muse ✨'s manga / #age gap(107)

This was one of the most refreshing stories I've come across. It deals with a real love story, people who are openly gay, no self hate, figuring out a relationship while one partner is underage, and dealing with a parent who tries to understand but is misguided. Loved it.

Okay. The first story is hilarious - a woman loses her daughter and doesn't want to lose her son-in-law too, so she sets him up with her son. The last story I really really enjoyed - a man who had intended revenge against an older man who had treated him badly because of his social status falls in love with him instead (it's mutual). Some of the others were a little wacky; the one with the loan shark I scrolled through because it was disturbing and rapey. But overall this was a fun collection.

A lonely man living at a boarding house is comforted by the proprietor's 7yo grandson and decides he always wants him in his life, and thus begs his parents for their blessing. When I read this, I didn't interpret it as an adult in love with a child. I saw a lonely adult who was really fond of a kid -- and fell for him as he grew into adulthood. But I've never gone back to it or felt any desire to reread it. Even though nothing happened between them until Hei was an adult, something about this story doesn't sit right with me. I don't see the MC as a predator per se (compare with 'Nichan' by Harada), but going to the boy's parents when Hei was only 7 is a little iffy regardless of what type of love the MC felt for him. It's great he waited; it's great he rejected him while Hei was young and encouraged him to have other relationships. I'm just saying that if this were an adult and my nephew, I wouldn't be comfortable. As a piece of fiction, I enjoyed it! It was a pleasant slow burn with a happy ending. But I can't shake the creep factor.

A doting uncle is shocked when his angelic nephew returns from four years overseas as a tall, handsome man who then proceeds to pursue him relentlessly. Soooo...TW for incest because I don't think we're using "uncle" as merely an affectionate term here.

Five years after a sensei blackmails a student into sleeping with him in exchange for silence about cigarettes, they meet at a reunion, and it turns out the sensei hadn't been in control as he'd believed.

A sensitive, well-paced, beautifully drawn story of Katou, a boy inspired by his teacher, who grows up to become a teacher as well. Five years after graduating, they reunite as coworkers, and Katou is still in love.

Okay, listen. It's not selfish to expect a reply from your boyfriend. It's not selfish to expect your boyfriend to take thirty seconds - even during a busy workday - to say hello, I'm fine, I'm swamped, we'll get together soon. It is selfish to keep your partner in the dark, work yourself to exhaustion, and let them find out you're sick through a third party. I feel sorry for the younger guy.

The stories of two brother gods who fall in love with humans.

Simple love stories (a boss and secretary, a 33yo teacher and man 15 years his junior), but I was surprised how much the second one touched my heart. ETA September 2020: Huh. On re-read, it's the first story between the boss and secretary that I liked. The second is okay but didn't do much for me. The art style really is pretty.

Three interconnected stories. The president chasing his secretary around the world was kind of sweet, but the last chapter descended into underage rape territory. Giving this two stars for the other chapters, which I liked somewhat.