muse ✨'s manga / #top 10(14)

This is the spinoff of "Doushitemo Furetakunei." It follows Onoda and his friend at TAG who'd known about Shima's situation. Deguchi and Onoda have been friends for three years, but Onoda doesn't know that Deguchi - a charasmatic, 31yo salesman - is gay, or that he's harbored feelings for Onoda since they met. When Onoda admits his feelings for Shima, Deguchi seizes the opportunity, only to be rejected - because Onoda thinks he's kidding. But when Onoda realizes Deguchi is serious, he asks for time to consider how he feels. This story is great because of the characters - Deguchi is interesting and layered, and Onoda is sweet and open-minded - but also because it touches on the fact that people don't always fall in love at the same rate, and that feelings are messy. Onoda juggles residual feelings for Shima while trying to sort through his feelings for Deguchi. The story is hopeful and always cheers me up. I tracked down and bought the licensed manga from June and have read it more times than I can count, though I prefer a few of the translations in this version. Also: The book contains two additional pages before the bathtub scene, which I read were included in the book release. Also also: Although Deguchi never appears in Doushitemo, if you watch the movie, he's in a few scenes, including at the bar with Onoda! Live action OTP!

Kohei is hearing impaired and isolated as a result. People mistake his silence as elitism, so he's left out of activities and feels like he's bothering people if he asks them to repeat what they've said. But one day, a loud, carefree boy named Taiichi falls onto the roof where he's eating his lunch and befriends him. This is a really gentle and lovely story about first love, but it's more about friendship and trying to understand and bridge differences between us. ETA: All volumes of this manga are licensed in English

A short sequel to Hana no Mizo Shiru. So happy!

Kusakabe thinks Sajou considers music to be beneath him--the one subject where Kusakabe excels. But one day after school, he discovers Sajou alone in their classroom practicing for an upcoming concert and offers to help. After a series of regular meet-ups, Kusakabe develops feelings for Sajou and kisses him. What follows is a story of firsts. This is a sweet love story, a bit sad at points, but ultimately happy. Doukyuusei was made into an anime, which is absolutely lovely and follows the manga to a T. The voice actors did a fantastic job. It also has two sequels and a side story, which I tagged "Doukyuusei" so you can find them.

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.

After his ex's harassment caused him to quit a promising job, Shima finds work at a smaller company and becomes interested in his manager...who is equally interested in him. I saw the movie first and tracked down the manga. I adore the movie adaptation, but I like the inner thoughts we get in the manga that couldn't be in the film. Shima is a lot sassier on paper.

The story of two childhood friends who slowly, slowly evolve into romance. It's unclear to me if the earlier chapters are *actually* part of the story with the bulk being a flashback, or if everything prior to chapter 45 could be considered pre-writing by the author, who has since changed her mind about the direction of the characters. Considering how close they've become, I have a hard time believing that if Jian Yi were kidnapped and disappeared for several years, Zhan Zheng Xi would be so averse to him being physically affectionate with him on his return, considering how physical they are with each other since childhood - unless something is going to happen that will explain it. For now, I believe the story really started around chapter 45 and everything prior to that could be seen as the author's rough drafts. TBD. The side couple is the best couple.

OH!!! This didn't go the way I worried it would, and I am so happy. This is a side story to Yukidoke no Koi. Several years after graduation, Oushirou still harbors feelings for his childhood friend Koba, who is moving to Tokyo for work and will live nearby. One afternoon Oushirou drops his wallet. It's picked up by a regular at the bar he frequents. After talking a while, the man - Inamura - offers his contact information and drops the fact that he's gay. He figures out that Oushirou is pining for Koba and offers to be a distraction. I worried this would be a situation where the childhood friend wises up and dates the main character, but it didn't play out that way. Koba and Oushirou remained dear friends, and Oushirou began a relationship with Inamura - moving in with him five years later. Content warning: There is a reference to one-sided love between brothers, but it is only spoken. We see nothing and nothing comes of it. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD! This is the FIRST! manga I've ever read where the characters have a frank, honest discussion about sex before they have sex. And then after sex, evaluate what happened, and one reassures the other that if bottoming isn't his thing, they'll work something out - that sex isn't everything. I've never seen that and it was totally refreshing and wonderful. Thank you to this author.

This was the slow-burn love story of my dreams. After being cruelly dumped on Christmas Eve, Ei finds a man and a kitten asleep outside of his apartment in the snow. He takes them in out of pity, and Junpei becomes a fixture in his life, helping him to emerge from his stoic shell and to learn to love someone good for once. This was one of the most realistic stories I've ever read. A few years ago, I probably would've been frustrated with Ei's behavior, especially taking back his ex. But I did the same thing because I was so desperate to save my relationship, which I clung to because it was familiar, not because it was happy or healthy. People do make mistakes. They do seek out other humans just for comfort, even if they love someone else. They do withhold their love for fear of being hurt. This was touching, exquisitely drawn, and the pacing was just right. I cannot recommend it enough.

A candy store owner and a doctor enter into a relationship with little drama (and what there is is understandable), lots of mutual affection, a slow and realistic emotional build, passable communication (they try), FABULOUS sex, frank discussions *about* sex, a refreshing and honest attitude about their future, and they even have friendly relationships with their exes. Also features the cutest little girl ever. Have I died? Is this Heaven? This story is set in the same universe as the one with the hot priest, who shows up in this a few times.