Twittering Birds Never Fly, Vol. 5

囀る鳥は羽ばたかない [Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai] #5

by Kou Yoneda

Il delicato equilibrio che finora si era mantenuto tra Domeki e Yashiro, i cui sentimenti non avevano mai oltrepassato certi confini, si spezza. Quando Domeki confessa quello che prova, tutto sembra crollare. Ora Yashiro dovrà scegliere tra ciò che gli é più caro e ciò che non deve assolutamente perdere. Intanto si aprono delle parentesi sul passato di alcuni personaggi di spicco che portano a galla anche segreti mai confessati.

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Romance, Boys Love, Comics, Queer, LGBT

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2017

About the author

Yoneda Kou (ヨネダコウ) made her manga debut in 2009 with Doushitemo Furetakunai (No Touching at All), which became an instant critical and commercial success. She followed up with Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai (Twittering Birds Never Fly) and has also published doujinshi (independent comics) under the circle names "Raw" and "NITRO Koutetsu". A Capricorn with an A blood type, she likes sushi, inexpensive chocolate, and foreign drama series.

Reviews

[D. Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've reached Volume 5 of Twittering Birds Never Fly, apparently you're perfectly familiar with the story, so there's no point in me discussing what it is about.
I'd only say this is one of the very few manga I have really NO IDEA what'll happen next and
what "a happy ending" actually means here.

It'll always be one of my favorite stories.

Ughhh, I'm sounding like the story is coming to an end, which is not!
Right?

[Fenriz Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume still makes me cry :'(

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menudo tomo! Me ha dado un vuelco el corazón! La primera parte es tan intensa para los personajes y va a cambiar tantas cosas... Miedo me da como pueda seguir.

La escena que más me ha impactado: cuando tras lo que pasa entre Domeki y Yashiro, este último se "pone una mascara" y cambia por completo. Esas viñetas me han dejado sin respiración.

La trama yakuza sigue avanzando y ganando interés. Es un manga muy bien desarrollado donde ambas tramas están aquilibradas y tienen un gran peso en la historia. Además de por lo bien desarrollados que están los personajes me encanta este manga porque no solo se centra en la atracción de los protagonistas dejando los otros temas como complemento.

[Fátima Embark · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRUTAL!!

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially tore myself from writing Batman fanfic to pen down a short review for this amazing series:

Hands down, this series is simply yaoi romantic angst at its best!!! It's so bittersweet, so beautifully developed, the artwork so elegant and GOOD to the point of un-put-down-able. Many readers had mentioned their agony of painfully waiting for an update, I can totally understand!

As to the relationship between the two main characters, it amused me to no end when the crime boss tried to push his bodyguard away when the latter became too important and the bodyguard just won't leave despite the cold-shouldering and stuff, this couple is soooooo adorably awkward and uncertain together! I know it's one big fat cliche but the beauty of a finely written romance is, you got sucked into the romance nonetheless and believe in it despite the cliches.

Such a beautiful story deserves to go with a soul-melting love song such as this masterpiece by music group 'Anzen Chitai', translation for the song title: 'I like you' or 'love': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXz13...

Review for vol. 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for vol. 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for vol. 3: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for vol. 4: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for vol. 5: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[^•^ Liss ^•^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doumeki de Yakuza es todo lo que mis ojos querían ver! 💕

[L Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: MILD SPOILERS

I honestly don't know what to say. Everything about this story is frustrating. My heart is hurting for both Yashiro and Doumeki and I have no idea what's going to happen with them. Yashiro either doesn't believe that Doumeki actually loves him or doesn't want to accept it. I can't tell anymore. Seeing what unfolded between them in the first half of the book was beyond gratifying. I drunk in every scene, every word, like my sanity depended on it. Then! For Yashiro to just casually state that Doumeki would have followed, or fallen for, anyone? I...?!! Are kidding me?

And poor Ryuuzaki!! How I did I go from totally disliking him to damn near crying when I found out he was stabbed. That dude (and his girlfriend) deserve retribution and I hope it's given in the form of Hirata ending up dead. I totally despise him. I already knew he was an asshole but that flashback confirmed just how cold-blooded and heartless he is toward anyone he's even remotely jealous of. His ass needs to be taken the fuck out.

The creator stated that volume 5 would have been a good place to stop... though the story certainly will continue. Um, what? How would that have been a good place to stop? Everything is even more fucked up than it has been from the beginning! Too many things need resolutions... or at least closure. I can't believe I have to wait months to find out what happens to everyone but it's so worth it. Even if things don't go how I want it to, I still need to see this through to the end.

[Kye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. The characters are complex and morally ambiguous. Domekei and Yashiro just make my three sizes too small heart melt. This volume was so heart wrenching in the beginning watching they interaction. Yashiro has made so much progress but still needs so much help, love, and care.

I also enjoyed getting my backstory on some of our other key players. Everyone has a reason for the choices they make and seeing the meaning behind it has been pretty enlightening. Their motivations are interested.

But those last couple pages! Oh my heart can't take it. Pre ordered for the next volume. Cannot wait for the release. I will be sad when I get to the end of this series.

[Neha · Rating 5 out of 5]

mar ‘25: genuinely forgot how sad this one is. like ‘oh they are finally together… oh he’s leaving him behind💀’ maybe i’ll reread the series this year🙂‍↕️


Why can’t I enjoy happy stories??? Why do I like the tragic ones??

Yoneda’s storytelling bounces around a lot, but she puts so much depth in her characters. Also, her art style is gorgeous and raw with simple but heartbreaking double page spreads.

Here’s to hoping the next volume will be happier (i already know it’s not going to be)!!

[⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚Tiara (Alec’s ver.)🏹 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75🥹🫶

[Truc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giả dụ như Yashiro có xài Instagram thì đây chính xác là cách Yashiro đăng bài luôn đó trời, viết hay quá xá mà, phải note lại để đọc mỗi khi nhớ truyện né rầu tìm vui:

Tài khoản IG: @yashiro_n0face:
Ảnh: Ly whisky, nền là bóng lưng Doumeki đứng trước cửa sổ. <Ảnh đen trắng>
Caption: “Có những người đứng cạnh bạn lâu đến mức bạn tưởng họ không cần bạn nữa. Nhưng nếu họ rời đi, bạn tan chảy như thuốc chưa đốt.”

Tại sao lại là thuốc chưa đốt?
🌱Thuốc chưa đốt không tan.
Nó vẫn còn nguyên hình, nguyên sợi, nguyên lá khô.
Nhưng nếu để lâu, trong túi, ngoài gió, dưới mưa… nó mủn, mềm, mục nát từ từ.
→ Bạn không đốt, nhưng cũng không giữ nó nguyên vẹn.
→ Tức là: “Tôi chưa được yêu, nhưng tôi cũng không còn nguyên vẹn nữa.”

🧠 Tan chảy ở đây = hủy hoại trong lặng thầm.
Không phải bùng cháy (như tình yêu mãnh liệt).
Mà là mất đi hình dáng trong âm ỉ – vì không được sử dụng, không được lựa chọn, không được cần đến.
→ Như Doumeki: được giữ bên cạnh, nhưng không được chạm đến như một người yêu.
→ Như Yashiro: sống sót qua sex, qua rượu, qua đêm tối… nhưng không có ai thắp lên mình để được cháy sáng đúng nghĩa.

🧨 Đây là self-destruction disguised as passivity.
“Tôi không dám yêu.
Tôi không để cậu yêu.
Nhưng tôi mong cậu nhận ra – tôi đang tàn ra, từng chút một.”

Doumeki đọc xong post, sẽ:
Không rep.
Không comment.
Nhưng chắc chắn lặp đi lặp lại câu đó trong đầu mình nhiều lần.
→ Có thể đến quán bar, thấy Yashiro đứng một mình, và đặt một điếu thuốc lên bàn.
→ Không đốt.
→ Để đó.
→ Như một câu trả lời:
“Nếu anh chưa muốn cháy, tôi vẫn sẽ ngồi cạnh cho tới khi nào anh sẵn sàng.”

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constantly craving more!!!

Yashiro is so afraid of his feelings for Doumeki and Doumeki is afraid of getting left behind by Yashiro and it's just an endless cycle of back and forth. It's so painful, but so delicious. God half of this was just Doumeki and Yashiro doing it, but boy was it great. I love this series so so much. I hope the 6th one actually comes out on December as planned. I can't wait!!

[Vika · Rating 5 out of 5]

yashiro's cheerful self-loathing, self-deprecation and self-denigration contrasted with doumeki's honest admiration and chivalric loyalty will never get old

[Victoria Delgado - Libros para Buddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sólo puedo decirles que ha sido hermoso pero doloroso a la vez, leer este volúmen.

[Molin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doumeki senpai please notice me 🤧

[Loreley · Rating 5 out of 5]

დამავიწყდა დამემატებინა ოფიციალური ინგლისური რომ გამოვიდა. ამ ვოლუმმა მომკლა და ჩამდო მიწაში შარშან და ამის შემდეგმა მიწა მომაყარა T_T

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor guy just can't catch a break.
;_;

[Ana Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi tomo favorito hasta ahora, y eso es decir mucho. Defintivamente "Pájaro" se ha convertido en mi BL preferido.

[duniamimpigie Anggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jilid selanjutnya belum terbit di Jepang! Duh! Lagi seru banget ini!

(Si Gie namatin buku ini di mal sambil minum es bubble kafe-an, dengan cueknya baca BL level tinggi(?) di kerumunan) (Soalnya mood baca si Gie menyuruh(?) si Gie baca di luar!) (FYI, si Gie sering ke mal cuma buat duduk di foodcourt CUMA buat baca/namatin suatu buku)

[yengyeng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this before going to the Kou Yoneda 10th anniversary exhibition which started on December 13th. The best thing is you get to take photos of all the artwork and most of the displays. Volume 5 is amazing, not because there is resolution to the UST that has been building up for 4 volumes! The plot, pacing, editing and art (especially the birds!) are excellent. Yashiro continues to fascinate. I also got the 1oth anniversary book which is jammed pack with artwork and interviews. Love love love!

[MontseMH · Rating 5 out of 5]

De este tomo solo puedo atinar a decir... ¡Por la gloria de mi madre!

(RELECTURA)

Nunca jamás en la vida he leído una escena tan sensual, tensa y dolorosa como la que ocupa la mayor parte del tomo. Es preciosa, pero también te dan ganas de llorar.

[Consumidor de Historias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho.
En este tomo ha habido más sexo que acción, y no me importa eso, si no fuera porque me ha parecido que Domeki fuerza ha Yashiro a hacerlo. Aunque Yashiro también "quisiese" (esto lo digo MUY entre comillas) igualmente le estaba diciendo que no, y eso de que Domeki no se pudiese controlar... ay, ay, ay. La verdad es que ha sido muy raro, porque han ido en un extraño tira y afloja durante las escenas de sexo, pero lo que he mencionado antes me ha rechinado mucho.
Respecto al resto: genial, como siempre.
Este en el último tomo que hay publicado en España (y creo que todavía no ha salido el siguiente ni en Japón), así que me tendré que aguantar hasta el próximo tomo, pero la autora en los agradecimientos dijo que este tomo era como el fin de una etapa, algo así como el fin de la temporada de una serie, por lo que al menos no me voy a restregar por el suelo rogando el siguiente tomo. Ah, y por lo que parece esta historia va a tener varios tomos más, así que nos espera Yashiro para rato (yo feliz, pero mi cartera y paciencia no).
Hablando un poco de los tomos en general, pues la verdad es que el primero no me encantó, y creo que fue porque (al menos yo lo veo así) es más introductorio que nada. En el segundo ya se empieza a desarrollar la verdadera historia, y los siguientes son los más, los devoré.
Esta historia le da innumerables patadas a los estereotipos, tiene unos personajes complejos y profundos, una historia estupenda con acción, romance, sexo,..., y el dibujo es simplemente increíble (me gustaría destacar las escenas a color, que son una puta pasada). Ah, y Yashiro se ha convertido en uno de mis personajes masculinos preferidos.
Estos mangas tienen la fama que se merecen, y espero impaciente los siguientes tomos.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, this was a hard volume to read, because Yashiro is just too messed up to accept Doumeki at this point. The volume starts on a high note, with our two main leads finally coming together, however, it is clear that Yashiro is oscillating between enjoyment and panic almost the entire time. The panic being because he is enjoying normal sex with someone who adores him, and thinks he’s beautiful. There’s no pain, no insults, just love, and Yashiro is struck by the fact that he does not need to feel pain to feel good. He is brought back to the abuse he experienced as a child at the hands of his stepfather, and he realizes that him pretending to like the pain was clearly just his way of protecting himself, but it led to him believing that was the only way he could find release.

So, he runs away, and does his best to convince himself that Doumeki does not love him, and latched on to him straight out of prison like a baby bird searching for its mother. We know that’s not the case, but this is the excuse Yashiro uses to keep his world view from completely spinning of its axis.

The rest of this volume focused on Ryuuzaki and Hirata. Hirata really needs to be offed at this point. We got a look at his past, and we find out he murdered Misumi’s right hand man back in the day in cold blood, not only to get ahead, but because he didn’t like the guy because it was implied he was gay. It’s time for him to go, please and thank you, because he is a snake.

[katzuyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

the relationship between yashiro and doumeki was headed towards sex from the very first chapters, but it’s such a foul play to mess them up so badly just after they finally did it - it’s evil and I love it!! but also yashiro is finally in love again and he’s trying so hard to keep doumeki safe and away from this hopeless world that he gets cruel, he gets scared and lashes out, and it’s exactly because he’s aware of how badly in love doumeki is with him and how much he’d give up for him that he thinks it’s all for the best, but in the end ends up hurting them both for nothing 💔

the sex almost made me sob too, fuck all of this it’s too good 😭😭

they’re both so caring deep down that it’s ridiculous that they can’t talk about it and find a way to be together and to protect each other from within the same world. but gosh, I live for plots like this, it gets me hype every single time even tho I know what’s coming next 👀👀

5 ⭐️

[Marianna Rainolter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yashiro chiede a Domeki di fare sesso con lui. L’uomo accetta ma per lui fare sesso con Yashiro ha un significato totalmente diverso rispetto al capo della Yakuza masochista. Si intuisce ben presto che questo momento cambierà del tutto il loro rapporto da adesso in poi. Yashiro infatti è sconvolto dalla dolcezza e dai forti sentimenti di Domeki, ma allo stesso tempo sente di dover uscire dalla casa sicura di Domeki, ricoprire il suo ruolo di capo e sistemare la situazione con Ryuzaki e forse lasciarsi alle spalle lo stesso Domeki... La prima parte è dolce ed emozionante, neanche troppo esplicita perché i sentimenti dei personaggi sono ben raccontato e rappresentati. E ci spezza il cuore con lo strano comportamento di Yashiro nel finale... Voglio al più presto il proseguimento perché non posso stare con l’ansia di sapere cosa succederà!

[fero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually just discovered this through browsing the list of new BL anime. It was really interesting! This kind of reminds me of Banana Fish. I was pissed off about Yoshiro for leaving Doumeki but I guess he has his reason—I mean, the first time they did it, the gentleness was so alien to him that it confused/hurt him (I don’t want to judge him for that!)

It hurt me to read about his past! Also every time he was treated so cruelly by those people even though he “like” it and he’s a “masochist”... I just can’t. And there’s Doumeki wanting to cherish and take good care of him! Anyway, as I was saying, he has his reason. Some things are so complicated, or too hard to fathom, so I hope Yoshiro can get an epiphany and take his wall down for Doumeki.

This is still on going, by the way!

[Chelsea &#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308; · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Things progress with Yashiro and Doumecki. The complex feelings Yashiro has for him are interesting to explore. Essentially, because it looked like Doumecki couldn’t use him the way others did, he both made Yashiro feel safe and it came with the idea that he didn’t see Yashiro as just a piece of meat, the way others did.

In this volume, we get what I thought would happen: they actually do have sex and Yashiro can’t stand being with someone who actually loves him and doesn’t want to hurt him. He fears losing Doumecki, but would rather just cut those feelings off completely than risk having him and losing him. I’m sure his feelings for the doctor also played into that.

[Jessica Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doumeki has a problem: he’s in love with his boss, Yashiro. His boss who happens to also be in the Yakuza and in the middle of a power war with another member. All manner of backstabbings, shootings, murder, stealing and other crimes are happening around them and all Doumeki can think of is protecting this man who he’s, unfortunately, fallen in love with. To make matters worse if Yashiro were to ever find out about these feelings then he’d dismiss him immediately, because love is the last thing he wants.

Read the rest of my review of volumes 4, 5 and 6 here:

https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...

[jude ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay well wow.

I love the pushing away trope so much and like I understand everything but also I am not a fan of Doumeki continuing while Yoshiro kept saying no. I hate it I hate it I hate it. I would’ve loved if their story had more slow burn build-up, but I guess the yaoi genre and this story isn’t the right fit for that (even tho it so could have been!!!).

Koi Yoneda is so amazing tho with everything else in the story. I feel for so many of the characters, even Ryuuzaki now like WOW. Hirata’s flashback thing wasn’t that surprising for me cause he’s a little bitch, but whatever.

ANYWAY. Still love this story and am so excited to see the how it continues!

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid reader of Yaoi manga and this manga right here is so poetically beautiful in its own distraught and twisted way. This story encompasses unorthodox archetypes and carefully shines light upon certain deviancies, tragedies and upbringings that make character. This is one of the best Yaoi stories I've read! It's a poignant type of love shared through a unique concept that is both drawn and written exceptionally well.