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MANGA: Don’t Stay Gold
Don’t Stay Gold – Yoneda Kou
A Yakuza boss really wants this “Mad Dog” fighter he found to work for him, but the “Mad Dog” isn’t too keen on the idea, even though he owes a debt. After being injured and refusing to go with the boss, the “Mad Dog” winds up staying with the doctor.
Already included in vol 1 of “Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai”
Readers of Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai are familiar with Yashiro’s childhood friend and hopeless crush, the doctor Kageyama. This is his little gay awakening with a young punk, Kuga a.k.a. Mad Dog.
This is a cute little age-gap side story. It’s not as angsty and explicit as the main manga. The feels are subtler. I was actually rooting for Yashiro and Kageyama before. I still do now but Kuga is giving the jaded Kageyama life so I can’t complain.
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MANGA: Falling In Love With The God Hotei Before I Die
Falling In Love With The God Hotei Before I Die – Hinagi
You’re gonna die anyway, so I’ll let you see the pure land of pleasures.” I’ve always been unlucky, and I get to have my first sexual experience… with a scary looking God Hotei!?
Takumi has been unlucky his whole life, and he has to have at least one accident every single day.One day, while getting groped on the train, he gets saved by a man with intimidating features. he goes home and greets his statue, god Hotei of fortune. Takumi believes that this statue is his one true ally. The next day, he spots the man on the train and finds out that he’s actually.. Hoteisson.
Not as smutty as advertised by that cover.
This is actually a cute story about perpetually unlucky Takumi who’s a devotee of the God of Fortune, Hotei. In his many unlucky days, he occasionally encounters a mysterious man who saves him from mishaps. He turned out to be none other than Hotei himself.
Takumi is a bit naive and clumsy. He gets treated like a doormat in his office. Hotei has the same intimidating air as Hoozuki from Reitetsu no Hoozuki. Looks like him too so I definitely like the artwork.
Their very slow burn romance developed over nine fast-paced chapters. I liked that the manga didn’t focus on the sex. The feels are very low-key with subtle expressions highlighted here and there. It’s like these two didn’t even realized that that they were falling in love. It ended just when Hotei’s heart skipped a beat which is argh!
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MANGA: Perfect Appearance
Perfect Appearance – 阿闷aman
A prince found a mysterious potion that is thought to make one more beautiful, so he gave it to his knight. However…
This is adorbs! Tragic but adorbs.
Perfect Appearance is a webtoon about a prince and his loyal knight. The story is set in a kingdom where everybody looks the same. One day, the prince found a potion said to improved one’s appearance. He poured it over his knight who transformed into one heck of an ikemen. This change of appearance started evil rumors about the knight and the emperor decided to sentence him to death.
This is a short manga of 5 chapters, each one brief and to the point. The story is told like a fairy tale with characters drawn as cutesy, round humanoids. It downplays the tragedy with its cute and childlike delivery. I really enjoyed this style because even though there’s a noose waiting, I’m still happy the prince had his knight.
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MANGA: Kimi wa Samishigari ya no Hana
Kimi wa Samishigari ya no Hana – Nomori Mina
One evening, Hisanaga approaches Morio at a bar with just one thing in mind. However, Morio is looking for a deeper relationship. Can Morio break through the wall around Hisanaga’s heart to get something more than empty sex?
You Are The Loneliest Flower is a story of university student, Morio, who developed feelings for his on-again off-again hookup, an aloof salaryman, Hisanaga.
This has a not so common set-up of characters openly admitting they’re gay and regularly hooking up at gay bars. Most of the time, BL manga characters just fall into relationships without even realizing or acknowledging their sexuality.
Morio knew Hisanaga is a self-centered, lonely man who pushes people away but it didn’t stop him being drawn to him. Morio is a natural do-gooder who can’t help but dote on the difficult and blunt Hisanaga. I liked his dedication and that he didn’t cross the line to pushy. Although I did wonder what was so attractive about the older man other than his looks. I didn’t connect with Hisanaga. I think his character could have been developed more.
The manga had a mature vibe. The premise is good but the way it was delivered wasn’t that convincing. The pacing and the scenes felt awkward. It closed in an open-ended but hopeful note where Morio hopes Hisanaga would eventually open up to him.
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MANGA: Kimi wa Natsu no Naka dj – Akane no Koro
Kimi wa Natsu no Naka dj – Akane no Koro – Furuya Nagisa
Short sequel to Kimi wa Natsu no Naka
A Time Of Fiery Red is a doujinshi that picks after that momentous scene at the beach in You Are In The Blue Summer when Wataru finally found Chiharu after Chiharu ghosted him. Most of the scenes here is them laying their feelings out in the open.
This short one-shot is full of promises, hope and new beginnings. It gives us a happy for now ending that leaves one wanting more. I hope the mangaka would continue their story after this winter date.
Kimi was Natsu no Naka is one of the best friends-to-lovers stories out there, with great artwork to boot. Furuya Nagisa is an all-time favorite mangaka. I highly recommend her works!
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MANGA: Otoshimono
Otoshimono – Miyamoto Kano
An odd encounter between two strangers results in tales of violence of questionable validity and of course sex. But is this just a one night stand?
An offbeat story about a do-gooding part-timer, Hashimoto, who helped out a stranger standing in the cold. He offers him a place to stay for the night. After sharing a few beers, the stranger tells his story of being abused by his partner. After jokingly offering to sleep with Hashimoto then actually doing it, the story reveals a twist that left us questioning some truths.
This gay-for-you one-shot takes you for a ride and leaves you wanting more. It’s one those stories that feel like a prequel to a very promising volume. I was one with Hashimoto in his sympathies and was as shocked when the stranger dropped his bombshell. Not sure about a relationship built on such dubious grounds but heck, if the mangaka wants us to root for these two, she definitely succeeded.
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MANGA: Escape
Escape – Miyamoto Kano
Jun hates his boring, lonely high-school life. Kouji hates being a penniless thug. Even though they have absolutely nothing in common, Kouji ends up getting roped into taking Jun on a roadtrip, and they realize maybe their lives aren’t as bad as they think.
Escape is about a small-time thug, Kouji who was latched on to by a lonely high schooler, Jun. Try as he might, Kouji couldn’t get rid of Jun but it doesn’t stop him from treating the young boy with kindness. Kouji’s gruff but gentle treatment was the heart of the story as it gave Jun a measure of happiness.
This is a sweet story about two people who found a deep connection. This was made more precious because they knew time was fleeting and they had to eventually go their separate ways.
The manga was short but the story was presented well. This melancholy one-shot packed a punch with an ending that breaks your heart into tiny pieces.
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MANGA: Keppeki Buchou no Mousou
Keppeki Buchou no Mousou – Setsuna Kai
At the corner of the company cafeteria full of employees who are enjoying their meals together, Endou Kurenai always eats his own lunch alone due to his sour face kept being misunderstood. Then, a newcomer cook in the cafeteria, Ayabashi Hisame, notices the situation and offers his cooking. But, the mysophobic Endou who couldn’t even stand the cafeteria’s plate, only leaves with a word, “Sorry…”, without lifting his chopsticks at all. Ayabashi, who doesn’t know about it, keeps struggling and refuses to give up. And this straightforward novice cook somehow evoking Endou’s delusion…!
“Mysophobic Chief’s Delusional Tasting” is a tale of scowly chief, Endou, whose scary expression belies a lively imagination. He eats alone, having scared off his co-workers, so he entertains himself by daydreaming.
Enter cute new cafetaria cook, Ayabashi, who took it upon himself to befriend the chief by tempting him with various dishes. At first, the germaphobe chief refused until he noticed Ayabashi’s hard work. Soon he found himself tasting the dishes and then his imagination devolved into more salacious territory as he imagined what Ayabashi’s fingers taste like.
Wild imaginings aside, this is an adorable story that reminded me of my all-time favorite ace romance story, His Quiet Agent by Ada Marie Soto. They are both stories about winning the hearts of picky eaters by lovingly force feeding them delectable dishes.
This one-shot also featured a similarly ostracized and misunderstood protagonist with a brilliant mind and a popular love interest determined to break through their walls. It’s a winning combination that works well with fluffy, humorous stories.
I wished this was a full-length manga. There was no actual romance here. This was more of a prequel than anything else. The manga was a fun look at what promised to be quite an interesting couple. If only Endou would have the guts to make a move and make his dreams come true.
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MANGA: Boy Meets Maria
Boy Meets Maria – Peyo
Taiga’s always worshiped the heroes he’s seen on TV. And now that he’s started high school, his fateful encounter with a certain girl compels him to make her his heroine. And she was known as the Madonna of the drama club, Maria. After seeing her perform on stage, Taiga falls head over heels and confesses his feelings to her and is tragically shot down. And to his surprise, the beautiful lady is actually a beautiful boy…
A mix of humor and drama, this is a manga that tackled heavy topics like broken families, child abuse and gender identity.
Aspiring actor Taiga dreamed of playing the hero part on stage. He fell in love at first sight with Maria when he saw what he thought was a beautiful girl dancing on stage. He confessed to her but was turned down. Even after he discovered the true identity of his idol, he refused to give up his pursuit.
The humor is not the laugh out loud kind. It’s more of the amusing kind courtesy of the energetic Taiga and his dorky friends.
There is a dark, psychological aspect in relation to Maria a.k.a. Arima. He was forced by his mother to dress up as a girl at a very early age, causing him to question whether he is a girl or a boy. He was later on molested by his teacher (TW here for graphic depiction). He was rescued by a stranger who for some reason reminded him of Taiga.
The gender identity issue was handled and resolved well. I liked how Arima’s confusion turned into empowerment when he realized what he is capable of. There were no slurs directed towards Arima. The little bit of name calling present was directed towards Taiga and used humorously.
Taiga’s determination to win over Arima was earnest but Arima was not convinced Taiga was sincere. Taiga never once gave up even after being rejected several times. He learned to speak from the heart and showed everyone, most especially Arima, that he was a true hero.
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MANGA: Restart wa Onaka wo Sukasete
Restart wa Onaka wo Sukesete – Cocomi
Coming back home to restart his life after a disastrous time in Tokyo, 25-year-old Kozuka Mitsuomi is unemployed. He was born and raised in the countryside but returned. He meets Kumai Yamato and his life begins to subtly change.
“Restart Can Be Hungry” is the sequel to Restart wa Tadaima no Ato de. It’s sweet story about building a family with the person you are happiest with. It picks up on Mitsuomi and Yamato as an established couple tentatively trying to move their relationship to the next level.
Mitsuomi is a lovable dork. I think he had winter personality.
Yamato’s cheerful personality made my day. I loved his character design and how the mangaka drew his various expression. He had a great smile. It’s a smile made of sunshine and summer.
Their opposite personalities played off each other well.
The manga is paced even slower than before that it was borderline boring at first. It gradually won me over with its gentle vibe. It had the same heartwarming moments that made the prequel a joy to read.
Restart no Tadaima no Ato de has a live-action movie. Check out trailer below. Sorry, I couldn’t find any English subtitles.
