Hatsukoi no Tonari
AN ACTUAL (former) STUDENT X TEACHER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS LEGAL AND CONSENSUAL. Everything about this just made sense. This whole manga made me feel cozy. There isn’t much drama or conflict to worry about but I enjoyed that aspect a lot.
A Paramour
The ending felt abrupt for a story that had the longest built up. Still I understand why the ending was chosen and I do think it’s fitting. I love how Sooho was neither purely good or evil, he was just someone who had a goal. He was a complete mother hen more than a possessive lover really. I have so many feelings about this that I can’t quiet organize enough to type out but this was something.
Shen Sheng
Surprisingly wholesome. When I read the summary I was thinking that this was going to be another toxic story with blackmail as its main driving point but as the story goes on it became more of a slice-of-life type than the original mafia-esque plot that I was expecting. A pretty normal BL couple to be honest like little jealous episodes, a clingy seme, a soft but determined uke and a hilarious set of mismatched friends. I was expecting a coming out arc from Shen Sheng and maybe a confrontation from his mother since that conflict was introduced but nothing really came out of it. The two blond stepbrothers’ story had a lot of potential but it was left like that. Five stars because I enjoyed this a lot even if I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. I love the banter so much.
Namaiki Kareshi