just_m3h's manga / #Bar/Café/Restaurant(105)

Okay, just, first of all. Stories like these are why I got into yaoi in the first place!! The angst, the uncertainty, the passion, the intricate backstories. I'm here for it, yer hear?! 1: Jin, a chef who works at a yakuza dude's café, picks up the desolate Leo off the streets and gives him a place in his home. Leo is a host who ran away from home and gets mixed up in some awful shit. I love their dynamic, love stories where someone is picked up off the streets and given a second chance, in general. The way the man busted in to save him, dang. Totally rooting for them. 2: About Kaname, who was possibly forced to have sex and work in some kinda drug trafficking nightclub, and was saved by the boss of a rival club, who came to bust the place (he doesn't allow drug deals on his turf). The boss is so hooooot. And just, the angst and them finally getting together was SO yummmmyyy. ~Aahh. I'm full! 5*, easy peasy My only complaint is, they need to have fleshed these out. 10 chapters each would have been amazing. But even 5 each would have been great.

1: Kawasaki, run down from long hours at his job, books a mail order maid, only to have a guy (Nao) show up in a maid outfit because he didn't properly check his order! I didn't think either one of them was that interesting, nor did the plot inspire particularly strong emotions. Only good thing was that Nao had paid back his debt and afford to quit. 4 4: Atsushi hires a college kid (Eita) 14 years younger than him to work at his restaurant and the kid ends up confessing. Atsushi keeps trying to push him away, for the sake of his future, but Eita is more persistent than that! Again, boring and uninspiring. Characters weren't terrible or anything, just not engaging. Plot was okay. 4.2

Super simple and straightforward and sweet. Hot, but could have been much hotter, kink exploration theme is kinda wasted on them. They're still adorable together, though

Deceptively large number of chapters for something that is a relatively lighter read. Ingyu is a frail incubus who is always put down and shackled by his family. Frustrated with the society at large in Devildom, he makes a bargain with the new heir to Satan's throne, who sends him off to the human world with a fallen angel as a body guard (Taegyu). There, both soon become involved with a closed off human Ingyu fell in lust with at first sight (Kangin), his nosy but well meaning coworker (Jiho) and their creepy boss with an agenda of his own. By chapter 11, it was all I could do to keep reading, because the characters had so many annoying traits. But most of all, what frustrated me was how suddenly Ingyu started claiming he was in love and how standoffish and unreadable Kangin was. It caste the whole thing in a very shallow light. Ingyu's persistence annoyed me to no end, especially because Kangin was not receptive. But the plot intrigued me and I kept going. Man. Would I have missed out if I had dropped this!!! Not only was the plot very good, the characters went through such growth! Ingyu, with his devotion and determination, won me over a hundred times. And he was a quick thinker too, and certainly could hold his own. Kangin was closed off, yes, no doubt. But he definitely had a good reason. That kind of trauma doesn't go away easy. And I really appreciated how considerate he was of Jiho even in the beginning. And later on, he was so understanding and loving, absolutely enjoyed it. Jiho is such a sweetheart. He's so kind and generous. I really do think Taegyu doesn't deserve him, but well. There's no accounting for taste. Anyway, he does treat Jiho like he's special. Always did, I suppose. I would have loved to have seen more chapters of Taegyu losing control. Also wanted to see that arsehole of a sister get her just desserts. Kinda disappointed we don't get that kinda closure. Jiho and Kangin's boss can go fly a kite. Overall, this was very, very good. Excellent character development and engaging plot. 4.9

Two friends who drifted apart due to a misunderstanding in high school meet again as young adults 5 years later. It was yoo short for me to even gauge their personalities. The plot was overused. Not bad. Just, unremarkable. 4.3

The new audit manager Misato publicly declares that he hates Nono's (head chef for Chinese cuisine) oily food. Even though he's offended, Nono can't seem to keep away from Misato, who's particularities about food seem to stem from a not-so-good place. Okay, so, two things that I don't think they really have excuses for: Misato being so publicly rude and cold about Nono's cooking in the beginning and Nono pushing Misato away to protect him from the rumours, without giving him any choice or explanations. Aside from that, have to say I actually really like loud, nosy and kind people like Nono. Their energy is too much sometimes, but, damn, does it come from a place of genuine goodness. I think Misato did really well with showing everyone he wasn't embarrassed about his relationship with Nono. I really, really enjoyed that. That is how I would want to be loved. Also really enjoyed Nono being the uke. That was just the cherry on top of what was already a really good manga, with interesting characters and side characters. Wouldn't mind reading about them, too, actually. 4.9

Yanagi is a plain faced simple guy who dyed his hair for his university debut, with little impact. Igarashi is his popular and unpredictable senpai at work, who offers to pierce his ears to give Yanagi and edgier look. This was so surprising. The uke has an actual backbone and requires the seme to do some serious groveling. Seme reaaally improves later on and he's so damn into him, that it's honestly hard to hate that kinda intense sincerity. I really, thoroughly enjoyed it. And the sex was off the charts hot. Absolutely 5*

You know what. I thought I was ready, but I was wrong. I can't read this without an ending. It's just too damn awful. Ch 28

Seme is a drag queen at a gay bar, quite used to being the subject of ridicule by heteros, yet unwilling to take any insult lying down. He meets the uke online via a chat app and then eventually in real life. Seme has always had a rule against dating straight men. Uke just wants him to give him a chance. The uke is not mean spirited, he's clearly very devoted. Seme took offence and acted way too quickly. I really liked the overall story, and seme does learn to control his temper and learn to apologise when he is wrong or has hurt someone. Hurray for character building. 4.6

Daiki is in a pickle and stumbles into a shady café in an alley. The mysterious owner, Miharu, helps him out and Daiki ends up working there while slowly falling deeper and deeper for him. I just feel bad for Daiki. Feels like Miharu knew his feelings but still went a head and hurt him. 3.8