SpringHaze's manga / #own in print(187)

I remember picking this up when I was going through Viz lists at work and then dropping it like a hot potato because Asuka is very vocal about her desire to get married at all costs and it rubbed me the wrong way (also seemed like a very simple plot with a simple-minded heroine and no one cares for that). I'm so glad I gave it another shot, years later, because it's actually really good josei, with flawed but very mature and willing to better themselves characters, and the journey is long and a lot of values change with true love. I guess one quibble was the final extra chapter - meant to melt the hearts really - because Asuka claims to only intend to take one year off for her first child (I loved Ryu with pregnant Asuka) and then we see two children of pretty close ages and one in the belly in the final panel, and those look like back to back pregnancies to me, Asuka my girl, where are your principles and passion for work? Very 3-dimensional characters for manga, because even if she dates for marriage and literally breathes to live that housewife life, Asuka is hard-working and dedicated to her job, and feels absolutely crushed when she is passed for a promotion because the higher ups got wind of her marriage ideals. Also, loved Kamamyia and was sort of rooting for him to get his happy ending somehow. He starts as the annoying rival and grows into a very kind and interesting character that is actually more suited to Asuka. Edit: Thank you, Mary, for the 9th volume, now I own them all <3

Gorgeous sequel, complete with civil partnership and rings. These guys are so beyond precious and I would definitely watch the live action movie they made after it (even if the choice of actors looks exactly in reverse). Edit: I saw the movie and it was a very different experience, kept trying to remember what I liked from the manga (because I know I thoroughly enjoyed it), but the tone was melancholy and a little hopeless and the seme gave me weird vibes (although there's no seme and uke obv). My only two experiences with manga adapted into live action are this and Cherry Maho and this one was a fail (it's the opposite with CM, because I actually dropped the manga, couldn't go through with it). I lowkey hated the characters here :(

This is wholesome and heart-warming (zero explicit sex) and it was such a sweet surprise. On to the sequel!

What a beautiful, beautiful story! It starts light-heartedly and seems to not take itself seriously, but it's actually deep and a little dark and a little sad as well. Anezaki gets gangbanged in an alley and it broke my heart to see him brush it off so carelessly, because he genuinely thinks that him being gay puts him on a different level and makes him undeserving of happiness and a normal loving relationship. He dates Agatsuma when they're both young and the way Agatsuma casually drops the news of getting married and how carrying on with him would make him a terrible husband - Anezaki's silent rage at him being a terrible boyfriend instead and then the realization that it's all one-sided (although it's not really, Agatsuma comes back to him years later, divorced and ready to pick things where they were left). I loved the main couple - they start off as terrible coworkers, one of them the other's superior and being a little too loose with delegating tasks, they go through that short mutual blackmailing phase, that is never actually dangerous for either party, and then it's all deep feelings of acceptance and unexpected discoveries. Mikado, the seme, was such a good character, loved him to bits! It was a gorgeously unfolding story, what a lovely surprise!

This is such a beautiful and healthy manga, incredibly tender and emphasizing communication. I'm so happy the prequel got licensed and I think this one, too. Will buy all of them! I wonder if Naru gets his own story.

Itz is such a story-telling master! I can't wait to see where this is going - it's a really nicely paced slow burn and the characters are not goody two shoes, but have a bit of dark edge to them. Reminded me of Enjou's work a bit. Edit: In the end these guys are the sweetest and fluffiest boys, who love each other and pass almost a year between the first confession and actually going out. There's no sex, only young feelings. 7S license for 2025, might buy again.

This is the loveliest thing and it progresses the romance as an afterthought - it's really slice of life and depicts such a darling relationship, while giving us hilarious detective cases. Seme looks like something out of a Harada manga, it just bugs me. Edit: I love you so don't give up on me as you please - your fave uke could never <333 Licensed by Kuma.

I am more interested in Kan-chan than Yumi and his story is just as heartbreaking. I do hope they both move on and he is happy with Shuuna. Edit: I love Kan-chan, I love him so much, even if he's problematic and hit Yumi, but wow, I want him to be happy and he is, Shuuna put a ring on it. (also, how can I not love a switch, Kan is seme with Yumi and uke with Shuuna)

I love that the uke is older, taller and cooler. Suzumaru Minta is so good with gentle relationships and consent.

I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't heartbreak @_@. This story is beautiful, with unusual art and an unusual approach to gender for a Western audience, who will undoubtedly prefer a very black and white, clear cut address. And the end note broke me once more, as I found out that the mangaka passed away two years ago, after fighting to bring attention to the first volume of a new series, threatened with cancellation because of lockdown lack of sales (the poor guy was 23, it makes me so sad). Arima is such a strong character and the abuse he suffers from his mother, in denial about having a boy, and then the rape that effectively splits his gender perception in ways that mark him for life are all so well and devastatingly depicted and I loved how well he inhabits both being a girl and a guy, even if not feeling at home in either body. Taiga is delusional yet so kind and gentle at heart - and the fact that his father is the one who had saved Arima back then is such a lovely full circle (his father is such an unknown, a let down to his son, yet less guilty of neglect than he would believe). I loved this and I'm buying it and reccing it to people <3.