I Thot You Was a Toad's manga / #Zaria(7)

In a dystopian future and desperate for money to buy medicines that will save his brother's life, Yukichan agrees to sell himself as a sex slave and undergoes "pet training" from his friends, Masashi and Ryuu, in order to prepare for the auction. Zaria's smoking hot stories often cross a line into soul-crushing abuse, but this one is saved by Masashi and Ryuu, who are so cheerful and lusty and protective, it is impossible not to heave a sigh of relief at the not-so-surprising ending.

Edgy, hot and sexy as hell, this story is quintessential Zaria, somewhere in that murky area of consent and desire and teetering on the edge of violence. A sleeping disorder causes Jude's straight business partner, Lois/Royce, to attack him sexually in his sleep. Jude doesn't mind the sex so much, but it bothers him that Lois/Royce is doing this unconsciously when there's a pharmaceutical remedy for the disorder. What happens when Lois/Royce finds out?

More classic Zaria: Kazuma belongs to a religious order that forbids all forms of sex, and Kizaki-sama, the landlord of the temple, refuses to accept this. As usual, Zaria pushes the envelope between rape and consent. Sexy and bittersweet.

A finicky eater attracts the attention of the kinky homosexual chef of a fine bistro who combines tabletop sex with feedings in order to stimulate the young man's gourmand tastes, never realizing that a history of betrayal and deception factors into the young man's food aversions. An interesting take on the relationship between appetite and desire, the emotional impact of treachery and betrayal on the gut, the way misery wipes out self-worth and personal boundaries and creates the willingness to be used, and the healing effects of love, even kinky love. Zaria's art is, as always, gorgeous, and this is a surprisingly sweet story, even without the stickier ingredients.

Arata, a partial clone/android hybrid sex-bot created in the form of a dead man and programmed with his memories, is given by an officer who deals with the rehabilitation of abused bots to its new owner, the dead man's former lover, Maki. Is a programmed doll capable of human feeling? Maki dismisses the android's appeals to his emotions as "imprinting", but during sex, Arata shows a sweetness that Maki's late lover, Ren, could never fake. A tragic backstory emerges involving Maki's twin brother. Will Arata's feelings leave Maki lonelier and more empty than when Ren was alive, or will he be able to dance with this new creation's feelings and develop something new? As always, an edgy, riveting story, beautifully drawn men and arousing sex scenes.

A doctor tries to tame his wild beast of a hunter, who only lets him take baby steps, all rendered beautifully by Zaria. It's sexy, but not consummation.

A traumatized accident survivor deals with his night terrors by losing himself in casual sex until one of his encounters refuses to be treated like a tool. In order to make his case, he employs actual tools ... a vibrating sounding tube, in this case. Sexy and hot.