Death Progress Bar

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. ^_^

The narrative is genuinely hilarious - I even paused to drink water after realizing my mistake while reading! The translations are top-notch, with a smooth flow, and even the machine translation for the untranslated chapters is decent. The protagonist is intelligent and amusing, but not overly brilliant, and they possess a great sense of humor. The supporting characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities and backstory. Every chapter keeps me engaged, as there aren't any unnecessary filler episodes. It's a solid story with a strong romantic element! Plus, the 'system' aspect adds a delightful touch of lightheartedness.

In terms of character development, this novel stands out among danmei literature. The main protagonists and supporting characters are incredibly well-rounded, displaying their vulnerabilities, backstories, and the evolution they undergo, along with the gamut of emotions that come with personal growth. What truly shines is the healthy and almost surreal dynamic between Shi Jin and Lian Jun. Their profound understanding, open communication, mutual consent, effortless chemistry, selflessness, and tender moments together make for an enviable relationship. >_>

To be honest, I was hesitant to read this at first because I wasn't fond of the author's previous work. However, I'm so glad I decided to give it a shot. Our protagonist is a genuine and intelligent individual, but he seriously lacks emotional intelligence, which can be both adorable and amusing. The story does lean into some degree of OP-ness, but it's not excessive. It's intriguing how everyone accepts the transformation of our主角 from a pampered and overweight heir to a skilled fighter, and I easily overlooked that aspect due to the engaging narrative.

The main character's relationships, especially with the love interest (ML) and the mysterious system, are heartwarming and endearing. Despite the irrationality, his sincerity wins people over. The ML stands out among typical possessive love interests; he falls for the MC for his genuine personality. He has trust issues but gradually opens up, and he respects the MC's autonomy, both in personal matters and relationships.

The plot is fantastic, with elements from the author's earlier work where the MC discerns unreliable narration. The twists and turns keep things unpredictable, even when the MC has some inside knowledge. Switching between the MC and ML's perspectives adds variety, offering different genres - action and mystery-drama.

The supporting characters, including the brothers from the summary (what a misleading description), are well-developed and entertaining. While the brothers might not be the focus for me, I enjoyed the lively side characters surrounding the MC and ML.

Lastly, the system is supportive and lovable. I'm eagerly anticipating the continuation, my only遗憾 being that the translation isn't complete yet.

This is one of the finest novels I've had the pleasure of reading. I particularly appreciate the author's portrayal of the brotherly bond, which is masterfully crafted. It's a shame that there aren't any fanfiction stories available for this work, as I would absolutely love to delve deeper into the characters' experiences and perspectives through additional content.

"I absolutely adore it; it's incredibly funny! The main character is fantastic, and the supporting cast is exceptional as well, with well-rounded development. The translation is top-notch. Many thanks!"

This is an incredibly captivating story and translation. The darker and intense moments align perfectly with the portrayal of the underworld, while there are also hilarious parts that had me laughing out loud. The development of the relationship between the main characters is gradual and based on mutual consent, which is commendable. I wholeheartedly endorse this!

The writing and translation were exceptional! I couldn't resist reading the untranslated chapters straightaway. This isn't your average system story or a conventional revenge tale. Each encounter with the brothers was emotionally impactful, and the author's portrayal of characters' thoughts from their own perspectives felt incredibly genuine, evoking tears.