muse ✨'s manga / #long-distance relationship(8)

This is so cute I grinned my face off. Multiple stories at the same school, about a pond that binds you to another person if you're in it together. The last story between the underclassman and running team manager is my favorite.

Rin comes home early and surprises Haru the night before a competition. The one with a magazine spread of Rin and Haru wishing they could hold hands in public.

Sequel to "Sayonara Game" that follows their relationship across the ocean and two-and-a-half years into the future. A beautifully drawn love story that overcomes distance, insecurity, jealousy, and ego.

A company's future president is in a relationship with his long-time tutor Chiharu - a possessive, emotional man who is so afraid Kazuki will leave him, he takes him to a cabin and slaps a chain on his ankle for a few days. Not the healthiest relationship - I wouldn't recommend anyone DO this - but it's fiction and they're really into each other.

Four stars for stories 2 & 3. Story 2 is a Sheith AU where Keith has chased after Shiro from college to the company where they both work, content to be the closest man in his life, until he discovers that Shiro is gay and dating a blackmailing little twink. Their names weren't actually Keith and Shiro but I couldn't think of anyone else. Anyway, that ends up fine. Story three is about two men who form a long-distance relationship by phone when one is transferred to the company's Brazil branch.

I must've been in a mood the first time I read this, because on re-read, this is just LOVELY. It's a quiet established relationship that endures long work hours and eventually a long-distance relationship, but their bond is strong and unwavering. I also love that the MC's parents adore his boyfriend (though I am not sure they realize they're dating). ETA: On third read, I've decided the parents must know. The boys live together in Japan and the US, they have Kazushi's parents over for dinner in their apartment where they share a room (and the boyfriend cooks), Harutomo calls Kazushi's dad "dad" which seems awfully familiar? (we only do that here with in-laws; maybe I am projecting), and they joke about adopting Harutomo into the family. Also, Harutomo texts photos to Kazushi's parents. It all seems quite intimate, so I like to imagine they're very aware of the relationship!

Hikaru and Rihito are my favorite, favorite couple. Their love is so pure and gentle. I love them. You have to read "Sora to Hara" before this, or the other couples in the story will not make sense. They're introduced in that work. I'm confused about the timeframe, since it seems to be about two years into Sajou's college career, but the model has gone five years since school...and I think he was younger than Kusakube and Sajou. So...not really sure how that works, since Sajou talks about age/time and we know he's 18 in this story.

As their relationship continues to mature, Sajou realizes he can no longer envision his future and asks for some time apart from Kusakabe, who then revokes the privilege of calling him by his first name. If you love these two, you might want to wait for this to be completed or at least get a few more chapters in, because I feel like I've been betrayed. ETA: