just_m3h's manga / #Picked up(56)

Shouma's parents keep pressuring him to find a nice alpha and settle down. He ends up picking up Kanata, a random homeless stranger off the streets, to act as his pretend boyfriend. I was reading the first 2 chapters or so, I was bewildered by the high rating. I couldn't understand. But this was stealthily one of those mangas that play the long game. The angst, the love, the trials, it certainly pulls your heart strings. I can't say I was happy with how Shouma threw Kanata out. He should have given him a chance to explain. This is years of trauma and waiting to die, coming to the surface, man. He spent every day not expecting to live longer than 40. Cut the man some slack. I wonder whether Shouma might have aborted the baby if Kanata had not happened to meet him then. Whatever it is, I can only be grateful he is theirs. That evil, vile alpha got away scot free and that will never not make me angry. They're good together, so damn good. But some of the things mentioned previously sour this for me, just a bit. But not so much that I cannot appreciate how lovely they are together. 4.7

Detective Kei picks up homeless runaway Leo, who was inexperienced but trying to sell himself on the streets. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement becomes permanent overnight. If I read this right, Kei waited 2 years before they had sex for the first time, which is good, because Leo needed that stability (he might also have been way too young, we don't know his age). But the story, overall, leaves much to be desired. We never find out anything about Leo or his past and that one case in the beginning, we never find out how that ended, either. And did Kei cheat? Because it sucks raw eggs if he did. But we just. Don't. Know. 3.45

A "regular" fantasy author with just a bit of an ancient priest's blood in him, takes home an injured yokai (he's been able to see them since birth). The yokai, who was cursed by said priest, attacks him upon recovering conciousness, to gain back his magic (sex, it's always sex). It felt rushed and shallow. I don't understand why it's rated so high. 4.35

Um. Masamichi (Mari) spills coffee on Satou, a super model who insists that Mari let him live at his place if he can't foot the bill for a new 860,000 yen (!!) coat. Whyyy did he make him agree to live together though?! What's the deal with the relationship between Satou and his mum? Will Mari ever find out the truth about his own parents? It was cute and all, but too many loose ends! 4.4

Yohta's love language is acts of service but he keeps miscommunicating in relationships. Eventually, after being left homeless after a particularly nasty breakup, he meets Tatsumi, who takes him in. Yohta is so precious. I don't think he went about it the wrong way, per say? He just wasn't in love with any of the people he dated. And they most certainly were not in love with him. Heck, the last one lacked basic human decency. Tatsumi was good for him, but Tatsumi should have a little more faith in him, honestly. At least, he realised the error of his ways. 4.7/5

Claiming that she feels neglected, Nogami's wife divorces him, leaving him insecure and housing some major abandonment issues. When he picks up Kume, a fresh university student who has lost much as a result of his coming out, he had no idea how much he himself was about to be saved, in turn. I thought this would be cliché and annoying, and boy, am I happy to be wrong. I found Kume to be an extremely lovable and brave kid. So glad his dad isn't an arsehole. Also, I don't think Nogami is purposefully neglectful at all, really. He's just, absentminded, if anything? Maybe he compartmentalizes sometimes, but his wife should have talked it out. Well, all the better for Kume. And Nogami, too. He is such a kind and gentle person, and he certainly deserves to be with someone who can recognize that. 5