I Thot You Was a Toad's manga / #fave(38)

At a geological survey for rare metals in an isolated mountain cabin, Misaki meets a Kousaka, the lover who went missing in an accident five years prior. Kousaka, who now calls himself Yanagida, does not remember him, and Misaki is being pressured by another man to forget him completely. Meanwhile, a spy is intent on stealing their surveys and rock samples, leading to a fine espionage thriller and action adventure story with yaoi benefits.

Hot butler and sweet kid fend their way through the vultures of culture in Maruya Kae's gorgeous art style.

Law student, Arikawa Youichi, has portentous dreams about someone named Misaki, an enigmatic and formless "presence" activated by a pretty floral crystal pendant that Arikawa suddenly found in his possession (the result of a mishap), never realizing that Misaki Shouta is a man whom he met by accident and happenstance, on two prior occasions, and heard about by rumour, once, thus setting the scene for a story about predestined love. Upon actually identifying Misaki, at university, Arikawa instantly declares his love and fascination. His straightforwardness comes across too forcefully to Misaki, who veers off, but since Arikawa has been hired by Misaki's professor as an assistant, they are forced to share time and space in the botany lab where Misaki researches microorganisms in soil cultures. As they grow accustomed to each other, Satoshi Kawahata, a parental authority/conflicted would-be lover from Misaki's past, tries to re-assert himself as the central person in Misaki's heart, revealing the back-story behind Misaki's reticence. Can Misaki overcome his insecurities and defeat his loneliness? This story has many nice touches, including the symbolic language of flowers, the differences between free expression and withholding, a secret garden, the magnificent prequel Hana No Miyako De "The Flower Capital" [http://www.mangago.me/read-manga/hana_no_miyako_de/] and a twinkly "magical fairy-godfather" type. After the initial declaration by Arikawa, it moves along at a fairly slow and realistic pace, but I like the introduction of subconscious elements, like the dreams and the connection with the grandfather. The artwork is beautiful, too, with Takarai Rihito's delicate line drawings enhanced by the floral subject matter, but some of these drawings are undermined by poor quality scans and cleaning, especially in the first volume. Other than that, this is a must-read!

So much fun! Kashiwaya has a wild imagination and no filters. This makes him a perfect playwright, but sometimes, it makes things get a little sticky for his friend, Hibino, who is the god of patience and acceptance (not to mention being completely intrigued.) This story includes one of the weirdest bondage scenes I've ever come across in a manga, and a very hilarious story about "The Curse of the Kappa." Too funny and, in its own way, very sexy.

One of Kawaii Touko's light, sweet stories: sales license procurement officer, Haruna, tries to secure a contract with the dreaded and renowned Nakagawa Sake company, whose owner is so rude and ornery, he throws things at people he doesn't like. But his son is just Haruna's type. Haruna throws himself at the computer technician unreservedly, but Nakagawa has his own reasons for playing things cool, and he will not put up with betrayal. Will Haruna persuade him?

Series of short stories surrounding a mysterious bartender/magician/sex therapist/male prostitute who mends the broken hearts and relationships of gay couples using illusions and hypnosis.

Mitsuya was always chasing after his brother and his brother's friend, Noboru. In time, his feelings for Noboru turned to love and he forced a kiss on him, which was violently rejected. Shocked, Mitsuya shut his heart off from the world until 10 years later, a fateful reunion provokes shattering self-realizations. This story has a maturity and realism that elevates it beyond standard yaoi. The main character is a jerk, but surprisingly sympathetic. One of my all-time favourites!

Serial adulterer, Kyouichi, is blackmailed into being kissed by Imagase, a college friend, who now works as a private detective investigating unfaithful spouses. Kyouichi doesn't have the courage to turn down any woman who makes a pass at him, but he denies that he is gay. This is a mature and, sometimes, heartbreaking story about the deeply flawed straight man beloved by a gay man. It isn't easy going, even at the end.

Kyouichi and Imagase are together, but Imagase cannot let go of his suspicions toward Kyouichi, and a situation with a beautiful colleague at Kyouichi's workplace throws everything into chaos. Can Kyouichi find strength inside himself, or is he destined to flow with whichever currents move the strongest? If anything, this story surpasses it's first installment Kyuuso Ha Cheese no Yume Omiru. It full of romantic intrigue and suspense, and all the characters are flawed, sometimes deeply, but lovable. Moreover, the women in this story are sympathetic.