Kirai's manga / #unrequited love(32)

Synopsis: One day, MC realises that he is a mob character in a world that runs on BL logic. With event flags hidden in every corner, MC vows to protect himself from falling victim to yaoi tropes. Review: A must-read for all fujin! This manga pokes fun at a lot of BL tropes, and it's fun to watch MC avoid or comment on the gay situations that keep happening around him. I also enjoy how MC's role of being a mob character plays a major part in potential storylines. Also, if you're interested, this manga has a live-action adaptation that ends with MC getting together with one of the BL characters.

Synopsis: Kuga Senri (MC) constantly fights with his room mate, Igarashi (ML). One day, their hands get physically stuck together! Igarashi (non-consensually) figures out that making the both of them ejaculate at the same time allows them to separate, but the incident keep repeating whenever they touch hands. Kuga comes to like Igarashi, but that's when Kuga discovers that their bodies now repulse each other. He sets out to discover a way to fix this phenomenon once and for all. Review: The premise is based on a whacky yaoi idea, but what can I say? I love forced proximity. Plus, their forced separation is solved very quickly, which is a bonus. Kuga is a bit of a slob but, surprisingly, he's able to take the initiative. Igarashi criticises Kuga's lifestyle often, but he is secretly in love with him. I think I'd enjoy this even more if there's more content of their being stuck together, but this manga is complete as it is.

Synopsis: Han Seojoon (MC) was once a supporting actor for the famous and talented Choi Seunghyun (ML), but he quit acting because of inferiority complex. Three years later, Choi Seunghyun finds him drowning in debt, and coerces him into returning to showbiz… and his bed. Review: Although this manhwa had a lot of potential, most of the story is wasted on dubcon smut. Furthermore, although they used to be lovers, MC only angsts about being back in ML's shadow, so the rekindling of their relationship doesn't get a narrative spotlight. I liked how ML is fixated on making MC sincerely say "I love you," but the payoff feels lacklustre due to that lack of much needed development between them. In fact, ML seems to suddenly switch personalities, between an adoring lover and a trashy male lead—no transition whatsoever. Plus, neither MC nor ML communicate their feelings until the last chapter, in which the plot ends with an abrupt happy ending.

Synopsis: Lee Jihan (MC) has prophetic dreams. When he encounters the car accident victim from his most recent dream, Cha Doyun (ML), Jihan resolves to save him. Jihan's diligence leads Doyun into thinking that this cute guy is interested in him, so he befriends Jihan with much enthusiasm. Later, their lovey-dovey relationship spurs Woo Seo-hun into acting on his feelings for his best friend, Min Geon-woo. Review: Doyun and Jihan are so sweet with each other—to the point that people know that they are in love even before they actually get together! The humour is also great; I like how the art style becomes doodles in comedic panels. Plus, the supporting cast is full of interesting characters; however, character arcs aren't smoothly executed.

Synopsis: Enomoto Ren (ML) dies protecting his best friend, Haruna Shou. In order to return to life, Ren has to kill Shou—at least, that's what he tells Hagino Souma (MC), who is the only person who can see him. It turns out that Ren has liked Souma and wanted to spend his last moments with him, but Souma rebukes his defeatist attitude and convinces him to return. Review: The clean art style very much appeals to me. However, the plot is rather weak in comparison; it progresses too fast and certain plot threads introduced in the first chapter are discarded. For instance, there is the idea that Ren must kill Shou to revive, but nothing comes of this. Instead, in chapter two, Ren abruptly reveals that he has liked Souma all along and begins courting him, then later gives up for extra drama.

Synopsis: Shin Chaon (bottom) grew up with Moon Sehan (top), the heir of a mafia organisation. Now as adults, Sehan is clings to him, but Chaon is secretly hiding the fact that he's a masochist. After seeing Chaon with yet another man, Sehan decides to go ahead and take Chaon for himself once and for all. It turns out, Chaon doesn't mind him that much. Review: Chaon under-reacts to Sehan's crazy boyfriend schemes, but his attitude makes sense because of his history with the mafia. Getting drugged or tagged with a tracker merely gets him annoyed, but seeing Sehan return home with injuries? That's what gets him mad. It's also interesting that he has trauma concerning Sehan getting harmed. Meanwhile, Sehan is very much a two-faced yandere, acting like puppy around Chaon while he secretly gets rid of his past partners and gets him fired from jobs. He's a red flag, and he's driving both the romance plot and the crime plot.