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Little Butterfly #1
Little Butterfly, Volume 01
The cute, outgoing Yuki Kojima and the mature misfit Atsushi Nakahara, are two boys as different as can be - and yet, somehow they are attracted to each other. Kojima seeks to befriend the class outcast and soon learns of Nakahara's troubled family life - the uncaring, abusive father and mentally unstable mother. As Kojima yearns to somehow comfort Nakahara, he gradually becomes aware that his feelings for the other boy arise from more than mere sympathy. When Nakahara declares his own romantic feelings for Kojima, their relationship becomes one of sexual exploration as they face their first steps into adulthood together.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2004
8 people are currently reading
1000 people want to read
About the author
Hinako Takanaga
105 books328 followersTakanaga Hinako (高永ひなこ) is a Japanese author of Boys' Love manga.
She has also provided illustrations for several BL light novels by other authors, including The Guilty by Katsura Izumi. Her first manga story, 合格祈願 (Goukaku kigan, Prayers for a passing grade?), was published by Hanamaru Comics in 1997; it was later reworked as the first chapter of Challengers. Most of her works have been translated into foreign languages. She was a guest at YaoiCon 2007, invited by Juné, the US publishers of her popular series Little Butterfly.
When not making Boys' Love manga, she spends her time collecting Wallace & Gromit merchandise and playing Final Fantasy. Takanaga doesn’t like beer and people who are ignorant.
She comments that her biggest influence on her art and writing-style was KOUGA Yun, a famous shoujo manga artist whose works she read as a teenager.
She has also provided illustrations for several BL light novels by other authors, including The Guilty by Katsura Izumi. Her first manga story, 合格祈願 (Goukaku kigan, Prayers for a passing grade?), was published by Hanamaru Comics in 1997; it was later reworked as the first chapter of Challengers. Most of her works have been translated into foreign languages. She was a guest at YaoiCon 2007, invited by Juné, the US publishers of her popular series Little Butterfly.
When not making Boys' Love manga, she spends her time collecting Wallace & Gromit merchandise and playing Final Fantasy. Takanaga doesn’t like beer and people who are ignorant.
She comments that her biggest influence on her art and writing-style was KOUGA Yun, a famous shoujo manga artist whose works she read as a teenager.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 3, 2023
Review for complete series
I've been revisiting a lot of manga series I've read over the past 20 years and it's been a really mixed lot: some were as good as I remembered them to be, some were well below what I remembered them to be and then there were also some that I appreciated more. Takanaga has always been a bit of a hit or miss author for me. Her works are either too silly or too focused on sexual content. Originally, I only read shoujo manga and was quite wary of the shounen ai/yaoi genre because it's often overly sexualised. Little Butterfly was probably the first shounen ai I've read and felt, wow this actually has a story. It was also probably the one that tipped me into being more open to the genre and revisiting it at least a decade later has actually improved my opinion of this work further.
As mentioned above, Takanaga's works tend to be either too silly or too focused on sexual content - neither was the case with Little Butterfly. It's a gentle and sweet story of two boys with very different personalities and backgrounds, how they become friends and eventually more. During the original read, I felt that some of the family drama was a little over the top, but I don't feel that way anymore - sadly situations like this or worse do exist. The subject is treated thoughtfully and serves as a good basis for our two main characters to grow closer.
Besides the sweet romance and nice art, it was well-paced, it had some comedy and sexual content but not in the way that it took over the plot and it was just generally a well rounded and wholesome manga. I think the shounen ai and yaoi genre has been improving over the years with more works focused on characters and story, but Little Butterfly is a little gem in when it comes to older works of its kind.
June 25, 2024
It’s a cute high school mm with little plot
Really only the main characters exist and they fall in love in 3 chapters lol
It’s cute and mostly had nothing shady going on with consent which is great considering it’s MM manga from a while ago.
Characters are cute but barely have personality other than stoic and happy happy.
The stoic one is the one who makes advances though he still fits the role of the ‘aggressive top’.
He is also implied to be bisexual since he’s slept with a girl and acknowledges attraction to her.
This manga was translated in 2006, and it suffers from the ‘this is your fault’ dubcon that was and still is very prevalent in Yaoi and BL manga and manhwa to this day. Yes, it also happens in straight smut manga but not really in normal romance manga for the straights. There’s so much dubious and aggressive sexual stuff in queer manga and that’s why I rarely read it as a result.
But aside from a few unexpected kisses it never goes beyond that and into serious nope territory and does read like two confused teens.
I liked they’re both shy about it. I don’t love the trend of adults having sex with minors in manga either. It’s not on screen but one of the characters says he’s had sex because an adult woman made advances on him when he had nowhere to go but he had lied and said he was 18.
The characters in this are only around 15 at the start. They’re 18 by the end though the time passing isn’t well communicated. Maybe they were 17 the whole time it’s unclear lol. Either way they’re talking about which college they will go to.
They presented a teen boy with abusive parents well considering it was one volume of a manga. But I’m a bit tired of all the abusive parents.
I won’t continue this series even though there’s more volumes because I just felt the characters lacked any depth.
Generally the artwork is fine but yeah not a lot happens and I’m just glad to have this off my tbr since it’s been here for like a decade. ✅
Really only the main characters exist and they fall in love in 3 chapters lol
It’s cute and mostly had nothing shady going on with consent which is great considering it’s MM manga from a while ago.
Characters are cute but barely have personality other than stoic and happy happy.
The stoic one is the one who makes advances though he still fits the role of the ‘aggressive top’.
He is also implied to be bisexual since he’s slept with a girl and acknowledges attraction to her.
This manga was translated in 2006, and it suffers from the ‘this is your fault’ dubcon that was and still is very prevalent in Yaoi and BL manga and manhwa to this day. Yes, it also happens in straight smut manga but not really in normal romance manga for the straights. There’s so much dubious and aggressive sexual stuff in queer manga and that’s why I rarely read it as a result.
But aside from a few unexpected kisses it never goes beyond that and into serious nope territory and does read like two confused teens.
I liked they’re both shy about it. I don’t love the trend of adults having sex with minors in manga either. It’s not on screen but one of the characters says he’s had sex because an adult woman made advances on him when he had nowhere to go but he had lied and said he was 18.
The characters in this are only around 15 at the start. They’re 18 by the end though the time passing isn’t well communicated. Maybe they were 17 the whole time it’s unclear lol. Either way they’re talking about which college they will go to.
They presented a teen boy with abusive parents well considering it was one volume of a manga. But I’m a bit tired of all the abusive parents.
I won’t continue this series even though there’s more volumes because I just felt the characters lacked any depth.
Generally the artwork is fine but yeah not a lot happens and I’m just glad to have this off my tbr since it’s been here for like a decade. ✅
August 15, 2008
One of the best yaoi manga--in fact, one of the best manga--I've ever read.
The story starts off with a traditional trope: the friendly, somewhat naive Kojima befriends the outwardly surly new high-school student Nakahara. Kojima trails after Nakahara when he breaks off from the group during a school trip and the two get to know each other.
Their relationship develops from acquaintances to friends to love amidst normal high-school concerns and more serious issues appropriately blended and treated. All are so realistic, from the boys' conversations to Nakahara's attitude as a Japanese son with dysfunctional parents.
The artwork is lovely--the main characters are attracive yet properly gangly, text is well placed, and the details are just right. Intimate scenes (mostly in vol. 3) are sensitively and tastefully drawn.
What most impresses me is how very realistic and healthy the boys' relationship is, particularly on the sexual side.
This is a beautiful love story in every way and a refreshing antidote to the fast-moving and often coercive sexuality so prevalent in yaoi manga. I'm glad our library system still has one complete copy of the three-volume set--if any public library has only one yaoi manga series, this should be it.
The story starts off with a traditional trope: the friendly, somewhat naive Kojima befriends the outwardly surly new high-school student Nakahara. Kojima trails after Nakahara when he breaks off from the group during a school trip and the two get to know each other.
Their relationship develops from acquaintances to friends to love amidst normal high-school concerns and more serious issues appropriately blended and treated. All are so realistic, from the boys' conversations to Nakahara's attitude as a Japanese son with dysfunctional parents.
The artwork is lovely--the main characters are attracive yet properly gangly, text is well placed, and the details are just right. Intimate scenes (mostly in vol. 3) are sensitively and tastefully drawn.
What most impresses me is how very realistic and healthy the boys' relationship is, particularly on the sexual side.
This is a beautiful love story in every way and a refreshing antidote to the fast-moving and often coercive sexuality so prevalent in yaoi manga. I'm glad our library system still has one complete copy of the three-volume set--if any public library has only one yaoi manga series, this should be it.
October 19, 2020
Cute story so far. Story takes place from Kojima's perspective but I got a better feel from Nakahara than I did him. Maybe because he was obsessively focused on him? I expected more from a mature rated manga but even when talking about sex it was XXXX-out. Not that I needed details but still. Nothing really happens. 16+ makes more sense.
Nakahara is a gentle soul in a bad situation but is a bit pushy physically toward Kojima but does respect him when he pulls away. Kojima I need to get to know better. But he seems to be on a quest of self-discovery too.
Nakahara is a gentle soul in a bad situation but is a bit pushy physically toward Kojima but does respect him when he pulls away. Kojima I need to get to know better. But he seems to be on a quest of self-discovery too.
September 30, 2025
I love this series so much 😭 ❤️
March 2, 2019
This was cute, although the characters read closer to 14 than 18, especially oblivious Kojima.
August 18, 2015
Aw aw aw <3
August 28, 2017
Read this series years ago, a bit youngish but very sweet.
October 10, 2019
A nice story and i like the characters and their difference in ther behavior. I really like this story
July 23, 2015
Sådant jag läst för länge sedan, men gud vad jag minns att jag älskade den där.
November 21, 2016
ALL. THE. FEELS. Review coming soon!
October 20, 2020
Perché poretti 'sti poveri ragazzi hanno situazioni familiari assurde?
Che poi, son all'ultimo anno delle medie e son più maturi di me. Riescono a sopravvivere a situazioni assurde senza neanche scompigliarsi un capello, ancora un po'.
Se mi convinco che son al liceo, la cosa mi piace un po' di più. C'è Lui che vuole assolutamente fare amicizia con Lui, che è un po' tenebroso. Ci riescono. Lui ha una situazione terribile a casa e allora si trasferisce a casa di Lui, la cui mamma è favolosa. Lui vorrebbe, lui ha paura.
Sempre la stessa storia, insomma. Ma ho letto ben di peggio.
Che poi, son all'ultimo anno delle medie e son più maturi di me. Riescono a sopravvivere a situazioni assurde senza neanche scompigliarsi un capello, ancora un po'.
Se mi convinco che son al liceo, la cosa mi piace un po' di più. C'è Lui che vuole assolutamente fare amicizia con Lui, che è un po' tenebroso. Ci riescono. Lui ha una situazione terribile a casa e allora si trasferisce a casa di Lui, la cui mamma è favolosa. Lui vorrebbe, lui ha paura.
Sempre la stessa storia, insomma. Ma ho letto ben di peggio.
June 27, 2021
Classic BL tropes - angsty seme and eternally positive uke - are enlivened by the efficient and engaging old school art in this 2004 title. Nakahara, the presumed seme, is drawn with a range of subtle, nuanced expressions that nevertheless clearly communicate his emotions, and his portrayal is a testament to Takagana’s artistic skill.
While I'm not overly fond of BL where the characters are drawn in a way that makes them look younger than their chronological age, I found this one softest moving and I'm likely to buy the next volume.
While I'm not overly fond of BL where the characters are drawn in a way that makes them look younger than their chronological age, I found this one softest moving and I'm likely to buy the next volume.
June 27, 2025
Two characters as different as it gets.
Kojima the lively and social character versus Nakahare the quiet, isolating character.
I think it's great that Kojima tries to bring Nakahara into the group and that he supports him, even if I find it a bit strange because Nakahara could become very dependent on it.
I don't know if I'll continue reading the story because it doesn't have much for me...at least in the first volume.
Kojima the lively and social character versus Nakahare the quiet, isolating character.
I think it's great that Kojima tries to bring Nakahara into the group and that he supports him, even if I find it a bit strange because Nakahara could become very dependent on it.
I don't know if I'll continue reading the story because it doesn't have much for me...at least in the first volume.
September 28, 2024
Tralasciando il fatto che uno dei protagonisti abbia una storia famigliare tragica quasi assurda, ma ho odiato entrambi i protagonisti. Quello biondo non ha totalmente un carattere e vorresti entrare nel volume e tirargli due schiaffi. L’altro l’ho trovato quasi manipolatore nei confronti dell’altro
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2018
I was a major fangirl for this 3 manga series, I admit when I was younger. I thought it was cute. It might be cliche, but past me probably did not realize or care. Sometimes a little cheese/cliche is good, though. I can't remember much about the content now, though. Rated purely on vague memories.
May 29, 2018
3 stars
This was an okay start to the duology, but I will say that even though this is rated 18+, this book was barely at a 16+ rating level for me - material-wise. There is on page child abuse from a parent/both parents, but in terms of anything explicit with the two guys, they don't do anything except for kiss.
The story itself was interesting, but nothing exceptional that I would go out and follow through with the next book if I didn't already have it in my possession.
This was an okay start to the duology, but I will say that even though this is rated 18+, this book was barely at a 16+ rating level for me - material-wise. There is on page child abuse from a parent/both parents, but in terms of anything explicit with the two guys, they don't do anything except for kiss.
The story itself was interesting, but nothing exceptional that I would go out and follow through with the next book if I didn't already have it in my possession.
July 17, 2018
The story is a bit fast paced and you're not able to really get a grasp on emotions for the characters. Though, it's entertaining enough for me to still read the next book. The art is nice in it as well.
August 8, 2022
Another old read from middle school. This one is still okay. The romance is sweet if a little instalovey. The plot mostly focuses on the family drama going on with one of the boys. This one actually does pretty well with consent.
February 26, 2024
2.7!
Tropey, but still a sweet read overall :).
(both leads pronouncing the mom as dead when she was just unconscious literally had me 💀. Like I know it’s comedic but yall couldn’t bother to check the pulse lmaoo ??😭😭)
Tropey, but still a sweet read overall :).
(both leads pronouncing the mom as dead when she was just unconscious literally had me 💀. Like I know it’s comedic but yall couldn’t bother to check the pulse lmaoo ??😭😭)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2017
Series Review: This one felt too short; I think it should have continued on to college. One of the main characters comes from an abusive and broken(maybe?) household, which makes for good story.
January 21, 2021
This was my yaoi every
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2021
This story is really great.
September 13, 2024
So cute 😍 I can't wait to read the rest of the series. This couple is so adorable.
April 28, 2011
Little Butterfly is definitely near the top of my list of cutest shounen-ai mangas that I've read. Both characters, though cliche, were certainly lovable and made this manga fun to read. But, I found that the plot didn't really do anything for me. I already know what the plot's about, since this is my 3rd or 4th time rereading it, so I wasn't that interested when I reread it again tonight. I basically skimmed the pages with plot and just soaked up the boy love. The art is great! A cute, yet too short, manga that satisfies your soft-core yaoi needs.
I loved Nakahara and Kojima's relationship! Nakahara was the stable one in their relationship, even if he was the one with lots of family problems. Kojima's naivety and innocence made this manga interesting because it didn't dive right into the BL stuff. There was good amount of build-up to their relationship, which only made it more realistic.
This is my favorite shounen-ai manga, I think. It's just that the characters were believable and their relationship was so cute. It wasn't the fluff that made me fall in love with it, though. I loved the angst. Oh and the BL scenes, too. Definitely the BL scenes.
You may find yourself only reading this properly once. The next times you pick this one up again, you'll find yourself hurrying through the pages to soak up the cute scenes that our boys had togehter. Sigh. I wish I had my own Nakahara.
I loved Nakahara and Kojima's relationship! Nakahara was the stable one in their relationship, even if he was the one with lots of family problems. Kojima's naivety and innocence made this manga interesting because it didn't dive right into the BL stuff. There was good amount of build-up to their relationship, which only made it more realistic.
This is my favorite shounen-ai manga, I think. It's just that the characters were believable and their relationship was so cute. It wasn't the fluff that made me fall in love with it, though. I loved the angst. Oh and the BL scenes, too. Definitely the BL scenes.
You may find yourself only reading this properly once. The next times you pick this one up again, you'll find yourself hurrying through the pages to soak up the cute scenes that our boys had togehter. Sigh. I wish I had my own Nakahara.
June 3, 2021
Original review 2015, first read, gave it four stars:
Really not sure how to rate this... it's beautifully drawn and mostly really sweet... - why does there always have to be an element of rape in them? I mean if waking up to being part of a penetrative sexual acitivity that you did not consent to isn't rape, then what is? (Luckily it's only told, not shown!) I wish I could find at least one single boyslove manga that's completely free of mention of rape or any kind of forceful/pushy sexual activity with only shady consent.... but I have a feeling those don't exist... or do they? If I ever find one I'll do a very long happy dance!)
Review 2021, second read, two stars:
I decided to try and read one of the mange series that I bought once upon a time and never finished. I didn't even remember I had read this first part... The funny thing is that while I still agree with my original review I would only rate it two stars now, because the aspects mentioned above really bother me too much to give it more than that...
To reflect both ratings I have decided to give it 3 stars now...
Really not sure how to rate this... it's beautifully drawn and mostly really sweet... - why does there always have to be an element of rape in them? I mean if waking up to being part of a penetrative sexual acitivity that you did not consent to isn't rape, then what is? (Luckily it's only told, not shown!) I wish I could find at least one single boyslove manga that's completely free of mention of rape or any kind of forceful/pushy sexual activity with only shady consent.... but I have a feeling those don't exist... or do they? If I ever find one I'll do a very long happy dance!)
Review 2021, second read, two stars:
I decided to try and read one of the mange series that I bought once upon a time and never finished. I didn't even remember I had read this first part... The funny thing is that while I still agree with my original review I would only rate it two stars now, because the aspects mentioned above really bother me too much to give it more than that...
To reflect both ratings I have decided to give it 3 stars now...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 30, 2025More notes for a review to be written
Little Butterfly another story of two schoolboys - one is a bad boy who fancies the hell out of another 'good' boy - and basically the story has him attempting to sexually have his way with the other boy who doesn't want sex, at least not yet, or maybe just a bit, and its ok lets go to bed and it doesn't matter if your hard on is poking me!
On a more elevated level I've seen it described as:
'...a yaoi (boys' love) manga series by Hinako Takanaga about the relationship between the outgoing, friendly Yuki Kojima and the troubled, introverted Atsushi Nakahara. The story follows their unlikely connection as they navigate first love, a difficult home life for Nakahara, and their steps into adulthood. The series explores themes of sympathy, romance, and physical intimacy as their fragile friendship develops into a strong bond.'
Little Butterfly another story of two schoolboys - one is a bad boy who fancies the hell out of another 'good' boy - and basically the story has him attempting to sexually have his way with the other boy who doesn't want sex, at least not yet, or maybe just a bit, and its ok lets go to bed and it doesn't matter if your hard on is poking me!
On a more elevated level I've seen it described as:
'...a yaoi (boys' love) manga series by Hinako Takanaga about the relationship between the outgoing, friendly Yuki Kojima and the troubled, introverted Atsushi Nakahara. The story follows their unlikely connection as they navigate first love, a difficult home life for Nakahara, and their steps into adulthood. The series explores themes of sympathy, romance, and physical intimacy as their fragile friendship develops into a strong bond.'
March 16, 2014
Eigentlich ist der Plot dieses Mangas komplett vorhersehbar, klischeehaft, und im Endeffekt könnte man Kojima einfach einen Rock anziehen und man hätte einen Shoujo-Manga vor sich! Ich bin, was das Shounen-ai-Genre angeht, recht geteilter Meinung. Einerseits liebe ich es, andererseits nervt mich diese klischeehafte Rollenverteilung von "Seme" (männlich) und "Uke" (weiblich) total. Trotzdem hat "Kleiner Schmetterling" einen besonderen Platz für mich, da es mein erster eigener Shounen-ai Manga war, udn weil er, aus mir wirklich nicht ersichtlichen Gründen, sich zu einem Klassiker gemausert hat. An und für sich ist er nett zu lesen, und ich hole ihn ab und an gerne zur erneuten Lektüre hervor, jedoch sollte man die Geschlechterollenverteilung mit einem kritischen Auge betrachten.
August 23, 2009
High schooler Kojima has always been somewhat intrigued by the taciturn outsider Nakahara. When Kojima makes persistent efforts to befriend him, though, Kojima not only learns how troubled Nakahara’s family life is, but he turns Nakahara’s eyes on him in a way he never expected.
Most mangas I’ve read have plots that range from the merely implausible to the frankly ridiculous, which hasn’t really bothered me since they are largely designed for fanservice and you have to accept them on their terms. Little Butterfly, however, has a plot and characters that are achingly believable. Only the first one is appropriate for kids, however.
Most mangas I’ve read have plots that range from the merely implausible to the frankly ridiculous, which hasn’t really bothered me since they are largely designed for fanservice and you have to accept them on their terms. Little Butterfly, however, has a plot and characters that are achingly believable. Only the first one is appropriate for kids, however.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews