v.1 review from 2009: Ahhh, unrequited love abounds! I really like this author's writing and art. This work is a good example of how someone can keep lying to their friends or themselves, and put on a different face to try and bury feelings they don't want/can't do anything about. There's also the 'trying to keep it a friendship' because of fear of mucking things up, and general fear of starting a relationship like that.

I like stories like this where they fall in love slowly, it's so nice because we get to see all these little moments first. Like that little talk of fetishes. xD

I can't wait until the next volume!

2024 review:

Why is the title called KISS BLUE when there seems to be nothing to do with blue about it? 🤔

I was so ready to DNF after the cheating stuff, it's not a _hard_ line for me but it's a thin one.

(Yoo why does Noda like thin wrists because they're breakable.)

The girl (Megumi) who likes Tomosaka is so cute!!!

Overall I decided to give it a 6, I do like twisted characters sometimes especially if we get to know them. And I can't resist unrequited love becoming requited after some hardships.

The heat level is pretty low, you just get glimpses and fade to black. The kissing is lovely though.

CWs: Cheating (not between Noda/Tomosaka, sexual harassment (Tomosaka's boss -> Noda), painful sex (not shown, just complained about later)

Another Story: How unexpected, a side-story for Tomosaka's boss...with a married puppy type guy with multiple children??

Oh my god that was depressing as fuck. I understand why the boss was so involved with Tomosaka's story now.

CWs: Drunk sex (off-screen), can't be together

... Last updated on March 28th, 2024, 11:48am

I am kind of tired with the best-friend is gay and falls in love with me trope. Really. I mean, what are the chances that your best friend will also be gay, and in love with you?

Damn this is quite a solid manga, even by this mangaka's standards. The main story is fairly good, although there's not much 'innovations' here it still manages to deliver the goodness through and through while conveying the characters' inner turmoil in the most authentic way. My guts felt like it was being crushed the whole time I was reading this, from beginning to near the end, just because of how real and raws the characters' emotions are. That, of course, also has a lot to do with Kinoshita Keiko-sensei's talent in story-telling and drawing as well. Her panels all make sense and the artwork is stunning, in a different way than usual. It suits the story just perfectly. If there's any complaint though, I wish the solution to the whole tangle had not been so convenient and lacking conviction. It only it was dealt with more subtlety the whole thing would have been even better. Nonetheless this is still undoubtedly one of the mangaka's successful attempts in leaving a lasting impression on readers, ones like me at least.

And oh boy, that last story about the owner was heart-breaking as hell. I was really amazed at how much impact it brought me, not by pulling my guts out squishing it to pieces, but by slowly and steadily adding up the angst one by one until it becomes a big heavy chunk of emotions piling up. One just can't help but be helplessly affected by such strong sentiments. This is such a good piece of work which I have yet to come across anything up to par lately.

PS: Btw what's with Noda's sense of fashion? I know he's supposedly to be all tall and good-looking and dreamy etc., but why the hell would he only wear floral-printed shirts, UNBUTTONED every time he appeared in the manga? That certainly ruined my experience of viewing his 'play boy' image like how the mangaka's intended.

I´m amazed that I actually didn't find this boring. Considering it´s slow paced and all. Either way, I liked it, it´s not the best, but you can´t say it´s bad either. The characters were good, although they needed some development in my opinion, the plot was okay, and you couldn´t really complain about the art.

It´s decent, but reccomendable.

... Last updated on August 6th, 2013, 7:25am

i loved it. the story's pace wasn't rushed and the ending was good. i liked how the mangaka portrayed tomosaka's heartache. what i didn't like however was Ryosuke X Tooru, i felt bad for ryosuke especially and tooru was just plain cruel.

I really enjoyed reading this. I thought the story and the pacing were great. I just wasn't that happy with the end... it felt a little strange...

Anyway, still worth reading!

Very slice of life! Fantastic! It's my second time read this. The first time i read, i read so fast that i dont really understand what's going on, that was quite long time ago. Now in second time, i know what is happened. And indeed, i like it! The emotion of both protagonist is really deep. The same with the extra story(story about the manager) that is deep and bitter. Touching!

I wish sensei would have made an extra volume or even a chapter to show an epilogue. I know it's more "realistic" the way it ended, but due to their earlier troubles, i really wanted to be sure they will forever have a HEA.....

I don't agree with people say the "the couple moving slow" or "boring"
I mean you are need a time to love someone
These two are best friend and really close
And when your best friend confessed you will you directly accept him/her?
You will thinking it first right?
And searching your true feeling to him/her
That why I love this series...
Its really like an reality of two best friend
But everyone have a their own taste :]

... Last updated on September 17th, 2011, 7:12am

this is where i think kinoshita shines (rather than her oneshots). i'm a sucker for "best friends fall in love" anyway, but this is really nicely done. good characters, slow build-up; no big drama, but strong emotions anyway, and enough length to allow the story to develop at a good pace. it's not a story that swept me away, but it's better than average.

don't read it for sex -- there is very little; it's mostly implied. there is generally no heat here.

the little oneshot featuring the gay cafe owner in the 2nd volume is one of her better ones; a little sad, but poignant (or maybe it just echoes memories from my own past, *wry grin*).

and her art is much better here than it was at the beginning.