There's something about the way these characters are portrayed that makes the story unexpectedly interesting. It might seem like the typical teen angst and melodrama - and I suppose in a way it is - but watching Sakuraba and Fujieda struggling with their internal conflicts isn't quite like reading any other school-life manga with similar themes - shounen-ai or otherwise. This is not something that can be explained properly so if you want to see what I mean, read it yourself.

I might be misleading people into thinking there's something very unique about Shounen wa Asu o Korosu. But of course it isn't really all that original. Clichés are definitely not absent, but the way those clichés are executed is pretty skilful. But perhaps the biggest difference is that there is no girly guy here. These two look like teenage boys, and they act like teenage boys. They don't blush over every little thing (actually, I've never seen either of them blush at all), and they aren't unbelievably shy either. Don't get me wrong, I like shy boys and all - but when the uke is always a typical model student type who can't raise a finger to defend himself in a fight, allows the other guy to do whatever he wants (even though he obviously doesn't want him to) and behaves like a damsel-in-distress straight out of the pages of a 1960s shoujo manga, you tend to get just a little bit annoyed, right? Thank heavens Sakuraba isn't like that at all! He'd never let Fujieda have his way with him!

Of course, I know most people won't like the art - and I admit it's not very pretty. If you want bishounen, this is not the manga to read. I personally find the artwork just fine. Much to my surprise and satisfaction, not even the most physically-weak guy in the story looks remotely like a woman. If I want het romance there's plenty for me to choose from. I hate BL that try to masquerade as het just so that the female readers can envision themselves in the uke's position Another good thing is how everyone looks his age, unlike in a typical BL where the seme looks like he's 30 and the uke resembles a 10-year-old, even though they're both 17.

Regarding voraciouszest's complains about the unresolved plot - I have to disagree. It's about as resolved as you could expect a BL manga to be; which isn't much, but it's still not dissatisfying in any way. I particularly loved the "I'm a winner too" bit. It was really pretty funny, and Fujieda's even denser than I thought if he couldn't figure out what Sakuraba meant when he said that ^_^

The two oneshots at the end of volume 2 were also fairly interesting.

... Last updated on January 27th, 2015, 6:55am

Kei was too rash and hotblooded for my liking but I'd say this is a decent read, even if I didn't get too excited reading this. There is character development, though it's basic like what the others say. Characters were great, though I have a bone to pick with Kei. Kamenaga-sensei is my favorite character. There's much drama orientated around violence for the most part which turned me off. It's pretty realistic. Give it a go if you adore slice of life.

... Last updated on February 22nd, 2013, 1:52pm

(I'm not even sure if it's just my imagination, but I think I've read this before. Anyways, if I have, it's been over seven years ago.)
Shounen wa Asu o Korosu is absolutely not perfect, as the character development is pretty basic and there are some problems beside that, too. But I've come to a point in my yaoi-reading life where the only thing I need to consider yaoi good is to enjoy it (shonen-ai, in this case). Since I've read too much yaoi, most of what I read is crap nowadays, in order to find one good one among ten. So anything that can get a reaction out of me is enough. And this manga was indeed very enjoyable. Just the style I like, with likable characters too and sexy enough to make me want more.

At first I thought Kei's interest in Sakuraba was going way too fast, but it turns out it was really, really hot. So much sexual tension...that's what I love the most! I swear, sometimes I like shounen-ai more than yaoi, so that they focus more on the plot and let the sex be background only. Even so, I just wish they'd show the kisses already =/ I mean, I did say I prefer plot over sex...but just a little teasing wouldn't hurt, huh? And unfortunately, I can't rate it 10 because of that. I mean, it was awesome and it's not like sex is the most important part, but...we only got to see light kisses and most of them were even left to imagination =/ They didn't even confess to each other and their physical relationship afterwards was only implied...and I am reading this for the BL, after all...

I would've settled for just a bit more drama, but it's pretty much what I wanted at the moment: very cute with some good angsty bits.
The strongest point I see in this is the pace - it's REALLY good. They kiss, several times, then they go to third base, then the "realizing the real feelings" part. And time goes by as it should, also. Very well-done on this aspect.

I also like the characters very much, since they are exactly the kind of uke and seme I like...especially Sakuraba. The stereotype of my type of uke. And it's so cute how Kei sees Sakuraba as a sweet little uke and instead he's the smirky, sarcastic kind~!

The most important thing to be said, though, is that I caught myself smiling for no reason while reading this. That's the feeling mangas should pass on to us, right? This manga isn't about anything particularly original, but...there's just something about it that I really like.

PS: Am I the only one or do you guys also love Kamenaga-sensei?


The second story was utterly frustrating, because I feel it was incomplete. What the hell was that open ending?! I wanted to see Yashiro with someone...actually, not even with Sakae, but with mad dog himself! Anyway, it was indeed very well done, plot-wise, but it felt like a waste of a good story. Well, at least it compensates a little for the sex.

Te last story was okay too. Dramatic, really dramatic, but I didn't really have enough time to connect to the characters, so I didn't even cry. Don't get me wrong; they're likable and the story was enjoyable, too. Just not that remarkable.

As for the art, I actually find it quite interesting...amusing, even, somehow. Ok, it is old, but still managed to get me appreciating it - and believe me, I'm art-snobbish to the point I don't read a title when I dislike the art.

So, I'd recommend you read this. Don't expect the best manga ever, but if you're tired of looking for something you'll actually get to enjoy, you've just found it.

Despite the fact that Shounen wa Asu o Korosu is over ten years old, I found I really enjoyed it. But to be honest, the ending was abrupt and unfortunately it wasn't finished properly instead of including the two unrelated oneshots.
The characters are interesting and the tension between them is magnetic. It's a real pity that their story just seems to fly out of nowhere in the second volume and end without any real conclusion.

OMG! I love this manga, it's so new for me, the story is very interesting you've got this bad boy developing feelings for the well-mannered boy, it has a really good sense of humor. Oh! And the characters they're great, I love them, so is the art it's very refreshing,

Well, I only rode until chp. 4 but I really like it. The story is intressting and it´s not one of these "omg you´re so hot and because of that I love you" storylines. The chars are really great and everything fits perfectly. Well, the drawing are really old but that doesn´t bother me at all.But until now I didn´t sense much yaoi. It´s more shonen ai like and you won´t see anything

... Last updated on June 27th, 2009, 2:02pm