little_king_trashmouth's manga / #b&w(556)

Very good, absolutely gorgeous art and some really beautiful writing. It is very unbalanced plot-wise though. The majority of time was spent on Sunwoo’s story, and by the time we started to get into Youngwon’s background, it was over. I wouldn’t want to condense Sunwoo’s part, so instead I feel like it just needed another 10-15 chapters to give Youngwon’s experience a satisfying amount of coverage. We don’t ever even find out what happened to make him quit swimming - we just get some cryptic flashbacks. Considering that their respective histories are part of why they understand each other so well, it just seems like an odd choice to leave his side unexplored. It would’ve been really nice to see Sunwoo be the one encouraging Youngwon as he tried to reconnect with that part of himself. Still, it’s a really lovely little story. Youngwon in particular is unusually mature and communicative, and their relationship is very supportive and healthy.

Read 1+2 together on bato This is so funny and cute as hell, I love them together. I love that they don’t hide their relationship, their gangs are supportive. The consent! The concern for your partner! Shinba is so patient and understanding and Izuhara is such a sweet anxious bean. I want moooooore. (There are lots of creepy things in here but they’re all clearly depicted as bad behavior and nothing at all negative happens between the MCs. Tw for kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, violence, regular assault, etc.)

Read 1+2 together on bato This is so funny and cute as hell, I love them together. I love that they don’t hide their relationship, their gangs are supportive. The consent! The concern for your partner! Shinba is so patient and understanding and Izuhara is such a sweet anxious bean. I want moooooore. (There are lots of creepy things in here but they’re all clearly depicted as bad behavior and nothing at all negative happens between the MCs. Tw for kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, violence, regular assault, etc.)

The story is simple, but in 6 chapters it manages to show SO many things that I want from yaoi but rarely get. Two gay MCs, a seme who, despite being a “playboy,” is more patient, considerate, and gentle than 99% of others, and an outspoken, proactive uke. It’s one of the healthiest and most realistic portrayals of sex I’ve seen - discussion of actual pre-sex prep, LUBE, listening to your partner, and working up to penetrative sex over time. It’s a crime that this doesn't have a higher rating.

ne of my happy comfort reads. The characters are layered, their relationship develops naturally, and they're adorable together. The problems aren't caused by dumb misunderstandings, and are resolved by communicating. The MCs are two out (to varying degrees) gay men, so there's no "but I'm a guy? and he's a guy? we're both guys?!