Special A
FAVORITE ROMANCE MANGA!!!!! Kei is just the best! I can't think of any character I've seen that loves anyone as much as Kei loves Hikari. It's so sweet. Despite having a very indifferent and calm attitude most of the time, when it has anything to do with Hikari, he shows lots of emotions: Happy, embarressed, flustered, angery, lonely, sad, worry, anxiety. He: loved her unrequitedly for many years (elementary-high school) doesn't want her to be afraid of him (doing stuff like making sure he's not alone with her when she's vulnerable because his feelings are so strong) tries to hide his jelousy so she doesn't feel responsible/so he doesn't scare her always protects her (he agreed to leave Japan just so his granpa would leave her alone) would do anything for her (worked really hard so he could stay with her) wants her to ask things of him
A Thousand Cranes
That was...so beautiful. I'd say one of the best love stories ever, BL or not. I kept expecting some drama to show up that would be painful and I'd hate, but it never did!? Everything was...perfect. The romance was like a Shounen Ai, with how well paced & mutual/consensual it was. And Dean. My heart...when he smiles...I can't... (cries) The Seme was PERFECT! No bullying, no forcing, fell first, was HONEST about his feelings and confessed to the Uke first, protective, doting, attentive, respectful. And he loved the Uke so much, my heart ached. He became his everything. His reason for being. (sigh...) And I loved how he was the inexperienced one, and asked Uke how to do things. :P The Uke was really refreshing. Wasn't whiny, girly, or having stupid pining thoughts. He was mature , and didn't fall for Seme right away and for no reason. He initiated their first kiss which I thought felt fitting, because Seme might not have had the courage/confidence?(not sure if that's the right word) The one thing I didn't like was that Craig called Dean "Director" for most of the story. If that's it, I'd say this passes. ;) (edit: I found out later that in Korea it's considered impolite to address someone older than you by their actual name, or something. Dean later tells Craig to call him by his name, and he does.) Stayed up past midnight reading. Had to finish. Prob took longer than necessary because I kept rereading pages. My first webtoon.
The Two Lions