I'm a beginner yaoi manga reader and I've tried so many times before to engage in the genre because I crave a good BL story but honestly, all those 'rape as love' and the 'boys that look more like girls' characters keep me away. Maybe the fault is mine for not knowing where to look for BL/yaoi that doesn't follow this formula. Then I stumbled by chance on 'Twittering Birds Never Fly' and got intrigued by the summary and the title. I've glanced at some random pages and man, I was hooked, line and sinker. Read the whole thing in one day. If only yaoi genre was dominated by this kind of quality manga...
Everything on it is great ... the story is intriguing, the art is beautiful... There is an effort that the reader has to make to interpret the characters and follow their evolution along the story. The side characters are interesting and the main pairing, Yashiro and Doumeki, make for an emotional couple to follow. They are not only sexy and alluring but there is chemistry in their relationship -- if such a thing exists in manga fictional characters. My only fear is that I am not for tragic endings so I am hoping so much that this is a history of redemption and happiness. After all, their current story is already a tale of tragedy and unhappiness so I'm guessing the twist would be if these two can beat the odds and be happy.

... Last updated on January 6th, 2018, 2:49pm

I got to hand it down to Yoneda Kou sensei, when she makes characters, they really have a soul. They stick to their personalities and grow logically in their time frames. This unfinished, adult, dark, and angsty manga is one of my favorites, besides Bi no Kyoujin (which has a seemingly unending sequel too) and gokudou darling (fluffy, very light read with hot abs). For those who would like to start reading, please note the tags included (psychological, smut and tragedy) which are apparent all through out the manga. Also, sensei has been known to drop some of her great plot mangas, which is quite unfortunate (hopefully not this one too). Id give it a 9.5 simply because I cannot fathom a decent and fulfilling ending for the story. Since there is a tragedy tag, Im assuming it would not be a happy ending though. Still, it is a must read (just prepare to be hungry) for hardcore fujoshis out there.

There is so much sexual tension between the main couple I f*cking love it. Each character has their own quirks and you'll probably fall in love with the relationships in the plot. AND LIMP D*CKS.

I'm so happy I came back to this manga. I read it a few years ago up to ch. 10 and took a break ( I think also it went on hiatus for a little bit) and I liked it back then but maybe since I'm not a teenager anymore I appreciate the story more and the different layers. Yoneda Kou continually proves that in this genre of manga, and with manga in general, she has the skill and to create a moving piece of work. Her characters have come to life & the pain and struggle they experience is felt. Wonderful story development, art (as always) and an amazing and intriguing world are all things she has created. Please I advise anyone interested in one of the best mangas of the Yaoi/boys love genre, read this.....it goes way beyond expectation and doesn't rely solely on cheap baiting tactics, but rather a compelling narrative.

And Doumeki and Yashiro's relationship is so emotional....It will kick you in the stomach

Profound. Psychologically real.
Yoshiro totally rocks. So does Doumeki.

Comparing this to any other yaoi manga is pointless.

... Last updated on June 4th, 2017, 9:27am

The manga went on a hiatus for a while, I believe, but I recently came back to it, only to be delighted that it's picked up quite a bit. Pacing wise, the manga takes its time to develop the undercurrents of the main characters' motives. It's got the yakuza intrigue, but Yashiro's fetishes make him stand out a bit. Yoneda Kou doesn't skimp out on the violence and the political struggles of the yakuza culture, but it's not the focus of the manga either. At the heart of the story is Yashiro coming to terms with his self-imposed, sexual indifference to intimacy (and loneliness as a result) by the enforced sincerity of his impotent body guard Doumeki. Yoneda already hints to the prospect of a bittersweet ending in a few chapters if you read between the lines, but the story is worthwhile in how it fleshes out sexual abuse, loneliness and vulnerability to intimacy. Love it, and definitely a worthwhile read. The characters are by far the most developed I've seen (in ways that aren't in-your-face and superficial) and by far one of the few best mangas out there. Would read again.

THE PEOPLE WHO RATED THIS BELOW A 7 ARE ALL HATERS
THIS MANGA IS THE S*** AND WE ALL KNOW IT. IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT IN IT : HOT GUYS, SEX, DRAMA, SEX, ISSUES, DICKS AND SEX, A ACTUAL PLOT, SEX, INTENSE CHAPTERS THAT LEAVE YOU WANTING MORE, HOT GUYS WITH BEAUTIFUL BODIES AND FLACCID DICKS, AND ALL THE GOOD STUFF. THIS MANGA IS STRAIGHT BEAUTIFUL IN A SADISTIC SEXY WAY AND DESERVES TO BE RATED HIGHER THAN A DANG ON 1, IT DESERVES IT'S 10

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.
THIS MANGA IS KILLING ME WITH THE FEELS. EVERY CHAPTER IS FILLED WITH INTERESTING PLOTS THAT ONE COULDN'T HONESTLY HELP BUT FEEL A NUMBER OF MIXED EMOTIONS.

I LOVE THE MAIN CHARACTER. I FEEL PITY FOR YASHIRO TO BE A MASOCHIST, BUT I LOVE THE FACT THAT HIS BODYGUARD TAKES CARE OF HIM PROPERLY. HE DOESN'T REALLY INFLICT PAIN TO YASHIRO (unlike the other manga u know what~~~) BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW TO TREAT THE PERSON HE LOVES PROPERLY.
THE SIDE CHARACTERS WERE REALLY DESCRIBED WELL BY THE MANGAKA THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN HATE THEM. AT FIRST, I WAS ROOTING FOR KAGEYAMA (bc first love lololol) BUT NOW, I'M REALLYYYYY ROOTING FOR DOUMEKI. DOUMEKI KNOWS THAT INFLICTING PAIN WILL ONLY MAKE YASHIRO BE SATISFIED, BUT NOT HAPPY.

I JUST LOVE THEM AND WILL CONTINUE TO (unless some EXTREME bdsm scene between Yashiro and Doumeki will happen, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT!!! PLEASE JUST PLEASE)

p.s. I JUST DISCOVERED THAT A LOT OF SENSEI'S WORK GETS DISCONTINUED/BE ON HIATUS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS BE ONE OF THE MANGAS THAT WILL BE COMPLETED!!! MY HEART WOULDN'T TAKE IT IF OTHERWISE!!!

... Last updated on April 30th, 2017, 10:16am

Words can't express how much I love Yashiro. I am so glad that I picked up this manga when it was translated up to the fourth volume. I came across this manga before but I was put off by the uke who just slept around who's love interest is a impotent bodyguard. But boy am I glad I gave it a second try. The complexity that is Yashiro is very hard to explain and makes me think long and hard about his interactions with people and the decisions he makes. As I read on I can see how he slowly gets affected by Doumeki and how he starts to fall in love with him without he himself even realizing his feelings. Doumeki is the ultimate seme!! He is soo sweet and considerate of Yashiro and you can see how much he respects Yashiro even though everyone else insults Yashiro calling him public toilet, etc. He is so tender with Yashiro that Yashiro can't help but fall in love with him ^-^ This is totally my #1 Yaoi manga and I have also bought the 4th drama cd and 4th manga volume from Amazon.jp

Also for people comparing this to Finder's series I totally can't agree with that. While both might have Yakuza the storyline and characters in Saezuru are on a totally different level. I am also a fan of the Finder's series but it reads more like fluff and fanservice than anything else. I don't get the seriousness of Yakuza like I get from Saezuru. Also the characters in Saezuru have great character development which I totally love!



Well my review went on longer than I thought it would >.>; Anyways if you haven't read this yet I really recommend it! <3 Yashiro x Doumeki for life!!!! I just hope that they will be able to have a happy ending T-T as long as they are together at the end I'll be ok.

Just a sugesstion you should listen to the Drama cd while reading the manga, Yashiro sounds sooooo sexy!!! Doumeki too =D

... Last updated on January 3rd, 2017, 2:49am

Story is compelling, art is gorgeous, the complexity of the characters is really well developed. There's absolutely nothing that can top such a well crafted masterpiece. Everything about this manga is amazing. You can't help but fall in love with the characters.