Smells Like Green Spirit
list - masterlist, hidden gem Every time I read it breaks my heart. Presented in a comedic way at first with the art style and expressions, but a really good exploration of queerness. About exploring ones preferences, the fear and shame of realizing you are different, coming to terms with expressing yourself truly vs conforming to society for stability and comfort, acceptance, sacrifice, and what form of happiness we choose to live our lives. My heart hurt so badly for Kirino, I think of what his life could have been if he had chosen a similar path to Mishima and chosen to fully express himself. But in another sense I think of what he mentioned in that his body would continue to grow, and the relationship with his mom and continuous guilt he would have buried deep inside, and I wonder if this path he has chosen of stability and normalcy is giving him a happiness he would not have had if he had chosen otherwise. Mishima mentions one of the drag queens who committed suicide...the struggles don't end with just being able to accept and express yourself. And on the flip side we also saw the consequence of repressing your true feelings for so long with the teacher, who became twisted and perverted bc he was forced into normalcy rather than choosing it for himself. This story brilliantly touches on the many facets and types of people and their own struggles with their queerness at all it's levels. Even Yumeno, who may be bi, leans towards women, but is in a relationship with a man. It's fascinating we get all these views and stories and paths. A great story which does not necessarily have an unhappy ending, but hurts my heart just the same due to just facing reality.
Sayonara, Heron
3 Ban Sen no Campanella
list - masterlist, hidden gem
See you later, Mermaid
list - masterlist
Tsumasaki Ni Kourozu
list - masterlist, hidden gem
A Thousand Cranes
list - 9.5+, seme first, webtoon
Kimi wa Natsu no Naka