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MY TOP BL MANGA OF 2025
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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!
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MANGA: Mukou no Hito
Mukou no Hito – Ueno Potato
Sano, who can’t seem to connect with anyone at all – not his family, not his coworkers – turns to SNS instead. One day, he decides to finally meet up with one of his mutual followers, “S.” His Internet friend turns out to be Narumi, a handsome young actor whose popularity recently shot through the roof! Although Narumi’s behavior seems to hint at something bubbling beneath the surface, Sano can’t shake off the feeling that he’s probably being toyed around with… An emotional, heart-piercing BL between a handsome actor and a salaryman who doesn’t do communication.
The Man on the Other Side is a story of two awkward loners awkwardly dancing around each other.
When Sano’s online friend turned out to be the famous actor Narumi, he didn’t know what to do with him, but he was also desperate to be his friend. Narumi, sensing a kindred soul in the very average salaryman, befriended him and soon found himself strongly attracted to Sano.
However, Sano is confused with Narumi’s hot/cold approach so how to convince him?
This is a dialogue-heavy manga, with big talky balloons alternating with thoughts of insecurity, confusion, and tentative hopes. The two have more realistic personalities that don’t fall neatly into the usual trope-y categories.
Sano is introverted but also blunt, occasionally hot-tempered and tongue-tied, then blurts out long dialogues. Narumi is cool and direct, sometimes flirty and then aloof but also needy.
He initiates a kiss and then drives a wedge between him and Sano. The two dorks wait for each other to call first until months pass with no communication, just stalking each other’s social media accounts.
The best part is Narumi’s interview on TV that lit a fire under Sano’s ass to finally do something because it’s about damn time!
The blurb called this “An emotional, heart-piercing BL.” I could see the emotions, but they didn’t pierce my heart. I didn’t squee, maybe because the execution is clumsy. Still, I’m rooting for the two dorks because they went about their romance so earnestly it was hella endearing!
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!
