otakulys's manga / #Slice of Life(186)

One thing I really appreciate about this mangaka is that many of her characters are actually gay, not just "gay for one dude." I swear, most guys in yaoi aren't even bisexual, they all just like women until one magical penis comes along. Anyway, I also love her art, which is why I keep coming back to these frustrating situations. This is Minase Masara all over again. Gorgeous, stunning art; creepy, rapey couplings. I hate how forced things tend to be. Why can't both people clearly want each other from the start? This story is an exception to that in that both characters are gay, but it's purely tastes that are preventing an immediate relationship and not, say, the fact that they're related. (Yeah, I put up with a lot for her art. x_x) The characters in this one aren't super likable right off the bat, but I'm hoping it'll turn into something interesting. Fingers crossed! Four stars for now, given with optimism.

This had potential, but it was too short to do what it wanted to do. I would have enjoyed there being more here, like an ongoing history between these two, and an actual relationship (like they knew one another and talked) between the main guy and the younger brother. But at least he doesn't end up with the rapey dude.

For some reason, I kept having this lingering sense of dread throughout. I don't know what it was, because this is clearly just a cutesy, romance comic. Maybe it was how many times the character thought, "I'm so happy." That seems to be a trigger for incoming heartbreak, haha. Anyway, it was cute, though there's no story as of chapter six. We'll see if anything ever comes up, but it seems like it's geared up to be a relationship, slice of life sort of yaoi. I prefer more plot, but this is cute and inoffensive, so hey.

I didn't realize I was reading the sequel to this, but this one isn't even complete yet. Anyway, I've only read up to chapter 9 so far, but I know what happens because of the whole sequel thing. There are interesting things about the set up. There are some things I can enjoy a bit more knowing what happens later. Just a light, simple story, it seems.

The entire time I was reading the five chapters that are currently translated, I was waiting for a moment when I'd stop hating the main character. He's selfish, pushy, manipulative, self-pitying, rapey, and cruel, and it didn't seem like that was going to change. I really, really WANTED to like this manga because the art is gorgeous, but I didn't see how it could possibly wrap up in a satisfying way. However, I somehow thought it was only six chapters long total, but it's ten. I looked through the raws, and though I can't read the dialogue, I think some of the things I was desperately hoping would be the case are actually what's happening here. So I feel fairly confident giving it five stars, rather than the two stars I'd have to go with if certain things were never fully addressed.

These guys are always cute. ^^

UGH. GOD, MY HEART. My face hurts from crying. I wanted so badly for them to be best friends forever. Regardless of what Kirino chose. The fact that they never saw each other again kills me. So heartbreaking. But their friendship was so beautiful and important. I'm glad they had it at all. Man, this manga was brilliant and tragic. You never see yaoi that really tackles the challenges of being gay in Japan, or just in general. It comes with so much baggage, navigating the good and bad, deciding whether or not to live a lie. This story really explores all of the outcomes based on different decisions and circumstances. My heart hurt so much by the end, knowing that not all of them would have the happy endings they deserved, but this was so well done, and so unusual. Typically, realistic seems to mean everyone dies or something, which honestly isn't realistic at all. It isn't all misery and despair. There are moments of hope, and moments of sadness. It may not have been perfect, but there's always more living to do. And it's never too late, really. Let's hope Kirino eventually finds the life that's right for him. Another thing I loved was the emphasis on friendship. It's so rare to have two gay male characters (though Kirino may have been transgender) without the two of them having romantic or sexual feelings for one another in yaoi. I really appreciated that they just loved each other platonically. They were best friends, which is very important, and romance didn't enter into that. It feels like we're so often told that romantic love is the most important, but I don't think that was the case here at all. Familial love, the love that comes with friendship, even self love. They're all so critical to happiness. "I'm sure there'll be a lot of people there... like us." That line broke my heart knowing that Kirino chooses to deny himself. It also hurts just knowing how isolated and scary it is for them, being gay, in such a small and homophobic community. The fact that they loved one another so much and were best friends like that... it just breaks my heart. The choices they made meant they couldn't be together, and that wasn't fair. That they'd even have to make those choices, to live the truth or to live a lie. They helped one another survive, and they never got to see each other again. Despite how much this manga killed me, I'm glad I read it. It really was beautiful, despite being so sad. I wish there'd been a more hopeful ending, but I enjoyed the good times when they were there. I'd love to read more just like this, only with them all being happy together in the end.

Too short, but a sweet little snapshot. Had it been a full manga, I think it might have been pretty great, even though it had that "it's okay if it's you" air about it, which is the trope I hate most next to "rape to love." I'd like to see more things focusing on depression and mental health, guys getting through it together as friends or more. But since it was so short and didn't dive into it much, I had to give it three stars.

Sweet and sad, short little story about a guy who loves someone who doesn't love him back, and a potential love that's nearby. Not as heartwarming as I was hoping, based on the tags, but the ending is certainly sweet. More development, length, and time to see their emotional connection would have helped.

A little confusing at times (and was he in love with his actual sister? What?), but overall, it's a very sweet, touching story. Sad at times, for sure, but it has a happy ending, and that's what matters. I don't know if this piece was inspired by The Vow or by the story that inspired The Vow, which was a true story, but it's definitely a fascinating concept. There were things I would have changed, but I really did enjoy this manga. And I love the art. So pretty. I'm gonna go devour more of this artist's work and see if she'll be one of my faves.