muse ✨'s manga / #top 50(48)

Bloggers in love. This was fantastic, with realistic reactions to the evolution of their relationship, and no unnecessary drama. I'd love to see where they are in five years.

When single officer worker Hagi receives three tickets for a Lion Rangers show, he gives them to a coworker, Maki, who invites him to attend with him and his young son. Hagi had felt unwanted when his own father remarried, so he's terrified to get into a relationship with Maki out of respect for his son. This story was refreshing because it bypasses the tired "I'm straight, but for you I'd make an exception" trope. Maki is openly interested in Hagi and even says, "Who said I was straight?" He actively makes Hagi a part of his life, and three of them carve a unique family. Really very sweet and heartwarming. The only part I did not like was when Maki tested Hagi by threatening to leave his son alone as punishment for not eating his tomatoes. I don't think Maki, who is not even this child's biological father but a man who took him in out of sympathy, would ever harm a child in that way. It was a poor literary device choice by the author, and there were other ways to get to the "serious relationship" talk.

Sister story to "Ookami Papa wa Hitsuji Tsura shite Yatte kuru." A man still getting over the emotional fallout of his last relationship has been single for five years and pining for his best friend. One afternoon, when he's picking up his nephew from daycare, the robotic teacher at his daycare calls him out on his lovesick expression - and then begins to insert himself into his life.

A gently told, beautiful collection of three love stories: 1) An established relationship between a secretary and his adoring boss. (Temp MCD; dream sequence) 2) Childhood friends reunite, and through photography, realize their feelings are mutual. 3) In the aftermath of a major error, a boss and subordinate find common ground in their shared loneliness and begin a relationship that is supportive and tender; their love was so immediate and sincere, it gave me butterflies.

Suburu frequently engages in casual sex but yearns for a real love connection. His wish comes true when he sees a painting by fellow student Nagayama, a withdrawn member of the art club, and falls instantly in love. Major kudos for honesty and good communication between partners. I thought we were headed to misunderstanding/breakup territory in the later chapters and was delighted to see them support each other and constantly, explicitly reaffirm their affection. Super cute. Will reread.

Endou left middle school when his crush on a classmate made him a target of bullies. A year later, he begins work in his uncle's convenience store, where he meets Kouhei, a fellow 16-year-old who quickly goes from intimidating co-worker to close friend after they rescue a kitten. Rather than risk his only remaining friendship, Endou remains closeted about his past and sexuality, but his newfound stability seems on the verge of collapse when his former schoolmates discover where he works, and Endou comes face to face with the boy he had once loved. This story largely deals with bullying and its long-term emotional fallout; the romance is secondary to Endou's own healing and self acceptance. Above all, it is their friendship and Kouhei's insistence that there's nothing wrong with Endou or his past feelings that are the heart of this story.

A completely wonderful, fucked-up love story between a man who grew up in a family of thieves and another man who became a cop in order to protect him. When he catches Naoto in a marriage scheme, rather than arrest him, Kaoru confines him to his apartment on threat of exposure. But Naoto, who had been trying to leave his criminal past behind, loves the freeloader life and comes to care about Kaoru: an unhinged, lonely man who is obsessed with him. Healthy? Probably not, but they legitimately fall in love and somehow manage to convey tenderness even when telling each other to die. I usually scroll past explicit stuff, but these two have the hottest sex I've seen in anything. Sometimes schmoopy manga misses the mark with regards to love stories; this made my heart pound. I would love to see what they're up to in a year (probably mouthing off at each other before having sex on the kitchen counter).

Boys on motorcycles IN LOVE! They stop talking after they hook up but four years later they work together at a salon and WEAR SCRUNCHIES! Heads up for an age gap. It didn’t occur to me the first time through but uhh,

Okamura is asked to help an insecure, socially awkward client to become more approachable. They become close friends quickly, but when it starts to turn romantic, Okamura worries he'll have to give up a close friend when the relationship inevitably comes to an end, so he refuses to let their love evolve.

An instant favorite. Ayumu has been in love with a sempai at his company for a long time. They're so close and Toujou is so affectionate with him that coworkers joke they're married, but Ayumu has no intention of confessing his feelings and only wishes for Toujou's happiness. I dislike labeling people by the way they have sex, but this author flipped a lot of traits I see in other stories. Toujou, who plays the role of the seme, is bubbly, affectionate, straightforward, cheerful, laughs, and rolls around thinking about buying a dog. When Ayamo apologized for being unable to bear children, Toujou turned around and apologized too - to everyone's shock, including mine. So often, the gay character is the one who harbors regret for leading the straight or bi character down a "wrong path." This author went the other way. Toujou stressed that they're both unable to have kids, they're equals, and they're choosing to be together because the love each other. The end. I'd read a hundred pages about their silly domestic mishaps.