Umetarō

Natsuki is feeling lonely because he doesn't have anyone special in his life. He had a passionate romance with a yakuza classmate in high school, but when he was injured trying to protect his boyfriend, the boyfriend's guilt made their relationship crumble. A hot high school boy whose (extremely large) family runs the local convenience store takes an interest in him, and though he still has issues about his past and doesn't want to warp the boy's future, he can't help falling in love.

My impression: I really like the main couple. It's funny the way the convenience store family--down to the tiniest little munchkin--knows Natsuki as "Condom-kun" because he bought a pack of condoms there once. The yakuza ex-boyfriend is a nasty piece of work, though I think the reader is supposed to empathize with his guilt and pain...and he does wind up with someone of his own in the end too. Overall, the main flaw is that the art isn't exactly pretty, but I think the story makes up for it.… (more)

In this sequel to Yorimitsu-kun Gomen, Natsuki's new love interest's younger brother Masaki has been trying to escape his large family. He enters into a relationship with an older man as his way of rebelling; he just wants peace and quiet and someone who accepts him for who he is, not as someone's younger brother. When his boyfriend shows up as a substitute teacher at his school, however, he is thrown into a serious relationship crisis.

My impression: I didn't like Masaki much at first, because he had an annoying attitude...but then, he's a middle school boy, and he matures emotionally over the course of the story. His boyfriend is sweetness personified. Overall, the main flaw is that the art isn't exactly pretty, but I think the story makes up for it.… (more)