Death Progress Bar

This is an outstanding novel, both in its writing and translation. I was deeply engaged, experiencing a roller-coaster of emotions. The characters and plot are masterfully crafted - I simply couldn't tear myself away from the story. It truly deserves a full 5-star rating. Now, I'm torn between reading the original version or waiting for the completed translation. I'd give it a perfect 10 out of 10 score.

Basic Information: "BoysLike" is an 8-page oneshot by Satomi Yamagata.  

The actual review: For those of you who do not like same-sex pairings or anything that even hints at them, don't run just yet. Stick around until the review is finished.  

Despite having a shounen ai tag, BoysLike contains little, if any, "boy love." There are no grand love confessions, no mushy thoughts. If you're not looking for it, you'll simply see best friends having a conversation. Nothing more.  

Looking for a story? Sure, let's dive in. Just to clarify, there's only so much you can fit into eight pages. Nevertheless, the mangaka manages to include a compelling narrative.  

Boy A is having lunch with his best friend, Boy B. Boy A is venting about his girlfriend's habits, sharing his frustrations. The dialogue feels natural and extends beyond the limited pages, giving it a sense of realism that many manga lack. You can almost picture yourself sitting nearby, feeling guilty for "eavesdropping" on their conversation.  

Even though I've rated the story, art, and characters with sevens (it's only 8 pages, after all), that sense of authenticity makes the story far more enjoyable. However, if you focus solely on its brevity and the fact that the friends' relationship doesn't evolve significantly, you might not appreciate it. You could read it and walk away unsatisfied.  

--All due respect to Satomi Yamagata. However, if you genuinely want your characters to be called something other than "Boy A" and "Boy B," please give them names. ^_^