#yusen atsuko | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tanenigiri · 2 years

Text

Review #20: Dekoboko Bittersweet Days

Japanese title: 凸凹シュガーデイズ（もう一回！）(Dekoboko Sugar Days [Mou Ikkai!])

Story and art: Atsuko Yusen

English publisher: Tokyopop

Number of volumes: 2 (complete)

Ending the sugar high.

(This review contains story spoilers.)

I was going into this volume a bit nervous, since while I liked Dekoboko Sugar Days for how it mixed its over-the-top humor with the simple earnestness of its love story, it didn’t really tackle any “heavy” conflicts per se. The heaviest conflict it dealt with - Yuujirou’s height complex - wasn’t really treated with the same depth that other manga in this project would’ve. This isn’t a knock on the manga at all though - it was still a fascinating character study, and I admired how the story was able to present an in-depth plot while maintaining its humorous tone.

So when I realized that Dekoboko Bittersweet Days was gonna deal with a much less sugary plot, I was curious about how the story was going to tackle something that’s outside its comfort zone. And true enough, there’s a pretty gradual shift in tone as this volume progresses, its humor becoming a lot more muted and its emotional core taking center stage.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a completely different vibe. In fact, the first two chapters fit in pretty neatly with what you’d expect from the series, as they mostly serve as extensions of certain plot points in the first volume. Now on their final year of high school, Rui convinces Yuujirou that he is a lot more popular with the ladies than he thinks, which leads to a jealous Rui and a bold declaration of love from Yuujirou. Takenaka reprises his role as the friend looking out for Rui when the four of them - Umino being the fourth person - go on a beach trip, but the main couple is able to get away from him and get some intimate alone time. I appreciate how the four of them do end up becoming a friend group after all this even if Yuujirou and Takenaka still get on each other’s nerves. (I kinda wish they had more scenes together, but I do think that it would’ve ruined the flow of the story if they did.)

It’s all pretty familiar territory in these first two chapters, but you do get a sense that it’s building up to something. There are quite a lot of scenes in the early chapters that talk about their future, which is pretty expected as they're on their final year of high school. But we get hit with the big reveal in Chapter 3, when Rui tells Yuujirou that he plans on going to college in France. At this point, the story begins to ramp up that shift in tone I mentioned above, and it goes through the subsequent scenes with very little humor. As a fan of more emotional stories I obviously don’t mind this change, but I can see how it could throw off those who picked up the series for its comedy.

In any case, Yuujirou chooses not to vocalize his reservations about the decision and says that he supports it, even if Rui himself notices that his boyfriend doesn’t. Admirably, Rui initiates a conversation about this with Yuujirou soon after the reveal, where he tells him that Rui wants to pursue studies abroad so that he can come back as a better boyfriend to Yuujirou, bringing up the times in the past where he’s always seen to depend on his “hero.” I found this really mature in Rui’s part, but Yuujirou’s hesitance to fully accept it already tells me where they’re going with this.

True enough, their resolve is put to the test during Christmas, when both Yuujirou’s and Rui’s families unexpectedly share a dinner together. Naturally, it led to a discussion about the two leads’ love lives, and since neither of them are ready to tell their families about their relationship, both of them say that they’re single. With their parents talking about future grandkids and Rui possibly meeting someone special while he’s in France, it suddenly brings Yuujirou to say a bombshell of a line - he agrees with his family that the two of them should start thinking about getting girlfriends. Yuujirou and Rui’s conversation after this goes about as well as you’d expect - even if Rui promises that Yuujirou’s the only one for him despite his family’s wishes, his boyfriend counters it with his decision to leave him for four years.

It's easy to call Yuujirou out for what he does here, and while he is a bit frustrating, it's also easy to see where he's coming from. He's harbored his feelings for Rui all his life, and until very recently, Yuujirou's been told that a future with Rui was impossible. Finding out that Rui reciprocated his feelings was definitely more than Yuujirou could've asked for, but he's subsequently hit with the realization that their future is still uncertain despite this. Getting a reality check from their families was a tough blow, but I definitely think that Rui's decision to study abroad was already what put him over the edge - why was Rui throwing away a possible future that they both worked hard to achieve?

It fast forwards to their graduation day and the day of Rui’s flight in the next chapter, and it’s revealed that Yuujirou hasn’t talked with Rui all this time, but he’s already come to regret everything that he mentioned in Christmas. True to his actions earlier, Rui actually made the effort to try and talk to Yuujirou about this the day after Christmas, but Yuujirou didn’t budge. It takes another message from Rui - which simply informs him about his flight that day - for Yuujirou to crack. And after some encouragement from his older brother, Yuichiro, the two of them head to the airport so that Yuujirou could finally talk to Rui and convince him to stay. Rui once again demonstrates his maturity about the situation and tells him that he can’t do that, but he nonetheless thanks Yuujirou for being honest and reassures him that they’ll have their forever once he comes back. (This scene also shows their respective families inadvertently finding out about the relationship, though they thankfully seem supportive of it.)

This whole sequence is really sweet, and I can’t mention enough how I found Rui’s character to be really well-done throughout it, but there’s a part of me that wished that we got more of the in-between rather than just these key moments. There would’ve definitely been some issues brought up in the three months between Christmas and Rui’s flight, even if they were dealing with it separately. The first volume had that whole scene where Yuujirou and Rui were talking to Umino and Takenaka respectively about their crushes, and part of me hoped that we had something like that here, especially since they were shown to be a close friend group earlier in the story. (Yeah, Takenaka had that Christmas scene with Yuujirou, but it was more just Yuujirou venting out rather than Takenaka giving him advice.)

And I had the same sentiment going into the main story’s final chapter, which also sees a time skip between Rui’s departure and arrival. Long distance relationships are no joke, and I feel like this could’ve used a few more pages of them being lonely about each other’s absence or adjusting to their new reality for four years. What we got was still nice though - I particularly liked how the story went out of its way to establish that Yuujirou and Rui’s friends know that they have a boyfriend, as it shows just how much they’ve matured about their views on the relationship even if they’re halfway across the world. And, of course, the reunion was done really sweetly, and the bonus chapters giving us a glimpse of their life together was nice to see too. Both Yuujirou and Rui have finally laid the foundation of their future together, and they know that there's only good times ahead.

I mentioned being nervous about how the story will handle its themes earlier, and I think I got a mixed bag out of it. While there were definitely serious moments that this volume did really well - the conversations that Rui initiated, the scene between Yuichiro and Yuujirou, even Takenaka and Yuujirou’s Christmas scene - I felt like it was holding itself back with the time skips and the off-screen character development. I think the story could've been more enjoyable if it took its time with some of these plot beats and emotions.

But even with these misgivings, I’m still impressed that Dekoboko Bittersweet Days managed to tackle a heavier plot without losing its charm. Despite the wildly different tone for half of the story, I still felt the same light-heartedness that made the first volume such a good read. The sugar might have lost its sweetness, but it’s a delicious confection all the same.

Random thoughts I couldn’t fit elsewhere:

This volume makes the very, very smart decision of exploring Umino and Takenaka’s friendship, and how it seems like there’s more to it than that. There’s a not-so-subtle nod we get about it during the beach scene, but a bonus chapter taking place during Christmas seals the deal. Takenaka is seen to be dejected after comforting both Rui and Yuujirou - though it’s mentioned that he also has family issues - and Umino immediately picks up on this and asks if he wants to spend Christmas with his family. Takenaka initially rejects the offer, saying that he doesn’t want his pity, but Umino insists, saying that he has an “ulterior motive” for inviting him. I was already well-fed by this reveal, but then the graduation scene shows them heading for what looks like a date, and I am now waiting for a spin-off, thank you very much.

With the plot taking a more serious turn, most of the humor comes from the people around Yuujirou and Rui. While Umino and Takenaka have their scenes, probably the biggest source of this humor is Yuichiro, Yuujirou’s older brother. I mentioned him a bit above, but he has apparently been pursuing An, Rui’s older sister, which becomes the source of a lot of the more light-hearted panels in the last few chapters. But his standout scene is when he’s convincing Yuujirou to go to the airport and try to convince Rui to stay, as that’s when it’s revealed that he’s known about the main pair’s relationship for quite some time. I wish that they dwelled on this topic a bit more, but I do know that it would've been weird to do so considering what was happening at the time. I will say that it's nice that Yuichiro was immediately supportive of it though, and while part of that might be for his selfish reasons - Yuujirou getting together with Rui would give him a better chance with An - I do think that he realizes how genuinely happy Yuujirou is with Rui.

Yuujirou’s height complex takes a backseat for much of this volume, but it does come back again in the final chapter, though not in the way I expected - he has a final growth spurt in him that brings him much closer to Rui’s height, though not enough to surpass him. I quite like how this only comes up in such a minor way, though, as it does show that Yuujirou had become less insecure about his height. But at the same time, it would’ve been unrealistic if it was dropped altogether, so I’m glad it was alluded to.

Thanks for reading! You can read my review of Dekoboko Sugar Days here. While I have comments about the execution, the plot of Dekoboko Bittersweet Days was really nice to read, as it felt like a great way to further the developments of Yuujirou and Rui both individually and as a couple. And to see them weather these challenges and come out of them closer to each other is really nice.

#Dekoboko Bittersweet Days #Dekoboko Sugar Days #Dekoboko Sugar Days Mou Ikkai #Atsuko Yusen #Matsukaze Yuujirou #Hanamine Rui #Umino Koudai #Takenaka #BL manga #manga review #manga

6 notes · View notes

littlemissinkdrinker · 5 months

Text

Dekobokko Sugar Days by Atsuko Yusen

Cute fluffy slice of life manga! A nice break from all my other reads. I really enjoyed reading about these childhood friends finally getting together and the short extra was hilarious. Overall, a short, cute read.

Read : Jan 6th, 2023

Rating : 4 Stars

#dekobokko sugar days #atsuko yusen #manga #bl manga #graphic novels #contemporary manga #contemporary romance manga

0 notes

palabasa · 1 year

Text

Deko-boko Sugar Days by Atsuko Yusen

been going down a spiral and therefore binge reading once again. was very tempted to pass this over (i'm sick to death of the oversaturation of high school settings for gay manga) but the cover art was so good it drew me in. and it was a banger!! good art with a simple, straightforward romance between childhood friends that was still very endearing. a good light read

#amihan reads #deko-boko sugar days #atsuko yusen #tapos

0 notes

quirkycatsfatstacks · 1 year

Text

Manga Monday: Dekoboko Bittersweet Days

Series: Dekoboko Bittersweet Days #2Author/Artist: Atsuko YusenPublisher: LOVExLOVEReleased: March 22, 2022Received: NetGalley Dekoboko Bittersweet Days is the second novel in the Dekoboko Sugar Days series, and it is such a happy and fun series. If you’re looking for a quick escape into a world of romance and humor, this is the series for you. What happens when two friends who have known each…

View On WordPress

#Atsuko Yusen #Cover #Dekoboko Bittersweet Days #Dekoboko Bittersweet Days 2 #LOVExLOVE #Manga #Manga Monday #Manga Mondays #Net Galley #netgalley

0 notes

redgoldsparks · 1 year

Photo

April reading and reviews by Maia Kobabe

I post my reviews throughout the month on Storygraph and Goodreads, and do roundups here and on patreon.

Yolkai Cats vol 1 by Pandania

Quick, fast, silly short comics about cats who share characteristics with Japanese Yokai ghosts. I was particularly charmed by the cat with the extremely long extendable neck and the cat that grew to the size of a wall and blocked roads. Goofy and sweet!

Dekoboko Sugar Days, vol 1, by Atsuko Yusen

Yuujirou rescued Rui from a childhood scrape, and they've been friends ever since. Also, Yuujirou has nursed a crush all the way into high school... and is dismayed that cute, kind-hearted Rui grew a whole head taller than him! It's extremely obvious that the feelings are returned, but it takes a couple chapters for these two to get their shit together and confess. Silly and sweet.

Dekoboko Bittersweet Days, vol 2, by Atsuko Yusen

Boyfriends Yuujirou and Rui are reaching the end of high school. Yuujirou is ready to commit to living together and to coming out to their families-- but Rui wants to chase his career dreams by studying abroad. A more serious story than the first about a couple facing their first really big challenge. Also spicier than book one!

The Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts

In the far future, a spaceship built on earth travels through distant reaches of our galaxy building a serious of wormhole gates for the hypothetical use of humans who will come after them. Except the ship as been traveling for hundreds of thousands of years and no one has ever come out through the gates. The lives of the 30,000 humans on board are artificially extended because they spend the majority of their time cryogenically frozen, with only brief times spent awake to help out when the ship runs into a problem that the onboard AI can't handle. The ship is also riddled with strange little mysteries: a hidden valley of data crystals; gardens of mutant modified plants; graffiti on the walls in which people leave messages for others who might not wake up and see them for hundreds of years. Amidst all of this, some of the ship's crew want to rebel, tired of their endless missions. But how can they rise up when they spent nearly all their time asleep? I loved the premise of this novella, and enjoyed the ship setting, but found the character development rather thin. If I had really loved any of the characters the twist at the end would have hit a lot harder.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams read by Mela Lee

I'm not much of a romance reader, but the premise of this one drew me in. The romantic leads, Eva and Shane, are both writers, and more than that, they've both been writing books about each other since an emotionally charged and brief relationship in their teen years ended in tragedy. Though both of their stars have been rising in the literary world, they've been avoiding any direct encounters. As adults, Eva is a single mom raising a smart, creative daughter in Brooklyn on the proceeds of her erotic supernatural romance series. Shane, two years sober, has started teaching and mentoring unprivileged youth in whom he sees himself. When they meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly. Their connection seems as immediate and overwhelming now as it did when they were young, but are either of them ready to try again? Can their romance fit into their real, adult lives? Eva has chronic pain, an invisibly disability she has struggled with her whole life, and I really appreciated that as an element of her character. Like many romances, most of the setting in this book are lush, glamorous and give scenes a heightened sense of reality. I had to suspect my disbelief about some things, but I enjoyed the book a lot.

A Hidden Magic by Vivian Vande Velde

I've had this book on my shelf for ages, picked up at a used bookstore because of fond memories of other Velde books (Dragon's Bait and Heir Apparent made a big impression on me as a pre-teen). Unfortunately, I think I waited too long to read this, as it's a bit too simplistic for my tastes as an adult reader. It's a very short fairy-tale like story about a princess, Jennifer, who is fairly average in every way, who has to rescue a handsome but stupid prince from a curse. Jennifer and a sorcerer named Norman talk their way out of trouble with a witch, a giant, a dragon, an evil fairy and a jinni. The somewhat predicable story is enlivened by gorgeous line art illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

Nonbinary Memoirs of Gender and Identity edited by Micah Rajunov and Scott Duane

A nuanced collection of essays from many different perspectives of folks whose gender doesn't fit into the binary. More than thirty contributors' pieces are arranged into five sections, themes around "What is Gender?", "Visibility", "Community", "Trans Enough", and "Redefining Dualities." This book came out in 2019, the same year as my book, and it's interesting to think about how much has changed since then.

Nine Liars written by Maureen Johnson read by Kate Rudd

This series continues to delight! This one follows Stevie and her friends thought the fall of their senior year. They're all thinking about colleges- where to go, how many to apply to. Well, Stevie's friends are thinking about college. Stevie is thinking about how much she'd like to see her boyfriend, currently studying in England, and how much she wants another real murder case. Then David proposes a study abroad trip over Thanksgiving break and Stevie gets both of her wishes. I thought the motive of the murder in this one was less convincing and less clever than most of the previous books, but I honestly didn't care because I was having such a good time watch Stevie crack it (and blunder through very realistic conflicts with her peers). These are some of the best YA mysteries around, and I'm so glad there are more to come!

Ajo y El Vampiro by Bree Paulsen

¡Leí este cómic en español para practicar y lo disfruté mucho! Una historia simple pero linda.

Family Style by Thien Pham

Thien Pham traces his life from a refugee boat leaving Vietnam to a refugee camp to San Jose, California, anchoring memories around specific meals. Each memory is rich with sensory details- the saltiness of fish, the sweetness of rice, the novelty of school lunches in a new country- and build a narrative of a family surviving steep odds. The art is simple but effective, and the story is well-paced and moving. I had the pleasure of picking up an ARC of this memoir at the American Booksellers Association winter institute and enjoyed it so much.

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner read by Steve West

Sophos, the heir of Sounis, viewed with contempt by his father and a long series of tutors, was exiled to an island with his mother, sisters, and a small household of servants. He spent his time mostly reading poetry and wishing for someone to relieve him of his inherited responsibilities. Unfortunately, what comes instead is a troupe of attackers who kidnap Sophos, disguise him as a slave, and burn the manor house. Not sure if his mother and sisters survive, Sophos is taken back to the continent, where he is sure a rebellion of Barons waging civil war against his uncle, the king, mean him great harm. Sophos manages to escape and hide himself away among the indentured laborers in a great house, right under the nose of a Baron who might have hand in his kidnapping. From there, Sophos must make a decision: live safely in obscurity; or reveal himself and risk his life and the lives of his family? From this lowly position, is there any way Sophos can re-take his country? I picked this series back up after a 5 year gap since reading the first three. I had definitely forgotten some important information; for example, the fact that Sophos was a major character in book 1. This somewhat lessened the impact of some of the political machinations, but I still really enjoyed my return to this world and plan to finish out the series now.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a story about complicated friendships and creative partnerships, the kind of deep intertwining of lives that an outsider might easy mistake for romantic or sexual but is in fact something closer to a platonic soulmate situation. It's semi-nonlinear, and covers much of the life of Sam Masur and Sadie Green from their meeting in a children's hospital in the late 1980s into their mid-30s and careers. Sam and Sadie become best friends through a chance meeting, and bonded over a shared love video games. A childhood grievance breaks their friendship, and they do not speak for many years until reconnecting in Massachusetts where Sadie is studying game design at MIT, and Sam mathematics at Harvard. Sam throws out a wild idea: in the summer break before their senior years, they should build a computer game together. So begins a tumultuous collaboration that absolutely delighted me, as did the epistolary elements, the mid-book shift into second person narration, and the stories within the story. What did not delight me was the abusive boyfriend who takes up a lot of space in the first 1/3 of the story. If student/teacher relationships and their accompanying unfair power dynamics, marital infidelity, or brief descriptions of physical abuse are a no-go, this book may not be for you. However, when this character mostly exited the narrative I began to enjoy it more and more and I can see why so many people added it to their favorite books of the year lists last year.

#books #reading #book reviews #sorry the read more cut is broken right now #audiobooks

29 notes · View notes

neonscandal · 4 months

Note

This is BL challenge for you (if you choose to accept them).

1.a) Please write your top 3 or top 5 favorite tropes in BL.

b) From each trope, write at least 3 BL that you love.

(Feel free if you want to write the reasons or not of why you love them).

2. a) What is the first BL that make you want to know more about and eventually love BL?

b) What is that one BL that have a special place in your heart (for whatever reason)?

The BL can be in in the form of manga, manhwa, manhua, books, tv series or movies.

Thanks so much if you want to answer this long ask.

Okay, this one feels a bit more like homework. Very minutely in the air of dudebro asking if a girl has ever seen anything other than shojo or something, though I doubt that's where this comes from. Mostly in the sense that I don't think I confidently remember the difference between a trope and a plot device? Let's hope for the best as I certainly never mind length. *gestures vaguely to both solicited and unsolicited rants*

I will include a disclaimer that I don't just read BL? I know that's the subject of the ask and that I definitely pontificate on MLM ships a ton but I won't say that I've read enough stories that didn't, in some way, give me an ick with toxicity, coercion or straight up assault to, in good faith, recommend them. There were probably more tropes I could have listed out but this should suffice. I tried to avoid things I've recommended before but such things can't always be helped.

TROPES (probably?)

Opposites Attract (specifically Sunshine/Grumpy, extrovert/introvert)

Naked Color by Amamiya 🌶️ (manga, complete) - to be fair, considering they are friends with benefits on the front end, it kind of feels more yaoi-territory but at the same time, navigating the awkwardness of a physical relationship when you want more without jeopardizing what you've already got? Valid. There's a few panels that get a bit dicey but, otherwise, you've got self sufficient rich guy x laissez-faire can barely be bothered to care for himself artist.

This Wonderful Season With You by Atsuko Yusen (manga, complete) - wholesome and endearing story of acceptance between a nerd and a former jock with a sprinkle of healing. Love to see it.

Enemies to Lovers (specifically Hero/Villain, Work Adversaries, etc.)

Contradict by Ohshima Kamome 🌶️ (manga, complete) - rivals, seemingly with the same role model, are locked in competition for years and unknowingly making each other better firefighters. Does this sound like anyone else we know? In BL in particular, the way they go from enemies to suddenly sleeping together is always whip lash inducing but here we are.

Ibitsu na Koi no Seesaw Game by Chiaki Kashima 🌶️ (manga, complete) - so this one is on the fence of problematic but, if you commit objectively funny crimes, you should not see jail time. Such is the case in this game of stray cat and mouse between a talented thief and police inspector with a unique arrangement.

Second Chance Romance

Kimi wa Natsu no Naka by Nagisa Furuya (manga, complete) - talk about the long game, this series (and the subsequent continuation) follows two high school students who seemingly share a love of movies. While it creates an impetus to get to know one another, it's not the only thing that bonds them.

There Are Things I Can't Tell You by Edako Mofumofu 🌶️ (manga, complete) - Probably the angstiest piece on the list but overall a tender story of how two childhood friends take the long way round to finally understanding their feelings and one another. Both characters are imperfect despite appearances and I think the care around developing their back stories and the impact it has on their ability to accept love is ultimately what I really like about it. Plus the fact that you can know someone for so long and so intimately and still not understand them.

Stuck Together

Keep Holding On by Kom (manhwa, complete) - okay, kind of a stretch and this more hits unrequited love, friends to lovers, etc. but I suppose when your moms were friends before you were born and you're forced to be friends from toddlers to high school, some aspect of that is "stuck together". One of the characters chalks it up to fate but you can decide.

Fukouchuu no Shiawase by Enzou 🌶️ (manga, complete) - A guy can't be lucky all the time so, when the universe demands balance, it pairs him with the God of Disaster. Somewhat domestic bliss ensues? Honestly, this was just a really funny read. Picture Noragami except Yato's love interest isn't a literal child. Also, take all the angst over his past and identity and shave it down to like.. 1/16th.

Idiot(s) in Love

Kimi ni Koisuru Hazu ga Nai by Shina Suzaka 🌶️ (manga, complete) - Pretty boy otaku with an embarrassing secret gets discovered by a coworker who seemed to be a bit cold toward him initially. Excited to have a friend to share his interest with, he doesn't even see the feelings his new friend so obviously has for him. Or recognize that the shojo romance he's been idealizing is right in front of him.

Sonna Me de Mite Kure by Icchokusen Moukon (manga, complete) - This is what would happen if Tatewaki Kuno from Ranma 1/2 was ever humbled, even once. Popular school president whose inner and outer monologue convinces us he's the shit happens to notice a background character that he becomes increasingly more aware of. Like, it's a BL, sure? But really, it's just silly and a bit over the top which makes it a funny read.

Atarashii Joushi wa Dotennen by Dan Ichikawa (manga, complete) - One, this story is funny even though it's not quite a BL? Like, affection is expressed but not acted on and I really like that this is a story about care or intimacy without being entirely centered around confession, angst, sex, etc. It's not a coming out story, it's just about the working relationships between a pod of dudes that have a silly appreciation for one another. Also, I think this has been recently animated which I'll for sure have to check out as I think I'd only gotten to like chapter 12?

Emotional Scars

Banana Fish by Akimi Yoshida (anime, complete) - Immediately, this is not a BL story and the person who tells you it is hates you and wants you to suffer. There's a laundry list of trigger warnings which, going in, if you think it'll be a silly goofy love story, you will be sorely disappointed and probably traumatized. But, even so, the connection that Ash and Eiji have is and will always be love. Soulmates. Despite everything Ash had been through, the sins he burdened himself with, Eiji never shied away from him and welcomed him with open arms. Despite the overall violence of the show, there was never any present between them which is integral to why I will still stand by the pairing. Additionally, in real life, terrible things happen to people that are outside of their control. There should be love stories that heal/forgive that, too.

NEONSCANDAL LORE

That's actually pretty recently with the Sasaki to Miyano anime which turned into reading the entire manga and, subsequently, opened the floodgates for other stories.

Honorable Mention: When Yuri on Ice crossed from sports anime to BL. You could definitely argue that that was the spark.

Back during my initial anime era, I think there weren't as many BL or MLM stories that were accessible, although a lot of anime wasn't accessible back then. You still had queer characters with Sailor Moon (main and side characters), Fushigi Yugi, Inuyasha (side characters), Ranma 1/2, etc. though I can't say it was always positive. The whole Junjo Romantica universe comes to mind and, I think, was reminiscent of yaoi back then which I wasn't into. BL wasn't really a thing. I think it should also be said that, back then, I also wasn't particularly seeking it out.

Subsequently, I think Sasaki to Miyano has a special place in my heart. Like, the whole conflict of the series is Miyano reconciling his feelings toward a very straightforward Sasaki without the angst of unsupportive or bigoted friends/side characters. Good for them. The whole story was just delicately rendered, I really enjoyed it. I circle back on this idea of engaging with queer content as a means of coming into your own identity (which Sasaki to Miyano demonstrates) because it resonates and the series created the path for that, in a way.

5 notes · View notes

batangtamad · 2 years

Text

Dekoboko Bittersweet Days (Manga)

Genres: Yaoi, Romance, School Life

Status: Completed

Author: Atsuko Yusen

Favorite Character: Matsukaze Yuujirou

Favorite Chapters: Chapter 2.5, and Chapter 5

Plot Synopsis: Outgoing, fierce Rui Hanamine and gentle, soft-hearted Yuujirou Matsukaze have been close friends since they were children. Though they were supposed to be nothing more than best friends, eventually they confessed their smoldering attraction to one another and began dating. Now their days are filled with sweetness, leaving them wondering, "Am I really allowed to feel this happy?"

Now with the end of their time at high school and summer vacation fast approaching, what does the future hold for the love-struck couple? Sometimes sweetness comes with a little bitterness…

The story is cute. I like that they were really serious about the career they chose. Even though, Yuujirou was selfish and stupid at one point. I was still happy that his big brother encouraged him to not give up and see Rui before his departure.

I want to see more of their lives together when they start working. Also, I need more content about Takenaka and Kodai.

#Dekoboko Bittersweet Days #yuuchan #manga #animechan

2 notes · View notes

lgbtqmanga · 2 years

Text

New Releases Mar. 22, 2022

Breasts Are My Favorite Things in the World! vol. 5 by Wakame Konbu

As Chiaki’s interest in Hana grows beyond her bountiful chest, the two’s relationship attracts the attention of Akira, Chiaki’s cousin and mentor in all things bosom-related. But while Akira professes to be a true boobmaster, her dirty secret is that she’s a breast virgin who’s never touched another pair! As she desperately seeks to discover how her student managed what she could not, Chiaki tries to keep her rival aficionado from coming into contact with Hana!

Catch These Hands! vol. 1 by murata

One day, Takebe, a former delinquent trying to leave that part of her past behind for good, runs into her high-school rival, Soramori. The two fight for the first time in years, and thanks to being desperately out of practice, Takebe loses-leaving her no choice but to accept Soramori’s request to start dating her…?!

Dekoboko Bittersweet Days by Atsuko Yusen

Tiny and adorable when they first met, Rui – still just as adorable – now looms over his boyfriend, Yuujirou. Though they were little more than best friends at first, the confusion over their true feelings for one another smoldered until they confessed. Now every day passes with such overwhelming sweetness it’s all they can do not to ask themselves, “am I allowed to be this happy?” The final high school judo contest, the last summer of their high school careers, and beyond… the thought of his future with Rui makes Yuujirou’s heart flutter. A slow-burn love story between a diminutive, athletic teen and his towering, kind-hearted best friend as they journey the slightly bitter road to adulthood towards sweeter days.

GUNBURED × SISTERS vol. 1 by Wataru Mitogawa

From the artist behind the Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet manga! A vampire and a warrior nun’s fates are bound by blood and perhaps love in this action-packed series.

In a decaying gothic city, warrior nun Dorothy is tasked with hunting and slaughtering supernatural creatures. A member of the elite Crimson Sisters, she seeks to eradicate all vampires. But one fateful night, she encounters the fanged and beautiful Maria, wounded and desperate for care. Dorothy offers the half-vampire one chance at survival: become my pet.

Harem Marriage vol. 15 by NON (digital only)

After agonizing over the decision, Yuzu chooses to give birth to her unborn child as a member of the Date family, much to Koharu and Ryunosuke's delight. But then Joe, her spurned lover, makes a disturbing move in the middle of the night... The Date harem has a host of challenges to overcome if they're to take their family unit to the next level!

The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window vol. 10 by Tomoko Yamashita (digital only)

When Hiyakawa is imprisoned with the Professor, Mikado enlists the rest of the group, doing everything in his power to rescue him. When Mikado finally encounters the Professor, he’s forced to confront who the man really is. After overcoming a strong attack, Mikado is able to reach Hiyakawa, allowing him to speak to him from the depths of his soul. Read on for the thrilling conclusion of The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window!

27 notes · View notes

anotherone-yikes · 2 years

Text

Subarashi Kiseki ni Yasashii Kimi to by Yusen Atsuko

#Subarashii Kiseki ni Yasashii Kimi to #This Wonderful Season With You #yusen atsuko #atsuko yusen #yaoi #shounen ai #manga #wholesome #cute #highschool #computer #club #baseball #injury #romance #feels #drama #👌🏼#❤

49 notes · View notes

tanenigiri · 2 years

Text

Review #6: Dekoboko Sugar Days

Japanese title: 凸凹シュガーデイズ (Dekoboko Sugar Days)

Story and art: Atsuko Yusen

English publisher: Tokyopop

Number of volumes: 2 (complete)

A sweet story with some surprisingly salty characterization.

(This review contains story spoilers.)

It’s pretty obvious considering all the series I’ve covered so far (and the ones I have lined up), but I’m very much drawn to quiet stories with heavy internal conflicts. Instead of big action sequences or impressive displays of magical abilities, I’m a huge sucker for well-done emotional breakdowns, conversations of both the heartbreaking and heartwarming kind, and those scenes where all that’s happening physically is a stare or a hug, but you know there are a lot of things left unsaid between the two characters. Even if it gets to the point where the scenes start to resemble each other, I still eat those stories up like candy.

So it was funny going into Dekoboko Sugar Days and suddenly getting none of that emotional gut-punch - or, at least, very little. Granted, I did expect this to be a lot more light-hearted when I read the title and the blurb, but I still went for it since it seemed like a cute story to the tune of Sasaki and Miyano, and if I’m lucky I could get an Our Dining Table out of it. After all, “dekoboko” roughly translates to “bumpiness” or “unevenness,” so I figured with a term like that in the title, there has to be more to the story than meets the eye.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. This story follows high school students Yuujirou and Rui, who pretty much share the typical grumpy kid + cinnamon roll childhood friends dynamic except for one noteworthy distinction - Yuujirou’s height is 165 cm (a bit below 5’5”), while Rui’s is 186 cm (a bit above 6’1”). We very quickly find out that this is a point of insecurity for Yuujirou, both in general and in the specific context of Rui, as an incident in their childhood placed Yuujirou as Rui’s “protector” in both of their eyes - and Rui as a crush in Yuujirou’s.

Naturally, I found myself drawn to Yuujirou’s internal conflict, as it’s one of those types of insecurities that seem superficial at face value but can affect a person quite heavily. But after reading the story, I realized that I became more fascinated not with how this affected Yuujirou on a personal level - though it was still interesting to see that side of his character play out - but how the story presented it and dealt with it. Since this story is a lot more light-hearted than the plots I’m used to, I was surprised to see that even if this insecurity was something weighing heavily in Yuujirou’s mind, Dekoboko Sugar Days still treated it with the same humor and carefree vibe that carries throughout the whole manga.

At first, I found it a bit of a waste - there’s a lot that the story can do with Yuujirou’s height complex, and there’s so much potential for those emotionally heavy scenes that feed my soul. But after rereading it, I do think that the story made the best call in treating it the way it did. Not only was it able to present a pretty serious topic without breaking its humorous vibe, but it also became a good way to highlight that this issue is, at the end of the day, much bigger in Yuujirou’s mind than it actually is.

And the story points this out pretty early on - Yuujirou’s close friend and classmate, Umino, remarks that Yuujirou would have an easy time getting together with a girl if he wanted to, and Chapter 2 confirms this with Yuujirou impressing a bunch of girls while he’s in judo training. I also found it interesting that the story chose to withhold the whole judo captain detail until this point when the perspective shifts to Rui’s, as it once again highlights that Yuujirou’s height complex is making him think much too lowly on himself when he actually has a lot going for him.

This is also when we begin to find out that Yuujirou’s feelings aren’t as one-sided as he believes, though Rui does need some external forces to help him realize it. True to his musings that Yuujirou is a lot more popular with the ladies than what his protector thinks of himself, Rui finds out from his own close friend and classmate, Takenaka, that Yuujirou is beginning to spend more time with a first-year girl. There’s a really interesting tidbit in this part of the story where Rui acknowledges Yuujirou’s height complex, saying that his protector looks much better with the girl as she is shorter than Yuujirou. Me being me, I wish the story explored this a bit more, but I’m already happy with how Rui recognizes that his protector’s insecurities are serious - a stark contrast to how Umino laughs it off (though with good intentions).

The story eventually leads to a funny sequence where the main pair simultaneously admit to themselves, and subsequently to their respective classmates, that they’re in love with the other. I found how the manga initially presents this as vertical halves of the same page with intersecting thought bubbles a really great stylistic choice, and part of me hoped that it would’ve continued for longer, though I guess the novelty would’ve faded if it ran for more than a dozen pages. It eventually culminates in a heartfelt confession, though it’s of course injected with the story’s over-the-top humor.

While there’s a part of the “over-the-top”-ness of the story that I can do without - the physical gags, for one - I do think that, overall, it adds to the unique charm of Dekoboko Sugar Days. It might not seem like it’s taking its characters seriously, but at several times in the story, that’s exactly what it calls for - looking at the situation through a mostly humorous lens. The fact that it still delivers a heartwarming story along the way is a testament to how it can balance all these ingredients quite nicely.

Random thoughts I couldn’t fit elsewhere:

I should mention that Takenaka does have a crush on Rui, and while I thought this was gonna go down a love triangle route, he does recognize how much Rui cares for Yuujirou, and it’s even implied that he’s the one who gives Rui the confidence to confess to Yuujirou. I like how the story didn’t end up with the two fighting over Rui, and of course, it’s made better when Umino gets in the picture (which I will absolutely talk about when I get around to reviewing the sequel).

Speaking of which, Umino hands down has the best lines in the story. Not only does he get a pretty funny and honestly quite insightful meta joke at the start, but he also reads Yuujirou like a book near the end. It’s nice how he really has Yuujirou’s - and later on Takenaka’s - backs, and Yuujirou should really consider himself lucky for having such an open-minded and observant friend.

The bits leading up to the story’s more graphic scenes in the end show some interesting hints of insecurity and awkwardness between the main couple as well. It’s to be expected, of course, as neither Yuujirou nor Rui are shown to have experience with any kind of relationship prior to this, but once again the story tackles these insecurities with an interesting mix of hilarity and sincerity that’s nice to see. I also found it hilarious that the bonus chapter dealt with the completely opposite problem of what the final chapter deals with.

(Also this is one of the best pieces of afterword art I’ve seen. 10/10.)

Thanks for reading! I found Dekoboko Sugar Days to be a nice change of pace to all the other manga I’ve read so far, and while I still find myself liking the emotionally heavy stories more, it’s good to read something that’s set to make you laugh instead of cry once in a while. I do have a review lined up for its sequel later in the month, and from its English title alone - Dekoboko Bittersweet Days - it’s not gonna be as saccharine as this one.

#Dekoboko Sugar Days #Atsuko Yusen #Matsukaze Yuujirou #Hanamine Rui #BL manga #manga review #manga

4 notes · View notes

trashexplorer · 4 years

Text

BLCD Review: Dekoboko Sugar Days

Title: Dekoboko Sugar Days (凸凹シュガーデイズ)

Release Date: 2019/03/22

Author/Artist: Yusen Atsuko

Cast: Yamashita Seiichirou x Yashiro Taku

Synopsis:

Yuujirou Matsukaze has been close friends with Rui Hanamine since the two of them were children, and at that time, Yuujirou was the one who stood up for and took care of his adorable, soft-hearted friend. But as it turns out, Yuujirou's childhood dreams end up growing a little too big to handle - or, rather, too tall! At over six feet in height, the cheerful and happy-go-lucky Rui towers over his would-be protector... and still has no idea Yuujirou's had a crush on him since they were kids! (ANN)

Review Proper

I gotta be honest with you, I hated this. I will be very brutal in this review, so please don’t read this if you can’t take seeing it be torn apart. This is only my personal view and I have my own preferences, so if you’re a fan of the series, please don’t take offense. 🙇‍♀️

It has the most generic, predictable, and cliché plot I’ve ever come across in my life. I’m this close to calling it trash. It’s like a poor man’s Goshujinsama wa Ouji ga Suki where Kanade’s supersized. You know how there’s an abundance of situations, back stories, and personalities out there you could choose from? Well, this work chose only the overused ones and didn’t even bother to execute them well.

Mistaken gender first love transcending into present time? Hero and height complex? Painfully obtuse characters whose mutual feelings are as clear as day but don’t know how to communicate? Weak-ass third party appearances? A fucking rain scene? Falling into a ditch? Slipping on a banana peel? SLIPPING ON A BANANA PEEL ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS And a lousy chase into the sunset? Check, check, and check. Congrats, you’ve just made a 2007 shoujo shitstorm! Ouran High would be put to shame! 👏👏👏

I mean, look at this and tell me that this isn’t forced and unnecessary:

God, it’s branded off as a romcom, but the comedy is so exaggerated and uncomedic that the only thing thing funny about it is how much of a joke the entirety of this manga was. Or was this the kind of comedy they were going for from the start? I really don’t understand why it has that high of a rating with readers. Really? This? There’s a whole lot of works that are considerably better than this one, but to give you a few, I’d suggest you read Gosan no Heart and or Jackass if you prefer extreme sexual tension coupled with darker comedy; any of Taki Nekoze’s works if you want something lighter; and if you want something similar to this one that’s executed seamlessly, then I’d definitely want you to try reading Yoshio Akira’s Goshujinsama wa Ouji ga Suki and Kurahashi Tomo’s Itsuka Koi ni Naru Made.

On the topic of character personality, it seems like Yuujirou’s personality is only running away while Rui’s is being dumb as rocks. Also, why the hell does Rui act and look like Suoh Tamaki while Yuujirou looks and acts like Iwaizumi Hajime?

Moving on to the technicality of things, Yamashita Seiichirou and Yashiro Taku did a pretty decent job on portraying their characters. The chemistry they had with each other was okay and the mattress mambos were fine, but I do have to admit that they did struggle a bit (Yashiro Taku more than Yamashita Seiichirou) with believability and tone changes. Yashiro Taku in particular did not do that well when those two are needed at the same time. Yamashita Seiichirou on the other hand, sounded too airy which is surprising to me because I had thought that to be his natural range. So is his Jude his natural pitch??? That’s deeper than I had expected! The dynamic of this pairing here is similar to that of Saitou Souma and Nakajima Yoshiki’s in Akai Ito but reversed. It’s funny ‘cause I had completely thought Yashiro Taku out to be a total top while Yamashita a bottom—the tables might have been turned. Yamashita can really pull Saitou Souma’s Hiro if he practices it a bit more. I’d like to see him in seme roles with that voice.

As for loyalty to the original content, there were a lot of jumps all throughout the CD. They’ve also rearranged some of the events that take place that even I had a hard time in catching up. This is definitely not for beginners, but if you’re a fan of the series, you do you. I’ve heard that this will be officially released in English, too. Good for Yusen Atsuko, not only did they get a BLCD for this...this thing, but a wider market! I only hope that they get more creative as time passes. There’s no where else to go but up, I guess.

In conclusion, we have a terribly executed plot, decent voice work and chemistry, and a rearranged sequence of events. Man, I actually looked forward to listening and reading this, too. *sigh* This is by far, the worst BLCD I’ve ever heard this year and hopefully, it’s the last.

#dekoboko sugar days #blcd reviews #blcd 2019 reviews #yusen atsuko #ginger records #yamashita seiichirou #yashiro taku

56 notes · View notes