I adored the story about the hairdresser! So good! It was so cute and sweet. I loved that the one guy had always thought the hairdresser was kind and attractive and had loved everything about him. Totally one of my favorite stories! <3 <3 <3

The main story about the ping pong was okay. Not my favorite, but not bad either.

The one about the dentist was... kind of really creepy. Okay, very creepy. Not the S&M, necessarily (because people can like what they like). It was creepy that his dentist hit on him like that at work! It was kinda cute how much they were into each other, though.

I seem to be one of the few who prefer the first story. On that note, I needed more. I needed so much more of Haruya and Makoto. I felt like it was such a waste to include 3 other chapters with other stories, when all I wanted to see was the two of them...this story needed more drama, more resolution, more explanation, more dialogue, more feelings. And yet it was perfect just the way it was. I really, really loved it. While I believe it wasn't perfect for just the reasons I said, it was still able to get through to me in a way most manga rarely do. I wish, however, that everything had been taken more seriously, and perhaps that could summarize all the other things I said. Haruya touches Makoto out of the blue. They go their separate ways, and yet there is ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLANATION WHATSOEVER as to why! It was SO sudden. That made it all the more heartbreaking, actually, but two times in their lives, they were apart for years, so I think their feelings would have been built up a lot more. They would be really hurt by each other.
This story was even more to my liking because the characters were so good. Haruya is the type of seme that's perfect, in my opinion. Just what a good yaoi manga needs. While it seems like Makoto is the one with unresolved feelings because he doesn't talk a lot, he's the one who's actually sure since the very beginning, while Haruya has always been the one pushing him away. A seme that won't admit it, yet can't stay away. Makoto is amazing, too. He's quiet, which makes for more conflict.
However, I wish this also had more sex. While we got to see them touching each other quite a lot and even kissing sometimes, their first time was actually not illustrated properly, and that's a shame.


As for the second and third stories, the quality definitely goes down. The second one does have some cute aspects, such as Fujiwara loving Karahashi even though he's CLEARLY not at all hot when they are younger. That's true love. However, to me the path it follows just seems a little hard to believe. Maybe it's just cultural shock, but I wouldn't invite someone who I went to high school with but wasn't very close to, to go up to my apartment if I met them again after years, even if they weren't feeling well. Then Fujiwara just basically attacks Karahashi twice and Karahashi goes along with it, although nowhere did it mention his feelings for Fujiwara. He probably hadn't even thought about him that way up until that point. And suddenly, everything is solved. The most Karahashi says to Fujiwara is that he though he was pretty. That's not enough for me to accept that they are together. The only thing I actually enjoyed about this was the sex scene, because it was very hot; and how pushy Fujiwara is, almost like a seme. He's so experienced, it's very sexy. And the story ends just as suddenly as it started, with no confirmation that they are together. Their looks are also not to my liking. Fujiwara is ok, but nothing special. Karahashi is NOT AT ALL the type I'd consider good looking, even before he "becomes cool". He gets better, indeed, but...still quite ugly. And that's not something I like in fiction in general.

The third story is even worse than the second. It's just wrong, wrong, wrong all over. First of all, why would a dentist do sexual stuff to someone during the consultation?! He could be charged with sexual assault in an instant. Although this is yaoi, where this kind of thing happens and most of the scenarios presented to us ARE sexual assault, this is just too much for me. Then Hoshino jerks Sugita off all of a sudden and Sugita comes back for more assaulting? Doesn't seem the least bit believable. I couldn't quite figure out who the seme is either, and I'm not a "we go both ways" kind of fujoshi. I like seme / uke roles. What made it worse is that Hoshino seems to be the seme, and he has the MOST UKE FACE ever! Finally, I understand the concept of this story, in which Sugita doesn't feel anything (which barely scratches the surface and doesn't make for a good enough character background), but the execution was just terrible. Who in their right mind would put their patients through more pain to make them come back to the office? And who in their right mind WOULD come back?! It just makes no sense at all and is definitely not a good way for a seme to win an uke's heart. Also, to me it's nothing like S&M. Shoko-sensei uses the uke's pain as a subterfuge for him feeling something, rather than living his life emotionless, while the seme is interested in getting a reaction out of him. It has nothing to do with fetishes, but with feelings. Also, their appearances, once again, are also not to my liking. Sugita is plain and boring. Not particularly interesting. Hoshino, like I said before, just looks very feminine, like a total uke.

Overall, I would completely recommend reading the first story, but skip the other two if you value your time. I can't rate this volume high as a whole because it made me read two bad stories after the good one.

... Last updated on September 21st, 2016, 4:53pm

Don't know why I only like the first story. Their ralationship makes me feel regret or something like that. Fortunately they are happy toether at the end. 8 points for the first story ^ ^

the couples here are so good! the first couple quicken my heart with their play, i love seme who is forceful with unwilling -but-not-quite uke. the second couple is sweet, its a short one but it shows kind seme is good with stalker-y uke. the third couple is the best, imo. sadistic seme and masochistic uke, without being too violent. and i just love their dentist play (its not a play, but feels like a foreplay the way it is portrayed), it feels more erotic than normal doctor play since the dentist do strictly whats needed, but still look sensual.

ahhh great!

love this oneshot to bits. It's so cute that the uke falls for the seme when he was younger and not as good looking! =) I also really like the looks of the seme as an adult. attractive couple. The rest of the manga is just ok.

First Story:

One thing I genuinely love about Hidaka-sensei, at least from what I've read of the artist so far, is that peculiar way of hers to bring closure that is not quite closure. Yeah, how do I explain something like this. Her characters have a pretty realistic imprint to the way they perceive the world around them and react against each other, and so it becomes a lot easier for them to create a bond, to connect with the reader, who (at least in my case) can really relate to how these characters experiment "true", youthful, first love. Yet, the author doesn't it leave it at that.

I found it quite lovely, here (the first story) as well as in other works by Hidaka-sensei, the way the couple is brought together after years of pain and sorrow being repressed under the surface, so that the experiment of first love, painful as it is, more often than not, can give way and rekindle into something real. We have the first idea of closure here, when they met after such a long time, because, even though nothing was said or done, at least there's the idea of a new beginning while the characters are still given the chance to clear-up the past. Then, when all is well and we know the story to be coming to an end, there's yet this feeling of a restless peace: the romance remains on a very realistic accord, it's not like everything will be sweet and roses; the window is always open for a new, if mundane, life-like event to start and disturb the quiet. At least that's the idea I get, I don't if it's intended or not...

Personally, I found this first story really good. The plot is not that original but it's nonetheless delivered in the most unique way and speechless execution. Really, really liked it.

However, I can't speak likewise of the whole volume. The second story was really uninteresting to me and the third one... Indeed, I'm not even sure I like it. It was really underdeveloped, so much so I can't even tell the name of the characters anymore. The plot itself wasn't that interesting either; a sadistic dentist is not something I like to think of, not even while reading manga, ahah.

It's still worthy picking this up for the first three chapters though. Love <3

... Last updated on October 2nd, 2013, 8:05am

I'm talking about the first one. The story line, the art, the tense&complicated relationship... is so beautiful and made this a worthy reading. But I can't find myself enjoy re-reading it even once despite it's my habit when reading wonderful stories. I love bastard seme but this one had totally crossed the line. He repeated his foolness over and over again yet can't seem to understand just how much it hurted the uke. The story end so soon that I can't manage to call it a happy ending eventhough I want so badly...

Honestly saying, the first story wasn't that good but the oneshots were much better! The one with the hairdresser is so funny! and the dentist one is....a bit...I dunno what's that feeling when i read that one, but it's much better than the main story.

I want to immediately say that this one is... how should i say? Unique? Different from others. All of them! But the very different one is the 2nd and the 3rd. The 2nd is very unique and funny, but not my favorite. I more love if the Seme who do that. And about the 3rd, i could see how the Sadist playing, but not really with the Masochist one. That's quite good for me! Glad that the Uke(probably)-who the Masochist- didn't really act crazy that he really need pain. He just take the pain as something that quite make him exciting. He quite act like a normal person. Glad he's not act like crazy masochist! Because i truly dislike Masochist (But loves Sadist Seme).
So, i give 9 point to the 1st. 8 to the 2nd, (probably)10(?) to the 3rd. Total= 8.6

As so few people said it, I'm here to increase the good reviews about the first story, 'cause it really deserves it ! It's one of the best love/hate relationship I've read about. And I completely agree with what qwkimmy and cookieslov3 said about this story. Hidaka Shoko really managed to turn a classical plot into something so unique, and with such a deep and subtle way to treat the character's feelings. I haven't been so taken in by a story like that since a long time.

The second story is just a cute oneshot like many others, with just the particularity of dealing about rather normal looking guy.

Ah, but the third story is really interesting. It's the first time I've read a s&m story that felt like a real one to me, and I have to say that I'm not sure if I liked it or not, but it really got me. In s&m, I usually don't feel like they're really in pain, but here ! god ! It looks like it hurts so much, while the dentist seem to really enjoy it. They must be both really twisted, but still it was nice seing them like that.