Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #Stoic seme(3)

As a spin off from Shuu and Nanami’s story, this manga about Chiaki and Ayumi is a COMPLETELY different kind of tale. The two MCs have been friends for 2 years. An unlikely friendship with the rather slutty yet vulnerable Chiaki and his more stoic friend, Ayumi. Chiaki falls for surfer Shuu but his feelings are never reciprocated. He is unaware that Ayumi has noticed his feelings until he finds himself chained to Ayumi’s bed following a night between the 2 MCs. And so begins a change for these 2 as they battle wits and Ayumi shares his possessive love with his shocked and furious friend. Without a doubt, Ayumi comes across as a bit of a sociopath/stalker/scary guy. But Chiaki is no pushover and they soon start to really understand each other on a deeper level. Contrary to many of those who didn’t like the seme or the story, I enjoyed the touch of crazy here. Chiaki did not let Ayumi have the upper hand for long, and the 2 MCs settled into understanding each other on new levels. That was what helped this story be special. The established friendship and the way Chiaki finally began to see Ayumi in a new way was what won me over the most.

Omegaverse stories with omega ML so often show the cruelest of people, and in this story the tiny (but tough like a weed) Sakurano lives in a town full of the intolerant. Abandoned by his mom, rejected from every part time job, this sweet little guy sells himself for money to leave town. When tall beta, Takagi moves to this town from Tokyo, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. Watching Sakurano revel in the joy of his first friend was bittersweet because he is such a gentle, vulnerable boy who had been through so much abuse but he was still able to be sweet and fun and treasure a friend. Watching their relationship grow was wonderful as the beta proved to be a strong protector and more then happy to choose the omega.

High school student Ohdai has gained an ability to see how lusty everyone feels. When he notices his best friend Atsuto’s gauge is nearly bursting at the seams all day, he starts to become obsessed with protecting his stoic friend from cracking under the pressure. Ohdai is a loveable idiot. His heart is well intentioned but things don’t seem to work as he anticipates and soon he and Atsuto are besties who are intimate. Ofc as the reader it was clear as day that Atsuto had fallen head over heels for his adorable friend, but it’s going to take some time and being pushed beyond the breaking point for things to get to where these two sort things out properly. Personally, I love reading stories where characters are fools for love, and these 2 were definitely that. I also love reading about characters who are so intensely invested in their partner that they can struggle to deal with their feelings, and this story had that too. Overall, lots of fun and loveable MCs, good art and a sweet friends to lovers story.