Review only for c.1 and 2 and Hikone.

This one especially appealed to me. It is a more serious, dark story, so far, with a menacing seme ("Where shall I bite you next ?') and a strong, bold uke. It was an interesting mix of personality for the uke; he is weak and questions his self-confidence and fears his dark memories, but he is strong, in that he protects his larger friend and talks and fights with confidence.

Hikone is a fabulous side story, no, a stunning side story, that explores the character of Kizu's friend. The actual scanlation is below par quality, but it is readable and doesn't detract from the impact.

... Last updated on April 24th, 2009, 4:40pm

At first I didn't know what to think of this.
I found the story hard to follow and just disconnected with stuff happening all over the place.
Because of this, I didn't have much of a connection to any of the characters until way into the series.
I also found it difficult to tell apart characters sometimes, especially with all the relatives of Kasuga.
The art is ugly as well, but it's totally okay as long as you don't expect pretty boys.
Huge hands, awkward facial expressions and the occasional huge-body-tiny-head man.
Good points are that these are manly men and no typical uke boys who cry and suck lollipops.
They don't look 16, they have muscles and they don't treat each other with special care but instead can get rough. The tension and build-up between the characters is quite nice, some of the smut scenes are hot as well, and some are just meh.
Despite these being rather unusual yaoi characters, a strong uke, not much of a big confession of endless love and such, BUT, there is a lot of emotion in this manga anyway, and it's very nice.

All in all, it's not a bad manga at all. If you look for real men (even if they are only high schoolers), men who don't treat each other like fragile dolls, men who don't easily say "love"... you might like this one.

... Last updated on January 7th, 2013, 5:35am

This is a lovely, absorbing, if long, manga. Don't be put off by the art - where the characters look very similar - and read it in a couple sittings and you should be fine.

I absolutely loved this; the plot, whilst not the most original, did contain original side stories and the typical love triangle was presented in a way that worked and deviates from the yaoi norm. The manga is very much about friendships and growing up, which is definitely a bonus for me, and the characters were all very well thought out (with the exception of Hanada, who I didn't really get for a while). The further you read into this manga there is a clear slice-of-lifey feel, with the character's thoughts getting deeper and the plot becoming more realistic and life-like.

Kizu was the character that made the manga, although I found Iriya a great uke (manly) and a unique character. Kizu just had that sexy, possessive wow factor that I immediately love. Unlike in many yaoi's, the mangaka of ANP actually presented these qualities very effectively and realistically, especially as the manga progressed (a favourite bit is when Kasuga, Iriya and Kizu are all in the inn).

Don't miss this, take your time and don't rush, savour it (and it's slice of lifey feel) and you will fall in love with this manga and it's characters. I think that the one problem with this manga (and therefore the result of a few bland reviews) is that if you attempt to read all 33 typical slice of life chapters in one you will get bored of it.

I didn't, and so I loved it.

... Last updated on September 3rd, 2013, 4:55am

Personally I found the story a bit mundane.
But Chapter 32 was so good it made up for the whole 6 volumes and the only reason I gave it such a high rating. Despite the on going 'gang-like' theme, I found only the emotions and actions depicted in Chapter 32 to be praise-worthy. The rest, especially the main story was boring in my opinion.
I was kind of looking forward to second (Ryouta) and Hikone side story, but that didn't happen, and neither did Hanada and the glasses kid. Oh well.

I fell head of heels in love with this mangaka. Truly, I was a little reticent in the beginning because every one was so bulky like - the height, the broad shoulders, the large clothes - and I was never really into it. On the other hand, the facial expressions did capture my attention right away and, though I staggered a little figuring who was who, from the very start there's this feeling to the characters, like you want to know more about them. I loved how Iriya and Kizu's relationship began and developed. Every moment between them was beast-like, two lions fighting for the herd (something, I believe, Kizu shared later on with Ryouta). Also, they were honest to each other and true to themselves, which is something I find somewhat rare in BL manga. Without being a couple of goody two-shoes, they are two extremely lovable characters, I think (but I don't need to rant much on that...).

I agree, however, that the story diverges a little towards the middle, especially with all the spotlight Ryouta is given (so much so even his cousin gets to star in two chapters). I liked Ryouta in the beginning and I didn't hate that he got hold of some of the attention, but then again, one or two chapters would be enough. We don't need almost a volume of it. That part bothered me a little, especially because I started to dislike him, which was something I really didn't want to happen. Even in the end, when all was said and done, I just couldn't stand to look at his face anymore.

Hikone, on the other hand, was perfectly developed, exactly to the point we wanted him to. And now we may even wish for a spin-off out of his story, which would be more than welcomed. Unlike Ryouta, of whom we've seen enough. Or too much (in my humble opinion, of course). This is not to say Iriya and Kizu's story doesn't get back on track. It does, thankfully, and it only gets better.

The storytelling was magnificent. Such beautiful inner-monologue, subtle to the very end. Throughout the whole manga I couldn't help but hear Kizu's ex-girlfriend's voice: "if you think that's love you better run away". It was the perfect line. Kizu has Iriya on a leash stronger, so much stronger, I think, than love itself. It's like an obsession, for both of them. I don't think their relationship is that healthy either, for instance, if we remember that crucial moment (somewhere in volume 4) when Kizu forces Iriya in front of Ryouta. But then again, no one makes much fuss about it and they slowly but surely overcome their struggles. I think this speaks for itself in the way it is presented: it's a positive message despite all the angst, the possessiveness, the obsession, the broken hearts.

Finally, of course, there's no describing these words:

"When another morning came, I was still a man"

Lovely. All of it.

... Last updated on May 28th, 2013, 3:56am

although there are other comments saying that after vol. 2 and the story starts to drift away from the characters..... i see the total opposite!!! i love how the mangaka went into details of how not only Iriya and Kizu's feelings and inner thoughts but also Ryouta's. I LOVE everything about this manga and i will love to re-read it again later on.

I have a lot of fav. parts in this manga. i love how the friendship between Iriya and Ryouta turned out and the relationship between Iriya and Kizu grew each chapter. one of my fav. parts was when Kizu and Ryouta had Iriya tied up and was harassing him!!! --> really SEXY ^^ and how Iriya ended it with him staying in the restroom. hahahaha i love Kizu's and Ryouta's reaction!! it is true that Iriya has sexy eyes, in fact SUPER SEXY eyes!!!! @ o @

<333 the extra TT ^ TT i get to see them together afterwards... and they're so HOT too.... esp. Kizu. i have to say that Iriya was much sexier when he was a high schooler.... after reading the extra, I REALLY want to see more of the OLDER versions of Iriya and Kizu!!!

** i'd love it more if there were more love scenes, were more detailed, and if there were more to the OLDER versions of Iriya and Kizu!!! ---- truly <33333 them

... Last updated on February 13th, 2011, 2:40am

I don't really know what i'm going to feel about this manga. It is so deep and wide that i can't grasp it. I don't really read this kind i'm more on fluffy kind but this catch my attention so i gave it a shot. The pace is slow and fast and sometimes like a wind, i don't know what's happenning sometimes, i'm confused. But the emotions are really strong the uke is so sensual, esp. His eyes it's so beautiful and fierce, the love relationship is a kind of subtle for me, in a scene it seems like they don't really love each other and they are only drowning in lust but on the almost ending scene they show how they love each other(probably?) because there is one conflict that made them realize that they are for each other, they want to monopolize and possess each other. I don't really get that "pool" probably it's their heart or something, well the ending is ok atleast it's not a cliffhanger. I must add this story is sometimes so poetic that makes it hard to understand, well if you like decoding i envy you.

The length is deserved and well used. I really liked this manga. The plot is interesting. The seme is perfect (if you like dark, a bit on the sadistic side, a bit childish, beautiful, understands "no", patient, and smart). The uke is a fresh breath (a male and understands that!, a bit shy, honest, loving, manly (not in the bara-type way), beautiful, and smart).

I love a manga where both characters a smart! They think about what they are doing, they wait and see, they try, and if they fail they try better. There aren't any big misunderstandings that pop up (which ruin so many mangas imo). It's well paced and it's understandable. You understand why the seme does what he does, you understand why the uke does what he does, you understand why Ryouta does what he does. It's very refreshing to read a manga where things are explained to the readers at the right times, and it never feels forced or manipulated in any way. It feels natural, realistic.

I had only 1 little issue with the manga, and it's not the mangakas fault, but rather reading it in English. And that is that there is about 2 chapters that are a bit confusing on my end. Kizu Ryouji is being called Ryouji and Kasuga Ryouta is being called Ryouta in very close timing with each other, or/and in the same scenes. And considering they are both black haired with piercing eyes, makes me confused at times to which is actually being talked to. Which ruins the mood for me a bit. If this was in Japanese, it wouldn't even be an issue, but in English, it came out awkward on my part.

Are all the mangaka's manga similar to this one? Not in terms of having the same plot but just having the same atmosphere. I was on the hunt for a yaoi manga with a lot of chapters. But Length doesn't equal Good so I was prepared for some disappointing reads or tragedies since it seems that mangakas think no beautiful yaoi manga is complete without a tragedy.

Anyway, this manga pleasantly surprised me. The romance was sweet and intense and the feelings of the characters were real and complicated. I can understand why some people felt that the story was confusing since there's a lot of symbolism(so don't read it if you're exhausted). But I liked that the actions of the characters became more child-like as they became more involved(much to their chagrin ) . They really seemed like little adults in the beginning chapters but then they did things and I couldn't help but think "Ahh this is youth".
I recommend anyone to read this and take it as it is because it's really a gem. This manga borders shounen-ai than yaoi so the smut is mostly implied and not detailed. However it does have one of the sweetest endings you'd ever see in any romance manga :3 PLUS it felt natural to go in that direction and not something demanded from the readers. PLUS PLUS how nice is it to have a seme that's aggressive, sexy and possessive but doesn't think it's okay to rape his uke? If that's the standard for this mangaka then I'll definitely look for more of her works

Overall I like this manga. I liked the last half better than the first. At first it was hard to distinguish all the characters, with the exception of Iriya who has lighter hair, from each other. As the manga went on each character became more defined. Ryouta annoyed me at times, but somehow always won me back over. I really enjoyed Ryouta and Iriya's friendship; and how even though Iriya got into a relationship with another man he didn't lose his masculinity or turn into a sissy. I really wish there had been more incorporation of Hikone's past and "family." It would have also been nice to see Ryouta's family's business and connections factor into his relationships and daily life more, rather than just the store. I also really loved the short about Kizu and Iriya when they're older. I would love to read a manga based on them when they're older as well!