The point of this very short oneshot is most likely Yoneda Kou's attempt to define 'eros' in her characters or the people around her. In this oneshot, eros is used to define sexual attraction or desire.
I can see why people would find this one confusing. There are no particular characters. What she has drawn (in my assumption) are scenes and characters that help her explain her own idea of sexual attraction or desire in (or for) a stoic character.

Eros in the Stoic isn't a bad oneshot at all. Unfortunately, the deeper meaning is something that seems to have been lost in translation.

... Last updated on August 22nd, 2009, 8:32pm

Wow I don't even know what to say xD

Since I had already read the description and the comments before I actually read the "series", I can say I totally saw that coming. Some people might feel puzzled and don't really know where to hang onto, I totally understand that. I mean, it's only 2-page long, too short of an amount to make much of an impression on readers.
But to me, I don't consider this a "story" like some people above did. There was NO story at all. There wasn't a plot, characters or incidents to follow. THOSE are what really makes up a "story". Now this is more like a subjective outlook on the definition of "eros", a type of "bible" that the author tends to stick to (if you know what I mean). Like a self-claim moral, I guess. And thus it's just wrong to judge it when you regard it as a "story". Just wrong and unreasonable.

Everyone's got different notions of concepts, and in this case "eros". Personally, to me Yoneda Kou-sensei's idea is quite interesting and worth taking a thought of. It somehow helps me understand, even if just a bit more, about her stories, old and new, and the execution on the "eros" she has made. If you've enjoyed sensei's works and have been following her for a while, I think it's advisable to give this a try and have a deeper and more proper look on her productions.

PS (5 months later): Btw did anyone know "eros" actually means "love" in Greek?? I don't know about you but I definitely didn't. Which is all the more intriguing to me. It all makes sense now!! After 5 long months when I first read the series!! I feel like I could finally understand a little more of what Yoneda Kou-sensei was trying to convey now.

... Last updated on December 10th, 2012, 1:54am

This is special.
It's a detail, a mere thought, a simple concept that didn't need any plot, any character nor any detailed background.
It leaves you with something to lazily ponder, and wonder. Ponder about your own concept of eros, and wonder about the two guys in the oneshot, what's their story and if they'll ever hook up.

Little things is were sexy is.

It is only 2 pages, but it's a very intriguing set of pages. There is really a lot to read, look at, and consider in such a short span of time. It's best to read this one, study it, and let it sink in.

You ever see a nice painting you don't quite get, but that seems oddly beautiful the more you glance at it? Take that approach. It leaves a lot to the imagination, but that's the wonder in it.

... Last updated on October 9th, 2009, 8:24pm

i know that some people think that this is really weird and sophisticating manga, but i actually find it hilarious and intriguing .. another job well done for yoneda kou!!!

if anyone wants to know, this is my own interpretations of the story (the reason why i think it's so cute). there are two though:

the light haired guy was, i think, a regular high school student. he was tending on the dark haired guy's wounds when he daydreamed of the first page. it was like he was implying that he wants the dark haired guy to do those things to him (meaning, he wants the dark haired guy to ask something more or profound, meaning he wants the dark haired guy to love him the way he does) which explains why he was trembling.

the other one is that this time, the one in the clinic was the past and the whole gun scene is the present. the light haired guy was trembling due to the fact that he loves the dark haired guy. all he wants was to tend to his wounds even if it's just a simple act of love and care (well, i guess same goes for the first one too). now to the present; the dark haired guy and the light haired one maybe got jobs related to that scene. now, the dark haired guy is the one pursuing the light haired one. the dark haired guy never knew of the feelings of the light haired one so he used his eros by force. this is why the light haired guy was not resisting at all.

well, these are my interpretations of the story... ) hahahaha ) but the story is more like a mere explanation of the opinons of the author of how she truly feels about the topic.

Sure, it's two pages long, but that's exactly why it is awesome. Quite honestly, this is one of the best oneshots which I have ever read. And it also happens to be one of the first shots that, actually in fact manga which I picked up when I entered the yaoi world. And no matter how many times I come back to this, each time I really do leave with a much more nuanced interpretation.
Also, Eros as evident by the name means erotic/sexual love. And the very fact that YONEDA Kou, despite this title only sets up the sexual tension in the air, is worthy of praise. The execution is flawless. Truly, a stream of consciousness.

This simple (yet complex in its own way) oneshot is what introduced me to Yoneda Kou's brilliance. I don't know any other mangaka who could twist such an intricate (yet delicately simple) story into two pages. It shows two different versions of eros the main character imagines before showing his true object of desire (in front of him in the infirmary) and leaves it simply at that leaving the audience with two completely different stories to ponder on (the daydream is intricate enough to count as its own story) and wonder what could be the story between the two gangsters(?) and what will (or won't?) happen between the two boys conscious of each other in the infirmary.

This is without a doubt my favourite short manga under 10 pages long.

... Last updated on February 25th, 2011, 3:54am

First day I saw this, I realized its bad ratings and I was all, "This is the first time I've seen a story by her rated this negatively."

Read it in maybe 2 minutes' time, and realized that it might've been one of the better one shots I've read, by her and by other artists. I agree with lylicagalatea.
The whole story was like a mellifluous train of thought with no interruptions about love, the different types of love, the different outlooks and what really is important to the guy.
"I suppose it's a delicate thing, you can't really put it in words."

So sure they were nameless, sure it was two pages, but the meaning was left for the reader to seek after instead of being blatantly slapped onto the paper with ink. I liked that.

... Last updated on August 26th, 2009, 5:53pm

this is my first time to critique here and I can't help but defend this manga
for those who didn't get it at all.. well, here's my POV


It's short but this 2 pages manga made me release my imagination xD

Shortest one shot in history XD if i remember rightly when i read this there are 10 pages, only two of which was the manga, so i was totally confused, but then i read the description for the story and things fell into place.

This has very nice art and a good theme, but as you can guess, its devoid of anything else ^^; it does its purpose though.