Tsumasaki ni Kiss
Zettai Unmei Houteishiki (Prequel). Gravity Eyes (Sequel). Yasobe Homura runs a successful club called Sonic and is part of the yakuza. His secret lover for four years, Karasuma Touji, is the successor for a rival group. When the number one host at Sonic, Kuramoto Kyouya is added to the mix, as he pursues a romantic relationship with Homura, jealousy will take over. While I didn’t dislike this one, I liked the prequel better. One of the things I loathe in any story is an unnecessary love triangle. If this story was kept the same except for the love triangle I would have loved it. It was obvious Homura really loved Touji, but he doesn’t want to get in the way, since Touji has to take over. Touji was kind of adorable when he wasn’t being a jealous jerk, or a plotting sneak. He would do anything for Homura, but they fail at the communication department. Kyouya was a little bit too pushy but still cute nevertheless. Too bad he got hurt when Homura obviously didn’t have feelings for him and was only using him as a replacement. When you constantly think about another person while being intimate, that’s a super red flag that you’re making a mistake. Being with someone shouldn’t be a punishment for letting the one you love go.
Ushirokara Dakishimete
(1) Kagura Naoto is a very wealthy student who transferred to a public school. He fell in love with his classmate, Hayakawa Kou, and he will do whatever it takes to be together with Kou. This is one of the funniest mangas I’ve read in a while. Kagura is so adorable and over the top. Kou is a good match for Naoto, he’s serious and honest, and attempts to keep Naoto grounded. Watching him attempt to be a ‘normal’ guy was endearing and totally hilarious. His parents are also the best characters ever. They’re supportive of their son’s relationship and they are just so freaking hilarious I can’t even deal with them. It’s refreshing to see a story where rich people aren’t bad. (2) Vice captain of the judo club Ihara Koichiro is in love with his childhood friend, and captain of the judo club, Ninomiya Soji. When Soji declares that he has no patience for men who are weaker than him, Koichiro takes it as if he could beat Soji he could become his lover. What follows is something so facepalm worthy, you just can’t look away. Jeez, when Soji said Koichiro was slow he wasn’t kidding. The boy is so dense it’s actually really sad, but also kind of funny. (3) High school student and baseball player Uno Koji only has baseball in his mind. When his mother hires a tutor, Noda Kaoru, its love at first smell for Koji. He becomes entranced with Kaoru’s scent. It was an unsusal way of falling in love with someone but hey, to each their own. I enjoyed this story and I liked how their relationship kind of developed. I enjoyed Kaoru’s teasing, I thought it was funny.
Love Home
Pet Wo Kaimashou
Oresama To Oujisama (Main Story) (1-4) Hidaka Chikara enters a tv show called “Fight Money” to get money to supposedly rebuild his parent’s ramen shop. However, it was just a scam to get money. He manages to get 5 million yen from Kunimi Tomokazu, the president of a production company. Hidaka gives the money to his friend for his sick sister, but Kunimi wants to be paid back. In order to pay pack the 5 million yen, Hidaka must become Kunimi’s pet. I liked this story. It felt a little lacking and the conflict at the end was too easily solved but overall it was enjoyable. Kunimi is my favorite, he’s kind of silly but also cool and calculating. He doesn’t force Hidaka and wants to make him an upright member of society. I liked Hidaka too, he’s violent and unruly, but not to the point that it’s annoying. I liked how he developed as a person and as a professional. Also, I enjoyed the fact that it was over time that he developed feelings for Kunimi. All in all it was a good story if a little lacking. 4/5 (5-7) Yanagi Hayato was supposed to pick up a foreign exchange student at the airport. In a case of mistaken identity he picked up the handsome Eddie, who fell in love with him at first sight. Eddie turned out to be the second prince of a country in Europe called Sierra. The rest of the manga is very Disney-ish/Cinderella-ish. This was an okay story, the plot was clichéd and nothing new but not horrible to read. I thought Hayato fell in love with Eddie way too fast, again very reminiscent of Disney’s princess fairy tales. Eddie was an okay character, he liked and respected Hayato. He was a bit manipulative with the whole “If you love me…” but at least at the end he was willing to give it all up for Hayato. Plus he wasn’t the stereotypical douche-y prince so that was a plus. Also, he doesn’t force himself on Hayato, which is a huge plus in my book. Both of the characters, as well as the plot were just bland. I will give it a little bit of props for that twist at the end. It was unexpected but good for them. Do you boo. Everyone gets their prince/princess. 3/5 (*SPOILER ALERT* I wondered why Charles was so mad that Eddie picked Hayato and not the princess. I was really confused since it’s obvious he liked her, so if anything Eddie being with Hayato was a plus. Turns out Charles is a girl and was just jealous that Eddie could be with Hayato despite them both being guys. At least at the end she got her princess.)
Tenshi no Tamagoryouri
Sunao ni Narenai Otokotachi
Tenshi No Tamagoryouri (Main Story) Kekkon Dekinai Otokotachi (Prequel) (p.5-81; 216-223) Kashiwazaki Yuichi has never been lucky with the ladies. They always seem to dump him for his friend and coworker Suzuki Masami. What Kashiwazaki doesn’t know is that Suzuki seduces them so that they would leave him. Suzuki and Kashiwazaki were in the swim team together and since Kashiwazaki saved Suzuki from drowning he fell in love. It’s those ‘if I can’t have you, no one can’ situations. Kashiwazaki is the serious one of the pair, he’s kind of too serious, which annoys Suzuki. On the other hand Suziki is a bit lighter in mood, more of a joker. They’re both idiots in their respective ways. Suzuki for being such an ass to Kashiwazaki and to women in general. And Kashiwazaki for just randomly picking women just to get married. Also, Suzuki was kind of tsundere, he hates Kashiwazaki but he doesn’t. I was waiting for them to just stop being morons and talk to each other. However I liked them, they had a couple of funny moments and that extra at the end of the manga was good. Overall I enjoyed it. 4/5 (p.91-206) Sekiya Takashi is the assistant chef at Felino Felice with a massive case of xenophobia (fear of foreigners). One day Taki comes back from Europe with his friend Lucen “Luke” Montecarlo and they visit the restaurant. Luke takes an interest in Sekiya and begins to pursue Sekiya, much to his horror. The dashing Frenchman offers to help Sekiya with his alien phobia. This was a fun story, it’s definitively the more enjoyable of the two. Sekiya’s reactions to Luke were just plain hilarious. I loved how he saw him as an actual alien and a demon. I cracked up every time. There is a legitimate reason as to why he hates foreigners, and I felt really feel for him. Luke was a good character too. He was pushy but he helped Sekiya out a couple of times. Also when he found out why Sekiya hated foreigners, I liked that he took a step back and was more understanding. He was sweet and childish some times and I just really enjoyed his character. Taki is back and he still can’t cook for shit, he almost killed Eiji. Too bad he’s still single, I wanted him to get a man already! Sensei please give Taki some love. 5/5
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