Book 1:
Nakano is a 20-something man who works in the toy industry. He primarily focuses on pitches and convincing companies to take a design to production. He’s likely either bisexual with a stronger preference for men but tries hard to only like women, or gay and can’t bring himself to realize it. In high school he slept with his best friend Tsuda, and after graduation Tsuda got a girlfriend and was very excited and gushed about her to Nakano, who hadn’t realized they weren’t a couple. It broke his heart and he pulled away. He’s very resistant when Tsuda (seemly) decides out of the blue he’s fine with resuming things if that’s what Nakano wants. This comes off as flippant to Nakano and he gets cranky about it, understandably.
Tsuda is also 20-something. He designs toys. He ends up working with Nakano again after losing track of him after high school graduation. He’s likely bisexual with a stronger preference for women. What happened was he freaked out about liking guys sometimes and about his huge crush on Nakano, so he desperately went out with the first girl he could find, which broke Nakano’s heart. In the present, he still has feelings but struggles with them because he doesn’t want the stigma of being in a queer relationship and thinks it’s best to stick to women because being with a man with be “really hard.” He’s relieved when Nakano says to forget their romantic past, Tsuda asks to just be “normal” friends. He also has a hard time convincing himself he has no romantic feelings for Nakano.
They’re a cute if not too bright couple. Tsuda eventually trips all over himself trying to spend time with Nakano, and Nakano is wary of his intentions, especially when it convincingly seems like Tsuda isn’t very interested romantically. It’s kind of cute to watch Tsuda and Nakano make idiots of themselves but not in a slapstick way.
Book 2:
Nakano and Tsuda:
Oh jeez. My heart broke a little for Nakano. He wasn’t treated well by Tsuda in the past and he even believed that the only reason Tsuda wanted him at all was because he was skinny and young and more feminine in appearance back in the day, and now that he’s a grown man Tsuda can’t pretend he’s a girl as easily. Apparently Tsuda said that he saw him as a girl when they got together in high school (he was also freaking the crap out about liking a guy). So ****ed up.
At least the sex in this book was consensual and enjoyed by them both. That’s an improvement. Also I guess it’s unusual for M/M manga written by straight women to even acknowledge rape was bad or have the rapist apologize and not do it again and try to make amends. God.
Saeki is a cis bisexual (likely homoromantic) guy. He’s Tsuda’s coworker. He flirts with Nakano to get a rise out of Tsuda (and because he thinks he’s hot), and it works. He’s 35. He sleeps with a lot of women but is also attracted to men, and apparently hasn’t ever felt romantic feelings toward a woman. It’s a bit confusing because he talks about “going for guys” now, and then later says “I don’t swing that way.” Weird.
Kouhei is in college. He’s had a crush on Saeki since he was a kid. He’s possibly bisexual. Age is unspecified.
(-18)
(+265)
