Kissing

This series can succinctly be described with one word: Mediocre.

The plot follows the conventional narrative of two long-time friends, where one develops romantic feelings for the other. It fails to venture beyond this basic premise, relying heavily on standard conventions and setups. The characters are stereotypical and lack depth, making them forgettable despite being somewhat likable. The artwork is also fairly generic for this genre, featuring thick lines and character designs that often appear awkward.

Beware that there is an instance of sexual assault in the story, though the perpetrator quickly backs off.

In summary, if you're seeking a simple romance to pass the time, this series will suffice. However, don't anticipate anything extraordinary from it.

Initially hesitant, he eventually discovers his feelings of love—a classic yaoi storyline! It remains an enjoyable read. The artwork is crisp and easy to follow. There are some tender kissing scenes featuring mice. The story also includes humorous moments. Definitely worth the time to read!

For such a quick read and a common plot, this is impressively well-executed. The emotions are intense without feeling forced or cliché, and the characters come across as more genuine than the typical tropes found in shounen-ai one-shots. The awkwardness of your best friend confessing their love to you; the heartbreak of not hearing it back; the rush to untangle your feelings for someone before it’s too late: all of it is written in a very real way that makes you empathize with the characters. I wasn’t expecting to be so moved by how authentic the emotions felt. Much of this success stems from the excellent use of “show vs. tell,” which is notoriously difficult to balance, especially in a graphic format.

I was initially worried about how the story would unfold. There are many problematic “friends turned lovers” stories where one friend feels coerced into reciprocating the other's feelings. I feared this might be the case here, but I was pleasantly surprised. Kazushi respects Haru’s feelings and refuses to make him uncomfortable, even when Haru provokes him out of frustration and confusion. Despite the awkwardness of unreciprocated feelings, their friendship always takes precedence, particularly for Kazushi, and I appreciated seeing that validated. Haru’s eventual reciprocation doesn’t feel like guilt-driven, which is refreshing, especially in a genre rife with problematic tropes.

I was also impressed from the start by how casual and natural the dialogue is. It’s easy to believe that Kazushi and Haru have been friends for a long time based on their early interactions, which is crucial for the rest of the plot. The panels aren’t cluttered with unnecessary jokes or comments, yet they don’t feel lacking or clunky either.

Every scene, as well as every character, has significance to the story, ensuring there’s nothing superfluous or cluttered. Even Minota, the main couple’s mutual friend, isn’t just a throw-away character or mere exposition device; he’s a developed character who helps further the story and encourages Haru to realize his true feelings. Third-wheel characters who serve a purpose are quite rare in this genre, making it a welcome change.

The art isn’t a masterpiece, but it isn’t terrible either. I feel that Kazushi looks a bit too mature in some panels, especially opposite Haru, since he doesn’t fit the “aggressively-pursuing seme” trope. The full-body anatomy isn’t great either. Most characters appear as if their clothes are too big for them, shoes included, making the anatomy look odd in most panels unless it’s a close-up shot. However, I do appreciate the light pencil strokes and almost watercolour-like shading on the chapter covers.

Overall, it’s an unexpectedly good one-shot with authentic and relatable emotions and characters. A pretty enjoyable hour-long read.