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飴色パラドックス [Ameiro Paradox] #1
Candy Color Paradox, Vol. 1
Reporter Onoe and photographer Kaburagi constantly bicker and argue on their stakeouts, but will their antagonistic behavior paradoxically evolve into something sweeter?
Satoshi Onoe, a reporter for a weekly magazine, has a new stakeout partner, and he’s anything but thrilled about it. Photographer Motoharu Kaburagi’s unconventional reporting methods and overall bad attitude are enough to drive Onoe insane. But the more the two work together, the closer they get.
Satoshi Onoe prides himself on his good writing and ethical reporting for the weekly magazine he writes for. But when the stakeout teams are shuffled around, he ends up being paired up with Motoharu Kaburagi, an ill-mannered photographer who’s nothing but trouble. Onoe despises Kaburagi’s haphazard and unethical reporting methods, and the two constantly fight. But as they spend more time together, Kaburagi’s two-faced attitude makes Onoe begin to see him in a different light.
Satoshi Onoe, a reporter for a weekly magazine, has a new stakeout partner, and he’s anything but thrilled about it. Photographer Motoharu Kaburagi’s unconventional reporting methods and overall bad attitude are enough to drive Onoe insane. But the more the two work together, the closer they get.
Satoshi Onoe prides himself on his good writing and ethical reporting for the weekly magazine he writes for. But when the stakeout teams are shuffled around, he ends up being paired up with Motoharu Kaburagi, an ill-mannered photographer who’s nothing but trouble. Onoe despises Kaburagi’s haphazard and unethical reporting methods, and the two constantly fight. But as they spend more time together, Kaburagi’s two-faced attitude makes Onoe begin to see him in a different light.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2011
77 people are currently reading
1466 people want to read
About the author
Isaku Natsume
58 books193 followersIsaku Natsume (native name: 夏目イサク) is a Japanese author of Boys' Love manga.
Aside from the manga published with publishing companies, she also runs two Dōjin circles: 139 and Chekera.
List of all her works (detailed) : http://infbot.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/...
Associated names :
チェケラ
チェケラ!
夏目維朔
139
Cheke-Rara
Aside from the manga published with publishing companies, she also runs two Dōjin circles: 139 and Chekera.
List of all her works (detailed) : http://infbot.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/...
Associated names :
チェケラ
チェケラ!
夏目維朔
139
Cheke-Rara
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
December 19, 2014
AWWWWWW I LOVE IT!!!
and this is my fave scene ♥_♥
blurting "ILOVEYOU" in the middle of fight...wellll...that's sweet ♥_♥
and by the way, the guy in my avatar... it's him!!!
and this is my fave scene ♥_♥
blurting "ILOVEYOU" in the middle of fight...wellll...that's sweet ♥_♥
and by the way, the guy in my avatar... it's him!!!
September 1, 2023
This happens to be those very few mature love stories that align very well with reality. Although I read it before, I had forgotten most of it so I am quite happy I picked it up again. Looking forward for the rest of the series now.
April 1, 2024
2024: finally decided to read the whole series, so I reread vol 1. As fun as I remembered it! :)
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This was so incredibly fun!!!
Onoe and Kaburagi work for the same newspaper. Due to restructuring, Onoe is forced to join the investigative team, so Kaburagi, his long-time rival, has to teach him the ropes. Onoe much prefers office work, so stakeouts are totally not his thing. He also doesn't understand how Kaburagi (who's mainly a photographer), has so many connections, and how he's able to put on a different persona depending on who he's talking to, in order to get the info he needs.
I loved their enemies(rivals) to lovers dynamic. Onoe realises quite early on that he has a crush on Kabu, but he's absolutely miffed at Kabu's superior networking skills. Their banter is top notch and made me laugh a lot. As soon as I'm not that poor anymore, I'm going to get the next volumes.
Rep: bi main characters
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This was so incredibly fun!!!
Onoe and Kaburagi work for the same newspaper. Due to restructuring, Onoe is forced to join the investigative team, so Kaburagi, his long-time rival, has to teach him the ropes. Onoe much prefers office work, so stakeouts are totally not his thing. He also doesn't understand how Kaburagi (who's mainly a photographer), has so many connections, and how he's able to put on a different persona depending on who he's talking to, in order to get the info he needs.
I loved their enemies(rivals) to lovers dynamic. Onoe realises quite early on that he has a crush on Kabu, but he's absolutely miffed at Kabu's superior networking skills. Their banter is top notch and made me laugh a lot. As soon as I'm not that poor anymore, I'm going to get the next volumes.
Rep: bi main characters
March 2, 2021
re read: March 2nd 2021.
Wow it’s been FOUR FREAKING YEARS( okay well 3 and bit) since I first read this and I must say- it aged well. Minus one or two little issues- I enjoyed this just as much as my first read.
Plot: Amerio Paradox( Candy Colour Paradox) tells the story of Journalist ,Onoe - who is forced by his employer to team up with their best photographer - Kaburagi.Only on top of not wanting to write about the stakeouts he will be obligated to attend, Onoe also HATES Kaburagi, believing he is the reason his girlfriend dumped him. So a sort of enemies to lovers/action-packed story begins as the two are sucked into their investigations.
What I loved: In addition to the two main characters being clearly bisexual and their romance developing slower, I also loved the actual plot of this manga. The cases the two investigate were so interesting and considering the dangers of the job- it added some extra tension, especially when they begin to care for each other. ( Though both of them are loathe to admit their feelings. Especially Onoe!) But that added more fun, as he battles the fact that he’s not only interested in men( aswell as women) but he’s interested in the man he vowed to hate.
Onoe was actually so dramatic and it worked so well. He was hilarious, even at the end, I was crying sometimes I laughed that hard.
I had some issues with one particular scene( their first kiss that wasn’t consented on Onoe’s part). Though he does retaliate and call Kaburagi out.
Overall, this was hilarious and I genuinely cannot wait to see what problem these two disasters are going to find themselves in with the next volumes!
Content warnings : Attempted sexual assaults( not between the two MCs), non con kiss.
Original 2017 review
This was so good. Better than I expected.
What I loved so much about this was three things. 1) - We actually had a storyline that didn't become secondary to the romance.
2) - The romance was freaking adorable. Also it was slow burn!!
3) - The characters bisexuality was actually acknowledged!
- It was just adorable and a great read. Looking forward to volume 2.
Wow it’s been FOUR FREAKING YEARS( okay well 3 and bit) since I first read this and I must say- it aged well. Minus one or two little issues- I enjoyed this just as much as my first read.
Plot: Amerio Paradox( Candy Colour Paradox) tells the story of Journalist ,Onoe - who is forced by his employer to team up with their best photographer - Kaburagi.Only on top of not wanting to write about the stakeouts he will be obligated to attend, Onoe also HATES Kaburagi, believing he is the reason his girlfriend dumped him. So a sort of enemies to lovers/action-packed story begins as the two are sucked into their investigations.
What I loved: In addition to the two main characters being clearly bisexual and their romance developing slower, I also loved the actual plot of this manga. The cases the two investigate were so interesting and considering the dangers of the job- it added some extra tension, especially when they begin to care for each other. ( Though both of them are loathe to admit their feelings. Especially Onoe!) But that added more fun, as he battles the fact that he’s not only interested in men( aswell as women) but he’s interested in the man he vowed to hate.
Onoe was actually so dramatic and it worked so well. He was hilarious, even at the end, I was crying sometimes I laughed that hard.
I had some issues with one particular scene( their first kiss that wasn’t consented on Onoe’s part). Though he does retaliate and call Kaburagi out.
Overall, this was hilarious and I genuinely cannot wait to see what problem these two disasters are going to find themselves in with the next volumes!
Content warnings : Attempted sexual assaults( not between the two MCs), non con kiss.
Original 2017 review
This was so good. Better than I expected.
What I loved so much about this was three things. 1) - We actually had a storyline that didn't become secondary to the romance.
2) - The romance was freaking adorable. Also it was slow burn!!
3) - The characters bisexuality was actually acknowledged!
- It was just adorable and a great read. Looking forward to volume 2.
June 27, 2025
i will forever eat up couples who bicker with one another just to turn around and be all lovey dovey. i love kaburagi so much, he is so down bad for onoe. they’re both just some cuties ughhhh *^ˍ^*
May 20, 2019
I've read this multiple times by now but this was the first time to read the official English translation and Sublime Manga (the publisher) did a really good job with it. So happy to finally have a real paper copy of this in my hands!
In terms of the story, it's a fairly standard romance about how two co-workers who dislike each other at first manage to end up together. The characterization of both leads are convincing and their interactions are incredibly funny and incredibly sweet.
Over the course of the whole series (4 volumes at current count), you get to see them grow in their relationship, and one thing I really like is that while they do face obstacles as a couple, none of it feels like artificial drama created to inject conflict into the story. The obstacles they face are pretty realistic as to what two people would experience as a couple and as partners at work (they are a reporter and photographer team at a weekly magazine), and they deal with these issues in a more or less mature way.
By far one of my fave yaoi/BL series.
In terms of the story, it's a fairly standard romance about how two co-workers who dislike each other at first manage to end up together. The characterization of both leads are convincing and their interactions are incredibly funny and incredibly sweet.
Over the course of the whole series (4 volumes at current count), you get to see them grow in their relationship, and one thing I really like is that while they do face obstacles as a couple, none of it feels like artificial drama created to inject conflict into the story. The obstacles they face are pretty realistic as to what two people would experience as a couple and as partners at work (they are a reporter and photographer team at a weekly magazine), and they deal with these issues in a more or less mature way.
By far one of my fave yaoi/BL series.
June 4, 2021
One of the things I loved about this book as it is a romance is that the romance really took its time building up. The plot was very enjoyable with both Onoe and Kaburagi getting closer for their love of work. All of the cases they had to work on were interesting and it was nice to see Onoe and Kaburagi getting close on these investigations. I also loved how dramatic the guys were especially Onoe because I didn’t expect it but it was so funny and so cute that I really liked it. Overall, a cute and funny story bringing two characters who once disliked each other together.
January 3, 2020
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
I have previously reviewed the second volume and had a pleasant surprised when I received the first one the other day. But, finally, these are my opinions on the first!
This is a cute manga exploring the trope from rivals to lovers and what else? As I've mentioned before, it's the average Boys Love story. Onoe couldn't stand how Kaburagi behaved and yet they're put to work together. And we go from there.
I didn't see much standing out in this story, but there aren't negative sides either. In other words, you will have a fun reading time. And I think the main characters had good chemistry, which is a necessary plus.
Something I noticed is that I could have very well stopped in the first volume, the story was more or less complete there, but as I have already read the second one I can say we get to have more character development, perhaps because now the author had more time to work on it, and more backstory on the main characters. The first volume is more about them getting to know each other, more plot-driven, I'd say. I think that's great for those unsure if they want to give another series a chance—just take some of your time and read the first volume, drop it there if you didn't like it much.
The art is very cute and the jokes are also good. No spoilers but I can assure you the second volume maintains this rhythm as well. If you're after a cute lovers-quarrel BL, this could be it for you!
I have previously reviewed the second volume and had a pleasant surprised when I received the first one the other day. But, finally, these are my opinions on the first!
This is a cute manga exploring the trope from rivals to lovers and what else? As I've mentioned before, it's the average Boys Love story. Onoe couldn't stand how Kaburagi behaved and yet they're put to work together. And we go from there.
I didn't see much standing out in this story, but there aren't negative sides either. In other words, you will have a fun reading time. And I think the main characters had good chemistry, which is a necessary plus.
Something I noticed is that I could have very well stopped in the first volume, the story was more or less complete there, but as I have already read the second one I can say we get to have more character development, perhaps because now the author had more time to work on it, and more backstory on the main characters. The first volume is more about them getting to know each other, more plot-driven, I'd say. I think that's great for those unsure if they want to give another series a chance—just take some of your time and read the first volume, drop it there if you didn't like it much.
The art is very cute and the jokes are also good. No spoilers but I can assure you the second volume maintains this rhythm as well. If you're after a cute lovers-quarrel BL, this could be it for you!
December 20, 2019
This felt a bit average. It was cute and funny, but I wasn’t necessarily invested in the characters or the story. The beginning half really dragged for me. I generally finish a manga in one sitting, but this took me a whole week to get back to and finish.
Will probably check out the next volume though...?
Will probably check out the next volume though...?
January 22, 2021
Work rivals-forced proximity-to lovers. What more do you need?!
Loved the banter between Onoe and Kabu. Also, there was a good balance between romance and plot.
Loved the banter between Onoe and Kabu. Also, there was a good balance between romance and plot.
March 27, 2022
[ ★★★,7 / 5 ]
[ The rating above stand for this volume only ]
[ Tag(s): enemies-to-lovers • office-workers • ]
—————————————————————— •○●
A reporter who specializes in politics articles Onoe suddenly paired with his ultimate nemesis and rival ((—well, at least that what's Onoe one-sidedly thinks)) Kaburagi, a competent -and-well-liked-by-other-colleagues photographer who has questionable work ethics ((a.k.a doing anything possible for the sake of information and scoops)). When Onoe's convictions and sense of justice clash with Kabu's questionable work ethics, it not only leads to endless bickering but also made the two of them begin to care about each other, and perhaps— develop something else that involves their personal feelings... [wink]
ℹ [ So far this series consists of five volumes. ]
—————————————————————— •○●
[ This review below stand for all five volumes ]
THIS IS IT!
It's been forever since the last time I've read a story with this kind of clash personality; not just the classic polar opposite introvert x extrovert, but a total clash and clear cut personality where they're despise each other and literally yell at each other LMAOOO— I feel refreshed.
Their dynamics are top notch. Their interaction felt really natural, so does their love progression. I've enjoyed reading the progress they make so they can be together.
The details of their profession and reporter thingies were easy understand and put into context. It really helps ground their relationship and give them a plot. I love how we get, not only Onoe's POV, but Kabu's as well sometimes ((—so we know he's actually in deep, no— I mean DEEP LMAO— simp!Kabu definitely someting worth looking at)). It's pretty rare I think, that you get more than one POV in a manga like this ((otherwise Kabu might come off as just a cold jerk and not this flipping adorable LOL)).
These two really make a great pair. They're more endearing because of their personality traits and the way they behave around each other. Sappy, but cute. Nothing new, just your typical tsundere uke x seeming cool and calm seme ((but the big difference is: Onoe is a tsundere blueprint! please take note authors, this is how you make a good and not-come-off-as-annoying tsundere characters!)), but wrapped with intriguing and gripping storylines. The pace maybe too slow for some people, but for me it's just right ✨
The dramas and events were quite fulfilling. The rom-com game was standing strong ((they are both hilarious!)). Masayan is cute. And the artwork is definitely my cup of tea ☕️
I'll continue to dig into Isaku Natsume's other works 🛵💨
In conclusion: It's a cute story and definitely worth a read!
[ The rating above stand for this volume only ]
[ Tag(s): enemies-to-lovers • office-workers • ]
—————————————————————— •○●
A reporter who specializes in politics articles Onoe suddenly paired with his ultimate nemesis and rival ((—well, at least that what's Onoe one-sidedly thinks)) Kaburagi, a competent -and-well-liked-by-other-colleagues photographer who has questionable work ethics ((a.k.a doing anything possible for the sake of information and scoops)). When Onoe's convictions and sense of justice clash with Kabu's questionable work ethics, it not only leads to endless bickering but also made the two of them begin to care about each other, and perhaps— develop something else that involves their personal feelings... [wink]
ℹ [ So far this series consists of five volumes. ]
—————————————————————— •○●
[ This review below stand for all five volumes ]
THIS IS IT!
It's been forever since the last time I've read a story with this kind of clash personality; not just the classic polar opposite introvert x extrovert, but a total clash and clear cut personality where they're despise each other and literally yell at each other LMAOOO— I feel refreshed.
Their dynamics are top notch. Their interaction felt really natural, so does their love progression. I've enjoyed reading the progress they make so they can be together.
The details of their profession and reporter thingies were easy understand and put into context. It really helps ground their relationship and give them a plot. I love how we get, not only Onoe's POV, but Kabu's as well sometimes ((—so we know he's actually in deep, no— I mean DEEP LMAO— simp!Kabu definitely someting worth looking at)). It's pretty rare I think, that you get more than one POV in a manga like this ((otherwise Kabu might come off as just a cold jerk and not this flipping adorable LOL)).
These two really make a great pair. They're more endearing because of their personality traits and the way they behave around each other. Sappy, but cute. Nothing new, just your typical tsundere uke x seeming cool and calm seme ((but the big difference is: Onoe is a tsundere blueprint! please take note authors, this is how you make a good and not-come-off-as-annoying tsundere characters!)), but wrapped with intriguing and gripping storylines. The pace maybe too slow for some people, but for me it's just right ✨
The dramas and events were quite fulfilling. The rom-com game was standing strong ((they are both hilarious!)). Masayan is cute. And the artwork is definitely my cup of tea ☕️
I'll continue to dig into Isaku Natsume's other works 🛵💨
In conclusion: It's a cute story and definitely worth a read!
February 13, 2022
*Reread 2/12/2022*
It's been a while since I read this series and I wanted to finally get into volume 5 so I'm rereading for a refresher. I kind of want to knock it down maybe half a star because Onoe's low key pretty annoying in the beginning. He gets cute after he realizes his feelings for Kabu, but before that he's just a brat in a one-sided rivalry. Either way this is still a really cute and fun series even if I don't love it as much as I did when I first read it.
*Original Review 6/24/2020*
Not going to lie I expected this to suck, but I still wanted to read it. I am pleasantly surprised! I really liked this. It was a lot of fun and it made me soooo giddy. I can't wait to pick up more <3
It's been a while since I read this series and I wanted to finally get into volume 5 so I'm rereading for a refresher. I kind of want to knock it down maybe half a star because Onoe's low key pretty annoying in the beginning. He gets cute after he realizes his feelings for Kabu, but before that he's just a brat in a one-sided rivalry. Either way this is still a really cute and fun series even if I don't love it as much as I did when I first read it.
*Original Review 6/24/2020*
Not going to lie I expected this to suck, but I still wanted to read it. I am pleasantly surprised! I really liked this. It was a lot of fun and it made me soooo giddy. I can't wait to pick up more <3
May 4, 2021
I gave this one a try but was thourougly disappointed. The art is pretty great but the story and the relationship is not quite so.. it falls to all the worst BL tropes.
Coworkers Onoe and Kabu who hate each other’s guts and are forced to work together. This ends in a lot of quarelling but after a while Onoe seems to glimpse something he could still like about his coworker. However this change is not seen in how they communicate at all, they still argue all the time. That was the first thing that put me off.
And for some reason every time the coworker voices that he likes something about Onoe.. it is during one of their fights and he just screams it at him.. Not a very healthy set up for a relationship. Despite this Onoe still kinda starts to like Kabu’s work ethic and starts to feel physically attracted to him.
Later on when Kabu seems to realize that Onoe gets embarassed around him easily he decides the only reason for this is that Onoe must like him. He teases him and ends up kissing Onoe against his will. Onoe at this point has accepted that he is attracted to Kabu but there is literally no rhyme or reason on why he is and they still argue all the time.
During a job Onoe gets sexually assaulted by a man.. and Kabu shows up, saves him.. only to sexually assault him as well. Oof. And after that during an argument he confesses his love?
Bad communication, constant shouting, insta love and non-consent kisses, not for me.
And it only gets worse.. Kabu just assumes and accepts it as a fact that Onoe likes him back, without even trying to listen to him. He also immediately gets pushy and jealous of Onoe’s other guy friend. Ugh. And when he asks Onoe if he should be jealous.. Onoe starts insulting him and telling him there is no way he would like him (but he actually does and just tries to be nasty for once)? I cannot. They end up “dating” but it just means Kabu forcing himself on Onoe who keeps telling him to stop but “secretly” “enjoys it”.
Coworkers Onoe and Kabu who hate each other’s guts and are forced to work together. This ends in a lot of quarelling but after a while Onoe seems to glimpse something he could still like about his coworker. However this change is not seen in how they communicate at all, they still argue all the time. That was the first thing that put me off.
And for some reason every time the coworker voices that he likes something about Onoe.. it is during one of their fights and he just screams it at him.. Not a very healthy set up for a relationship. Despite this Onoe still kinda starts to like Kabu’s work ethic and starts to feel physically attracted to him.
Later on when Kabu seems to realize that Onoe gets embarassed around him easily he decides the only reason for this is that Onoe must like him. He teases him and ends up kissing Onoe against his will. Onoe at this point has accepted that he is attracted to Kabu but there is literally no rhyme or reason on why he is and they still argue all the time.
During a job Onoe gets sexually assaulted by a man.. and Kabu shows up, saves him.. only to sexually assault him as well. Oof. And after that during an argument he confesses his love?
Bad communication, constant shouting, insta love and non-consent kisses, not for me.
And it only gets worse.. Kabu just assumes and accepts it as a fact that Onoe likes him back, without even trying to listen to him. He also immediately gets pushy and jealous of Onoe’s other guy friend. Ugh. And when he asks Onoe if he should be jealous.. Onoe starts insulting him and telling him there is no way he would like him (but he actually does and just tries to be nasty for once)? I cannot. They end up “dating” but it just means Kabu forcing himself on Onoe who keeps telling him to stop but “secretly” “enjoys it”.
June 12, 2021
Wow! This manga was really good! Like, way better than I expected. Because of the nature of the work that journalist Satoshi Onoe and photographer Motoharu Kaburagi were involved in as members of the stake-out team for the magazine they worked for the story always felt exciting. Watching them spy on people and outright con them into getting the information they needed for their next big scoop was very entertaining.
In terms of their relationship, it was definitely a slow burn. There was no love at first sight or one character being secretly in love with the other for years... this was two guys thrown in a situation that neither asked to be in who slowing (and reluctantly) began to fall in love with one another. Their opposite personalities made their interactions with one another funny and created a dynamic that was cute.
There isn't a whole lot of romance and it's okay because it doesn't really fit their personalities. They bicker as often as they show affection and they only become intimate at the end when they finally acknowledge and accept each other's feelings. This means if you're looking for the more common sexual activity at the end of every other chapter you may be disappointed.
I'm glad this is a series because I can't wait to see how these two move forward as a couple. Also, I'm not gonna lie, I can't wait for Onoe's ex, Sakurai, to find out about them. She's going to be completely blindsided. I can't believe she actually asked Onoe to support her in her pursuit of the man she dumped him for.
I loved it, can't wait to read the next volume, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the genre. It won't be for everyone but its still worth a try.
In terms of their relationship, it was definitely a slow burn. There was no love at first sight or one character being secretly in love with the other for years... this was two guys thrown in a situation that neither asked to be in who slowing (and reluctantly) began to fall in love with one another. Their opposite personalities made their interactions with one another funny and created a dynamic that was cute.
There isn't a whole lot of romance and it's okay because it doesn't really fit their personalities. They bicker as often as they show affection and they only become intimate at the end when they finally acknowledge and accept each other's feelings. This means if you're looking for the more common sexual activity at the end of every other chapter you may be disappointed.
I'm glad this is a series because I can't wait to see how these two move forward as a couple. Also, I'm not gonna lie, I can't wait for Onoe's ex, Sakurai, to find out about them. She's going to be completely blindsided. I can't believe she actually asked Onoe to support her in her pursuit of the man she dumped him for.
I loved it, can't wait to read the next volume, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the genre. It won't be for everyone but its still worth a try.
February 21, 2019
I received my copy of Candy Color Paradox, Vol. 1 from the publisher through Edelweiss+.
It's a story about two guys who work together as journalists but act more like high school students. First Onoe likes Kaburagi, then Kaburagi likes Onoe while Onoe refuses to acknowledge that he likes Kaburagi. This volume seems complete in itself, but there are two other volumes so now I wonder what else happens.
It's a story about two guys who work together as journalists but act more like high school students. First Onoe likes Kaburagi, then Kaburagi likes Onoe while Onoe refuses to acknowledge that he likes Kaburagi. This volume seems complete in itself, but there are two other volumes so now I wonder what else happens.
December 15, 2022
Hate to Love romance between two tabloid journalists? And one is the high strung, always blushing type and the other is the stoic jock type?
Candy Color Paradox was a fun read and I love how the romance developed. There aren't any real sexy scenes until the very end but that doesn't mean that there isn't a ton of pining. And plenty of blushing and miscommunication. I am going to keep reading this series as Isaku Natsume has sold me on this romance!
Candy Color Paradox was a fun read and I love how the romance developed. There aren't any real sexy scenes until the very end but that doesn't mean that there isn't a ton of pining. And plenty of blushing and miscommunication. I am going to keep reading this series as Isaku Natsume has sold me on this romance!
January 3, 2019
This is one of those mangas that I tend to get from time to time via Edelweiss in exchange of my thoughts. And my thought is, I liked it, but it was not original... you can see what the plot will be just from the cover, so yeah... cute but predictable.
Thanks for reading my thoughts!
Thanks for reading my thoughts!
February 3, 2022
It’s a slow-burn, which I don’t mind, but if we’re going to spend as much time on cases as we do, and venturing into the world of journalism, then “the scoops” need to be more interesting. Onoe and Kabu are great, though. Rivals to partners to lovers. I’m here for it.
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February 1, 2022
2020: Reread since the fourth volume came out here. Previously rated 4 stars, now 3 stars
October 11, 2019
Onoe never actually seems to like him? And says really mean things to him? But it's true love somehow??
January 26, 2023
Update 01/21/2023
Refreshing the events as background for the live-action... Wow ! 5 episodes in and still Volume 1. Epic!
Refreshing the events as background for the live-action... Wow ! 5 episodes in and still Volume 1. Epic!
August 27, 2025
Rivals to lovers is good, and imposter syndrome is good, but I prefer my romances to be slower burn
same review holds. there are new volumes and I forgot everything
same review holds. there are new volumes and I forgot everything
February 21, 2021
4/5
ko-fi • Instagram • TikTok
After reading this, I honestly had to sleep on what rating I wanted to give this baby. I was leaning more towards 3.5/5 stars; however, my CAWPILE rating came out at 4 stars...but at the low end of the 4 star rating, so it was very difficult to choose. After getting a wonderful nightsrest (not really) I can say this is getting a 4 star rating! Whoo, go me. Gosh I make it sound like I hit a life goal (maybe I did).
Anyways, there were a lot of things that I loved and did not love about this BL manga. There really was no grey area for me - either I liked what was going on or I was like "nope".
What I really loved about this BL manga, that we don't see very often, is that it is definitely plot focused over smexy focused and I enjoyed that. Mostly due to finishing From Blood and Ash and I couldn't deal with all the hot and heavy.
Onoe was a character I both disliked yet understood. I am not a fan of characters that over-react and freak out about every little thing. If he wasn't moaning about one thing, he was over thinking about something else and it is seen quite often throughout the manga. Poor guy, I honestly thought he would give himself a heart attack. However, Onoe was one character I connected with off the bat.
Onoe is a hard ass worker. He puts in the hours, the research, the time into each of his articles and really get's nothing to show for it. He is constantly put to the backburner with his work and after all those horrendous hours of researching and writing articles they still don't make the front page. So I understand the resentment he is feeling towards his coworker Kaburagi. Kaburagi is consistently praised for his stake-outs and unraveling these huge stories. At one point Onoe's story was put to the last page when he was promised the first page, because Kaburagi's story was "better".
So this rivalry that is going on in Onoe's head (and his many over-reactions) is definitely justified. However, I just wish he wouldn't make it so obvious.
The plot build was one of the best that I have seen in any BL manga that I have come across. Well besides Coyote, Vol. 2, that book literally hit the head on plot and plot twists. What I really loved was that the physical chemistry built over time in Candy Color Paradox and that it wasn't within the first few pages. We get to see Onoe's thoughts slowly change around Kaburagi and see his inner turmoil with still wanting to hate the man.
There were some places that were slow and jumped all over the time-line but it definitely gets better.
What is also wonderful is that we get to see the POV of Kaburagi as well; which honestly, I have never seen another manga do before. It was really refreshing since we get to see both sides of the story.
If you are a fan of slow build romances, work rivalry, funny stake-outs, and more plot than sex than I definitely recommend that you pick up Candy Color Paradox, Vol. 1.
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After reading this, I honestly had to sleep on what rating I wanted to give this baby. I was leaning more towards 3.5/5 stars; however, my CAWPILE rating came out at 4 stars...but at the low end of the 4 star rating, so it was very difficult to choose. After getting a wonderful nights
Anyways, there were a lot of things that I loved and did not love about this BL manga. There really was no grey area for me - either I liked what was going on or I was like "nope".
What I really loved about this BL manga, that we don't see very often, is that it is definitely plot focused over smexy focused and I enjoyed that. Mostly due to finishing From Blood and Ash and I couldn't deal with all the hot and heavy.
Onoe was a character I both disliked yet understood. I am not a fan of characters that over-react and freak out about every little thing. If he wasn't moaning about one thing, he was over thinking about something else and it is seen quite often throughout the manga. Poor guy, I honestly thought he would give himself a heart attack. However, Onoe was one character I connected with off the bat.
Onoe is a hard ass worker. He puts in the hours, the research, the time into each of his articles and really get's nothing to show for it. He is constantly put to the backburner with his work and after all those horrendous hours of researching and writing articles they still don't make the front page. So I understand the resentment he is feeling towards his coworker Kaburagi. Kaburagi is consistently praised for his stake-outs and unraveling these huge stories. At one point Onoe's story was put to the last page when he was promised the first page, because Kaburagi's story was "better".
So this rivalry that is going on in Onoe's head (and his many over-reactions) is definitely justified. However, I just wish he wouldn't make it so obvious.
The plot build was one of the best that I have seen in any BL manga that I have come across. Well besides Coyote, Vol. 2, that book literally hit the head on plot and plot twists. What I really loved was that the physical chemistry built over time in Candy Color Paradox and that it wasn't within the first few pages. We get to see Onoe's thoughts slowly change around Kaburagi and see his inner turmoil with still wanting to hate the man.
There were some places that were slow and jumped all over the time-line but it definitely gets better.
What is also wonderful is that we get to see the POV of Kaburagi as well; which honestly, I have never seen another manga do before. It was really refreshing since we get to see both sides of the story.
If you are a fan of slow build romances, work rivalry, funny stake-outs, and more plot than sex than I definitely recommend that you pick up Candy Color Paradox, Vol. 1.
December 21, 2025
I have been trying to get my hands on this volume for a solid three months (feels like longer!), and finally had to essentially pay double the list price for a slightly battered but still decent used copy, because I really hate reading manga digitally. 2021 publishing backlogs and supply chain issues have been a serious headache, and for some reason, getting a timely reprint of this book has been a particular struggle.
So was it worth all that effort? I hope so - it remains to be seen, with the next four volumes that I've had sitting and waiting for the past three months. But so far, we're off to a really good start.
Natsume is, I think, one of my favorite manga authors. Between this and False Memories, Vol. 1, I love how grown up the characters and storylines are. By that I don't mean the "adult" content - it's the fact that Natsume writes about actual adults with established careers and interests outside of high school drama and sports. I like those kinds of storylines, too, but it's so refreshing to read something with a bit more substance and relevance to the stage I'm at in life.
What's particularly interesting is that the career in question in this series is one that could be very uncomfortable to read about...while Onoe and Kaburagi are "investigative reporters" for a weekly magazine, they're both currently on the stakeout beat, which means their big "scoops" are mostly about which actress is having an affair, and with whom. That's some pretty dirty paparazzi dealing that certainly doesn't do a lot to make people likable. But Natsume doesn't pretend for a second that this is a flashy, heroic job; in fact, a big part of the transition from enemies-to-friends comes from Onoe (who'd wanted to be put on politics) realizing that Kaburagi isn't nearly as cold-hearted and ruthless as he seems.
This is a job, and they're both doing their best, and sometimes that best means potentially ruining an actress's life because they find out a secret that's worse than an affair...like all her awards being linked to influence from the criminal underworld, something her agency pushed her to accept. It's not like she was innocent, Onoe reasons, but he still struggles with the knowledge that he's not only impacting one woman's career, but the lives of all the fans who'd looked up to her. He wrote up the article, and he was proud of it, but he hadn't really thought about all the repercussions of his actions, and it's not an easy thing to swallow.
Kaburagi, as it turns out, really, really likes Onoe's honesty and good heart, and Onoe is able to push past his first impressions to see the idealism that's slowly being burned out of Kaburagi from too many years capturing other people's secrets through the lens of his camera. It's a thoughtful, mature approach to a friendship- and relationship-build, and it's handled super well.
All the cases they pursue are interesting, too; while they may be assigned to some of the trashier beats, the two of them consistently dig as deep as they can to find stories that matter more, and impact more people. Corruption, financial scams...there's a lot going on, but we never lose sight of the budding attraction between these two.
Most of it initially comes from Onoe's end, which surprised me a little. But there isn't really a "gay panic" moment, at least not in this volume...once his bartender buddy points out that he talks an awful lot about his partner, and it kinda sounds like he has a crush on the guy, it doesn't take long for Onoe to admit it to himself. (Also interesting: another character is specifically referred to as "bi," and there are some solid hints that Kaburagi's had past sexual encounters with both women and men, which is another refreshing element of Natsume's storytelling.)
And the truth is, Onoe has probably always been a little bit fascinated by Kaburagi, although he didn't realize for years what that meant. The volume starts off with him being angry that his girlfriend left him for Kaburagi, and then being extra furious at being partnered with the guy the week after, but we find out that for the three years they've worked together (not closely, but at the same magazine), Onoe has been closely following Kaburagi's career and successes, obsessively cataloguing all his photographs. And while he does express some irritation with Kaburagi taking and then ditching his girlfriend (an assumption Kaburagi quickly debunks), most of his frustration actually centers around how little Kaburagi seems to care about him.
We get a few indications that this isn't entirely the case - Kaburagi has a backpack stuffed with the magazine editions where Onoe's stories were the cover page or special features - but for a while, it is a fairly one-sided thing, with Kaburagi gradually realizing that Onoe is being weird around him because he likes him.
Kaburagi tests out the theory by kissing Onoe, mostly to see how he'll react, and eventually ends up being the first to confess - which was another fascinatingly different moment. "I'm in love with you!" he tells Onoe, then qualifies that with, "I think." When Onoe questions this qualification, Kaburagi points out quite reasonably that he isn't entirely sure yet, but it's the only explanation for his growing feelings that makes sense.
I like this. Emotions aren't always super cut-and-dry, and it's pretty neat to see a situation where they're actually working out what they mean to each other.
There are some misunderstandings and extra arguments thrown in, of course, but I like how quickly they get over these hurdles, mostly by communicating with each other. It's also pretty hilarious that Onoe's ex is turning out to be the awkward third wheel that neither of them are interested in. She's not a villain, either; she did break up with Onoe rather than cheating on him (partly because Kaburagi wasn't actually ever interested in her), and it's not really her fault she found herself being more attracted to a different guy. And she's honest with Onoe about the negative things she's said about him, and the way Kaburagi leaped to his defense.
The ending, with the requisite Truly Adult bits, did feel a little rushed to me, and it danced a bit on that edge of explicit consent, but Onoe and Kaburagi still feel pretty solidly balanced in their strong personalities, if not their level of actual experience. I do find it interesting that Kaburagi has used his body in the past to get some of his scoops (something he decided not to do once he started to be interested in Onoe). I wonder if that'll come up more in subsequent volumes, and what role jealousy will play in their relationship. I hope it doesn't get too deep into that messy side of things, but they're definitely still at the early stages of getting to know each other, so I'm sure more dark secrets are likely to emerge.
Definitely enjoyed this a lot and am glad I finally got myself a copy. Super looking forward to reading the rest.
So was it worth all that effort? I hope so - it remains to be seen, with the next four volumes that I've had sitting and waiting for the past three months. But so far, we're off to a really good start.
Natsume is, I think, one of my favorite manga authors. Between this and False Memories, Vol. 1, I love how grown up the characters and storylines are. By that I don't mean the "adult" content - it's the fact that Natsume writes about actual adults with established careers and interests outside of high school drama and sports. I like those kinds of storylines, too, but it's so refreshing to read something with a bit more substance and relevance to the stage I'm at in life.
What's particularly interesting is that the career in question in this series is one that could be very uncomfortable to read about...while Onoe and Kaburagi are "investigative reporters" for a weekly magazine, they're both currently on the stakeout beat, which means their big "scoops" are mostly about which actress is having an affair, and with whom. That's some pretty dirty paparazzi dealing that certainly doesn't do a lot to make people likable. But Natsume doesn't pretend for a second that this is a flashy, heroic job; in fact, a big part of the transition from enemies-to-friends comes from Onoe (who'd wanted to be put on politics) realizing that Kaburagi isn't nearly as cold-hearted and ruthless as he seems.
This is a job, and they're both doing their best, and sometimes that best means potentially ruining an actress's life because they find out a secret that's worse than an affair...like all her awards being linked to influence from the criminal underworld, something her agency pushed her to accept. It's not like she was innocent, Onoe reasons, but he still struggles with the knowledge that he's not only impacting one woman's career, but the lives of all the fans who'd looked up to her. He wrote up the article, and he was proud of it, but he hadn't really thought about all the repercussions of his actions, and it's not an easy thing to swallow.
Kaburagi, as it turns out, really, really likes Onoe's honesty and good heart, and Onoe is able to push past his first impressions to see the idealism that's slowly being burned out of Kaburagi from too many years capturing other people's secrets through the lens of his camera. It's a thoughtful, mature approach to a friendship- and relationship-build, and it's handled super well.
All the cases they pursue are interesting, too; while they may be assigned to some of the trashier beats, the two of them consistently dig as deep as they can to find stories that matter more, and impact more people. Corruption, financial scams...there's a lot going on, but we never lose sight of the budding attraction between these two.
Most of it initially comes from Onoe's end, which surprised me a little. But there isn't really a "gay panic" moment, at least not in this volume...once his bartender buddy points out that he talks an awful lot about his partner, and it kinda sounds like he has a crush on the guy, it doesn't take long for Onoe to admit it to himself. (Also interesting: another character is specifically referred to as "bi," and there are some solid hints that Kaburagi's had past sexual encounters with both women and men, which is another refreshing element of Natsume's storytelling.)
And the truth is, Onoe has probably always been a little bit fascinated by Kaburagi, although he didn't realize for years what that meant. The volume starts off with him being angry that his girlfriend left him for Kaburagi, and then being extra furious at being partnered with the guy the week after, but we find out that for the three years they've worked together (not closely, but at the same magazine), Onoe has been closely following Kaburagi's career and successes, obsessively cataloguing all his photographs. And while he does express some irritation with Kaburagi taking and then ditching his girlfriend (an assumption Kaburagi quickly debunks), most of his frustration actually centers around how little Kaburagi seems to care about him.
We get a few indications that this isn't entirely the case - Kaburagi has a backpack stuffed with the magazine editions where Onoe's stories were the cover page or special features - but for a while, it is a fairly one-sided thing, with Kaburagi gradually realizing that Onoe is being weird around him because he likes him.
Kaburagi tests out the theory by kissing Onoe, mostly to see how he'll react, and eventually ends up being the first to confess - which was another fascinatingly different moment. "I'm in love with you!" he tells Onoe, then qualifies that with, "I think." When Onoe questions this qualification, Kaburagi points out quite reasonably that he isn't entirely sure yet, but it's the only explanation for his growing feelings that makes sense.
I like this. Emotions aren't always super cut-and-dry, and it's pretty neat to see a situation where they're actually working out what they mean to each other.
There are some misunderstandings and extra arguments thrown in, of course, but I like how quickly they get over these hurdles, mostly by communicating with each other. It's also pretty hilarious that Onoe's ex is turning out to be the awkward third wheel that neither of them are interested in. She's not a villain, either; she did break up with Onoe rather than cheating on him (partly because Kaburagi wasn't actually ever interested in her), and it's not really her fault she found herself being more attracted to a different guy. And she's honest with Onoe about the negative things she's said about him, and the way Kaburagi leaped to his defense.
The ending, with the requisite Truly Adult bits, did feel a little rushed to me, and it danced a bit on that edge of explicit consent, but Onoe and Kaburagi still feel pretty solidly balanced in their strong personalities, if not their level of actual experience. I do find it interesting that Kaburagi has used his body in the past to get some of his scoops (something he decided not to do once he started to be interested in Onoe). I wonder if that'll come up more in subsequent volumes, and what role jealousy will play in their relationship. I hope it doesn't get too deep into that messy side of things, but they're definitely still at the early stages of getting to know each other, so I'm sure more dark secrets are likely to emerge.
Definitely enjoyed this a lot and am glad I finally got myself a copy. Super looking forward to reading the rest.
August 2, 2025
Another review because I watched the drama of this which seemed to largely adapt this volume while adding more into it to flesh it out more. I'm not sure if the additions are from later volumes.
Spoilers for the volume and the drama.
I loved the drama. It wasn't really a difficult watch and did just kinda feel like a sweet candy. I wonder how the story will carry on from there and if later stories were added into the drama.
Spoilers for the volume and the drama.
I loved the drama. It wasn't really a difficult watch and did just kinda feel like a sweet candy. I wonder how the story will carry on from there and if later stories were added into the drama.
June 24, 2022
This was very sweet and funny. I will always enjoy a I hate you but I love you kind of relationship. They mess with each other and pick on each other and still are really sweet together. To some it might seem a bit fast but it seemed like a great build to the relationship to me. I know this series has a few more volumes so I'm curious where the story will go since this one could have easily been a stand alone. I will say some moments definitely feel a bit weird. Certain kiss scenes and moments could have been done better to make it feel more like a relationship between the two of them and less like a forced kiss from one to the other.
September 13, 2022
Two journalists who are forced to work together for a scoop. Yet one of them does not want to get involved in scandals since he’s pretty honest about his articles and the things he wants to write. But you know how jobs like that go and so, in their forced approximation, they start to like each other. Slowly but surely they see what the other’s about and find a middle ground, at least for now.
Now, it was almost a bit too much “tsundereness” to my liking (and consider that I ALWAYS love this character type) yet I enjoyed the BL in general. I hope their relationship gets better, since they’ve only confessed their feelings for each other and had sex. But I need more, you know.
Now, it was almost a bit too much “tsundereness” to my liking (and consider that I ALWAYS love this character type) yet I enjoyed the BL in general. I hope their relationship gets better, since they’ve only confessed their feelings for each other and had sex. But I need more, you know.
September 30, 2019
This was a fun and humorous slow-burn work enemies-to-lovers yaoi romance. It was also one of the slower burns I've read since it seems like a genre requirement for characters to reach some kind of action/intimacy per chapter and in this series, the MCs bicker and UST through the majority of the volume before sharing some feelings (among other things.)
Each chapter's slow (but often funny) relationship progression made this a satisfying book to read in chunks and savor the humor and art. Looking forward to checking out the next volume.
Each chapter's slow (but often funny) relationship progression made this a satisfying book to read in chunks and savor the humor and art. Looking forward to checking out the next volume.
September 11, 2022
Está chido. Me di cuenta de que me gusta mucho lo que hace esta autora con sus historias y sus dinámicas. No es Hanakoi, pero es claro que todos estos títulos caminaron para que Hanakoi pudiera volar. Frase que me robé de Ray, si ves esto, créditos para ti.
August 28, 2023
Los amo par de dummies que se viven matando peeo que desde el inicio estaban coladitos uno del otro. La primera vez que lo leí me quedé con la idea de que son enemies to lovers, pero dura muy poco el hate hacia el otro xd
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