Shota Oni (NAKAYAMA Miyuki)

I avoided this series for so long because I thought this was that series about the shota kid who molests and harasses the high schooler, and that one is definitely not for me. Not something I'm interested in reading at all.

But it came across my search for something wholesome and it's exactly what it says on the tin. A really cute and innocent tale of a elementary school kid's crush on a high schooler. This story is meant purely as a fantasy, as no real life high schooler would ever entertain an elementary school kid's feelings lol. But the feelings are pure and the burn is super slow (although it gets just a tad sinful in later chapters....but not for the reasons people think)

The person down there who thinks this is sexualizing elementary school kids is wack. At no time, ever, is Tsubaki drawn in a sexual or titillating manner. Also, these characters aren't real. Like, idk why people would read a light romance involving an elementary school kid if they didn't want to see light romance scenes with said kid. Go read Heartstopper or whatever the antis haven't cancelled yet, damn.

I really don't like shota genre. Even chara designs are a major letdown for me. So taking this series for a try and halfway through, I am intrigued that this fared better compared to other works circulating in gods knows where

Front-back, left-right, up-down this is shotacon BL from the title itself hahaha I am in love with the art and while there are some bits that are a bit too forward and suggestive since we're reading an elementary school kid here, gosh the chuu scene please ー the fact that Nakayama-sensei is still sensitive to not blow it over is good + I'm actually enjoying the hearteawarming bits and this is so hard for me to maintain a creative objective mind given my opinionated stand on shotacon ー so surprise, I guess. I'm at a chapter where Yuu is dealing with pretty complex thoughts and feelings now but the gag seems to iron everything out (can't do this forever we need to deal with the elephant in the room) so lessee where it goes

This is a series you either pick up to try and drop, ignore, hate, or enjoy. I'm at that stage where I'm curious how far will this go (I said this twice now). Just when I thought I have read 'em all, I still get surprised

(finding it cute that Morikawa-sensei, Kyuujitsu no Warumono-san ー RTs the volume promotionals for this, sasuga Square Enix-san hahahahaha)

I don’t know why author like this is so obsessed with romanticizing and fetishizing elementary kids, and now they’re pushing their relationship with a whole Highschooler and romanticize the relationship.Like that’s a whole kid, and bunch of readers are encouraging them having a romantic relationship, they even kissed and people are cheering the the little kid on saying he’s so dominant. Like the author is just fetishizing the whole idea of an elementary kid and the whole stereotyping/trope. Making more people think this is a normal idea, of how elementary kids act and how they “falls in love” like this is common and okay thing. Like little kids aren’t like this and they’re not “cute” or “dominant” for pushing themselves on someone who’s a lot older, and the high schooler was blushing and thinking about the kiss, that just creep me out. Quit writing and drawing elementary kids falling in love as in like this is a cute and wholesome dynamic,. Falling for someone who’s like a lot and making this a “romantic” thing while spreading the stereotype of fetishized elementary kid it’s just wrong. it’s a child, leave elementary kids alone.
And the title is obvious enough with the word “shota” that sexualizes or fetishize young underage boys, ik there isn’t any sexual going on in this but that word is they used to portray the kid is just gross.

The manga is okay, not ground breaking

What I assumed this manga was gonna be was more brotherly love. Like two people who help each other through thick and thin.

What I got instead was a 7 year age gap between a highschooler and elementary schooler. The elementary has a crush on the highschooler and it seems the highschooler acknowledges it. On the chapters idk why, but the interactiosn they have with each other aren't sexual, but still make me very uncomfortable. While these scenes are downplayed in the next scene, it still leaves a really weird taste in my mouth.