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Rihito Sajou, a hyperventilating overachiever, winds up attending a high school where the only requirement for graduation is knowing how to write your name. Due to some extenuating circumstances, he is now being tutored by one of the many school idiots, Hikaru “Beyan” Kusakabe. For two students who had never before had a real conversation, what does the future hold now that they are constantly together? Follow these boys as they experience excitement, betrayal, depression, and love; that unyielding, crazy, poignant, and fantastical kind of love.

180 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2008

87 people are currently reading
4231 people want to read

About the author

Asumiko Nakamura

77 books386 followers
Asumiko NAKAMURA (中村明日美子) is a Japanese manga artist.
Born in 1979, she is one of Japan's hidden gems. The artist has penned a lot of titles since 2002 and has reached critical acclaim for her sensitive protrayals of romantic narratives featuring a wide range of characters - men and women, young and old. Nakamura has worked in a range of genres for an equally broad range of audinces winning recognition in every category.

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5 stars
4,097 (56%)
4 stars
2,017 (27%)
3 stars
892 (12%)
2 stars
187 (2%)
1 star
64 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
Profile Image for daph pink ♡ .
1,301 reviews3,283 followers
November 26, 2021
wasn't as good as the movie( the art style was choppy and different) but still I loved it. They are so cute and Kusukabe you have my heart❤️

Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,302 reviews3,461 followers
July 27, 2024
***watching the movie adaptation for the 100000000000000th time***


It's the story of two boys Rihito Sajou, an honor student, and Hikaru Kusakabe, a guitarist and a very much popular guy (damn, I love him with all his long blond hair being the weirdo he is!).

It's an all boys school life story with the two never having crossing paths with each other until Kusakabe offers to help Sajou prepare for the chorus festival at their school.

They have to face their own fears being with each other. Sajou preparing for his big upcoming entrance examination and his fear of travelling in trains not to give up on exams like on many occasions before while Kusakabe trying to figure out how to deal with the changes both of them are facing together.

I love how the story ended. It's so beautiful!

There's not much role of other side characters.

💌 What I love about the OTP:
Their chemistry is so amazing. Character development is really good. Their personalities are almost opposite to each other. Yet they are one of the best shounen ai couples I have come across so far!

💌Kusakabe:
He is wild. He is funny. He plays guitar. He sings. He understands. He is dramatic. He is romantic ☺️

💌Sajou:
He is serious. He is aloof. He is nervous. He is facing his fears. He is hardworking. He is cute ☺️

I just love them so much!
I must have watched this anime like more than 10 times already!

The movie adaptation is sooooooo good! ✨Feeling blessed ✨
Profile Image for MaDoReader.
1,356 reviews167 followers
March 23, 2017
@Sara @Irs->>>>> ¡¡¡¡¡Gracias por la recomendación!!!!!

Vendida estoy a estos chicos, precioso, precioso, precioso <3<3<3<3<3<3<3 He disfrutado cada página. Me encantan Sajô y Kusakabe, su relación es taaaan bonita, los diálogos, las miradas, las pausas...

A por el #2
Profile Image for Sheziss.
1,367 reviews487 followers
November 13, 2016
The drawing is curious. That's the first thing that drew my attention. Impossibly long features, rubber-like limbs, half-lidded glances, crazy hair locks, stunned expressions, non-chalant attitudes (or a way too awkward), and the obvious attraction, platonic and else. Candid nad sweet. With the occasional humorous note. It's all very odd and strangely charming.

Of course, it's about two high-school boys, one of them is the popular guy, Kusakabe, whereas the other, Sajou, is the nerd. They are both in the same music class and one day Kusakane realizes Sajou never sings in public, but catches him singing alone and decides to teach him. They are not supposed to be together, as they are total opposites, as they are both guys. But ever since they are together.

*****

Read in Manga Rock.

*****

Kusakabe's and Sajou's:
Classmates Doukyuusei  by Asumiko Nakamura 卒業生 - 冬 - Sotsugyousei - Fuyu -  by Asumiko Nakamura 卒業生 - 春 - Sotsugyousei - Haru -  by Asumiko Nakamura

The teacher's:
空と原 Sora to Hara  by Asumiko Nakamura

Others (O.B. stands for Occupation to Beloved):
O.B. 1 (Occupation to Beloved) by Asumiko Nakamura O.B. 2 by Asumiko Nakamura
Profile Image for Cristina.
Author 38 books108 followers
November 2, 2019
It's so good to finally have a proper English translation of this utterly beautiful and poetic BL manga.

The story is perfect in its simplicity and purity, the characters are amazing and the visual style is truly unusual, sensual and involving. Can you tell that I really love it?

The third volume will be published at the beginning of December and I'll write a proper review of the series after reading it.

In the meantime, do yourself a favour and start reading Dou kyu sei (and make sure to watch the anime adaptation of the first volume!).

Profile Image for Tiash ..
315 reviews115 followers
November 6, 2021
No disrespect intended, but don't you think these characters look like TOOTHBRUSH 😬😬😬


Sorry to say this art style reminds me of TOOTHBRUSH 😂🤒


It’s a cute story of love blossoming Between two classmates. I pretty much enjoyed it but IDK why, maybe because I've not read any manga in a while, so it seemed a bit exhaustive and kinda (!) boring. Overall It's good, just wasn’t for me . Settling with 3 stars!

Profile Image for dhar.
158 reviews49 followers
August 3, 2023
me dijeron doukyuusei o tus padres y ahora soy huérfana
Profile Image for Delirious Disquisitions.
529 reviews196 followers
Want to read
July 1, 2018
I watched the anime today and I'm filled with joy at how pure this is! *sniffles* I have a lot of feelings about these guys OK! I''m saving this to read on a rainy day when I've lost faith in love and humanity so my heart can be full again with the remembered innocence of first love...
Profile Image for hannah⁷.
165 reviews
June 3, 2025
cuteeeee I need to watch the movie (if anyone knows where to find it pls lmk) it read kinda choppy imo but I rlly like the art style
Profile Image for Stephanie Hope.
158 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2022
Currently re-reading this whole series for my book club and I still get the same fluffy and wholesome feelings as before! This volume is so sweet and pure; I love seeing how their relationship first blossomed! I adore our main characters so much. It's your typical classic 2008-2010 yaoi, can never go wrong with those! (P.S.)- The bonus chapters with the rings had me SQUEALING, they are so dang precious! ;-; ♡
Profile Image for Lupita Miller.
113 reviews
March 16, 2022
Es una historia que a primera vista se puede ver como simple o básica pero eso no le quita lo linda y dulce que es, perfecta para que uno sienta mariposas en el estómago, a parte que se lee muy rápido.
Profile Image for Sophie.
67 reviews3 followers
February 12, 2025
I like the movie a bit more, but this was really sweet and simple and I like the art. Idk why but these two just make my heart feel all fuzzy and warm. I also love how down bad Kusukabe is for Sajou- he’s so obsessed with him and I love to see it.

Side note, but I just really really love how Kusukabe’s hair is drawn <3
Profile Image for Dzura.
190 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2016
my first BL manga i read. it's nice story and not dumb like another yaoi manga when i saw the preview. it's simple story with artwork that remains me to 5 cm persecond and i like that. This Manga adapted to anime movie and i wanted to watch the movie version! i recomended this manga if you like BL.
Profile Image for Makhda.
877 reviews146 followers
January 28, 2017
4.5 stars

I only watched the anime. It was really cute and sweet. It makes you go 'aawww'. Lovely. <3
Profile Image for Melissa | melisthereader.
797 reviews695 followers
April 29, 2020
I'm so sad I don’t have the follow up volumes. I want to see the movie but not before I've read everything.

This story is so different and beautiful.
Profile Image for Brigi.
922 reviews99 followers
November 30, 2021
Loved returning to this! I hope I'll be able to get copies of the rest of the volumes too! (28 Nov 2021)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
01 August 2014:

This is my first manga (well, technically I started reading the second part first and then realised there was a prequel) and IT'S SO CUTE!!! I'm seriously holding back on fangirling right now! I saw the cover on a site and since I wanted to start reading mangas, I thought this would be a good choice.

I was not disappointed. The story is simple, of two high school boys and their blooming love. Or as the manga itself says:

A boy met a boy.
They were in the flush of youth.
They were in love that felt like a dream,
like sparkling soda pop.


Perfect description. I thought it was very sweet and tender. I like the art, especially how Kusakabe was drawn. He's my favourite character too, he's just so eager, open and awesome, compared to shy little Sajou.

At the end, the author says she wanted the theme to be "Let's fall in love - a slow, serious love." I think she managed it perfectly!
Profile Image for Sara.
191 reviews27 followers
June 19, 2016
Por fin me animé a leerlo. <3
Varias personas me lo habían recomendado pero el dibujo no terminaba por convencerme. Para mi un manga me tiene que gustar el dibujo e historia. Soy muy tiquismiquis para estas cosas XD
Después de ver el Anime y reírme bastante decidí darle una oportunidad.
Clavao escena por escena!!!! Me han gustado mucho éstos dos : 3
A por el siguiente tomo : )
Profile Image for Yasamin Seifaei.
Author 1 book60 followers
June 18, 2016
Let's fall in love - a slow, serious love.

*عر زدن در 9856317 زبان مختلف*

خیلی کیوت و خوب بود لا مصب :'( :')

خوشحالم که هم انیمه ش رو دیدم و هم حالا مانگاش رو خوندم ^_^
Profile Image for edel.
530 reviews3 followers
July 21, 2011
Let's fall in love- a slow, serious love.

Doukyuusei is a very pretty manga. The cover art had me drawn it to it instantly. The beautiful art and the colours were absolutely beautiful. Upon reading the very first pages, I wasn't disappointed by the art at all. Nakamura's style is simple and elegant. I find her drawings to be really fluid and curvy which was nice for a change.

As for the plot, I found it to be a bit cliche at times but I enjoy the slowness of it all. Of course, it could have been slower. The main characters fall "in love" very easily however I think many teens do that as well. There were some events that could have been easily taken out, such as certain scenes featuring a certain gay teacher (now where have I not seen that before?). There were a lot of issues left untouched by the mangaka which I wish she could have resolved. The ending was very open ended and didn't exactly tie everything together. It was too abrupt for my taste.

All in all, a very sweet and cute manga. Far from being deep but if it was deeper, it could have verged on being very realistic.
Profile Image for jacobi.
394 reviews23 followers
May 27, 2023
the first time i’ve read bl where the ridiculous yaoi proportions are used in a visually arresting way like they’re a feature not a bug
Profile Image for Stacie.
805 reviews
January 23, 2020
*doki doki*

I thought the movie was better, but this was still precious.
Profile Image for Mon.
353 reviews204 followers
September 8, 2022
El protagonista de cabello negro (olvidé su nombre), me parece insoportable. Lo siento.
Profile Image for Mark Ward.
Author 31 books47 followers
July 9, 2022
I hate this in like 16 different ways.
Profile Image for Afi  (WhatAfiReads).
606 reviews428 followers
May 2, 2023
The way my toe curled of how bloody CUTE it is :')

The art style is pretty all over the place, but it really suited the whole story and Kusakabe and Sajo in general - my two awkward yet chaotic babies <3

One thing's for sure, I'm glad I got the physical copy cause the feels it gave me is just insane :')

yeeep.

Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews

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