Make the Heart Go “Gyuu!!” [BL]

What captures the heart in this series is how the couple stays together as they become official. The conflicts that the two face together are very grounded. The conflicts deepen their emotional vulnerability to each other. It shows in their affection as the series continues.
Another reason the conflicts feel grounded are how the couple resolves them. Opening up emotionally, communicating with clear listening, understanding and honesty, this couple shows the marks of a mature relationship.

Based on a true story. What is sweet about this story is how this couple came to be…the whole story really. One can empathize with how emotional it must feel to have someone seriously consider you as a partner, even over years, and sincerely choose you in spite of expected roadblocks.

A shounen-ai blend of 4-koma comedy format with longer stretches for the more serious beats. These are all weaved as once continuous story that could have remained a fun fujoshi school-life comedy alone. The added romance development is nicely timed, even as it takes a few volumes. It does not feel rushed or dragged out. The finalized get-together feels done right for this particular couple. The romance itself grounds this story into something very, very believable.

“I just want a committed, lifelong partner.” The connection the two characters find in one another past their worries make for a sweet, heartwarming conclusion. Topped off with a final chapter depicting what their new life together is like for them. (Give us more!!!)

This title makes you go, “aww, so cute,” more than, “Gyuu! My heart! So good!” This is a couple that is living together as they got together. Then they go through the uncertainty of changes coming their way as they will graduate high school and each pursue their own careers.

It’s complicated for the couple of this series. It stays that way for most of the story. This dynamic really makes this story a drama as much as a romance. However, fans of the story can vouch for its conclusion and all the heart strings it pulls. It was a hard, emotional journey for both parties, with ups and downs. So the conclusion and its full color epilogue stories really make that heart squeeze with a, “Gyuu!”

A title that can be surprisingly uplifting compared to what is often associated with bondage and the yakuza. Rather than chains and toughening up, this title portrays softening up and restoring crushed self esteem with a person who asks you to cherish your own self more because they see caring nature you have in spite of your past. That was a lot. However, this title give a positive portrayal of bondage play.

In contrast to the list, this work is mature in its setting and content. A prostitute and an assassin raised to be a machine. The conclusion proper is not the most resolved, leaving things open. That is where all of the epilogue chapters, extra chapters, and even the prologue story released later—I: Episode 0–all of these together place the work on this list. There is a one shot story that I always ignore, not counting it part of this work. That one shot story mature as well.

I would recommend reading “Itou-san” by the same author first. This title is the prologue chapter that deepens the events and backstory of Itou-san himself. You will also find the same epilogue chapters uploaded to the original title as well.