just_m3h's manga / #Picked up(56)

Flip you, Chapter 5! Now I know why this is so badly rated

Yousuke ignores advice from a stranger and ends up in debt from a bad real estate decision, and his fiancee leaves him for her ex. In this pitiful situation, he is taken in by Tao, who is in love with him. Yousuke certainly was too arrogant for me at the beginning but he turned himself around in a matter of days! I honestly really like him a lot. Up to his ears in debt, but never gave up. Put his pride aside to get help from someone much younger than him. Forged head first ahead into a completely new relationship, armed only with faith. And he sure had a damn lot, in Tao, that is! Tao was gentle and capable, I enjoyed his sleeping tiger side that comes out to play once in a while. I don't dislike either his sister or her girlfriend, but I definitely did not like the first impression (though Yousuke was also incredibly rude). I did like the sister more and more, though. And their backstory certainly helps endear them. My major complaint is length, for sure. This needs 10 chapters, at the very least. 5

Kippei is a loose playboy who falls into bed with a doctor who got dumped at the same time as him. Doc was hiding something though. Unexpectedly sincere and painful for what looked and sounded at first like a purely pwp yaoi. I feel so bad for them, this tackled the issue without a punchline, made it so real, the insecurities, the self doubt, the anxiety. It was great. I still don't like the friend. And the rape. Rape is rape. But glad the uke has a shot at happiness now. 4.5

A demon who eats words and a kind stranger who picks him up off the streets. So many sides to this. First of all, the fact that he was so young, squicks me, but I know growth is different for this magical being. Secondly, I love their relationship, love the edges in the middle of all that smoomph. The naughty bits were so naughty, the exhibitionism was hot, hot, hot! And the fact that his love was so strong enough to bring about that change. I don't think Nagisa is a horrible person, fucking careless and callous even, but definitely redeemable. Wish he had his own story. 5

Abused dog with the ability to transform in a human lives by stealing from unwitting people who take him in. Until he meets the incredibly kind Ichinose, whom he could not bring himself to betray Why am I cryingg??! 4.7

I. Okay. Hitoshi bumps into a yakuza looking guy who pops out from the trunk of a car the middle of the night. Bullied into taking him home to hide him for a while, Hitoshi has no idea how his life is about to be thrown into upheaval. Mah definitely has something loose up there. He cares about Hitoshi dearly, obviously, but that rape scene was frankly horrifying. And his reactions to so many things are just, off. Hitoshi, I sympathized with him and his mom so much, and my heart still hurts for them. I wish Hitoshi had taken everyone's advice and retaken the exam. I wish his bullies would get justice served to them. This feels unfulfilling. And yet, because of the brilliant plot, and intriguing story telling, I give this a 4.45

Shougo sees a foreigner (Levi) stranded and sleeping on the roadside and just can't walk by. By bringing him home for a bath and a hot meal, Shougo has no idea that Levi will become so much more important in his life. Okay, this is just pointless fluff. What a pure, silly couple! Suits their pure, silly plot. They've cleansed my soul!!! Having said that, how does Shougo not know that gay people exist and are normal? And especially when he realised he's gay from a young age??? Maybe it's a translation issue? Anyway, still enjoyed it. 4.6

Shouma finds a dude sleeping in the garbage dump on his way home from a late shift and just can'tleave him behind. Dragging the dude in for a hot shower, a warm meal and a good night's sleep Shouma soon realises it's Ashida, his high school classmate who got bullied for being gay. "If there's anyone out there who could dislike you, I'd like to see them" ~Ahhhh My hearttttt!!!! Honestly, I don't want this to end, at all. It's just not enough. There are "picked up" stories done well and then there is this. It's so, so good. The balance of angst and unresolved feelings and shared pasts with the warm personalities and budding relationships and attraction that just can't be helped. Ahh. Just, so good. I also really just loved Shouma. I think he's so kind and generous and compassionate and just, a great guy all in all. I love a lot of things about him. Ashida is expectedly, a bit jaded. But I do like him too. And certainly, he does try to turn stuff around in the end and he does think highly of Shouma, so he's earned some points. And Shouma's really good for him, no doubt. 5. Easy 5.