I Thot You Was a Toad's manga / #childhood friends(68)

Motoharu's affection for Akira is thwarted by family expectations and cultural standing — NOT, as one would expect, on his side, but levied upon the hapless Akira, whose responsibility toward his mother's benefactors outweighs his personal choices. This story is, both, tragic and sweet, and both the young men still manage to express what is in their hearts, even though duty supercedes individualism in the time and setting of this story. Takarai Rihito's art is magnificent, and there is continuation of this story in the magnificent story, Hana No Mizu Shiro, or "Only the Flower Knows" [http://www.mangago.me/read-manga/hana_no_mizo_shiru/] ... If you love yaoi, definitely read both of these!

Waterworks uke. This could've all been avoided with a little honest communication.

There sure is a whole lot of sex going on here for someone who wants to teach somebody else about tea ceremonies ...

You have to hand it to Ao, once he decided he was in love with his old friend and neighbourhood Buddhist priest, Ryoumei, nothing but nothing will get in his way. It's Ryoumei who needs to be coaxed into releasing the iron-clad armoring over his heart, and he won't hear of it as long as Ao is not a legal adult. Plus, the biggest obstacle of all is that he isn't gay. Also, there are unresolved family issues. This story takes its time developing the lives and circumstances of these characters and letting them ease into love. The sequel, Himegoto Asobi, is even more interesting to me (because both characters are adults with difficult pasts to overcome.)

After a forced separation from his beloved friend, Motoharu, Kyouya returns to Karatsu to dispose of his grandfather's estate and put his unrequited love behind him. He does not expect his feelings to be returned. Against a backdrop of small-town life and traditional Shinto festivals, two friends reconnect after years of separation. As usual, Honjoh Rie's characters and plot feel authentic, but lack facial micro-expressions. The manga includes a few oneshots which are more comedic.

Masaya, who eats Suburu's meals and messes around with girls at his apartment, is completely clueless about Suburu's feelings. Suburu wants this to change.

Two old guys realize their feelings for each other when one of them is called back to mother to consider an arranged marriage. Yep, he's 50 and mom still calls the shots. The comments are hilarious, since everyone seems to think that a guy's dick drops off at 50. Not according to mangaka Katsuragi (though I don't think anyone would push down their best mate in the hallway at that age without fear of spraining, breaking or tearing something.)

Now that their college students days are finishing, Haru thinks that his friendship with Kazushi, a friendship which began in early childhood, will continue to coast along at a platonic level indefinitely, so it's a crushing shock when Kazushi kisses him and confesses. At first, Haru reacts poorly, but when he sees Kazushi leaving him behind, he is overwhelmed by unrealized feelings. Realistic and smart, this is quite a good story about boys grappling with adulthood and self-realization.

The trials and tribs of Tsuji, airhead, and Aizawa, the stoic, as they chart the course of gay relationship after lifelong friendship. Hilarious line: "I am sad that this makes me so happy." (Just read it and find out why.) Asou Kai is very perceptive at emotional content and behaviour. It makes for lively and interesting stories. Bonus, her artwork is attractive, too.

A near-decade-long age gap between childhood friends means that Kengo is never on a physical, emotional or mental level equal to Fumiya, upon whom he has a crush. Kengo sets up a quasi-competitive set of stick-and-carrot rewards and punishments for himself as motivation to keep trying, centered around kisses — even though Fumiya has already dismissed the need for such barriers and pitfalls by falling in love with Kengo. This leads to misunderstandings and needless conflict. The gap is also in understanding, not just age. The second story is also about the age-gap between an older man and his younger suitor, and the misunderstandings that come up because of disparate needs and ways of viewing the world which such a difference in life experience brings. The disparities and differences are not seen as insurmountable, however, although it requires the older person in each story to adjust. Sadly, Katou Setsuko's beautifully simple line drawings are marred, in the second story, by the scanner's oversized watermarks.