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Tamiya meets Tohdou at Teinou University, a prestigious school for students from affluent families. Tamiya is taken aback by the different values that Tohdou and his friends hold, but soon finds himself drawn into a curious friendship with them. As graduation approaches, their bond deepens into a budding romance.
Ichigenme was published in English as "Ichigenme... The First Class is Civil Law" by Digital Manga Publishing's 801 Media Inc. imprint from March 15, 2007, to June 28, 2007.


I'm quite astonished that this manga hasn't received a review yet. It's truly a hidden gem. While it's often grouped with more explicit content on other sites, in reality, it offers a rich tapestry of emotions.
The narrative begins with an average guy enrolling in what seems like an easy seminar class alongside a bunch of wealthy students. Initially, I viewed his classmates as spoiled brats, and some indeed were, but as the story unfolds, we see how their behavior is often dictated by their social status and expectations.
Then he meets his future partner, and the complex emotions tied to coming out as gay are beautifully depicted. The plot thickens with the introduction of the high-society partner's younger brother, delving into past events that shaped their understanding of their sexuality, along with their father's disappointment. This is handled realistically, avoiding the overly glamorous or matter-of-fact portrayals common in other yaoi manga.
Each main character possesses unique traits and is well-developed. Even some side characters get moments to shine through specific incidents during the college years.
The storyline is excellent, even if the artwork isn't my favorite. I would definitely recommend it to fellow yaoi enthusiasts.
Edit: After rereading the entire series, it still managed to captivate me from start to finish. I read through it without taking a break, proving its enduring appeal.