If you pass this one up you are truly missing out. This has got to be the most heart wrenching and heart warming manga I've ever read and also the positively best yaoi. This is an outstanding story which managaed to make me smile and cry at the same time.

I don't know how many times this manga has pulled at my heart strings to the point of making me cry...I actually usually avoid the drama genre because some really have the ability to mar my heart. The art isn't even one of my better liked styles. But I am really glad I finished this manga.



Not rating this one since I really can't determine how well this manga is.

... Last updated on December 29th, 2012, 9:35am

This is one of the most unique and amazing manga I've ever read. I read it for like 4 times already and each and every time it leant fail to make my heart squeal! Great manga, if you're a yaoi fan and you haven't read this, you're missing out a lot!

One of the reasons why I still continue reading a manga is because of the art...this manga's art isn't very appealing but the story is. I love the plot and the characters. This is the very first manga that covers the love story and friendship of the characters from the time it blossomed until their death. I finished this manga in just one sitting and I must admit that this made me cry for hours. Whenever I am reminded of the story, it still brings tears to my eyes. Definitely one of the best, must-read mangas. Now, I'm about to cry again...

... Last updated on November 30th, 2012, 1:50am

This had me bawling..repeatedly. It felt so realistic. In the last volume, I missed the original characters though. Since they went through their whole life story, I guess characters had to be lost.. eventually.
I can't begin to explain how awesome this was.

It's a pity that Complex is the only scanlated manga by Manda Ringo. I wish I could read more of her works. And Complex is just great. It's a rare thing, when truly realistic story and happy ending come together. (extra shotacon stories were also strangely cute ^-^b)

This might be my favorite yaoi. I can't tell you how much I absolutely loved this story. It was so realistic. It faithfully follows 2 men in love through their whole lives. No one is perfect, and the story isn't perfect, but that's what makes it so poignant and lasting. It's a real story, a happy story, that will bring joy to your heart if you can just enjoy the 'eternal romance' of it. Also, I've never seen a yaoi manga follow a couple's journey until the end, and I must say that it actually made me so happy that I cried! This one will stick with me for a while. I think we all wish for a love like this one. Love can overcome anything.

I really liked how the story went in the beginning but with the problems that came up later, it was just too painful for me. It's wonderful and sad at the same time. I wished for the story to be more on the happy side but it ended up being so serious. I guess that's why it's tagged slice of life... but still! Overall, it's a good read. Kept me crying since that so it just went downhill for me.

... Last updated on September 16th, 2012, 8:56am

I've read lots of mangas, all different types, but this was something special. For starters, the art is not a type I like, yet that meant nothing. It was the story that won over me, and most probably, everyone else.

Many before me have pointed this out, but I will say it again: the shotacon was pivotal to the story. It may sound strange (and I don't really like shotacon personally), but without that start, the story would never had developed the way it had.

I won't spoil it, but this was the first ever manga that made my cry at the end... It was an amazing work of art.

First off, I didn't like how the mangaka handled the issue of child sexual abuse. She made it seem comedic in the first chapter and in the bonus story (with the same music teacher doing it to another child).
However, Tatsuya's reaction to this experience was reasonable in the second and following chapters.

As for the art, it isn't so great but it does get better as the volumes progress. The mangaka did the age progression really well, too. It made me feel like I was part of their family as well. I loved how the characters evolved and progressed with the passage of time. It was done in very realistic and entertaining fashion.

I enjoyed the part with Tatsuya's son and his friend. I liked how the mangaka didn't take the typical route with them. I know that probably some readers were disappointed with this decision, but I think it adds to the complexity of the story. It shows how much of a fine line there truly is between friendship and romantic love.

The last chapter and the authors notes following it were really touching. I suggest readers check out Manda Ringo's comments at the end of the last volume for sure.

In short, if you can get past the slight absurdity of the first chapter, I highly recommend this manga!!

... Last updated on May 26th, 2014, 11:33pm