Imitation Play

by Ann Homare

Two years have passed since Nagi Hayate, a gay man who works as a bar owner, fell in love with his straight junior colleague, Yuuma.

No matter how close we are, to Yuuma, I'm just "a senior I admire" -- it was none other than Yuuma who put an end to the days of deceiving his fruitless love with a casual relationship with a sex friend . "From now on, I'll be your sex partner," the person he longs for makes an unexpected "sex friend contract." Even though he knows that they don't feel the same way, once he's experienced the heat and sweetness of our skin, it's hard to let go... A toying younger bartender x a strong-willed, beautiful bar owner. A BL story of unrequited love and sex friends drowning in sweet nights!

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, LGBT, Romance, Boys Love, Fiction, Graphic Novels

200 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[alex :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

there wasn’t much to this but i did like the couple and their romance. i’m intrigued to see what volume two will bring :)

[Peppa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t even say much to this manga since I just skipped through it because I was bored 😭
artstyle was pretty tho

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and extra sweet

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say this had a huge amount of substance, but I liked it.

That might be helped by the fact that it started to feel a bit like an AU of Hinohara's Therapy Game, which I adore. There's something similar about the art style, and the personalities are close enough to draw the comparison. That let me feel like there was more substance to their characters, perhaps, than there actually was?

The reality is that we know very little about them. Nagisa is a bar manager whom I assume is a little bit older than Haruma, since Haruma looks up to him and tells Nagisa he aspires to be like him. They've worked together for about two years, and Nagisa has been in love with Haruma for the majority of that time. One-sided, since Haruma is both straight and in a longterm, committed relationship with his girlfriend.

They're good friends, though, with Haruma always going to Nagisa for advice, and saying things like how he loves his job and Nagisa. Nagisa helps Haruma smooth over the rough patches in his relationship, quietly pines for him, and has regular one-night stands with guys he hasn't given his heart to.

When Haruma's girlfriend breaks up with him, though, things start to change. She'd essentially given him an ultimatum: me or your job. She was too jealous of the people Haruma would encounter as a bartender, even though Haruma isn't the type of person who would've ever given her a reason to worry. He doesn't even flirt properly with customers for tips - that's one of Nagisa's skills. Haruma is just open and honest and tends to talk too much about his girlfriend.

Nagisa, though, doesn't think this gives him any sort of an opening...until Haruma gets weirdly jealous of Nagisa's one-night stands, which I guess he's just now found out about, along with Nagisa's sexuality? Nagisa goes into self-destructive mode and says hey, this is what I'm like, just a no strings playboy, I could even sleep with you.

He thinks that will drive Haruma away, and he can finally try to let go of his unrequited feelings, but Haruma says okay, he'd like to try...and then pulls Nagisa into a monogamous no-strings attachment for the next month or so.

There isn't nearly as much depth from Haruma's side as I would like to see, but the pining from Nagisa's is absolutely top-tier. Their aquarium date was so lovely, too, as was the art - Nagisa is beautifully drawn - and the ending was very satisfying. Not a great story, but an enjoyable one. It works well for what it is.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This manga wasn't very good. It was pretty much just a bunch of sex and not much else. Also wasn't a fan of the artwork.

[Sandra8811 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mein erstes BL-Buch

Warum habe ich mich für das Buch entschieden?
Alle reden derzeit von den BL-Mangas und ich war super neugierig.

Cover:
Das Cover gefällt mir sehr gut, die Farben sind cool und man kann sich schon denken was es für ein Buch ist.

Inhalt:
Nagisa und Haruma arbeiten beide in einer Bar und Nagisa ist schon seit über 2 Jahre in Haruma verliebt. Er lenkt sich mit Freunden mit gewissen Vorzügen ab, woraufhin ihm Haruma vorschlägt, dass er die Rolle des Lovers übernehmen könnte.

Handlung und Thematik:
Ich war überrascht, dass die Handlung super simpel ist und tendenziell wenig Inhalt hat. Generell kann man aber sagen, dass es genau das ist, was ich von einer Boys Love Story erwartet hätte.

Charaktere:
Mit den Charakteren hatte ich kleine Problemchen. Ich musste immer wieder nachkucken, wer Nagisa ist und wer Haruma. Mir waren die Sprech- und Denkblasen oft nicht sprechend genug zugeordnet. Ansonsten zwei wirklich tolle Charaktere von denen ich gerne mehr gehabt hätte.

Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil ist sehr einfach und die Story lässt sich super schnell lesen. Wie bereits bei den Charakteren beschrieben, waren mir manchmal die Dialoge nicht klar genug den Charakteren zugeordnet. Ich war mir vor allem bei einem Kapitel nicht sicher, wer jetzt gerade die Gedanken hat und wer mit wem spricht. Aber ansonsten schönes Setting und auch die Liebes-Szenen waren toll.

Persönliche Gesamtbewertung:
Meine erste BL-Story und bei weitem nicht die letzte, auch wenn ich mir eine klarere Zuordnung der Gespräche und Gedanken zu den Personen gewünscht hätte.

[Miss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much more like I like from my BL Manga. Nagisa and Haruma have a very sweet story. I love Nagisa's secret pining, then Haruma's sudden dislike of Nagisa hooking up with other men. There's a jealousy and possessiveness in Haruma that I love in a non-toxic relationship like this. He deals with his jealousy by just being more for Nagisa, showing him more passion so that Nagisa doesn't feel like he needs anyone but Haruma. Nagisa already only wants Haruma, so it all works out in this sweet but hot way.

The art is very good, with both characters being drawn as attractive young men. The ghost peen is distracting, though, and knocks it down a star. I know the need and/or want to censor these stories so the intimate scenes aren't too graphic, hence the notoriously pixelated or blurred genitals we often get. This is the first time it looks like the peen was drawn the whited out and erased, though. It leaves a rather funny little white ghost image on Nagisa's stomach in at least two scenes.

Despite that, I really enjoyed this one. The funny may add to my enjoyment over time, but on the first read/reaction, it just distracted.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting piece with two very different individuals come together to create a life together, though it takes a bit for them to get on the same page. Nagisa is the bar manager who has been crushing on his co-worker, Haruma, for 2 years with the assumption he never had a chance as Haruma had been faithfully dedicated to his long-term girlfriend. Instead, Nagisa fills his free time with hookups, so long as they are willing, he'll consider it. The last thing Nagisa is expecting after Haruma breaks up with his girlfriend is a proposal that Haruma be his only hookup, at least "until we both find someone to love." Not that Nagisa is willing to admit his feelings then and there to put a stop to it. Despite the somewhat underhanded way their relationship begins, they fall into place together naturally and truly do seem to enjoy each other's company - they just may need a wake up call from an unlikely source to get on the same page together.

[Dayamarali Espinosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this on Hoopla App, I am so glad I pick this up. The characters and the plot is so cute plus the cover of the book is beautiful as hell. I rating this a 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Nagisa is cute and has a crush on his coworker Haruma. But Nagisa is popular at workplace and he didn’t confess to Haruma about his feeling because Haruma has a girlfriend. The rest of it has change after Haruma confess he and his girlfriend has broke up.

I am so glad that Nagisa and Haruma end up together. That all I can said. I suggest you to pick this up. 👏❤️🤟🏽

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

A puddle has more depth than this volume. It wasn’t bad, strictly speaking, just forgettable. There was 0 character development, only the vaguest notion of a plot, and I’m pretty sure 90% of the dialogue consisted of the leads calling each other’s name. I don’t regret reading it, but I won’t reread it or pick up volume 2.

[Mariána K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning: explicit, BL.

Another one and done volume, not a terrible lot of story or complex character development. But the doki-doki is absolutely delightful! All the feels in this one are easy on the soul. Very little conflict, lots of love! Just two people discovering how much they love each other. A nice break from dramatic relationship stories lol.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly my type of story. I was cringing. We have some one-sided pining. That turns into a situationship that is clearly more than that. And a jealous ML. The presentation seemed very bbgirl. Like I can see other ppl loving it. But meh

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I typically love fwb to lovers stories and this one wasn't bad. I just think the build up could've been better and I wish the characters and their prior relationship was established better. Everything just moved more quickly than I would've liked.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

another classic gay pines for straight(?) guy and then they get together story. the art is so pretty....... and it has a sequel????

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Smut but pretty.

[Cheyenne Davey · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick. not much to it but it was cute for what was there

[Andria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art is beautiful. Story is lacking any real substance.

[rachele · Rating 3 out of 5]

cuuuuuute

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. Not much character development or plot to be seen.

[Not Very Extroverted · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read (*^-^*)

Loved the art style and I'm very curious where volume 2 will take these two within their relationship ♡

[Jasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really sweet but too fast pace… like really quick read.. would have loved more story?

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

a week later and I remember nothing 😬

[Anisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s be real. Different characters, same old story. Still enjoyed it.

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

2.5 stars ⭐️

Short BL manga with very little story. Would have preferred fewer sex scenes if it meant getting more plot development.

[ㅤmelli ꧔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did no one tell how adorable this is?!

[Shae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. Full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/nsVrCSKsOXM?si=9Zkzz...

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my top 5 books. I can’t stop smiling. I love this book, the plot, the artwork, the relationship is also so beautiful. I couldn’t put it down, within an hour I had it read. I kind of wish there was more to it, but overall it was so amazing. 100% I would recommend this book. This is my # 2 in my top 5

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Nicole Amburgey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple story paired with gorgeous artwork- I am easy to please. Sometimes a low stakes story is just what the doctor ordered.

[lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

art is super pretty!! not much substance to it but i liked it it was a cute and short read :3