What do you think?
Rate this book
ライオンハーツ
これは2匹のライオンの物語。
「好き」って気持ちからは
どうしても逃げられなかった――。
小さい頃に結婚の約束をした
幼馴染みの礼央と獅子丸。
しかし、男の子同士は"いけないこと"と教わり、
その気持ちに蓋をしたまま時は流れて、
あれから10年――。
高校生になった2人は別々の学校に通っているけど、
帰り道はいつも待ち合わせ。
ともに過ごすその時間が1日の中で一番の幸せだった。
でもそんなある日、
女子と歩く礼央を偶然見かけてしまった獅子丸。
ずっと見ないように蓋をしてきた気持ちがざわめきだして……。
「好き」って気持ちからは
どうしても逃げられなかった――。
小さい頃に結婚の約束をした
幼馴染みの礼央と獅子丸。
しかし、男の子同士は"いけないこと"と教わり、
その気持ちに蓋をしたまま時は流れて、
あれから10年――。
高校生になった2人は別々の学校に通っているけど、
帰り道はいつも待ち合わせ。
ともに過ごすその時間が1日の中で一番の幸せだった。
でもそんなある日、
女子と歩く礼央を偶然見かけてしまった獅子丸。
ずっと見ないように蓋をしてきた気持ちがざわめきだして……。
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2023
14 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 28, 2025
4.5 stars. With breathtaking art and the kind of story that is tailor-made for me, Lion Hearts reminded me of just how much I love gay childhood best friends to lovers romance in any and every form: especially manga.
October 19, 2025
SO ADORABLE 😭 These two were so sweet and I loved every second! Not only was this touching but it was so realistic. It touched on important subjects and was executed perfectly. This mangaka never lets me down!
March 9, 2025
Touching, realistic, and evocative—the power of words, symbols, and beautiful art style weaved into a bl masterpiece. Mita Ori did it again! (her Our Dining Table is one of my holy scriptures of boy’s love stories.)
Lion Hearts is a profound story of a decade-old love treasured and lost due to societal expectations and how enduring together can beat through the odds, internal conflicts, and discriminations.
Lion Hearts is a profound story of a decade-old love treasured and lost due to societal expectations and how enduring together can beat through the odds, internal conflicts, and discriminations.
September 22, 2025
The ultimate example of that tweet that’s like “gay rep be like ‘kyaaaaaah!!! i like a boy but… im a boy >////<?!?!’.” But still very sweet and a nice and pleasant plane read.
July 21, 2025
reread - 22.07.25 since we got official translation decide to read it again .
Childhood friends to lovers
Since it's finally completed, I decided to read it omg this was so cute is about Boy in love with his childhood friend but is torn because it’s not ok to love another boy according to social norms, so he tries suppressing his feelings, all goes awry when he catches his best friend walking arm and arm with a girl, not really knowing what to do with his feelings, he tries to surpress them and hide them some more, not that it works, much to his chagrin, he later attends his best friends cultural festival wherein he meets the girl (who has nothing to do with his best friend other than being friendly) He assumes the worst and takes off before he sees the other boy, but he gets chased down, where his best friend clears things up and also relays that his feelings are actually mutual. he loves only him. leaves off there...
Childhood friends to lovers
Since it's finally completed, I decided to read it omg this was so cute is about Boy in love with his childhood friend but is torn because it’s not ok to love another boy according to social norms, so he tries suppressing his feelings, all goes awry when he catches his best friend walking arm and arm with a girl, not really knowing what to do with his feelings, he tries to surpress them and hide them some more, not that it works, much to his chagrin, he later attends his best friends cultural festival wherein he meets the girl (who has nothing to do with his best friend other than being friendly) He assumes the worst and takes off before he sees the other boy, but he gets chased down, where his best friend clears things up and also relays that his feelings are actually mutual. he loves only him. leaves off there...
January 2, 2025
Mega urocza manga! Pokazuje jak być lwem i nie oddawać swojej miłości mimo przeciwności 💜
July 27, 2025
I remember reading a partially translated version of this manga years ago and absolutely loving it. I was so happy when I saw that Seven Seas did an official translation so I could finally finish this story. I thought this was a very cute story and I liked the artwork. A large part of the story focuses on Shi-chan's internalized homophobia. I thought this was overall done well, but I wish the story would have gone a little deeper with it and had him confront more of these issues. However, the story was more about Shi-chan learning to trust and rely on Leo rather than him actually overcoming his fears.
August 25, 2025
Mita Ori writes such beautiful stories…
September 23, 2025
Mita Ori never disappoints! So sweet! So cute!
October 24, 2025
ôi truyện chua chua ngọt ngọt như mối tình đầu đúng nghĩa luôn, cảm giác như được đọc lại Rift phiên bản trong sáng ấy🥹
November 3, 2025
Very sweet.
November 8, 2025
Adorável. E as notas da autora apenas contribui para deixar tudo mais doce.
December 31, 2025
This was just so wholesome!
Read
October 4, 2025A sharp turn from what I've been reading—needed something cute and nice, which this one-shot certainly provides. But, no surprise, this queer romance is overflowing with trope after unending trope, with a corny-as-hell conceit. Very lame. But cute boys. Still almost cried. (almost)
December 31, 2025
*Original Review 11/5/2020*
This author knows how to write the freaking cutest BL. I can't seem to find a chapter 6 anywhere so I'm marking it as complete for now, but I hope I can finish it soon. It was just about to get into the drama!
*Reread and actually finished 7/24/25*
Honestly crazy I marked this as read after chapter 5 because that was barely the halfway point. I'm sure past me thought that chapter 6 was going to be the last one. Current me would never mark a book I didn't fully finish as complete though.
God this was so sweet and painful and I loved it so much. I was a little frustrated with how they both ran away, but running away was a huge part of the messaging of the story. So many moments almost made me cry. I wish there was more of a talk with the mom about what she said and how it deeply affected Shi-chan. I thought the moment they did have was sweet, but it would've been nice to have more. This was a comforting read and I really enjoyed it.
This author knows how to write the freaking cutest BL. I can't seem to find a chapter 6 anywhere so I'm marking it as complete for now, but I hope I can finish it soon. It was just about to get into the drama!
*Reread and actually finished 7/24/25*
Honestly crazy I marked this as read after chapter 5 because that was barely the halfway point. I'm sure past me thought that chapter 6 was going to be the last one. Current me would never mark a book I didn't fully finish as complete though.
God this was so sweet and painful and I loved it so much. I was a little frustrated with how they both ran away, but running away was a huge part of the messaging of the story. So many moments almost made me cry. I wish there was more of a talk with the mom about what she said and how it deeply affected Shi-chan. I thought the moment they did have was sweet, but it would've been nice to have more. This was a comforting read and I really enjoyed it.
September 6, 2021
¿Es en serio? ¿Me van a dejar con tanta intriga?. No puedo. Simplemente no puedo. Estaba tan linda la historia y ni que decir de los personajes. No creo que duerma tranquila después de ese final.
August 1, 2025
My frustration over incorrect manga summaries continues. This one's a 4.5 star book, knocked down half a star partially just because my expectations from the summary made me pick a few more holes in the ending.
"But as the years went by, they grew up and parted ways - until ten years later, when the two reunite. Have their feelings remained or have they been apart for too long?"
That simply didn't happen. At all.
Shishimaru and Leo were childhood friends who met when Leo was a shy, lonely new boy in class. He had a big hood always pulled up over his head, shielding him from the others in his class, and spent his time drawing from his imagination instead of speaking to anyone. Shishimaru approached and befriended him, and essentially fell in love with him at first sight, when Leo finally dropped the hood and smiled.
Shishimaru told Leo he wanted to marry him, but when Shishimaru asked his mother about it, she explained that boys can't fall in love with each other or get married, so they'd simply have to stay very good friends. So they did, with Shishimaru burying and doing his best to not think about any feelings that went beyond regular friendship.
Then, for the next ten years, which I assume is the time jump the summary is talking about, they remained close, continuing to walk home together after school even when they went to separate high schools. It's at this point when their feelings start to boil over, with Leo finally confessing, and Shishimaru admitting that he'd felt the same all along.
The issue is that while Leo has a network of people (a classmate, a teacher, his mother) who know about his sexuality and are able to support him through their own experiences, Shishimaru is very much still closeted and struggling with some internalized homophobia. So while he's trying his absolute best to be brave, to be the lion Leo had relied upon since they were kids, he still gets really scared when his classmates or people around them judge him for being creepy and gross and not normal. All the things he still kind of feels are true about same-sex couples.
On the night that they're going to have their first post-confession sleepover, Shishimaru basically runs out on Leo in the middle of a video store where they'd been picking out their movies together - because Shishimaru had overheard a couple of his classmates gossiping about them, and it made him panic.
And Leo...disappears. Runs off to stay with his art teacher in the countryside and tells his mother and classmate that he doesn't want to see Shishimaru anymore.
I'm not sure how much time passes here, but it's under a year, because it's just enough time for Shishimaru to grow out his hair and start ruining his grades, but not irrevocably. Eventually, he runs into Leo's classmate (and her girlfriend), and after shouting at him for a bit, she gives him Leo's new phone number and essentially the address where he's staying. So Shishimaru borrows money from his older brother and runs off to apologize and get him back.
I kept waiting for the actual ten year time gap here, fully expecting this to be a story about youthful regrets and reuniting as adults, but it all happens in high school still. I think...it might've been more effective with more time and more real life hurdles, but that could just be a bias from the inaccurate summary shaping my expectations.
This is really more a story about beginnings, and that part is handled well. Leo and Shishimaru get to learn a little bit about what that adult future can look like, by spending time with Leo's teacher and his longterm male partner, who's ill and in the hospital. Life wasn't easy for them, but they were happy, and they would've never chosen a different path. And while it's hard to say "things will all work out," they're encouraging the next generation to be brave and to keep going, because it does get a little easier, generation by generation, as more of the world reshapes its expectations of what is "normal."
There was a lot about this story that was really lovely, and the last few chapters definitely made me emotional. That phone call between Shishimaru and his mother was really important, too, because a lot of his fear had been tied to that childhood conversation, where she'd saddled him with prejudices that she likely didn't even remember or expect him to take that seriously.
She's hard on him and expects a lot from him, but the main thing, she tells him, is that she'd always wanted him to be healthy and whole, no matter what shape that takes. I don't think she knows about Leo at this point (?), but perhaps between his grades slipping and the sudden trip to meet up with the person he loves, she might've guessed.
I think there could've been a bit more substance at the end, showing how things really worked out for them over time, but this is more just a story of how they got started, with promises to always be there for each other, no matter what the world put them through.
"But as the years went by, they grew up and parted ways - until ten years later, when the two reunite. Have their feelings remained or have they been apart for too long?"
That simply didn't happen. At all.
Shishimaru and Leo were childhood friends who met when Leo was a shy, lonely new boy in class. He had a big hood always pulled up over his head, shielding him from the others in his class, and spent his time drawing from his imagination instead of speaking to anyone. Shishimaru approached and befriended him, and essentially fell in love with him at first sight, when Leo finally dropped the hood and smiled.
Shishimaru told Leo he wanted to marry him, but when Shishimaru asked his mother about it, she explained that boys can't fall in love with each other or get married, so they'd simply have to stay very good friends. So they did, with Shishimaru burying and doing his best to not think about any feelings that went beyond regular friendship.
Then, for the next ten years, which I assume is the time jump the summary is talking about, they remained close, continuing to walk home together after school even when they went to separate high schools. It's at this point when their feelings start to boil over, with Leo finally confessing, and Shishimaru admitting that he'd felt the same all along.
The issue is that while Leo has a network of people (a classmate, a teacher, his mother) who know about his sexuality and are able to support him through their own experiences, Shishimaru is very much still closeted and struggling with some internalized homophobia. So while he's trying his absolute best to be brave, to be the lion Leo had relied upon since they were kids, he still gets really scared when his classmates or people around them judge him for being creepy and gross and not normal. All the things he still kind of feels are true about same-sex couples.
On the night that they're going to have their first post-confession sleepover, Shishimaru basically runs out on Leo in the middle of a video store where they'd been picking out their movies together - because Shishimaru had overheard a couple of his classmates gossiping about them, and it made him panic.
And Leo...disappears. Runs off to stay with his art teacher in the countryside and tells his mother and classmate that he doesn't want to see Shishimaru anymore.
I'm not sure how much time passes here, but it's under a year, because it's just enough time for Shishimaru to grow out his hair and start ruining his grades, but not irrevocably. Eventually, he runs into Leo's classmate (and her girlfriend), and after shouting at him for a bit, she gives him Leo's new phone number and essentially the address where he's staying. So Shishimaru borrows money from his older brother and runs off to apologize and get him back.
I kept waiting for the actual ten year time gap here, fully expecting this to be a story about youthful regrets and reuniting as adults, but it all happens in high school still. I think...it might've been more effective with more time and more real life hurdles, but that could just be a bias from the inaccurate summary shaping my expectations.
This is really more a story about beginnings, and that part is handled well. Leo and Shishimaru get to learn a little bit about what that adult future can look like, by spending time with Leo's teacher and his longterm male partner, who's ill and in the hospital. Life wasn't easy for them, but they were happy, and they would've never chosen a different path. And while it's hard to say "things will all work out," they're encouraging the next generation to be brave and to keep going, because it does get a little easier, generation by generation, as more of the world reshapes its expectations of what is "normal."
There was a lot about this story that was really lovely, and the last few chapters definitely made me emotional. That phone call between Shishimaru and his mother was really important, too, because a lot of his fear had been tied to that childhood conversation, where she'd saddled him with prejudices that she likely didn't even remember or expect him to take that seriously.
She's hard on him and expects a lot from him, but the main thing, she tells him, is that she'd always wanted him to be healthy and whole, no matter what shape that takes. I don't think she knows about Leo at this point (?), but perhaps between his grades slipping and the sudden trip to meet up with the person he loves, she might've guessed.
I think there could've been a bit more substance at the end, showing how things really worked out for them over time, but this is more just a story of how they got started, with promises to always be there for each other, no matter what the world put them through.
October 2, 2025
This was a very cute, lovely story about two boys who've known they love each other since they were very young, and only started to realize some people consider it "wrong" as they got older. I think this is a very different track for the BL genre that felt refreshing compared to the "sudden realization I like a boy" ones.
The art is really beautiful, and the dialogue is sparing but impactful. Mita Ori didn't try to shove in too many side plots, just gave our characters a good support network around them. Ori also planted a LOT of casual queerness throughout the story, which I think is also unfortunately missing from a lot of BL manga.
I do think the story overall is very simplistic, so even though it does have a soft twist on the usual formula it's not groundbreaking by any means. I'd love to find a BL manga that acknowledges bisexuality in any way, for one. But that's not what the purpose of this one was, so I can't knock it for that. Nevertheless, this is still very light and fluffy and I doubt I'll think much on it after a couple of months.
That doesn't mean I don't recommend it, though! I don't regret reading it by any means. Especially with the world we live in, it felt very nice and wholesome to read a queer normative story about two boys deciding to keep their childhood bravery alive instead of letting the world destroy it. It warmed my heart to read, and for that I am grateful.
The art is really beautiful, and the dialogue is sparing but impactful. Mita Ori didn't try to shove in too many side plots, just gave our characters a good support network around them. Ori also planted a LOT of casual queerness throughout the story, which I think is also unfortunately missing from a lot of BL manga.
I do think the story overall is very simplistic, so even though it does have a soft twist on the usual formula it's not groundbreaking by any means. I'd love to find a BL manga that acknowledges bisexuality in any way, for one. But that's not what the purpose of this one was, so I can't knock it for that. Nevertheless, this is still very light and fluffy and I doubt I'll think much on it after a couple of months.
That doesn't mean I don't recommend it, though! I don't regret reading it by any means. Especially with the world we live in, it felt very nice and wholesome to read a queer normative story about two boys deciding to keep their childhood bravery alive instead of letting the world destroy it. It warmed my heart to read, and for that I am grateful.
May 26, 2025
this left me sobbing in a way i haven't in a while...
this is a really sweet and touching portrayal of facing your sexuality growing up and all the fears and insecurities that come from it. i loved the main characters so much and the way they explored their feelings and relationship. it felt real, sweet and also painful.
it had me crying because it's personally relatable to my own experiences so others or people who aren't queer might not feel the same impact but i hope you can recognize that it's a beautiful coming of age
there's one particular scene where Leo opens up about his fears that had me sobbing like a baby... i truly loved this
the symbolism and beautiful art are also an amazing aspect of this
the side gay couple also had me sobbing 🥹 in sickness and in health... and the lesbian best friend... I'm glad Leo had a positive influence and rescue when things got hard...
this is a really sweet and touching portrayal of facing your sexuality growing up and all the fears and insecurities that come from it. i loved the main characters so much and the way they explored their feelings and relationship. it felt real, sweet and also painful.
it had me crying because it's personally relatable to my own experiences so others or people who aren't queer might not feel the same impact but i hope you can recognize that it's a beautiful coming of age
there's one particular scene where Leo opens up about his fears that had me sobbing like a baby... i truly loved this
the symbolism and beautiful art are also an amazing aspect of this
the side gay couple also had me sobbing 🥹 in sickness and in health... and the lesbian best friend... I'm glad Leo had a positive influence and rescue when things got hard...
October 25, 2025
This was a cute story, but unfortunately I think my expectations were a bit high - I loved their previous work, Our Dining Table, so very much that I think it would be inevitable that I would expect too much from their follow up work.
I enjoyed the art, the flow of the relationship, and a flawed main character, and
I did enjoy this story, but I was waiting for something a bit more (completely on me for that) and it ruined the read a little for me.
I enjoyed the art, the flow of the relationship, and a flawed main character, and
I did enjoy this story, but I was waiting for something a bit more (completely on me for that) and it ruined the read a little for me.
December 29, 2025
Ora's previous stand-alone work Our Dining Table was one of my favourites, so when I found Mita Ori had published another book, gravitated to that with high anticipation. Delighted to report all is well and this is equally as good. Childhood friends grow up and realise that their feelings towards one another are more than friendship - alas not at the same time. The story revolves around how the they navigate the discrepancy between Leo announcing his feelings, and Shii-chan realising that it needs reciprocating. Cosy in nature, this large format manga is well-illustrated and is a valuable addition to any teen manga collection.
July 29, 2025
This was a really cute and wholesome read.
I love how Ori-san displayed such a divide between two halves of a whole relationship. One one side you have someone surrounded by people yet drowning in doubt, anxiety, and fear with acceptance. And on the other side you have someone blessed with acceptance yet feels alone. It walks us through pain and regret, and importance of communication and bearing an open mind, and pulls us through with a happy ending.
If you want something sweet that tackles many issues LGBTQ+ teens experience, consider this.
I love how Ori-san displayed such a divide between two halves of a whole relationship. One one side you have someone surrounded by people yet drowning in doubt, anxiety, and fear with acceptance. And on the other side you have someone blessed with acceptance yet feels alone. It walks us through pain and regret, and importance of communication and bearing an open mind, and pulls us through with a happy ending.
If you want something sweet that tackles many issues LGBTQ+ teens experience, consider this.
November 11, 2024
Un BL preciós d'amics d'infància a amants, amb una reculada i separació dolorosa per por a les crítiques de l'entorn de l'institut. Un camí d'autodescoberta i de deixar enrere l'homofòbia interioritzada a favor de l'amor veritable ❤️ 100% vainilla sense smut, però no es troba a faltar perquè són dos estudiants d'institut i no és la part important en aquest moment vital! Final feliç i il·lustracions molt tendres de la mangaka ❤️
Read
March 10, 2025That's definitely not my type of books, so I was reading manga for my first and probably last time. I dont wanna rate it, cause I dont know even how. Is such a different than my books with words only. I really like the drawings, but the plot is too fast, I didnt even start to getting attached to a characters.
August 8, 2025
4.5* I can't go 5 really only because nothing else she does will top Our Dining Table for me. (And maybe for another totally off book summary from SS. I was stealing myself for that sort of emotional drama and that's a whole different vibe!) Same high notes, character growth, cute art, happy ending tho; so glad we got more of this mangaka in translation.
August 29, 2025
Ooooof, angsty but also sweet. The majority of the story is about our mc being scared of being in a relationship with another man. It is heartbreaking and real. The art is lovely, I appreciate how the author shows the delicate emotions through the setting and little details. Who knew a singular dandelion seed would make me cry?? 😭
cw homophobia
cw homophobia
September 21, 2025
Hodnocení / Book review / 書評 Cz / En (scroll down for english) / Jp (日本語は下に)
ČEŠTINA:
Velmi cute manga. Skoro celou dobu jsem se usmíval jak přiblblej :D. Co se týče příběhu, je to taková obyčejná BL manga. Má osananajimi, potlačování citů, má (velmi malé, díky bohu, že to není celý děj lol) nedorozumění. Velmi roztomilá, a to jak po stránce kresby, tak příběhu. Jediné, co můžu této manze vytknout, je Jinak je to velmi příjemný, roztomilý příběh. Samozřejmě, aby příběh fungoval, musí tam být trochu drama (viz spoiler výše nebo věta "kluci se nemohou ženit" od shishimarovi matky z první kapitoly), ale naštěstí toho není moc.
ENGLISH:
Very wholesome manga. It is so cute, I was smiling nearly the whole time. Story-wise, it is your run-of-the-mill BL manga. It's got osananajimi, it's got repression of feelings, it's got a (very small thank god it's not the whole plot lol) misunderstanding. Very cute, both the art and the story. The only thing I can critique about this manga is Otherwise, a very feel-good, cute story. Of course, there has to be some drama for the story to work (see spoiler above or remember the "boys can't marry bit from shii-chan's mother the 1st chapter), but it thankfully isn't too much.
日本語:
可愛すぎて、ほぼずっとニヤニヤしていました。物語としては、ごく普通のBL漫画です。幼なじみもいるし、感情の抑圧もあり、ほんの少しだけ誤解も（ストーリー全体じゃないのがありがたいwwwwww）あります。絵も物語もとても可愛いくて、唯一批判できるのは、 それ以外は、とてもほっこりした、可愛い物語です。もちろん、物語が機能するためには多少のドラマは必要です（上記のネタバレ参照、あるいは第1章でしーちゃんの母親が言った「男の子はダメなの」という台詞を参照のこと）が、、それは決して過剰ではない。
ČEŠTINA:
Velmi cute manga. Skoro celou dobu jsem se usmíval jak přiblblej :D. Co se týče příběhu, je to taková obyčejná BL manga. Má osananajimi, potlačování citů, má (velmi malé, díky bohu, že to není celý děj lol) nedorozumění. Velmi roztomilá, a to jak po stránce kresby, tak příběhu. Jediné, co můžu této manze vytknout, je Jinak je to velmi příjemný, roztomilý příběh. Samozřejmě, aby příběh fungoval, musí tam být trochu drama (viz spoiler výše nebo věta "kluci se nemohou ženit" od shishimarovi matky z první kapitoly), ale naštěstí toho není moc.
ENGLISH:
Very wholesome manga. It is so cute, I was smiling nearly the whole time. Story-wise, it is your run-of-the-mill BL manga. It's got osananajimi, it's got repression of feelings, it's got a (very small thank god it's not the whole plot lol) misunderstanding. Very cute, both the art and the story. The only thing I can critique about this manga is Otherwise, a very feel-good, cute story. Of course, there has to be some drama for the story to work (see spoiler above or remember the "boys can't marry bit from shii-chan's mother the 1st chapter), but it thankfully isn't too much.
日本語:
可愛すぎて、ほぼずっとニヤニヤしていました。物語としては、ごく普通のBL漫画です。幼なじみもいるし、感情の抑圧もあり、ほんの少しだけ誤解も（ストーリー全体じゃないのがありがたいwwwwww）あります。絵も物語もとても可愛いくて、唯一批判できるのは、 それ以外は、とてもほっこりした、可愛い物語です。もちろん、物語が機能するためには多少のドラマは必要です（上記のネタバレ参照、あるいは第1章でしーちゃんの母親が言った「男の子はダメなの」という台詞を参照のこと）が、、それは決して過剰ではない。
July 20, 2025
So, so good! So sweet!
I loved watching their friendship grow and become more. The world needs to catch up so they don’t feel like they need to run again.
I’ll treasure this book and re-read it several times.
I can’t recommend this one enough!!!
I loved watching their friendship grow and become more. The world needs to catch up so they don’t feel like they need to run again.
I’ll treasure this book and re-read it several times.
I can’t recommend this one enough!!!
October 16, 2025
This is one of the cutest, wholesome romances that I have read in a while. Had me kicking my feet but also had me tearing up at the injustices the two leads had to deal with just because they wanted to be with the person they love the most.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews