Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol. 1

by Mayo Tsurukame

Two men are thrust into a competition for fatherhood that neither of them is sure they really want. But when they're all forced to live together, thoughts and feelings may change in a big way. A Boys' Love manga about building a family even in the weirdest of circumstances!When Sentaro goes to pay his respects to the family of his late ex-girlfriend, Ririko, the last thing he expects is to be named the father of her child! Well... potentially the father. As it turns out, he and a certain thorn from Ririko's past, Touma, have both been declared possible dads to a young girl named Meguru. But there's a catch--according to Ririko's will, there will be no DNA test. Instead, Meguru will live with them and decide for herself who she wants to call her father.
Now, two men with a complicated past must navigate an even more complicated future--under one roof, raising a child together. As tensions rise and unexpected bonds form, will this dysfunctional family find a way to work... or will the growing feelings between Sentaro and Touma make things even messier?

Genres: Manga

Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

About the author

Mayo Tsurukame (native: 鶴亀まよ) is a Japanese author of Boys' Love manga.
Her debut work is Mikami to Sato wa mada yamashikunai 三上と里はまだやましくない (2018), that is getting a second volume in 2022.
Other works include: Akari to kare wa nayamashii あかりと彼はなやましい (2019, 2021) and Perfect Propose パーフェクトプロポーズ (2020).

Reviews

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this so much, but there's something about the sheer humanity of it that got to me. Two guys end up having to care for a girl either of them might be the father of after their ex-girlfriend died and turned out to have a daughter. The girl is rather disillusioned with the world already at age 6, which makes you feel for her, but makes her a strangely good fit for her two new fathers. Sentarou is struggling with his career, which was an interesting plot line, and his own struggles with not giving up and hers were really nice to read.

The romance between the two is not super well developed, but everything about Sentarou's feelings is just so earnest you can't help but love it anyway.

The expressions are especially well drawn, a real punch to the gut sometimes!

[Emma Pillis · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 tropes I love - dysfunctional dudes trying to take care of a baby and classic miscommunication trope - I will say that the story is a bit choppy at times between past present and the perspectives of everyone but hey I like it and their little family