent steps in to defend him. Impressed, the boy asks if the delinquent could ever look at him that way.
I really liked the dynamic here. The delinquent is the strong, stoic type, but is surprisingly quirky. The boy is the friendly, cheerful type who talks while his friend listens. I particularly liked how the mangaka drew the delinquent and his subtle expressions. AND his blush when he thought of the boy that way!!!
P.S.
John is an fabulous character and a good person. Let’s find him a boyfriend soon!
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MY TOP BL MANGA OF 2025
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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!
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