Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #reencounter(49)

Me o Tojite 3-Byou

Complete | aniya yuiji | 2010 released

I loved the story and the way these 2 childhood friends kept loving each other, even when apart for those years. There were sweet moments of yearning before they became lovers where one would reach for the other but not quite follow through, or tremble in restraint from kissing a scar while the other slept that tugged at my heart. Then after they became lovers they could finally wake together and gently stroke the others face. Those gentle love connections were beautiful and elevated this story for me.

Narippanashi no Ai no Kane

Complete | ABE Akane | 2000 released

Three interconnected stories set around a yakuza group. They are all fun reads with beautiful art but my favourite would be the first story of reuniting friends and a large debt.

Akunin O Nakaseru Houhou

Complete | amagakure gido | 2000 released

The spin off sequel to ‘A Hundred Blossoms To Love’, this is the story of the elder brother Takao and the guy who has loved him for years, Yuzuru. These MCs knew each other in middle school, and for Yuzuru it was love at first sight for the wounded and vulnerable Takao. But further acquaintance with Takao revealed his unpleasant personality. He was avaricious and a little cruel, teasing and testing. When the boys separated, Yuzuru dedicated his future to raising enough of a fortune to offer Takao until they crossed paths again. The rest of the story is about their reunion and developing relationship as a couple. This story is enjoyable because Takao’s personality is so uniquely obnoxious yet loveable. Yuzuru is the one person able to see the hurt and vulnerable child hidden behind Takao’s prickly personality and the fact that he loves him just as he is, is really adorable. Plenty of funny moments and some crossover with familiar friends, this was manga was a fun read that had me perplexed as to why I liked such an unlikeable character so much.

Tsukiatte Agete mo Ii n Dakara ne

Complete | Suyama Torico | 2000 released
2020-11-26 10:06 marked

This was cute. Stalker magnet uke and the vengeful seme from his past.

Kuzu de Baka ni wa Nido to Awanai

Complete | Narusaka Rin | 2000 released
2020-12-07 14:55 marked

Ugh... I never like to bomb a manga because I know the mangaka put such effort into it. However, there was nothing to like about the MCs. The seme was an abusive, rapist, son of a bitch. He wanted to hurt the uke, not as a part of a consensual S&M relationship, but to be noticed by him. What a selfish mofo.. I often love an obsessed seme, even a crazy one can be fun, as long as they value and protect their loved one. But this guy was simply loathesome. I kept reading hoping for something redeeming, like some payback. But no. The uke loved his abuser, was willing to be the lover even if the seme married the nice fiancé that the uke had met and liked. He was willing to give up his self respect just to stay with the seme. If there is one thing I hate in a manga as much as an abusive, rapist seme, it’s a doormat of a uke. And again, it’s not even like he had a humiliation kink or a masochistic need to be belittled and manipulated. Even with that stuff it needs to be consensual with after care. He was just willing to overlook everything because he ‘loved’ the seme. Awful. And I read it all, hoping desperately for some redeeming element. Epic fail for me.

Renai-rubi no Tadashii Furikata

Complete | Ogeretsu Tanaka | 2015 released

Two fantastic stories with flawed, imperfect characters. The first pair, Hiro and Natsuo, were once classmates in high school. Hiro was painfully introverted and insecure about himself while Natsuo was a flashy delinquent with terrible fashion sense. Hiro felt intimidated by the puppy like delinquent and blamed him for ruining his school life. Years later they meet at the workplace of the totally madeover Hiro and he plans for some long dreamt of revenge. This pair were adorable but it was hard to watch Natsuo get hurt by Hiro’s plot. My heart hurt in empathy. The second couple, almond eyed and intimidating Hayashida and flashy and popular Shuuna were sex friends. Hayashida was closed off to forming a close, emotional bond because of his history of violence in his younger years. But Shuuna wanted to make the man he was falling for feel free to laugh again in his presence. This story was so good because the MC was a flawed character and basically hated himself for his previous actions. It was good to see that the full seriousness of his actions were something he acknowledged and condemned, but I was still happy he found someone to love.

Sabita Yoru Demo Koi Wa Sasayaku

Complete | ogeretsu tanaka | 2014 released

I unknowingly read the spin off to this story first (the one about the abusive ex). It is probably just as well I did because in that one he was dealing with the memories of hitting his ex which is bad enough. But in this, the extent of the abuse was pretty extreme. From pulling hair to choking to burning with a cigarette to hitting... it was awful to read what Yumi put up with. The only redeeming feature of the ex was that his actions were abhorrent even to himself so he ended the relationship for both their sakes. Once the MCs got together in this story it was so nice to see Yumi with a protective and gentle guy.

Escape Journey

Complete | OGERETSU Tanaka | 2015 released

Reading about the quietly reserved Taichi and the sociable extrovert Nao was a wonderful way to spend an evening. Starting when these ex lovers meet each other again at uni, the author surprised me by giving them the maturity to decide to be friends again. That gave the opportunity to have some flashbacks and you start to realise that Taichi never stopped loving the bubbly Nao. I loved that quiet yearning he showed, and then as Nao started falling for his friend again and the two had sex, there was enough sexual tension between the two to make that a satisfyingly hot read. I enjoyed all the story because both guys obviously adored each other, but that doesn’t mean things are easy. They had adjustments to make for each other, arguments to resolve, communication problems to sort out and then planning for their future; all while working, studying and spending time with some of the best friends I have come across in a yaoi. I especially loved the girls, how the mangaka made them so likeable and such good friends. But most of all, even when things were tough, I really appreciated the love between the 2 MCs that was challenged, but never in doubt.

Itsumo Ouji-sama ga

Complete | TSUKIMURA Kei,KINOSHITA Keiko | 2013 released

I am of a different opinion to many commenters here in that I enjoyed the sadistically inclined and possessive seme and his masochistic uke. It took growing up a bit for the uke to understand why he couldn’t explain why he loved Sahara. Not everyone is able to clue in to the fact that they enjoy some bullying attention and I agree with Sahara that they work so well together because they have grown older and have life experiences in the present day. Really, this was a lot of fun to read because these guys suited each other so well.

Red: My Superhero

Complete | Nori Seyoshi | 2000 released

Super wholesome, feel good story. Rough and tumble Tasuke and the princely Chitose meet again in high school after some years apart. From the moment that he sees Chitose, Tasuke commences a wholehearted pursuit of the boy he has loved for years. This story is so engaging because the seme is adorably open in his love for Chitose. And Chitose is so wary and afraid yet drawn to his charismatic admirer. I loved when we met the boys fathers, especially Tatsuke’s Dad, because the advice he gave his son on chasing the one you love was perfect.