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Tooru is a shy and quiet student who has developed a crush on his close friend Ryouji, the most popular member of the high school swim team. Whenever he's around Ryouji, Tooru hides his feelings and acts like just another one of Ryouji's good friends.
However, his world is turned upside down when Ryouji unexpectedly confesses a secret desire for him. Overwhelmed with excitement, Tooru eagerly accepts Ryouji's advances. As time passes, though, Tooru's happiness begins to fade as he realizes that their relationship was perhaps just a fleeting experiment driven by Ryouji's curiosity.
Determined to understand Ryouji's true intentions, Tooru confides in his other close friend, Kashiwazaki, about his dilemma. Together, they devise a plan to test Ryouji's feelings by pretending to enter a romantic relationship with Kashiwazaki. Soon after, a frustrated and jealous Ryouji tries to win Tooru back from Kashiwazaki.
Is this going according to plan? Yes, until Tooru discovers that Kashiwazaki wasn't faking his feelings at all. How could he have missed the signs? Both Tooru and Ryouji had been hiding their true emotions from each other, but now they realize they weren't the only ones harboring secret affections.
Will Tooru and Ryouji find their way back to each other, or will their genuine feelings remain unfulfilled?
Desire was among the first Yaoi books I ever read, and it quickly became one of my favorites despite some parts that left me feeling quite outraged. Toru is a character you can't help but root for; he's adorable and genuinely kind-hearted, someone who truly deserves happiness. Kashiwazaki comes across as genuinely nice too, effortlessly winning over many readers' support. Then there's Ryoji, the character you might find yourself wanting to strangle at times, although in his own way, he has his sweet moments. ^^
Pros: The story is highly engaging, packed with drama yet culminates in an ending that will leave you elated.
Cons: Ryoji's behavior might frustrate you immensely (I still haven't fully forgiven him for his actions), and the storyline tends to get on people's nerves at certain points.