I Thot You Was a Toad's manga / #short stories(23)

Series of short stories. The first deals with a young man, Kou, who develops a crush on his gay neighbour, Hiroya, a salary man, and actively engages in helping him sort things out, just as he suspects Hiroya has fallen for his even more capable brother. The second two stories are interconnected school-life yaois, both involving idiot couples. But they are very endearing because Tenzen Momoko knows how to craft a good tale!

Series of short stories surrounding a mysterious bartender/magician/sex therapist/male prostitute who mends the broken hearts and relationships of gay couples using illusions and hypnosis.

A variety of smutty short stories. The first one, about a celebrity who wants to be pampered like a pet dog, was kind of cute. I pretty much forgot the other two as soon as I read them, though.

Two short stories which are unlikely to be updated further. The first is about an ordinary and jealous high school athlete loved by a very shiny basketball star. The second is about a policeman and a runaway.

Wow, the first story is so rough, it's almost impossible to get past. The first time I tried, I got stuck on the strangulation scene and shut it all down. Fortunately, the story changed tack after that. The second story is relatively sweet in comparison, involving a very kindhearted transvestite and a "stray cat" boy he picks up.

A series of sweet oneshots with perfectly realized characters, each dealing with the discovery and confession of feelings. The settings range from schools to clubs to cafés, and competitiveness is a frequent theme. The art is simple, but clear. This is definitely a series worth reading again.

Three short stories whose primary linking theme is desire, on the part of the seme, to the point of possessiveness, whether the uke is sought by other men or monopolized by his work. The response is occasionally violent, and usually demanding — not really my cup of tea, but consistent throughout. The artwork is incredibly beautiful, whether contemporary or historical, just enough to transcend the rough handling of the stories themselves.

A series of sexy short stories which indulge a number of different appetites, from gorgeous longhaired men, men in traditional Japanese costumes conducting ceremonies, an artist's model and lover, to a tale of love expressed as vengeance. Along with Duo Brand's distinct style, the stories are spritely and invigorating.

At an all-male boarding house, tenants come and go as their life circumstances change. One of the stories involves a re-encounter as Ryouta, a photographer, rooms with the person he loved in high school. In the second story, Sugano's affair with a married man closes him off from the companion who truly loves him, until his lover's wife becomes pregnant. More shounen ai than yaoi, these stories are easy and realistic slices of life.

(1) A company secretary mistrusts the comfort and easiness of his relationship with the company president's friend, and in a moment of jealousy, goes drinking and does something he thinks he regrets. (2) An earnest young boy gives another boy, one who comes from a troubled situation, his vote of confidence and is rewarded with his heart. (3) A sparkly young employee isn't just enthusiastic and optimistic naturally. He explains why to his boss. (4) A gay librarian at an all-boys' school is determined not to have an affair with the passionate young man who is clearly infatuated with him. All the stories are powerful, emotionally true and vivid as Machiya Hatoko's stories usually are. The afterword is also hilarious.