muse ✨'s manga / #multiple stories(215)

ETA September 2020: Past me gave this a 3. Present me thought this was cute as heck. A single father left by his wife falls for the actor from a hero show his son adores. They're really fluffy. Former basketball teammates meet up after a reunion. It's vague, but I think we're supposed to infer they understand each other now and might get together.

Five stars for the main story about two childhood friends who reunite and live together for two months when one has to look after his sister's five-year-old son. The second story is skippable.

When his lover is forced to leave his job and return to his hometown to help his family, a man agrees to a 1.5 hour commute to Tokyo in order to be closer to him. I loved them and their relationship. A young boy mistakes a part-time worker for the baker at the bakery where he and his father, a widower, buy bread.

Multiple stories looking at the concept of family and love: Two brothers who live on their own after surviving an abusive father. One day, the older brother introduces his boyfriend, who comes to live with them. A young man finds himself drawn to a customer only to find out the man is his brother's lover's older brother. But he is also coming to terms with feelings for a coworker who is actually a childhood friend he's forgotten. A heartbroken teacher finds new love.

Two stories. Sweet but left little impression on me.

Well-crafted, well-paced writing and interesting characters, and the art is beautiful. Both works I've read of Ogeretsu Tanaka's have been excellent. This contains two stories which are set in the same universe: 1) A man who had been unattractive growing up has reinvented himself as a stylist and is asked out by the guy who had tormented him in high school. Still hung up on past anger, he grasps his chance for revenge. 2) The second story I almost bypassed. It focuses on a man several years out from an abusive relationship where he had been the abuser. Rather than forgive his past or excuse it, the story shows that he lives with his guilt and shame. However, he has taken steps to change, and he's honest with his new lover about his past. ETA: Having now read the story where he abused his former partner Yumi, it's no wonder he continues to feel guilty. No amount of abuse is okay, but this was constant and violent - even sadistic. He needs long-term therapy.

1) A 32-year-old man is dating someone 12 years younger. His lover assumes he's experienced, but even kissing is new. A multi-chapter look at the joys and frustrations of a large age gap. 2) A toxic and abusive friendship spanning an entire childhood. It's never redeemed. The constant mental abuse is excused as one man liking another, but this is abuse. This is not how you treat someone you love. Skip it. 3) Boy meets boy, boy falls in love with boy at first sight, boy tries to be his love interest's ideal - and suppresses his personality as a result. A story about the importance of being honest in a relationship. This final couple was almost team switch but bailed at the last moment; weak.