sadslime's manga / #Meet cute(36)

Haru has finally decided to start running the family bakery again after the loss of his grandfather when he first sees Seiji at the graveyard. Seiji has nowhere to go, so Haru invites him home as his grandfather often did for others, and Seiji ends up working as a part-timer at the bakery. But, although Seiji is popular and charming, he struggles to maintain relationships due to his traumatic childhood, and when he starts to get closer to Haru, Seiji can't help but run away, leaving Haru with the decision to chase after him or let him go. Interesting and well-developed characters. Trigger warnings: car accident.

Yokoyama Naoki had his heart broken by his formerly straight ex and swears off straight men. However, fate seems to push him together with and Okada Yuuma, who just broke up with his girlfriend, so Naoki lets him stay the night. After that the two become good friends, but when Yuuma wants it to be something more, Naoki isn't ready to open his heart to a straight man again. Trigger warnings: cheating, drunk sex.

Hiro Ayato is on the streets with no one to take care of him when he runs into Narazaki Chitose, the owner of a Western confectionary shop who takes Ayato home, employs him, and declares him his "dog." Ayato doesn't much like being treated like a dog, but he comes to really like Chitose, to the point that he wants to impress him and make him see him as more than just a dog. I like Chitose's character, especially how he seems very flippant, but really he gets embarrassed easily. No trigger warnings.

Yuta Asahi is a very overworked college student after taking over the bills for his injured single mother, and in exhausted desperation, he agrees to work as a prostitute, but when it comes time to meet his first customer, he can't go through with it. He explains to his customer, Kazuhito Shiraki, and Shiraki is understanding, but makes him stay the night, however they just sleep. Feeling better the next day, Yuta is ready to get out and job search again when Shiraki offers him the perfect job housekeeping for him! So what's the catch? Why is Shiraki so nice when they just met yesterday? And why does the idea of Shiraki hiring other male prostitutes bother Yuta so much? Decent story, cute characters. Trigger warnings: sex work, dubcon.

Ch.1-2 - The Far Eastern Bridegroom - Kichiya is a gay prostitute until Asura, king of a fictional desert country, buys him. Though they have trouble communicating at first, Asura showers Kichiya with love until he understands that maybe he can actually be happy with Asura. They should have done something with the typesetting to distinguish between the language being spoken. Trigger warnings: sex work, attempted rape, lying/manipulation. Ch.3 - The Flower of War - Julius and Leon were childhood friends who were torn apart by war only to be reunited on opposite sides when Leon was taken as a prisoner of war and Julius was the one to interrogate him. Julius rapes Leon night after night without questioning him, leaving Leon hurt and confused, but Julius has more up his sleeve than Leon realizes.. Trigger warnings: wartime violence, torture, rape. Ch.4 - The Moral Code of Love - When Jin was taken in by the yakuza boss after the death of his parents, the boss's son Masamune immediately wanted him, but his dad said he wasn't ready for that, and he could have Jin when he was strong enough to take over the clan. Now, Jin is assigned to work with Masamune for the first time, but Masamune realizes Jin and his father may still be hiding things from him. Trigger warning: violence. Ch.5 - My Hero - When Asami is nearly raped by some bullies (adult bullies?), he's saved by tough guy Shuuhei and vows to get stronger, asking Shuuhei to teach him to fight. The two get closer as Asami starts training to increase his stamina, but when Asami sees that Shuuhei is actually a member of the yakuza, Shuuhei tries to put an end to things. But Asami isn't ready to let go. Trigger warnings: bullying, attempted rape, violence. Ch.6 - Cosplay Game - Makoto and Keiji are an established couple, but when Keiji suddenly asks about cosplay, Makoto worries his lover is bored with their sex life and tries to spice things up. No trigger warnings.

Seiichi Fujimune is an ordinary starving student when he stops a thief in front of the model Rey Alexander, who kisses him. Seiichi can't get the kiss out of his head, and when he loses his job, who should show up but Rey once more, offering him the perfect position at his side. The two end up working together, then living together, as they cross more and more boundaries, but just when they finally seem to be happily in love, Seiichi realizes the damage their relationship could do to Rey's reputation. Very cliche and trope-y story, but still fun to read, and the ML is actually way nicer than he appears on the cover. Trigger warning: drunk intimacy.

Office worker Kaga ran to the police station and confessed to murder one night, only to realize it was all a dream. The policeman on duty, Seto, is more than understanding and suggests that Kaga can come talk to him whenever he has nightmares from now on. As they spend more time together, Seto is happy to have a new friend, but Kaga isn't sure he can be a good friend since he's gay and already head over heels for Seto. Very cute, no trigger warnings.

Kurama is a goblin who has spent hundreds of years protecting the mountain, and when a group of demons moves in and causes a mess, he goes to confront them only to fall for their leader, Hijiri, at first sight. The goblins turn out to be kind neighbors, but Kurama's heart is broken when he sees Hijiri having sex with one of his men. But when he finds out they're just friends with benefits, Kurama thinks he may have a chance, after all! Not as much depth to this story as I hoped, but it's still a fun, quick read. No trigger warnings.

Kawanagare Kikujirou is a kappa living among humans, and one summer day he runs out of water and collapses. Flower shop worker Mizutani Ryuuto hurries over and sprays him with the hose, saving his life, and Kikujirou declares that in return he'll marry Ryuuto. Although Ryuuto finds Kikujirou a little strange, he's gradually won over by his earnestness as he comes day by day, until they cross the line and Ryuuto is shocked to realize Kikujirou really is a kappa! Cute and sweet. I liked Kikujirou's character a lot. No trigger warnings.

Masaki is extremely shy and struggles to talk to others. He meets medical student, Takeru, who suggests they work together to help him overcome his shyness as part of a school project, and the two become friends. But when things start to get better for Masaki, he realizes Takeru will have no use for him and starts to pull away. No trigger warnings