#Hinekure Wataru

[lemonidae]

Coming-of-age BL Manga

Koimonogatari by Tagura Tohru

When Yuiji accidentally overhears his classmate Yamato confessing to another friend that he's gay, his perspective shifts. Seeing Yamato in a new light, Yuiji does his best not to let prejudice color his view, but he still finds himself overthinking his classmates' interactions now. He especially notices the way Yamato looks at one particular boy: Yuiji's own best friend. Even though he tells himself he shouldn't get involved, Yuiji finds he just can't help it; watching Yamato's one-sided love draws him in a way he never expected. At first, it's empathy, knowing that the boy Yamato has his sights on is definitely straight and has no idea. But as his own friendship with Yamato develops and the two of them grow closer through a mutual study group, Yuiji comes to truly care about Yamato as a person, regardless of his sexuality. He only wants Yamato to be happy, and to be able to express his true self.

Status: 2 Volumes (Ongoing)

Tagged: Drama, School Life, Slice of Life, Coming Out, Friendship, Insecurity, Unrequited Love, Romance

Kieta Hatsukoi by Hinekure Wataru

“Aoki, I didn’t know you thought about me that way.” Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!

Status: 9 Volumes (Complete)

Tagged: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Bisexual, Misunderstanding, Romance

Hatsukoi Note by Amekiri

Shouya, a high school boy whose heart has never known romance, comes across an internet diary filled with wistful whispers of love toward the writer's same-sex crush. A photo posted to the page provides a hint as to the blog's owner: Tsubame, a fellow classmate known for being a lone wolf. Shouya realizes that his friend Ryuu is the object of the diary writer's affections, so he attempts to play matchmaker…but where will his own feelings take him in the process?

Status: 1 Volume (Complete)

Tagged: Drama, Romance, School Life, Yaoi, First Love, Misunderstanding

Smells Like Green Spirit by Nagai Saburou

Mishima, a student at a school in the countryside, is bullied by his classmates. The reason is because he's seemingly gay. In reality, Mishima does like guys so he doesn't resist their bullying, and instead, finds solace in secretly cross-dressing. One day on the rooftop, Mishima finds the lipstick he'd lost before in the hands of Kirino, one of the bullies… and Kirino was about to put on the lipstick that Mishima used on his own lips. This is the story of young boys looking for a place they can really be themselves…

Status: 2 Volumes (Complete)

Tagged: Drama, Psychological, School Life, Coming Out of the Closet, Countryside, Cross-dressing, Enemies to Friends

CW: Attempted Rape, Bullying, Homophobia

Doukyuusei by Nakamura Asumiko

Hikaru always thought his classmate Rihito was kind of a snob, until he stumbles across Rihito secretly practicing a song in an empty classroom. Hikaru agrees to become Rihito’s music tutor, and with each lesson the two boys grow closer. But when Hikaru realizes that he’s fallen for Rihito, will they stay classmates or become something more?

Status: 1 Volume (Complete) Has multiple sequels

Tagged: Drama, Romance, School Life, First Love, Opposites Attract

Monotone Blue by Nagabe

Hachi the cat finds most things monotonous, but at the top of his list is high school and all that comes with it. But when Aoi the lizard--a quiet, high-achieving transfer student--arrives, Hachi catches a glimpse of a brighter, more colorful life. If Hachi can help Aoi open up, unlocking new feelings in the process, maybe his life won't be so bland, after all.

Status: 1 Volume (Complete)

Tagged: Romance, School Life, Slice of Life, Anthropomorphism, Romance

Kagakubu no Megane by Arai Niboshiko

"Are you really fine with me?" "If I wasn't fine with you, I wouldn't have asked in the first place." "But isn't that the same as what we've already been doing?" "Yeah, so we can also add kissing." Two members of the chemistry club promised each other that they would go from friends to lovers at the summer’s end of their sophomore year. Akui is not quite sure what a “boyfriend” is, while Sako seems cheerful, even though he insists it’s just an experiment. The four-eyes of the chemistry club are clumsy but sincere in their first experience of experimenting with love.

Status: 1 Volume (Complete)

Tagged: Romance, School Life, Slice of Life, First Love, Friends to Lovers

Hikyoumono da to Waratte Kure by Mitsuko

Kakeru, a socially awkward exchange student. Yuudai, who is always the center of attention. And Ryou, Yuudai's childhood friend. Under other circumstances, these three would never have gotten along, but before they knew it, they'd become a group of best friends. However, when Ryou starts dating a girl, Kakeru finds out that Yuudai harbors feelings for Ryou...

Status: 1 Volume (Complete)

Tagged: Drama, Romance, School Life, Love Triangle, Unrequited Love

CW: Bullying, Homophobia

Bokurano Tsuzuki by Amamiya

Yousuke and Shuu became estranged after a small accident during their childhood. Years later, due to some circumstances, Shuu moves into his grandmother’s house which is located at the shopping district where Yousuke also lived! Things were awkward at first as Yousuke tries to mend their relationship because Shuu was always so cold to him, but as Shuu begins to express his feelings more openly, Yousuke can’t help but notice the squeezing sensation in his chest!

Status: 1 Volume (Complete)

Tagged: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers

more manga recommendations

last edited 03/oct/2024

Recommendations are always appreciated ^^

[archivitos]

消えた初恋

Kieta Hatsukoi

Volumes 1-9 + Novels

[readtilyoudie]

MY LOVE MIX-UP VOLUME 4

[blushingguy]

Faded First Love by Aruko & Wataru Hinekure

[therefugeofbooks]

Cute stories for tough times

[maddiesbookshelves]

Happy Pride Month everyone! As promised, here is our first queer manga rec of the month:

My Love Mix-Up!, by Hinekure Wataru & Aruko (illustrations)

Original title: Kieta Hatsukoi / 消えた初恋

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Slice of Life

Themes: Love, School, Love Triangle

Japanese volumes: 9 (Finished)

Aoki is in love with Hashimoto, his desk neighbor. But one day, when he borrows her ereaser, he discovers that her heart belongs to another: the handsome Ida, who sits right in front of him. He is so disappointed that he doesn't realize that the ereaser fell and that his alleged rival in love is picking it up... It's the start of an enormous misunderstanding that could very well turn into the most beautiful love story!

This... THIS is a love triangle just how we like them. Also, can we give the Dumbass Bisexual of the Year Award to Aoki, plz? He deserves it and that's a compliment. I love him whith my whole being, okay?

I absolutely adored this title, Hashimoto, who is kind of our only female character, isn't just a numbskull whose only purpose is helping further Aoki and Ida's love story, she's a true friend to Aoki, has her own love story and a pretty cool character evolution. I'm pretty sure that Ida is on the aroace spectrum given some of his dialogue, and even if it's not explicitly stated, it still feels good.

We're in a manga that really sticks to the codes of classic shōjo manga, the only difference is that the main love story is about two boys. There isn't a strong focus on homophobia either, we only have a few tense moments when they think about revealing their relationship, I thought it was really soft. Sometimes it feels good to read something where bigotry isn't one of the main themes

French version under the cut

Titre VF : Love Mix-Up

Genres : Comédie, Romance, School Life, Slice of Life

Thèmes : Amour, École, Triangle Amoureux

Volumes : VO - 9 (Terminé) / VF 4 (En cours)

Aoki est amoureux de Hashimoto, sa voisine de classe. Mais un jour, en lui empruntant sa gomme, il découvre avec horreur que l'élue de son cœur en aime un autre : le beau Ida, qui est assis juste devant lui. L'adolescent est tellement déçu qu'il ne réalise pas qu'il a fait tomber la gomme de sa camarade et que son supposé rival en amour est en train de la ramasser... C'est le début d'un énorme malentendu qui pourrait bien aboutir à la plus belle des histoires d'amour !

Ça... ÇA c'est le genre de triangle amoureux qu'on aime. Aussi, est-ce qu'on peut attribuer le titre de Dumbass Bisexual of the Year à Aoki svp ? Il le mérite amplement et c'est un compliment. Je l'aime d'amour, d'accord ?

J'ai vraiment adoré ce titre, Hashimoto qui est un peu notre seul personnage féminin, n'est pas juste une nunuche qui ne sert qu'à faire avancer l'intrigue amoureuse entre Aoki et Ida, elle est une véritable amie pour Aoki et a sa propre histoire d'amour et une évolution plutôt cool. Je soupçonne fortement Ida d'être sur le spectre aroace au vu de certains dialogues, et même si c'est pas dit de manière explicite, fait quand même du bien

On est vraiment dans un manga qui respecte les codes classiques du shōjo, la seule différence c'est que l'histoire d'amour principale est entre deux garçons. On a pas non plus un gros focus sur l'homophobie, juste quelques moments d'inquiétude à l'idée de révéler leur relation, j'ai trouvé ça très doux. Des fois ça fait du bien de lire des titres où l'intolérance n'est pas un des thèmes principaux

[jessenigma]

My Favorite Continuing Manga Reads of 2023

For the past few years on twitter, I've made threads of some of my favorite manga and light novel reads from the past year. This year, I decided I would move it over to two tumblr posts.

After the cut are some of my favorite titles that I started before 2023 and kept reading this year.

Basara, Yumi Tamura

The best thing Viz did for me this year was create a whole new cheap subscription service full of Shogakukan titles, which meant that I could plow through the last several volumes of Basara all at once. This series thrilled me, broke my heart, and made me so happy. Sarasa is such a good lead, finding the courage to fight for her people while still being a teenage girl who just wants to be happy and loved, and I would love to read more series with leads just like her.

Run Away with Me, Girl, Battan

When the first volume of this came out and Kodansha's marketing compared it to Princess Jellyfish, I thought it was going to be something at least a bit lighthearted - woman reunites with her high school girlfriend, they end up running away to live happily ever after, the end, right? - but as it turns out, it was more like the very good but very depressing series about domestic abuse, Sensei's Pious Lie. While it wasn't as heavy as all that in the end, I was fascinated by the relationship between the two leads and the struggle to deal with baggage left from their teenage years. (And Battan's art is awfully sexy, much appreciated.)

Tales of the Kingdom, Asumiko Nakamura

I am so sad that the English release of Tales of the Kingdom is nearly caught up with Japan, because that means that I have to wait a small eternity for more stories about this fantasy kingdom where all the men have complicated relationships with their brothers. Asumiko Nakamura really goes all out on the clothes for this one and it's just gorgeous. There's another volume set to come out early in 2024 and I will cherish every page.

Kowloon Generic Romance, Jun Mayuzuki

I have been in love with Kowloon Generic Romance ever since the end of the first volume completely recontextualized everything that went on before it, and each new volume fills me with even more delight and questions about what's going on with these characters in this very fictional version of Kowloon Walled City. Mayuzuki's art is also super gorgeous and sexy, and I am so ready for the next volume to set my head spinning even more.

10 Dance, Inouesatoh

Finally! A new volume! This series was on hiatus in Japan for a while, so it was understandable, but I rang in 2022 with the previous volume of my beautiful ballroom dancing Shinyas and wasn't entirely sure I'd get to see them at all in 2023. The events of the latest volume were more than a bit of a surprise (sex? in my very charged but not technically explicit ballroom dancing bl manga?), and now I'm even more eager to see what happens next.

The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (light novel), Nanako Tsujimura

I enjoy the Jeweler Richard novels a little more with each new book and this year brought the best part of the story so far to me. This series is such a thoughtful exploration of its characters, from the leads to the recurring side characters to the one-off clients and friends, and I appreciate how deliberately inclusive it is.

Witch Hat Atelier, Kamome Shirahama

It's basically illegal for me to leave Witch Hat Atelier off any yearly list of favorite titles as long as there's new volumes coming out for me to read. With each volume, it feels like we're moving farther and farther away from the bright and shiny new world of magic that Coco first joins, but there's still always this idea that people can and should help others. It isn't necessarily easy, and magic certainly isn't the cure-all, but there's still almost a kind of optimism. I like that, that it's possible to have horrible things happen in a story but there's still light out there.

Ooku, Fumi Yoshinaga

So I finally finished Ooku this year, only 6 years after I first picked it up at the library. Bless Fumi Yoshinaga for being the catalyst for me learning anything about the Tokugawa shogunate and for creating such a fascinating alternate take on history, complete with women leaders who were just as terrible as the original male versions. I can't believe they actually did an anime, however incomplete an adaptation, because I long had that pegged as something that would never ever ever happen with this series.

My Love Mix-Up!, Wataru Hinekure & Aruko

My most favorite cheery gay romcom title also came to an end this year, and going straight for the silliest soap opera trope in the last volume was both perfectly on brand and perfectly suited to the story. I just wish more stories would unabashedly embrace the ridiculous tropes and give me lots of humor alongside the romance.

Lost Lad London, Shima Shinya

Though the conclusion of this series seemed a bit rushed, I really loved how well Shima Shinya captured the feel of a British crime drama all the way through the story's three volumes. I want to see how much they grow with their storytelling in the future, because this was a strong first series.

MADK, Ryo Suzuri

How could my beloved eroguro demon manga end? Ryo Suzuri does such creative work with character design and it's such a shame that I won't get to meet any more cool-looking demons now. But that said, the story really stuck the landing with Makoto's obsession. I can't wait to reread all three volumes so I can fully appreciate just how much changed (and how much didn't change) for him.

[shojosparkle]

My Love Mix-Up Review

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

I simply could not put this series down. The main couple is so cute together ⊂（♡⌂♡）⊃ !!! The mix-up is so compelling and adds an extra layer of humor to everything. (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ I love the miscommunication trope so this was right up my alley. The last volume had me worried for just a second (I may have cried a little bit (╥_╥) )but I promise it all turns out alright. Watching the characters grow, fall in love, and understand each other as the years go by. If you need a heartwarming, easy read, this is definitely for you. It’s full of teen awkwardness and stumbles which makes it all the more adorable (*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡. If you get second-hand embarrassment easily, this will definitely be an endearing struggle to get through. The gentleness and exploration of young love from characters who don’t really understand what love is, is stellar. I’ll def be on the lookout for more works by Aruto and Wataru Hinekure (>‿ ♡)

Stay Sparkly,

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Shojo Sparkle *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

(P.S. I just found out they made a live action series out of it!! Scouring the internet to find where I can watch it now (•̀o•́)ง)

[aciddaffodil]

My Love Mix Up Thoughts

I love the use of screentones and the addition of textures on top on drawings. I miss it in more modern reads.

This was such a silly and fun story to read, the gag humor was drawn fantastic. The amnesia chapter towards the end of the manga scared the beegeegez out of me, so I'm happy it was just a dream.

Aruko's art and Wataru Hinekuru's writing complimented each other and their author notes after each volume made me smile.

[lakecountylibrary]

Manga Spotlight: Fluffy Reads

If you are looking for a fun and easy read, try out these manga series!

They are all lighthearted, funny, and upbeat...just what you need to cheer you up, make you laugh out loud, and put a smile on your face!

Descriptions provided by the publishers

Those Not So Sweet Boys by Yoko Nogiri

When a hard-working Japanese high school girl falls for a bad boy, she discovers that he and his friends lead lives that are nothing like what she imagined.

Play It Cool, Guys by Kokone Nata

A bunch of dorky guys in school and life try to look cool every day.

My Love Mix-Up! Art by Aruko ; story by Wataru Hinekure

Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she's written the name of another boy - Ida - on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!

Find them in our collection in print or on Libby!

See more of Kate's recs

[palabasa]

My Love Mix-Up! (Vol. 3) by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko

i'm going to go Insane about this manga. god every single bit hits so fucking good. i love these stupid children so much

[havewereadthis]

"A mistaken identity leads to a blossoming romance between two boys

Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!"

[readtilyoudie]

MY LOVE MIX-UP VOLUME 8

[blushingguy]

Faded First Love by Aruko & Wataru Hinekure

[animangabwedit]

Kieta Hatsukoi by Hinekure Wataru & Aruko

[variouspolltournaments]

Submissions Open for the Shoujosei Tournament.

Submit Shoujo and/or Josei Manga and (if you want) propaganda through ask or submit a post.

Unlike other tournaments, this one will be split into two sections. The Shoujo Side and the Josei Side.

Currently submissions will be closing on the 5th of November.

Top 4 submissions in both sections are the ones I submitted myself.

@tournament-announcer

Submissions in bold have propaganda, submissions not in bold do not have propaganda. Whether they do or do not have some already, you are still free to submit some.

All Tournaments can be found on my pinned post. There you can see the ones that have been completed, the ones that are currently running, the ones that are pending and the ones that have submissions open.

SUBMISSIONS:

Shoujo

Magic Knight Rayearth (CLAMP)

Natsume's Book of Friends (Yuki Midorikawa)

Saiunkoku Monogatari (Kairi Yura & Sai Yukino)

Usotoki Rhetoric (Ritsu Miyako)

Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura (Arina Tanemura)

Shiroi Heya no Futari (Ryouko Yamagishi)

Oniisama e (Riyoko Ikeda)

Himitsu no Hanazono (Fujii Mihona)

Maria-sama ga Miteru (Oyuki Konno & Satoru Nagasawa)

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Naoko Takeuchi)

Ouran High School Host Club (Bisco Hatori)

Cardcaptor Sakura (CLAMP)

Kimi ni Todoke (Karuho Shiina)

Hana Yori Dango (Yoko Kamio)

Arisa (Natsumi Ando)

Kieta Hatsukoi (Hinekure Wataru & Aruko)

Hell Girl (Nao Kodaka, Miyuki Etou & Hiyoko Hatano)

Honey Lemon Soda (Mayu Murata)

Aoharu-sou e Youkoso (Minami mizuno)

-

Josei

Chihayafuru (Yuki Suetsugu)

Don't Call it Mystery (Yumi Tamura)

Helter Skelter (Kyoko Okazaki)

Nina the Starry Bride (Rikachi)

Love My Life (Yamaji Ebine)

Ohana Holoholo (Shino Torino)

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Fujita)

My Next Life as a Villainess (Nami Hidaka & Satoru Yamaguchi)

Honey and Clover (Chica Umino)