I Thot You Was a Toad's manga / #drama(235)

A sombre reunion between Yuzuru and Daisuke, two former lovers who parted when Daisuke decided he wanted to become a professional athlete. It was Yuzuru who left, mysteriously, and now that Daisuke has had to abandon his dreams of playing professional baseball, and is divorcing his wife whose loyalty depended on his status in sports, he is forced to confront the past. The first chapter ends poorly, but the rest of the story improves.

The first in a series of yaoi romances based on the function of the sword in Shinto cleansing rituals. Swords are forged to fight evil spirits, and in these stories, they take human form and become embroiled, not only in supernatural battles with demons, but in human conflicts, intrigues and romances. The artwork is free and full of movement and energy, and the stories are very exciting and quite different from anything I've read before. Loved it!

A slow-developed love story transpiring over childhood into the twenties with very painful moments. Some aspects are so realistic and gripping, I was completely absorbed, but others were so out-of-the-blue flaky, they left me wondering why they were there at all. I also felt the resolution glossed over the pain of those betrayals. Anyway, this manga isn't cute, adorable and fluffy, although one of the characters has those tendencies in childhood (why would anyone tag it like that? Just because it had a traditional happy ending doesn't make the story structure less traumatic.) And it CERtainly isn't a comedy, but it does deal with growing up and moving from wide-eyed trust and dependence into self-reliance, strength and awareness. That saves the rest and makes it worth a read, but I think if you're expecting sweetness and light, this is going to be a bitter one. Most heartbreaking moment: "When I was young, we had a dog" (Thinks) "And I violated it."

Feng Meng is transmuted back in time into the body of An He, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Xi Lie. The title is meaningless, however, as all the real power is held by the indomitable regent, Rong Tian, who notices the sudden change in An He. A story about imperial court intrigue within a country on the verge of war with many neighbours, and what Feng Meng must do to survive. Since it hasn't been updated in years, I assume it will never be finished.

Child psychologists and social workers who actually practice child psychology and social work within the story, which isn't half-bad. Conflict is added through a bit of family intrigue coming up from the past. Otherwise, a cute romance.

Two short stories which are unlikely to be updated further. The first is about an ordinary and jealous high school athlete loved by a very shiny basketball star. The second is about a policeman and a runaway.

Udou's bitterness and breezy cruelty towards others is rooted in an unrequited love for Kiyotake, a basketball teammate from high school. His misery and jealousy has prompted him to commit despicable acts against the very person he loved, twice. Now, in college, karma has caught up to him and his feelings are revealed in all their rawness, but what does Kiyotake have to say about them? Here is how one man's kindness can redeem someone who has fallen so completely. Ogawa Chise's stories often go over the top into outright madness, but this story hits all the right emotional notes without going too far.

After a tragic mistake involving a colleague, Yousuke decides to take up the physician's practice in the Japanese Alps. There, he is forced to take up residence in the home of Kazuhiro, who seems unsociable and difficult. As Yousuke gets to know him, though, he discovers that Kazuhiro's past has left him with difficulties coping with being alone or in enclosed spaces. Yousuke decides to meet the challenge of being a doctor in every sense, and healing this strange man. A good story about how things are not what they appear on the surface. A cute community of people surrounds and supports Yousuke and Kazuhiro.

Can Sataru trust the bartender Makio, a known con artist, or not? He certainly seems ready to risk everything to capture him. Interesting plot full of twists and great characters.