Aiko's manga / #BL(103)

4.5, I like this one despite the dubious consent when Kageyama would push the boundaries insistently (because that was unfortunately red flag) BUT i can look past it here in this case particularly because 1) finally this is a Haikyuu Doujin that actually makes Hinata stand up for himself and protect himself properly cus he is NOT powerless and idk why that’s such a propagated image of him. 2) Kageyama reflected properly. 3) They communicated which is bare minimum but rare so I appreciate it. The art also makes them cute, I’d reread this one.

4.9, I do like this one, I think it’s cute and it contains a level of depth that displays how well they are connected emotionally like a married couple would be after years of marriage to partner you’ve now gotten to know like the back of your hand. My only gripe with this one is that it seems like there should be more chapters for their level of intimacy and connection, it feels like we were dropped into the middle of the manga. Could reread again though.

5.1, I do like that this is actually quite a cute couple since it shows the delinquent being in more of a Uke position. He melts, he softens, he tries to be gentle to the Seme once in a while (trying to change his “Yanky” ways a bit), seeks love and wishes to be loved as a good person. It’s really quite cute, it’s just a little unfortunate that the entire manga involves the Uke always going back to Yanky tendencies (constantly grabbing the Seme by his collar, yelling at him, etc.) I would’ve loved to see them together later when the Uke matures more and they are more like a properly settled mature couple, where perhaps the Uke may still glare here and then but no more grabbing shirts and yelling. I could def reread.

10+, I adore this one for its green-flagness, it doesn’t contain any triggering topics or dubious consent. It’s actually very adorable, it’s especially rare to find a Seme that is as cute as this one is purely because on average such good attitude and support usually has sinister intentions but this Seme truly is a supportive being to the core. And seeing their story from the Ukes POV was actually really interesting for development. But I wish there were more chapters, some that maybe show their growth as a couple in learning more about each others past. So the Seme learns about this ‘senpai’, learns to heal from that experience, and the Uke learns about the Semes trauma from the past, allowing the Seme to heal from it. Other than that its art is really great and so is the story, def will reread.

4.9-5.0, first and foremost the art is immaculate. The details in shifting expressions and how the characters moods show on their face is real artistry. Interesting to see an manhwa in this genre wherein the Uke is chasing after the Seme only for it to switch up in the end, the Uke runs constantly from the Seme despite initially wanting him to stay. I’d say there’s a good amount of angst that causes moderate to severe frustration, mostly because the same trope was used twice. It’s also unique that the entire time they develop their solely physical relationship, they never once thought of pregnancy as a possibility despite that being a major theme in using omegaverse. Reasons I wouldn’t reread: though this isn’t the longest I’ve ever read, it felt drawn out when it came to their separation during the pregnancy. After a couple chapters, I could gather that yes the Uke has a tendency for stubborn self isolation yet more chapters were added to draw it out so other chapters such as the motorcyclist and coach could nail the coffin shut on that little fact. It’s also a small pet peeve of mine that the Seme was knowingly hypocritical in the beginning by going between being mean and regretting it up to the point of when he conforms to comfort the Uke. And the big reason is I just don’t personally prefer the “chosen miscommunication” tropes. Good one overall though I’d say.. it has some cute couple moments and the outfits stay slaying. Beautiful art really. Unique concepts.

10.0, I loved this one a lot actually. It was a nice ratio of heartfelt to comedy to serious. I really like that the Ukes commitment to being an Idol had its spotlight as well as how the Seme came to admire the Uke from the inquire POV of being staff, seeing the BTS of the Uke giving it his all for his fans. There was no dubious consent or etc, the Seme upon finding out the Uke was younger stopped back in their initial run-in which is rare for this genre but refreshing change. I could semi understand the Uke falling in love so quickly, since he was a baby gay and felt puppy love for his first encounter but I did wonder if the Seme fell a little fast. Then again, I think it’s sweet to see how the Seme seemed to fall for the Uke silently for his dedication and for being cute on a pure level. Plus the expressions gave me a good laugh here n there. Definitely would reread again.

5.6, I’ve reread this one a few times at this point, it’s difficult for me because I get mixed feelings reading this one. It’s very much a green flag story, the Seme explicitly asks for consent for their acts and a whole part of their development as individuals as well as a couple is based on his being aware of the Uke being completely new to the whole BDSM community. But it does bother me a bit that this story does partially seem to lean into a Uke that seems/is portrayed as a little bit of a Himbo that’s easy to tease/easily influenced. It’s not on the bad side of this type of Uke that’s commonly seen in this genre at all, but I feel like that’s where my reserves come from. Regardless, they communicate, the Uke really falls in love with the Seme, the Seme cherishes the Uke, it’s a very light BDSM which is nice because it skews away from that abusive side of BDSM which normally in this genre (and esp in older mangas) does not contain normal consenting situations. And the art is of course uniquely original. I probably could reread this one.

3.9-4.1, there’s a lot to be said about this one. The art style is very nice, very professional but original in that this definitely doesn’t seem like the creators first ever story but there are areas I simply don’t care for the attributed for this rating. Firstly, im a firm believer that a story of this genre can still have levels of depth as well as tension without the need to force characters onto each other. This is the exact reason why I always have a bit of distain and intolerance for the Ukes that are just a bit scatterbrained (example: when someone is feeling you up without consent and pressing their hard dick to your ass, you decide to pretend fall asleep?). I’ll refer back to this later. Second, I understand why it’s valuable to a plot to make all these characters into the Uke but it’s unfortunate that the Seme is so deeply nonchalant about his partner the Uke getting hit on to the point of getting hard because his own brother was trying to make moves. Third, a lot of people have mentioned this but yes this story is very choppy, it doesn’t flow and the ending does feel abrupt. Fourth, I’m relieved that there was no explicit r@pe but there was multiple points of SA, I appreciate that the story did the bare minimum of not using r@pe to propel the plot forward like most in this genre do but still there’s SA that forced the Uke to (as I mentioned in first point) pretend to be asleep AND kick a side character in the Johns. I often have to ask for stories in this genre, why does it have to get to that point? BUT to address the good traits, I understand that each component of the story not only plays a purposeful role in the creators vision of this story but in one way or another is what can not only cause development but also show how a character has grown/matured. In that regard, the behavior of the Uke, I can try to overlook. I still question certain characters roles such as the red head and the Semes brother (as I think the roles they played could’ve been done another way somehow) but again not my story/not my place, I see their purpose, they did their jobs, I’ll leave it at that. Another, about point three, I read the extra chapter translation of the Creators thoughts. I’m sad to hear that everyone’s comments are getting to them, this manhwa is genuinely not bad and has a lot of potential and already a lot to show for itself, but not all of these thoughts are wrong. I stand by the idea that the ending felt rushed and the story overall had poor sequence, the authors explanation is supporting these unanimous observations, they’re just explaining why it is this way. In that regard, I can say that I do NOT blame the author, they were put in a difficult unfair position by whoever advised them because no one should have forced anything to be shortened. If there was a full version that was unrestricted by any company man and 100% the authors creation, one that the creator felt comfortable about, I’d read it to give this a second chance.

4.5, it’s not bad for a short manga, it’s actually a unique concept. A mafia member from 1920-1950s New York suddenly appearing in modern day Japan only to get into a homosexual relationship with a Japanese man who’s technically over 60+ years younger? Wouldn’t have put that on a BL bingo card by any means. I really do like the one, unfortunately though there is SA (forced oral sex) and a constant innuendo around the Uke being compared to a woman but for the innuendo, I’ll overlook it because this man is from a time riddled with all sorts of discrimination and the over appropriation of neurotypical cooties. Besides that, it’s nice to watch this battered crude gangster of a Seme become this very much in love has only eyes for the Uke type of guy. I could reread this.

3.8, honestly this isn’t the worst but rating this based off how I feel after reading it and it’s likelihood of being read by me again, this is how I have to rate it. First of all, the Seme SAed and damn near r@ped the Uke, no doubt about it. Then the dejected side character SAed the Uke. WTH is up with this dynamic- why does the Uke have to be SAed at all for this plot to have any sort of substance, it really doesn’t need to be this way. Non-consensual kisses are NOT it, they are NOT romantic therefore should NOTT be romanticized. I think everyone needs to ask themselves, if someone who looked like Michael Cera (no offense) came up to them and grabbed their face and kissed them repeatedly without asking, would you actually pull a face like the Uke does? Or would you sock that man in the face? Next, it’s a beautiful art style and I do adore how the side characters are integral parts of the story despite this being a fairly short manga in a way that makes you sort of love the side characters. The part timer stands his ground by drawing firm boundaries but still is comforting and helpful as well as supportive for those he gets along with, the dejected other side character goes through a grieving process but is shown to come out the other side sort of (and him lashing out at the Seme was understandable). Additionally, I know the story covers how the Seme truly started to get “intrigued” about the Uke in a way that’s supposed to be heart throbbing but .. it’s undermined by the apparently various side street hook ups he had along the way all while being intrigued?. It just loses its romantic value. Finally, I would’ve rated this perhaps a bit higher if there were chapters that followed the dejected side character as he finds love. Because if his love story as a side couple turned out better than the main/initial couple, I would’ve rated it based on their contribution to the story overall. Prob won’t reread.