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The Troublesome Guest of Sotomura Detective Agency
Matsuda Kei is a private investigator who specializes in quirky cases centered on his local neighborhood around the shopping arcade. He's recently taken on a new roommate (and lover) named Kamiko who is unemployed, ruthlessly horny, and was actually a classmate from his past. While the two work together to solve cases, they carry on in what starts as a strictly physical relationship... until Matsuda finds that this temporary situation he has entered with Kamiko might be turning into something more.
264 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2024
10 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Sakae Kusama
41 books10 followersAssociated names :
草間榮
草间さかえ
soft machine
soft_machine
Name (in native language) : 草間さかえ
Zodiac : Pisces
Blood type : B
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 9, 2025
Matsuda: I say this every time, but you better leave when you finish eating.
Kamiko: You say that even though you actually want me around
This will be an unpopular opinion but—I didn’t expect it to be the right blend of action, smut, humor, and angst packed into engaging chapters of crimes to be investigated with a sprinkle of suspense and attachments for a grumpy and a sunshine. The art style is so beautiful—with some heartwarming and tender scenes.
May 6, 2024
Ok I thought the plot was rather too fast and messy like I really wish it was a slowburn between the two guys instead of sex at every chapter. It was just frustrating so dropping it...
September 27, 2025
3.0 it was an interesting read. wanted a better storyline. it was ok.
December 31, 2024
Kusama Sakae's one-shot manga The Troublesome Guest of Sotomura Detective Agency struggled to meet expectations, offering a disjointed narrative that lacked emotional depth and meaningful character development. While the "grumpy/sunshine" dynamic often adds charm to romance stories, here it felt superficial, as neither main character received the attention needed to make their relationship compelling. For example, Matsuda Kei's backstory is briefly introduced, but it’s disconnected from the central plot and fails to enrich the story.
Romance fans often anticipate a slow burn or a gradual buildup of emotional intimacy, but this manga bypasses those hallmarks entirely, leaning heavily on physical interactions. Without the emotional connection to ground these moments, the story felt more like a softcore adult novel than a well-crafted romance. That said, the art style does deserve some credit—it effectively conveys emotions and adds some visual appeal. However, even strong visuals couldn’t salvage a story that felt rushed and incomplete.
For readers seeking steamy scenes with minimal plot, this one-shot might be a quick indulgence. But for those craving a layered story with memorable characters and a satisfying romantic arc, it will likely disappoint.
I’d rate it 2 out of 5 stars.
Romance fans often anticipate a slow burn or a gradual buildup of emotional intimacy, but this manga bypasses those hallmarks entirely, leaning heavily on physical interactions. Without the emotional connection to ground these moments, the story felt more like a softcore adult novel than a well-crafted romance. That said, the art style does deserve some credit—it effectively conveys emotions and adds some visual appeal. However, even strong visuals couldn’t salvage a story that felt rushed and incomplete.
For readers seeking steamy scenes with minimal plot, this one-shot might be a quick indulgence. But for those craving a layered story with memorable characters and a satisfying romantic arc, it will likely disappoint.
I’d rate it 2 out of 5 stars.
September 8, 2024
Messy storytelling that could've been great if it was structured better. I liked the core of the story and the characters, though. Plus I always have a soft spot for detective agencies.
Matsuda's detective agency is, according to the local police, sort of an "odd job" facility that's particularly popular with the elderly - and probably those without a lot of resources. He mentions a bigger, more well-known detective agency at one point, so I'd guess his cases come to him as more of a last resort. Or maybe he just seems more friendly...because he is a really nice guy who honestly doesn't seem to make much of an income over the course of this story.
We start out with a young woman who reports a suspicious ex-boyfriend of her sister's: a guy whom her sister willingly gave money to after their breakup. Matsuda agrees to try to get it back, with him keeping 50% as his fee, but something about the story sounds a little familiar to him. A charismatic guy who dates a plain-looking woman whom he breaks up with once she gains more confidence and starts putting more effort into her appearance...Matsuda knew a guy like that in high school, who churned through girlfriend who'd followed that exact same path. (Although without the piles of money at the end of the relationship.)
Turns out it is the same guy: Kamiko, who's just as handsome and playboyish and irresponsible as ever. He remembers Matsuda, too, as the only person who's ever criticized his dating habits - or correctly identified the format they always took. Kamiko likes dating sad women and leaves them once they're happy. Matsuda finds that pretty creepy.
In the present day, Kamiko's still an unemployed drifter who's already spent all the money the woman had given him, so he winds up as a freeloader on Matsuda's couch...who pays back the money and considers it a loan that Kamiko has to repay him. Like I said, he seems to be pretty bad at the actual business side of things.
Kamiko finds out early on, through a friends with benefits ex of Matsuda's, that Matsuda is gay and prone to making particularly bad decisions about sex when things aren't going well at work. So Kamiko, out of curiosity and his usual habits, starts sleeping with him.
And then, for the next three months, continues living with and sleeping with him.
They solve a variety of cases during this time, with Matsuda constantly threatening to kick Kamiko out, although it's clear they've both been growing feelings. The problem is, Matsuda knows Kamiko's pattern: he's going to leave. Three months is probably the outer limit, so he's running on borrowed time. But of course he's not going to say he wants Kamiko to stay. He's not that kind of person (he's terrible at relationships), and it's not like he thinks Kamiko would actually listen.
There's a sweet arc running throughout about Kamiko loving dogs - all dogs - and having a big regret from his early childhood, of his family leaving town (deadbeat dad running from debts) and leaving their dog behind. So Matsuda sets up an elaborate and expensive ploy to convince Kamiko that the dog had lived a long, happy life after he'd gone...only to unexpectedly find out that was actually true.
It's kind of a bummer that Kamiko didn't find out how much work Matsuda put into trying to make him happy, or to resolve a major scar from his childhood. Instead, we end up with a kind of unnecessary final bit of drama bout Matsuda's ex selling him to a human trafficking ring to make gay sex tapes to pay off his debt. It was just uh....a weird amount of very awful but also strangely understated drama. There were other ways to accomplish the goal here, which was for Kamiko to acknowledge that Matsuda is the one person in his life he's going to fight for and never, ever leave behind.
There's also an abrupt and surprising wrap up with Matsuda's high school crush showing up as someone who's apparently been a big part of their lives this whole time. He seemed nice and all, and I'm glad Kamiko got some closure on whether Matsuda would've preferred dating him, but that could've been threaded together better. Plus, I really thought they would've adopted a dog by the end.
But I liked most of the story, and maybe some of the pieces will fit together a little better on a reread, with more of Kamiko's motivations made clear earlier on.
Matsuda's detective agency is, according to the local police, sort of an "odd job" facility that's particularly popular with the elderly - and probably those without a lot of resources. He mentions a bigger, more well-known detective agency at one point, so I'd guess his cases come to him as more of a last resort. Or maybe he just seems more friendly...because he is a really nice guy who honestly doesn't seem to make much of an income over the course of this story.
We start out with a young woman who reports a suspicious ex-boyfriend of her sister's: a guy whom her sister willingly gave money to after their breakup. Matsuda agrees to try to get it back, with him keeping 50% as his fee, but something about the story sounds a little familiar to him. A charismatic guy who dates a plain-looking woman whom he breaks up with once she gains more confidence and starts putting more effort into her appearance...Matsuda knew a guy like that in high school, who churned through girlfriend who'd followed that exact same path. (Although without the piles of money at the end of the relationship.)
Turns out it is the same guy: Kamiko, who's just as handsome and playboyish and irresponsible as ever. He remembers Matsuda, too, as the only person who's ever criticized his dating habits - or correctly identified the format they always took. Kamiko likes dating sad women and leaves them once they're happy. Matsuda finds that pretty creepy.
In the present day, Kamiko's still an unemployed drifter who's already spent all the money the woman had given him, so he winds up as a freeloader on Matsuda's couch...who pays back the money and considers it a loan that Kamiko has to repay him. Like I said, he seems to be pretty bad at the actual business side of things.
Kamiko finds out early on, through a friends with benefits ex of Matsuda's, that Matsuda is gay and prone to making particularly bad decisions about sex when things aren't going well at work. So Kamiko, out of curiosity and his usual habits, starts sleeping with him.
And then, for the next three months, continues living with and sleeping with him.
They solve a variety of cases during this time, with Matsuda constantly threatening to kick Kamiko out, although it's clear they've both been growing feelings. The problem is, Matsuda knows Kamiko's pattern: he's going to leave. Three months is probably the outer limit, so he's running on borrowed time. But of course he's not going to say he wants Kamiko to stay. He's not that kind of person (he's terrible at relationships), and it's not like he thinks Kamiko would actually listen.
There's a sweet arc running throughout about Kamiko loving dogs - all dogs - and having a big regret from his early childhood, of his family leaving town (deadbeat dad running from debts) and leaving their dog behind. So Matsuda sets up an elaborate and expensive ploy to convince Kamiko that the dog had lived a long, happy life after he'd gone...only to unexpectedly find out that was actually true.
It's kind of a bummer that Kamiko didn't find out how much work Matsuda put into trying to make him happy, or to resolve a major scar from his childhood. Instead, we end up with a kind of unnecessary final bit of drama bout Matsuda's ex selling him to a human trafficking ring to make gay sex tapes to pay off his debt. It was just uh....a weird amount of very awful but also strangely understated drama. There were other ways to accomplish the goal here, which was for Kamiko to acknowledge that Matsuda is the one person in his life he's going to fight for and never, ever leave behind.
There's also an abrupt and surprising wrap up with Matsuda's high school crush showing up as someone who's apparently been a big part of their lives this whole time. He seemed nice and all, and I'm glad Kamiko got some closure on whether Matsuda would've preferred dating him, but that could've been threaded together better. Plus, I really thought they would've adopted a dog by the end.
But I liked most of the story, and maybe some of the pieces will fit together a little better on a reread, with more of Kamiko's motivations made clear earlier on.
January 28, 2025
TRIGGERS: kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, unlicensed/non-con porn (mentioned), mentions of cheating, selling someone into the porn trade to pay off debts.
This one really took me back to the manga that were prevalent about 10 years ago - the art style, the story and the pacing - were all so similar to the kind of stuff that used to be everywhere, like Embracing Love, Vol. 1.
I liked the art, mostly. It was sharp and angular, but it was nicely presented. I liked the pacing of the plot, that it was a fairly spicy one-off story, but it wasn't ALL about the sex. There was some fun and cute chemistry, with one MC being the grumpy "I don't like you, but I like us" type, and the other being all bi-awakening "say what you like, but I know you like me".
Matsuda and Kamiko went to the same high school, where Kamiko was a total player. He would date the "plain" girls and they would work hard to keep his attention, prettying themselves up for him, but then he'd lose interest. The boys at school loved it, because he gave the plain girls the incentive to dress prettier. It was a bit gag-inducing, TBH, BUT...while I would normally hate that mindset, Matsuda was the only one who saw how gross and hypocritical it was of them...and of Kamiko. However, when we start to see things from Kamiko's POV, you see that he's actually more interested in plain, non-traditionally pretty types who are themselves. It's only when the girls start trying to prove themselves, dressing pretty and getting all flirty that he loses interest.
Matsuda hated Kamiko's behaviour and personality in high school, and he wasn't quite about it. He just didn't realise that Kamiko *knew* about his opinion and found it intriguing.
When they reunite as adults, Matsuda is running a detective agency. A woman comes for help, after her sister gave a lot of money to a boyfriend who just upped and left shortly after. When trying to track him down, Matsuda recognises Kamiko from school and convinces him to give the money back. In return, Kamiko implants himself in Matsuda's life and work, claiming he's got nowhere else to stay. They very quickly end up having sex, when Kamiko finds out Matsuda is gay. There's the implication that Matsuda was always interested in Kamiko and the only reason he hated him in school was because he was jealous, so I really didn't have a problem with them ending up in sexy times within a day of Kamiko moving in.
There's a hint of hate sex or at least enemies-to-lovers, with the way Matsuda resists the relationship forming and the suggestion that Kamiko is just having a good time rather than planning anything serious.
I liked the overall plot - Matsuda and Kamiko coming together - but I also liked the investigative aspects, because there were a few cases for them to work on together. Kamiko proved particularly suited to the work, actually helping Matsuda rather than holding him back. It was like an older-style version of The (Pet) Detective Agency
This one really took me back to the manga that were prevalent about 10 years ago - the art style, the story and the pacing - were all so similar to the kind of stuff that used to be everywhere, like Embracing Love, Vol. 1.
I liked the art, mostly. It was sharp and angular, but it was nicely presented. I liked the pacing of the plot, that it was a fairly spicy one-off story, but it wasn't ALL about the sex. There was some fun and cute chemistry, with one MC being the grumpy "I don't like you, but I like us" type, and the other being all bi-awakening "say what you like, but I know you like me".
Matsuda and Kamiko went to the same high school, where Kamiko was a total player. He would date the "plain" girls and they would work hard to keep his attention, prettying themselves up for him, but then he'd lose interest. The boys at school loved it, because he gave the plain girls the incentive to dress prettier. It was a bit gag-inducing, TBH, BUT...while I would normally hate that mindset, Matsuda was the only one who saw how gross and hypocritical it was of them...and of Kamiko. However, when we start to see things from Kamiko's POV, you see that he's actually more interested in plain, non-traditionally pretty types who are themselves. It's only when the girls start trying to prove themselves, dressing pretty and getting all flirty that he loses interest.
Matsuda hated Kamiko's behaviour and personality in high school, and he wasn't quite about it. He just didn't realise that Kamiko *knew* about his opinion and found it intriguing.
When they reunite as adults, Matsuda is running a detective agency. A woman comes for help, after her sister gave a lot of money to a boyfriend who just upped and left shortly after. When trying to track him down, Matsuda recognises Kamiko from school and convinces him to give the money back. In return, Kamiko implants himself in Matsuda's life and work, claiming he's got nowhere else to stay. They very quickly end up having sex, when Kamiko finds out Matsuda is gay. There's the implication that Matsuda was always interested in Kamiko and the only reason he hated him in school was because he was jealous, so I really didn't have a problem with them ending up in sexy times within a day of Kamiko moving in.
There's a hint of hate sex or at least enemies-to-lovers, with the way Matsuda resists the relationship forming and the suggestion that Kamiko is just having a good time rather than planning anything serious.
I liked the overall plot - Matsuda and Kamiko coming together - but I also liked the investigative aspects, because there were a few cases for them to work on together. Kamiko proved particularly suited to the work, actually helping Matsuda rather than holding him back. It was like an older-style version of The (Pet) Detective Agency
November 23, 2025
To be honest, I really liked this. The two protagonists in this weren't quite like anything I've ever seen before in a manga like this. Our protagonist, Kei, is rough around the edges, thrify, short-tempered, nagging... but he has this deep kindness inside him that always leads him to being willingly taken advantage of by cruel people. He's all bark and no bite because his kindness and mercy on others will always win out.
Then you have Kamiko, a somewhat seemingly-cruel person himself who only takes an interest in people who are suffering or down on their luck... who takes an interest in Kei for that very reason. Even Kamiko points out that he's a taker, and Kei is a giver.
Yet their relationship turns from a mere situationship borne of convenience to something real, where Kamiko finds that he wants to give to Kei (closure about his high school crush), and Kei wants to take (deep down, he very much wants Kamiko to stay with him), which is a first for both of them. What starts as a chance encounter with someone they knew in high school turns into a relationship where they know and begin to rely on each other. Kamiko gets a place to call home, which he never had, and Kei gets someone who truly only has eyes for him. There's something so special about that.
On top of the main characters' dynamic, I really liked the mystery element of this manga. You get to see them take on a couple different cases and I found each of them to have surprising little twists. It was really nicely written!
I honestly wouldn't mind if a sequel to this came out. I really enjoyed it on a similar level to the mangas "Loved Circus" and "Pet Detective Agency".
Then you have Kamiko, a somewhat seemingly-cruel person himself who only takes an interest in people who are suffering or down on their luck... who takes an interest in Kei for that very reason. Even Kamiko points out that he's a taker, and Kei is a giver.
Yet their relationship turns from a mere situationship borne of convenience to something real, where Kamiko finds that he wants to give to Kei (closure about his high school crush), and Kei wants to take (deep down, he very much wants Kamiko to stay with him), which is a first for both of them. What starts as a chance encounter with someone they knew in high school turns into a relationship where they know and begin to rely on each other. Kamiko gets a place to call home, which he never had, and Kei gets someone who truly only has eyes for him. There's something so special about that.
On top of the main characters' dynamic, I really liked the mystery element of this manga. You get to see them take on a couple different cases and I found each of them to have surprising little twists. It was really nicely written!
I honestly wouldn't mind if a sequel to this came out. I really enjoyed it on a similar level to the mangas "Loved Circus" and "Pet Detective Agency".
May 17, 2024
3.5 stars, rounding up, bc I would read more of their detective adventures.
This was pretty standard fare *cough*dubcon*cough*, but that actually worked for these characters' personalities/dynamic, which I did really like. TBH, the ruthlessly horny one could've been more ruthless. I also liked that the characters were older, but not necessarily more mature.
It's super fast paced with all the cases they take on, and there was a truly wild plot twist at the very end that made me roll my eyes, but it was a fine enough manga to read for free on hoopla. A couple of things I really liked: they were always looking out for elderly clients, and Matsuda was grouchy to the max but was secretly .
This was pretty standard fare *cough*dubcon*cough*, but that actually worked for these characters' personalities/dynamic, which I did really like. TBH, the ruthlessly horny one could've been more ruthless. I also liked that the characters were older, but not necessarily more mature.
It's super fast paced with all the cases they take on, and there was a truly wild plot twist at the very end that made me roll my eyes, but it was a fine enough manga to read for free on hoopla. A couple of things I really liked: they were always looking out for elderly clients, and Matsuda was grouchy to the max but was secretly .
December 7, 2024
The Troublesome Guest of Sotomura Detective Agency is about a private detective, Matsuda, whose life gets upended when his carefree, flirty ex-classmate Kamiko crashes at his place and slowly works his way into Matsuda’s life—and heart.
The mix of low-stakes detective cases and their evolving relationship gives it a laid-back vibe. Honestly, I didn’t really get into it until the last couple of chapters, when the story and their dynamic finally clicked a bit for me. The sketch-style art was a highlight, giving everything a loose, charming feel. Overall, it’s a fine read if you’re into light romance with a touch of mystery.
The mix of low-stakes detective cases and their evolving relationship gives it a laid-back vibe. Honestly, I didn’t really get into it until the last couple of chapters, when the story and their dynamic finally clicked a bit for me. The sketch-style art was a highlight, giving everything a loose, charming feel. Overall, it’s a fine read if you’re into light romance with a touch of mystery.
January 4, 2025
If you were ever interested in finding a series that combines the slice of life genre with bl, and add in a detective agency for a little bit of flair, then this would be it. Not much happens in this series, although the ending of the volume has a bit more suspense to it. It’s about a PI named Matsuda, who unwittingly gains a new roommate, and lover, Kamiko, who was a classmate from high school. The two solve small mystery’s around their neighborhood, while their relationship changes from FWB to something a lot more official. It’s simple, and fluffy, and as long as you aren’t looking for a plot driven story, then it all works.
January 18, 2025
I loved the detective agency aspect of this manga and the way they worked on cases together. It's definitely more fast-paced, but that's expected due to the fact it's a standalone. The ending felt a little random, but I still enjoyed it because it felt like it added a little extra depth. I would say if you're looking for something fast-paced with a decent plot and maybe more explicit content. This is for you. I would've loved to see this maybe be a longer series so we could get that full immersive experience with the characters, but either way I would say it's a good little short read. Also, I do love the fact that it gives off golden retriever and black cat vibes.
January 24, 2025
A lot of reviews are complaining it's crap, but I liked this story. First, I enjoyed the art style. It really suits the "pseudo-noir gumshoe with a splash of comedy" vibe I got from this book. Second, I think the banter between the leads is kind of fun. It's more greasefire than slowburn, a fast-paced read, if you like this sort of thing. I liked the smart way the different cases worked their way into the grand finale, too.
October 15, 2024
A 2.5. Lots of angry sex and things just happened, there wasn't development or much backstory. No buildup. Just sex and some cases in-between.
Also, it's always crazy to me how characters don't bring up the shock/trauma of sa (attempted or otherwise). Like, it's literally just for the plot, and I'm like, can we get some mental health checks???
Also, it's always crazy to me how characters don't bring up the shock/trauma of sa (attempted or otherwise). Like, it's literally just for the plot, and I'm like, can we get some mental health checks???
September 10, 2025
I thought I’d hate the sketchy style but it feels like reading slash fics back on LJ/reading old man yaoi comics on tumblr in 2011.
The sketchy style, and the nature of Matsuda and Kamiko’s relationship, also allows the artist to censor naturally through creative panelling rather than glowing blobs of light.
Matsuda and Kamiko are messy and argumentative, but they work well together.
The sketchy style, and the nature of Matsuda and Kamiko’s relationship, also allows the artist to censor naturally through creative panelling rather than glowing blobs of light.
Matsuda and Kamiko are messy and argumentative, but they work well together.
August 24, 2024
Worth the time
A BL with a ML tsundere with a heart of gold who meets up with his old high school rival. No insta love and a bit of dubcon between the 2 ML but their back stories are revealed through the cases they end up working on together.
A BL with a ML tsundere with a heart of gold who meets up with his old high school rival. No insta love and a bit of dubcon between the 2 ML but their back stories are revealed through the cases they end up working on together.
February 23, 2025
3/5 stars because I liked the sketch type art style, and I enjoyed the natural dialogue, like listening in on actual conversations. However, I was not convinced about their compatibility or romance at all and the story itself was a little hard to follow.
April 30, 2025
it was ok but it kinda predictable. it was somewhat amusing but idk what the characters really feel for each other or if they'll stay together. The mysteries were interesting. idk if there will be more but I don't think I'll read anymore.
June 7, 2025
Delicious, mildly toxic yaoi between men who can't communicate their real feelings. And while it's not long enough to have more than a few cases for them to tackle, the ones they do have are interesting.
November 18, 2025
It’s not really to my tastes, what with the sketchy art and the toxic-ish relationship, but I can see how some people would really enjoy this. The events of the climax did seem a little out of nowhere and extreme compared to the previous content of the book, though.
May 28, 2024
Rating: 2.5
Read
June 16, 2024I liked the style
Read
June 23, 2024this would’ve been fine if there weren’t a weird kidnapping and potential gRape scene ???
August 8, 2024
The plot was meh. Art wasn't my style. It had its sexy moments, but that's it... at least it was a quick read 2.25-ish
September 6, 2024
I love the MC. And I don't mind an unserious ML who gets attached. It is kinda wholesome lol
Cw stalking, kidnapping, dubcon, attempted sa
Cw stalking, kidnapping, dubcon, attempted sa
October 2, 2024
Wow, for a BL about a detective agency, this was really BORING.
Read
December 26, 2024Strikes a nice balance between cases and smut, and manages to do some decent character work, all in one volume. The English translation is a bit awkward, though. That could flow better.
June 24, 2025
This was a lovely, quick read, with some nice art. The cast is fun, and the story is great. If you like fun antagonistic frenemies with benefits with forced cohabitation, this is right up your alley.
December 7, 2025
you better leave when you finish eating 🤍
October 19, 2024
This was a pretty entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters and their bothersome relationship in which one leans into their prior relationship in order to stay at the detective agency and tag along on cases. There are some well done spicy scenes in this, and I liked how the seemingly unrelated cases come together in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews