Praise Me When I'm a Good Boy

by Yodaka Kuroi

High school teacher Watanabe has a secret—behind closed doors, he’s actually a Sub. Enraged when his fiancée leaves him because of his nature, Watanabe hooks up with his former student, Izumi...who just so happens to ooze Dom energy, and is also looking for a place to stay. Where better than at his new Sub’s house? Which means Watanabe’s going to have to figure out how to survive round-the-clock orders, all so he can be praised like the good boy he’s desperately trying to be...

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Romance, LGBT, Boys Love, BDSM, M M Romance

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Peppa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like the beginning since it started with blackmailing - ML was definitely not a great person. I liked it more probs from ch 3 onwards as there is more care and consent in the relationship, as well as the fact that I’m just a sucker for domverse.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first foray into subdomverse, and... I think that this might have been one of the better ways for me to be introduced into the genre? Maybe? I don't know. I still don't know how I feel about the genre overall.

When I first heard of subdomverse, my first thought was "... just write omegaverse." And I won't lie, the first several pages had me repeatedly thinking "this is just omegaverse but without the mpreg." However, as I continued to read it, I started to see the more unique aspects of the genre shining through, and I think I can now say that I see the value in subdomverse as an independent genre -- a genre that shares similarities with omegaverse, but that is unique and interesting in its own rights. And I am both interested in and compelled by the idea of a world where people have an innate need to be dominate or submissive, and that dominance and submission can take on many forms. And I am glad that my first taste of the genre was one that featured both a need to control and a need to be praised, because those are two forms of dominance and submission I likely would have responded the best to.

That being said, I am so very uncomfortable by the idea that a dom just has like? full control and power over a sub by means of biology. Like, if a dom gives a command, a sub just has to respond instinctively? That gives me all kind of ick. But maybe that was a feature unique to this story and Watanabe's situation? I hope so. Because I am just interested in this genre enough to explore it a bit further, but this idea of someone just inherently has power over someone else like that is rubbing me the wrong way. I know, big talk from someone who loves omegaverse, but this just hit different in a way I can't fully articulate yet.

But anyhoo, on to my actual thoughts of for this volume:

Man what was that. The ending was really good, and I honestly liked Izumi's complexities around being a dom who seeks to control and possess what he loves, but everything leading up to that point was painful. I did not like the blackmail component, nor Izumi listening Watanabe, nor Izumi's past dating history (cheating is such a hard no from me in any form), nor Watanabe being physically and psychologically unable to say no or stand up for himself (until the end). I get that the author was exploring the idea of his sub nature hitting him so much harder because he had been suppressing it, which is usually something I love in omegaverse stories, but here... it just didn't work for me.

I think I would have liked this much more if their relationship was more consensual, with some established and respected boundaries, earlier on. I know, big talk from someone who loves older yaoi like Finder and Crimson Spell, but again, this just hit completely different, and there wasn't enough growth or development present by the ending to get me to the point where I could forgive the beginning. But I did like the ending. I will give it that.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dom and a sub who've both experienced rejection due to the intensity of their needs find acceptance and love in each other. Izumi starts off a bit rough, but I felt like I mostly understood him by the end. Overall a sweet and sexy read.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Original Review*
Rating: 3.5*

*Reread 10/30/2024*

ugh I love subdomverse so much. I HATE when blackmail is involved, but I think the rest of the book mostly made up for it. I wish this went a little deeper with some of the emotional stuff, but the intimacy was so juicyyy. I loved it. Especially when Watanabe broke down crying!! God, what a moment. I wanted more of that raw emotion. Overall really liked this.

*Reread 8/22/2025*
I had to move my copy to a different spot on my bookcase and then ended up rereading it. It does a few things I don't like, but idk something about this story just keeps me coming back lol.

[Ebony "Interstellar Introvert" · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I hear Izumi's voice in my head I imagine its super deep and that just makes me melt❤️💋😊!

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really disappointing and very much should have been marketed as what it is: knock off omegaverse disguised as BDSM.

It was such an interesting concept that could've been handled so well if it had actually just been about doms and subs. I loved the idea of an earnest, hardworking teacher who presents a public image of a perfectly traditional life, while hiding the fact that he just really wants to be pampered and spoiled and loved. If there's some element of kink to it, that's fine...it's not widely accepted, but there are plenty of people who are into these things, and the right partner can make it a really fulfilling relationship.

Add in the element of the dom he finds online turning out to be a former student - now 20 years old and a lot more worldly and wild than he'd seemed back in school - and you've got a great spicy setup that can lead to some really intriguing dynamics and a blossoming of romantic feelings.

But right out of the gate, Izumi was...not great. I didn't mind that he was sort of tricking Watanabe into buying him a meal and then taking him to his apartment so he would "have somewhere to stay"; it was obvious that he realized right away that his old teacher was the guy he was supposed to be meeting from the app, and he was being sly about steering them into a situation where they could both go after what they wanted.

The two things I didn't like:

1) Izumi being late to their meetup because he was having a fight with a girlfriend who'd just found out he was cheating on her;

2) Izumi recording Watanabe and threatening to send the video to all his current students if he didn't let him continue staying there.

Infidelity and that type of manipulation are two major no's for me, but I kept reading in case either one got resolved. Watanabe did eventually make Izumi delete the video and apologize for threatening to use it, but the cheating was just...a thing? That never got discussed at all? It was "excused," I suppose, by the part where it suddenly turned into pseudo-omegaverse halfway through.

What an absolutely idiotic development that made no sense. Just write them as alphas and omegas and betas then!! Why write that "dom" and "sub" are a "biological second gender" that controls them to the extent that they can't always be held accountable for their actions? That's one of the things I hate about omegaverse and a reason I actively avoid them. And that is not how BDSM works at all??

It's lazy writing from someone who started out trying to write BDSM, realized they didn't really know how it worked, and winged it based on other kinky concepts.

So that was really frustrating. And it meant adding in a whole weirdly unnecessary scene with another "dom" from work who "could tell" that Watanabe was a "sub," which a bunch of doms at a dom/sub bar later on could also sense just from looking at him. And then we find out that all the students in Watanabe's school have their dom/sub status disclosed on their enrollment paperwork too??

Like. What even was this.

I did like elements of the story, still, with the emotional core behind why Izumi and Watanabe liked what they liked and why they needed certain things from their relationships. But it didn't even make sense, because if it's built into their biology then it's not even a part of their personality/past so all of that emotional development/backstory goes out the window. And if dom/sub is such a common thing it's on your school records then why would anyone even be hiding it? It's not something the general public would misunderstand, because most of them are also doms/subs too.

It was just...such a stupid twist that ruined the story. I really wish it'd been the storyline the summary made it sound like.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Praise Kink ✅
Calls him a good boy ✅
Sign me up!

Interesting idea to have the Dom/Sub traits be secondary genders that present during puberty similar to Alpha/omega universes. Although it really just added the layer that the desires of Dom/subs are biologically wired so their instincts kick in.

I would eat this up as a novel. I wished there was more of the manga. I love their personalities and how they worked and clashed. Also I just love that he controlled by just wanting to shower him with love. Dom wasn’t interested in a lot of the other kinks D/S play with which worked for sub since he just wants to be praised and spoiled 👌

[Mystic DreamClouds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first story set in the subdomverse so I didn’t know what to expect. This is a one volume manga so it’s a quick read with quick developments and pacing.

From my understanding the subdomverse revolves around individuals who are either Doms (dominant) who control and give orders, to Subs (submissive) who follow them as they want to be controlled. Unfortunately, this setup allows for dubious consent, assault and potential abuse scenarios because Subs do not have control over themselves once a Dom gives an order. This story isn’t for everyone and I’m not sure if this story is a good introduction or representation of the subdomverse. Personally, I’m not sure if I’ll read another story in the subdomverse but I don’t want to write it off completely.

The first half of this story isn’t very appealing or likeable. Watanabe who has freshly broken up from his fiance tries to hook up with a Dom, not knowing it’s his former student, Izumi. Watanabe has always hidden his true Sub self, ensuring he appeals to others and matches their expectations. So it’s easy for Izumi to take advantage of his kindness and start living with him doing whatever he wants. Personally, I liked the second half more because Izumi showed a bit more maturity and Watanabe tried to understand Izumi more. It actually looked like they were trying to progress their relationship and I also enjoyed how there was consent during their sexual interactions.

Throughout this volume, we learn bits and pieces of both Watanabe and Izumi which help build their characters. However, I felt like it could have been more detailed because its execution felt more for convenience. It didn’t always depict the impact the past had on the present or the recovery and comfort the present situations provided. Also, I wish it had a special or short story showing their life in the future together because I needed to know what happens next!

This is an age-gap between a teacher and former student, however it didn’t feel like it. The art style is definitely unique because the characters looked mature but not their age. Watanabe looked younger than his age and Izumi looked older than his age. I wonder if this was intentional because of the Dom/Sub or top/bottom stereotypical portrayal. The backgrounds are quite simplistic and many times left purposely blank as the expressions and words are the highlight in this manga.

Overall this was an okay read but it’s definitely not for everyone. By the end of this volume, I liked the characters and was glad they resolved their misunderstandings, especially because there is consent! I’m curious about the subdomverse so if anyone has any good recommendations, then please feel free to let me know.

Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright... it's exactly what you think it is and yes I absolutely loved it!! Not much to say other than I really loved the character dynamic and I also loved the plot!

[The Therapy Book Club (Chantal) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ⭐��

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between this and The Omega Takes a Husband, Kuroi Yodaka has written some of my favorite works in the secondary gender subgenre. Dom/sub universe isn't as common in the BL sphere as omegaverse is but there's been a steady amount of releases in this subgenre, and after how much I enjoyed Kuroi Yodaka's omegaverse work, I was excited for this.

Compared to the other mentioned manga, this work's beginning is a little more reminiscent of old school yaoi with the blackmail aspect, but it isn't brought up in a serious way after the first half. Will it bother most readers? Probably. But you always get the sense of Izumi's blackmail being an empty threat, and his "red flag" actions are eventually softened by how his dominant side actually presents.

I find that a lot of Dom/sub yaoi manga are milder and don't go full BDSM, which is the case here. There is some discussion of how dominance and submission can vary from person to person, and with Izumi and Aki, their relationship manifests more as a sense of belonging and acceptance rather than - according to the stereotypes of some unnamed characters in this work - pain and degradation.

Overall, a pretty sweet and - dare I say - almost fluffy read after a rougher start. I encourage everyone to also read Kuroi Yodaka's other works, which are also fantastic.

[July · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.3

[PinballWizard · Rating 2 out of 5]

mid ass yaoi that relies on decades-old tropes

[Ryofire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good single volume dom/sub-verse boys love story that's unfortunately not exactly for me, but that I think other folks will enjoy, with generally decent art and a nice cast and world-building.

I've only read a small collection of bdsm-verse and dom/sub-verse stories, and I've liked some of them, so I was willing to give it a shot by what I believe is a better writer than what I've read in the past, and because the art and summary sounded fun. Unfortunately reading this made me realize this genre is massively not for me. It's not a fault of the author, I just veer away from d/s-heavy stories and similarly dislike omegaverse. This is far better than the main d/s-verse series I've read by Iris Foxglove, with more polished writing, and it's not as harsh a turn-off in the way omegaverse is, but that's not saying all that much.

The characters are fun, and I like both leads. They have neat backstories, some fun angst, and work well around each other. The story explores some familiar romance tropes with dom/subs, particularly in how characters feel like they're disgusting for wanting what they want. On that level, it's enjoyable to read, because characters accepting who they are and that it's okay to like what they like is always fun, especially when there's so much stigma against d/s culture, and men in particular being submissive. It also parallels stories that deal with people who attempt to pass as something they're not, and the inner turmoil that can create, resulting in mental and physical health problems. The leads have a nice dynamic generally, though it kind of lost me in the heavier d/s sections, which should be just fine for folks looking at that. I like that there's an emphasis on how d/s dynamics don't have to involve bdsm, not because I'm against the crossover, but because I imagine there are people who think you can't have one without the other, and that's not necessarily true. Though there is one really funny joke in this that earns it a star on its own.

The art varies from being rather nice to being a little sloppy, with characters looking a little too sweaty all the time (kind of like they're drunk?). One issue is the mangaka seems to like sloppy open mouth shots, which isn't really my thing, so it's hard to decide if the art is messier than I think it is or it's more of a preference problem. The way characters are designed is pretty nice, though the protagonist kind of weirdly shrinks and reverts to normal size in comparison to the love interest and other doms at times, and his age kind of jumps up and down. But the art style is generally good!

All around, if you want a d/s-verse BL story, this is probably a good shot at it!

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this single-volume manga/yaoi.

There's a lot going on here -> praise kink, D/s, a D/s matchmaking app, teacher and ex-student, blackmail, grumpy/sunshine, jealousy, friends-with-benefits, and they were roommates!

Praise Me When I'm A Good Boy is about Watanabe, a teacher recently promoted to headmaster at a school, who was born as a sub - which is actually a gender! Dom and sub are both genders people are born with, though they're rare. It's actually shown that by suppressing their true natures, both doms and subs can suffer real, physical illness. All his life, he's been told that he's either disgusting or needy or unwanted because he's such a strong natural submissive, so he pushes the instincts down as far as he can and denies they exist. He's managed to fake being 'normal', even has a female fiancee - but at the start of the story, his fiancee has just left him, because she found out he's a sub!

It's a very dramatic start to the story. Desperate, drunk and upset, Watanabe opens a Dom-sub matchmaking app and books a match. When he shows up, he's shocked to find a former student - Izumi - waiting for him.

Thus begins an insanely interesting relationship. Izumi is cool, casual, in command and yet with a bit of a dark past. I liked that we saw snippets of their past together, where Watanabe was a good teacher and kind to Izumi, without expectation or any sense of attraction. It was Izumi who wanted more back then, but he never admitted it, so it really tackled the concept of there being nothing inappropriate between them while they were student-teacher.

I loved that Watanabe was super needy and although he harboured deep guilt and self-shame for being a submissive, he was able to be free with Izumi in a way he couldn't with anyone else. Izumi, in contrast, knows exactly when and how to push Watanabe, when to hold back, and how/when to offer support when it matters most.

I like how the story handles consent - as there's a moment when a dom tries to use their ability to control a needy sub to take advantage of Watanabe when he's vulnerable. Watanabe is aware that he's being manipulated and he fights it. Yet, although he's stronger as a dominant, Izumi never pushes his limits with Watanabe even when he can without coming across as a creep.

The art was lovely; the world-building great, and I loved the entire story and how it wrapped up at the end. It felt like the right ending for them.

[rowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this fully expecting some real exploration into BDSM and its subgenres, but unfortunately, it didn’t delve into that topic much at all (from beside praise kink.) I find age gaps hot, and dom-sub dynamics are even better. But sadly, this story didn’t deliver anything extraordinary. It leaned heavily on overused yaoi tropes and failed to distinguish itself from others in the genre. The dom was a complete jerk and the sub was dumb as fuck, constantly allowing himself to be walked all over. As common in the majority of yaoi manga, the top was such a toxic individual who manipulated and took advantage of our main character. He was also a cheater and to be completely honest with you- someone the mc should have never been involved with in the first place. Not to even add how he literally barged into his home on his own free will and then blackmailed the dude with a video he filmed of him while they were drunk and having sex the night before. Another thing he did was getting upset and blaming the main character for literally getting sexually harassed. (HELLO!?) Instead of asking what actually happened, he acted like it was the subs fault. Cmon... now. Anyways, Im getting too tired and will stop my rant here, before I actually genuinely crash out lmao

[Cas ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this probably would’ve been five stars without the blackmail at the beginning. Like I get why he did it, esp at the end when things kinda pieced together but their relationship was so wholesome otherwise it just felt misplaced?? And idk, maybe Izumi never would’ve done anything with that video anyway, esp with his Dom instincts making him want to possess & love intensely, but we don’t know that at the beginning. And honestly if I wasn’t so enamored with this mangaka’s style I probably would’ve stopped reading at that part. The ex-student/teacher dynamic is so hairy already as it is, adding blackmail makes it less palatable not more 😅
But anyway. The rest of it was really good, I love the art like I said, it’s gorgeous. I love that they don’t shy away from the dead eye look AND emphasizing tiredness and other “unattractive” things for the sake of getting emotions across. The way Watanabe-sensei looked when he was enduring his Sub tendencies, the way he looked when he cried, the way Izumi looked when he was tired and trying to give space… it just felt more raw I guess? And I like when you can actually feel/see the emotion not just read it in their dialogue.

[Jennifer Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really sweet manga. On pages 97-98 I kinda cried, I won't lie.

I'm a fan of omegaverse, and this is similar, but different in that instead of Alphas and omegas, this world has Doms and subs. I've read a few others like this, as well as novels, and I like the concept. In this one we have a teacher and his former student (former, the student graduated and is in their 20s), who run into each other. What I loved about their relationship is how in the end it's clear that they're basically perfect for each other with regards to their needs. Aki needs a Dom who will praise him and give him all of their attention. Izumi needs a sub who will let him be possessive and love them with every part of him. Aki is afraid to show who he really is to others and suppresses his needs. Izumi doesn't like to show his true nature because others find it off-putting and now what they want, so he ignores his own needs.

In the end it's really sweet, and you can a small glimpse into their relationship while Izumi was at school through two former students/friends.

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning is a rocky story, including blackmail and more than a little desperation. The description of dom, sub, and beta remind me a lot of typical omegaverse divisions, especially regarding strengths and weaknesses, and even includes a "build up" of symptoms over time that make it harder to cope or hide if someone is a dom or a sub. In Watanabe's case, he's a sub who has been hiding as a beta essentially to fit the ideal life. Izumi used to be one of Watanabe's students, and is the last person Watanabe expects to show up when he sets up a meeting through a daring site, desperate to ease his sub urges. The ending is somewhat unexpected, but much better than the beginning, when they both are trying to understand each other and want the same things, or close enough to the same to be able to compromise more. It seems that there may be even more to the story on Izumi's side going clear back to when he was Watanabe's student, though it's unclear how much Watanabe remembers, and certainly not in the same light if so.

[Yeollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you in the market for a spicy, but sweet dom/sub-verse title? Follow the recently-dumped Watanabe who ends up with a little more than he bargained for.

Overall thoughts
This is quite a guilty pleasure read, but boy was it a treat.

I enjoyed how Praise Me When I’m a Good Boy explores a different flavor of the dom/sub tropes. Think Omegaverse, but dry. Emotional distress can be a big factor. People exploiting their dominant side to make submisisve ones, well, submit, added a layer of human factor that kept the story grounded to reality, despite being fiction.

This has a couple of elements that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The pacing is a little fast. Plus, the underhanded tactics from the doms and the dubious consent might be problematic. However, the story itself is soft, and the romance is cute. If you can overlook the hmms here and there, I think it’s a great in-between read after you’ve read a particularly heavy title.

Who is this manga for
This is a great introductory piece to mangas with D/S tropes (dom/sub-verse, more specifically), but done in a soft way. That’s the appeal of the trope in manga, it’s soft even when it’s not necessarily portrayed that way. And it’s spicy. If you’re looking for spicy, this is pretty spicy, haha!

Check out the full review on the blog: https://yeolliestorytime.com/praise-m...

[Jessica Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the get go, with that summary from the back and the front cover of our sleepy pleasure eyed protagonist hugging his lover’s knee with a pleading look on his face, I thought I knew what I was getting into. It’s always a mixed bag when the manga is labelled ‘mature’ and wrapped in plastic with a summary like that. But submission and domination dynamics have such a possible range that I couldn’t resist. I added this manga to our pile and it came home with us...

Read my full review on Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2025...

[Bee C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, sometimes funny and sometimes frustrating. A Dom/Sub universe storyline that moves pretty quickly. Watanabe is a sub who decides to use an app to meet a dom and it turns out to be a former student that blackmails him into letting him freeload. It’s the usual story where they become somewhat dependent on each other for little things and it leads to love. The communication as a normal couple is strained although as a dom/sub partnership it’s pretty clear. Has a good ending.

[Lexyloowoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a refreshing story. Specifically because there are not a lot of stories that are told that are like this one that are in Emma for. I feel like the community is so focused on the omega verse that they forget about other verses. And I was so glad that there was a story that did so. The art is unique, the characters are interesting. And I hope there is another volume above the side characters. The dom’s friends are kinda hot and need a story lol

[Marureviere · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first foray into a dom/sub universe in BL. The story revolves around Watanabe, a high school teacher who’s a sub, and his former student Izumi, a dom. It’s a decent read, with some exploration of trust and consent in the relationship, but it doesn't dig too deep into the emotional complexities I hoped for. For anyone new to this type of dynamic in BL, it’s a fine intro, though not quite memorable for me.

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't have a whole lot to say about this Japanese Manga about working adults.

It's graphic, it's mature, it's mostly erotica. A sub can't feel fulfilled unless someone is giving his commands. Sounds crazy. There are plenty of people in this world who want to tell you how to do things, so it shouldn't be a problem.

There isn't much here, it's all about the play. People into this will find the story more to their liking.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! This is a teacher/former student relationship. They're both adults when the relationship starts. I'm not usually one for this trope at all. However, I love how this volume explores not only kinks but the soft dom/sub relationship. It's communicative, consensual, and handled really well. There is some miscommunication in this story for drama, but overall, I really liked this one.

[valentine ᥫ᭡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun read.ᐟ.ᐟ d/s dynamics are always my favourite (⸝⸝๑﹏๑⸝⸝) the ending was really sweet, even if the beginning of the book begins with blackmail & a rough start to their relationship . . ‎´ര ᯅ ര`
the concept of d/s being gender related is also pretty interesting.ᐟ.ᐟ it’s like omegaverse but strictly behavioural - i love.ᐟ.ᐟ

[˳ ℘ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⸝⸝ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Angel ◞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

did I just unlock something in me while reading this


genuinely though THIS WAS SO SO CUTE a small fast
paced read but I surprisingly enjoyed it! I could not stop giggling even though I got second-hand embarrassment from some scenes. I love how possessive it slowly gets and it’s a bit emotional, I love reading short books like these LOLLL

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure I like the subdomverse genre (this was my first intro to it), and the characters were not very likeable, but I did enjoy the ending when their feelings got across to each other and mutual communication was reached.

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting shitty pwp but I actually really enjoyed the characters’ dynamic and development of their relationship so that extra layer to it was a pleasant surprise (as well as the kinky smutty layer being very well done 😌).