muse ✨'s manga / #unrequited love(80)

The wealthy Haruhito channels his frustration over one-sided love into bullying his crush, Misaki, a poor boy who will do anything to make money from his family, including selling water and weeds in the hallway. Their grandfathers had known each other during the war, and Misaki is taken care of by Haruhito's grandfather, eventually agreeing to become his 'lover' in exchange for money to help the family (they drink tea and take walks), which forces Haruhito to voice his feelings. Everyone in this is a little frustrating. The boys dance around each other. The grandfather's reason for 'dating' Misaki is, I think, an indirect way to give him money without hurting his pride. The chairman had been in love with Misaki's grandfather, but he never told him, and they were never together. He seems delighted when Haruhito confesses to Misaki so easily, something he was never able to do. Ten years later, we learn that Misaki has never told Haruhito he loved him in return, in a future scene where he drops it mid-business conversation. That's probably the happiest moment in the story. When the chairman is with Misaki, he takes on the appearance he would've had as a young man when he was together with Misaki's grandfather. I think this was done to show us how he sees himself when they're together, and that he sees Misaki as an avatar for the man he loved. I think his feelings toward Misaki himself are innocent. I really liked their interactions for the most part. What I liked best was the sketch of Misaki's grandfather as an angel in Heaven, saying it's taking the chairman forever to get up to him. :-D

In his grief over losing his father, Natsuki seduces Yuni, his closest friend, and then disappears from his life. Yuni is left confused, with no way to find Natsuki, and can only hope he'll keep his promise of attending the same university. But when they finally see each other again, Natsuki seems desperate to forget what happened between them, while Yuni has realized his own feelings. The final dream with Natsuki's father is a tearjerker.

Once inseparable childhood friends have become rival pilots, but it's really a bunch of unresolved feelings going back to their middle school days. Things work out just fine.

Kengou's childhood friend Touma refuses to part from him, becoming a lawyer and eventually scheming his way into the yakuza in spite of Kengou's resistance. The one with the sake cups semen joke, which...tbh I thought was kinda hot.

Years after close high school friends separated following graduation, they reunite in Tokyo when one shows up at the other store asking for a place to stay.

Years after they dated for a month as a result of a punishment game, two men are reunited at work and have a chilly relationship. But after a welcome party, they decide to give dating another whirl.

Taira's one-sided crush on Renji reaches new heights with the help of an AV. Inseparable best friends face an uncertain future when one believes the other likes a girl. Thanks to the comments section, I've been introduced to "Heather" by Conan Gray and agree it fits the last song to a T.

Twenty-two years after they fell in love in college, two 40-year-old chiefs are divorced by their wives and get a second chance.

Playboy Kou picks up poor Shinobu fresh off of a broken heart and brings their one-night-stand into the workplace when they realize they're president and subordinate. But when Shinobu falls in love, Kou cruelly dumps him and moves onto the next toy. Shinobu realizes their relationship was just a game, accepts a job transfer, and ends personal contact. Kou, who has never been in love, grows distracted and ill. Coming to terms with his feelings, he attempts to confess to a wiser Shinobu, who understandably takes it as part of the game and rejects him, leaving Kou to do what he can to regain Shibou's trust. REALLY GOOD CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Kou is a real jackass, but he learns from his past behavior and becomes a much better version of himself. I was really surprised and pleased to see a story address this. Shinobu used the time to gain confidence in himself. I hope good things for him. And Shinobu's friend Kenji is the sweetest!