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同級生 / Classmates #4-5
Classmates Vol. 5: O.B.
The continuation of Asumiko Nakamura's beloved Boys' Love manga Classmates: Dou kyu sei, now in English for the first time ever! Both volumes of O.B. are combined in this special omnibus.
Hikaru and Rihito may have graduated high school, but their life beyond is just beginning! Can these two boys keep their relationship strong while they grow into adults together? Meanwhile, many of their friends, including their former teacher Hara, are dealing with their own relationship drama. This collection of manga stories from the modern BL classic, Classmates, was originally released in two volumes in Japan, but will be published together in English as a single omnibus.
Hikaru and Rihito may have graduated high school, but their life beyond is just beginning! Can these two boys keep their relationship strong while they grow into adults together? Meanwhile, many of their friends, including their former teacher Hara, are dealing with their own relationship drama. This collection of manga stories from the modern BL classic, Classmates, was originally released in two volumes in Japan, but will be published together in English as a single omnibus.
348 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2014
15 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Asumiko Nakamura
81 books389 followersAsumiko 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 12, 2023
Always so nostalgic to return to this series! :') Sajo and Kusakabe are so cute and the art style is so distinguishable. I wish the Sora and Hara story was a bit more romantic.
(also I didn't remember one of the side couples xD)
(also I didn't remember one of the side couples xD)
July 23, 2022
Honestly don't know why it took me so long to finish this. Rihito and Hikaru are so cute :( Love they.
I was hoping this was going to be just Rihito & Hikaru, but it was a collection of stories. Mostly them, but with the other characters mixed in too. Honestly as much as I hate Hara and Sora's relationship it wasn't too bad in this volume. They're both adults now so it's easier to swallow. Also Hara with short hair looks less like a creep. Still don't love their relationship though and I would've preferred Sora had a thing with his little baseball crush. That chapter was cute. You also get more of Hara's teacher, Arisaka, and his high school student too. The start of their relationship and where it's at now. Hibiki is so cute!! And I have to admit the relationship is pretty cute too. I actually really liked that chapter. Their relationship is a little more comfortable than Hara and Sora's but it's still sus. There's a chapter from the perspective of Rihito's college friend that I liked, but was pretty unmemorable. Then there's Koma. Feel so bad for him. His old flame was such a piece of shit. I did like that he became friends with the girl and they had their little meet up chapter.
Hikaru and Rihito's chapters are every other chapter or every two chapters and they take place over a couple of days when Hikaru gets a chance to visit Rihito. Loved! Loved! LOVED! So obsessed with them. These chapters were very sweet and domestic. Not much happens just them spending time together and being in love. They were very calming to read. I want them to be so happy together and I can't wait to read Blanc :')
I was hoping this was going to be just Rihito & Hikaru, but it was a collection of stories. Mostly them, but with the other characters mixed in too. Honestly as much as I hate Hara and Sora's relationship it wasn't too bad in this volume. They're both adults now so it's easier to swallow. Also Hara with short hair looks less like a creep. Still don't love their relationship though and I would've preferred Sora had a thing with his little baseball crush. That chapter was cute. You also get more of Hara's teacher, Arisaka, and his high school student too. The start of their relationship and where it's at now. Hibiki is so cute!! And I have to admit the relationship is pretty cute too. I actually really liked that chapter. Their relationship is a little more comfortable than Hara and Sora's but it's still sus. There's a chapter from the perspective of Rihito's college friend that I liked, but was pretty unmemorable. Then there's Koma. Feel so bad for him. His old flame was such a piece of shit. I did like that he became friends with the girl and they had their little meet up chapter.
Hikaru and Rihito's chapters are every other chapter or every two chapters and they take place over a couple of days when Hikaru gets a chance to visit Rihito. Loved! Loved! LOVED! So obsessed with them. These chapters were very sweet and domestic. Not much happens just them spending time together and being in love. They were very calming to read. I want them to be so happy together and I can't wait to read Blanc :')
May 30, 2023
Lovvvvve all the stories!!! This was really fun!
July 6, 2022
There were a surprising number of bare breasts for a BL manga, but I'll get to that in a minute.
I was really, really excited about this one, so that naturally turned into nervousness once I actually got my hands on it. After the bad experience of reading (and disliking) Classmates Vol. 4: Sora and Hara in scanlation, then loving it once I had the official copy, I haven't skipped ahead in this series. I have skimmed a few summaries, mostly to make sure there was ultimately a happy ending, but otherwise all of this was totally new to me.
And Nakamura is the type of writer whose works deserve to be savored. For manga, I read this pretty slowly...but it's also a nicely hefty volume, with two packed into one. I'm glad it's published this way in English; I honestly couldn't tell where it would've split, since there's no natural conclusion halfway through.
And the structure is interesting. Our main couple, Kusakabe and Sajo, almost serves as a sideplot. There's no drama in their relationship at this point - which I know is coming in the next (and final?) volume. That's reserved for the other couples, who get a fair amount of page room - and, after Sora and Hara, I actually enjoyed that and wished for even more. (A lot of times, I get annoyed by side couples who take over the storylines. Nakamura balances it so naturally and makes you genuinely care about all of them.)
I'm not completely sure how much time has passed in this volume, and I think it varies by couple. Sajo is still in his first year at university, and all their scenes (serving as section breaks) take place over the course of a single visit of Kusakabe's.
Everything with them is so wonderfully domestic. Some of my favorite parts are silent, simple panels where you see Kusakabe resting his head against Sajo's on the couch, or Sajo nestling up to him in their shared futon at night. Their relationship is so, so lovely.
Although Sajo tells a friend they don't do a whole lot of talking, I don't think that's necessarily true; they might not be chatty, but they do communicate a lot. The thing is, they're great at communicating in person, and it is a bit concerning that they don't see each other that often, or talk on the phone much in between visits - but at this point, it's certainly not hampering their relationship at all. They're more in love than ever, and fully committed to each other. Every scene between the two of them is like this beautiful, shimmering bubble - fragile, maybe, still tender and new, but with the wind carrying it so gently past any dangers, or any greedy, grasping fingers.
It's funny how Sajo is consistently the one in danger of being seduced. You'd think it'd be rock star Kusakabe, but apparently he's busy being relentlessly faithful to his studious glasses-wearing boyfriend, while Sajo obliviously carries on, making people fall in love with him.
I got a bit nervous about the almost kiss, but I'm super happy about the fact that there's really no jealousy between the two of them. They trust each other, and they believe in their relationship. And Sajo is pretty open about it - he quickly tells two of his classmates (a guy and a girl, both of whom pick up crushes on him) about his boyfriend. Kusakabe is surprised when he hears this, then pleased - but mostly overjoyed that Sajo is making friends.
That scene was adorable. Kusakabe is such a good boyfriend, and I'm very glad to see both him and Sajo working to adapt to each other and grow as a couple. I'm a little worried about some hazards on the horizon, but in this volume, all of their scenes are sappy and romantic and wonderful.
So! The other couples. The one kind of weird note, and the reason this isn't a full 5 stars, came early on, with characters I actually dug out earlier volumes to try to remember. Ryuichi is entirely new (I think); Komatsu is Hara's old friend and Sorano's fashion industry coworker. And he, unlike the rest of the characters, has a really terrible dating life.
My goodness is Ryuichi awful.
It is realistic, though. People suck, and dating sucks, and most happily-ever-afters don't come as quickly and easily as a high school sweethearts scenario. It certainly takes much longer for Hara and Arisaka - but I'm not sure if Komatsu's love story is ever going to happen in this series. He claims, anyway, to have given up on that - although it's interesting that he's the only one who's already been out to his parents/family for a while.
Friggin Ryuichi though. This story is told in an initially kind of confusing but ultimately effective flashback format, with Komatsu getting swept off his feet by a hot and deeply dishonest playboy. When they were younger, they spent a weekend (more than that?) in a fancy house owned by some wealthy woman Ryuichi was also sleeping with - and the whole chapter is pretty much him literally going from one to the other. It's not a trio situation, since Komatsu's gay, but any other barriers between the three of them get broken down pretty quickly.
No one's cheating, but this still......isn't something I'm interested in reading, and I certainly didn't expect to see so much explicit straight sex in a BL story. It's a weird thing to warn for, I guess, but I wish I'd been warned!
I did like the short bonus chapter with Komatsu and that woman meeting up again, years later...although I'm not sure why it seemed like he was paying her the money Ryuichi stole from them both? But it is kinda sad that she was able to brush an attempted reunion with Ryuichi off, while Komatsu fell for it again.
Like I said...realistic. But kind of a bummer. At least it didn't happen to any of the characters I'm a lot more attached to.
So next came Arisaka and Hibiki, in a two-part story that's surprisingly sweet, especially considering how things went down with them in the previous volume. I think they're roughly on the same timeline as Kusakabe and Sajo, since Hibiki is out of school now but still "underage" - which in Japan means 20, the legal drinking/smoking age. (And maybe some other things? I'm not entirely clear on that.)
Anyway, I guess the family objections have been smoothed over, or maybe Hibiki's just moved on. Now we're at the stage of Arisaka coming out to his daughter, who's getting married, is interested in reconnecting with her long-lost father, and apparently had no idea why he'd actually left her mother.
These scenes were...rough. But beautiful. And I hope I get to see more of how it all plays out, because I'd like to see the families joining together a bit more over time. (And seeing her cute nerdy husband!) I got the impression she and Hibiki would get along well, actually, even if it is weird for her dad's new significant other to be closer to her age and male. The thing is, she didn't seem to mind those parts...I think the devastation really came from the fact that she hadn't known this about her father for so many years.
That theme comes up again with Hara and Sorano, after an excellent chapter where Sorano got to reconnect for a bit with his first love, and to show how much he's moved on.
The time jump here has to be a lot longer, because Sorano's been out of school for two years, and he and Hara are finally starting up the physical/romantic relationship they've apparently been waiting five years to begin. Wild. I find it sort of doubtful that Sorano would've actually stayed a virgin all this time, and was Hara waiting for him, too? Interesting. Wouldn't mind learning more. Pretty different from poor Komatsu's mess...
Anyway, there's a really funny bedroom scene with Hara and Sorano, followed by some great emotional stuff, including Hara wanting to come out to his 70 year old dad, and regretting that he never truly knew his mother before she died...and that she definitely didn't know him. One of the last things he remembers her saying was a wish that he'd find happiness - love, which she'd always assumed would be with a woman.
There's an absolutely wrenching line from Komatsu, when Sorano talks to him about this - Sorano doesn't want his parents to know, and argued with Hara about whether it was selfish to tell his dad so late in life.
"When you think about your parents dying without you telling them, without knowing you..." Komatsu says, "with things like that...I feel like it's a betrayal."
Ouch.
Nakamura always has this incredible balance of immense sweetness and gritty realism. Even in the final chapter here with Kusakabe and Sajo recommitting to a life together - a marriage - it's with the understanding that they have to give something up. Sajo can imagine Kusakabe as an incredible, loving father...but if two guys get married, they can't have that future. Not in Japan, not at this point.
Those reminders make me sad. But there are still ways of finding happiness despite those limitations...and while Komatsu might be struggling on the romantic front, at least the other three couples have been making fantastic progress. I loved all their scenes together, and I loved the bits of friendship strewn in, too. Another great installment of this series. Can't wait for the rest.
I was really, really excited about this one, so that naturally turned into nervousness once I actually got my hands on it. After the bad experience of reading (and disliking) Classmates Vol. 4: Sora and Hara in scanlation, then loving it once I had the official copy, I haven't skipped ahead in this series. I have skimmed a few summaries, mostly to make sure there was ultimately a happy ending, but otherwise all of this was totally new to me.
And Nakamura is the type of writer whose works deserve to be savored. For manga, I read this pretty slowly...but it's also a nicely hefty volume, with two packed into one. I'm glad it's published this way in English; I honestly couldn't tell where it would've split, since there's no natural conclusion halfway through.
And the structure is interesting. Our main couple, Kusakabe and Sajo, almost serves as a sideplot. There's no drama in their relationship at this point - which I know is coming in the next (and final?) volume. That's reserved for the other couples, who get a fair amount of page room - and, after Sora and Hara, I actually enjoyed that and wished for even more. (A lot of times, I get annoyed by side couples who take over the storylines. Nakamura balances it so naturally and makes you genuinely care about all of them.)
I'm not completely sure how much time has passed in this volume, and I think it varies by couple. Sajo is still in his first year at university, and all their scenes (serving as section breaks) take place over the course of a single visit of Kusakabe's.
Everything with them is so wonderfully domestic. Some of my favorite parts are silent, simple panels where you see Kusakabe resting his head against Sajo's on the couch, or Sajo nestling up to him in their shared futon at night. Their relationship is so, so lovely.
Although Sajo tells a friend they don't do a whole lot of talking, I don't think that's necessarily true; they might not be chatty, but they do communicate a lot. The thing is, they're great at communicating in person, and it is a bit concerning that they don't see each other that often, or talk on the phone much in between visits - but at this point, it's certainly not hampering their relationship at all. They're more in love than ever, and fully committed to each other. Every scene between the two of them is like this beautiful, shimmering bubble - fragile, maybe, still tender and new, but with the wind carrying it so gently past any dangers, or any greedy, grasping fingers.
It's funny how Sajo is consistently the one in danger of being seduced. You'd think it'd be rock star Kusakabe, but apparently he's busy being relentlessly faithful to his studious glasses-wearing boyfriend, while Sajo obliviously carries on, making people fall in love with him.
I got a bit nervous about the almost kiss, but I'm super happy about the fact that there's really no jealousy between the two of them. They trust each other, and they believe in their relationship. And Sajo is pretty open about it - he quickly tells two of his classmates (a guy and a girl, both of whom pick up crushes on him) about his boyfriend. Kusakabe is surprised when he hears this, then pleased - but mostly overjoyed that Sajo is making friends.
That scene was adorable. Kusakabe is such a good boyfriend, and I'm very glad to see both him and Sajo working to adapt to each other and grow as a couple. I'm a little worried about some hazards on the horizon, but in this volume, all of their scenes are sappy and romantic and wonderful.
So! The other couples. The one kind of weird note, and the reason this isn't a full 5 stars, came early on, with characters I actually dug out earlier volumes to try to remember. Ryuichi is entirely new (I think); Komatsu is Hara's old friend and Sorano's fashion industry coworker. And he, unlike the rest of the characters, has a really terrible dating life.
My goodness is Ryuichi awful.
It is realistic, though. People suck, and dating sucks, and most happily-ever-afters don't come as quickly and easily as a high school sweethearts scenario. It certainly takes much longer for Hara and Arisaka - but I'm not sure if Komatsu's love story is ever going to happen in this series. He claims, anyway, to have given up on that - although it's interesting that he's the only one who's already been out to his parents/family for a while.
Friggin Ryuichi though. This story is told in an initially kind of confusing but ultimately effective flashback format, with Komatsu getting swept off his feet by a hot and deeply dishonest playboy. When they were younger, they spent a weekend (more than that?) in a fancy house owned by some wealthy woman Ryuichi was also sleeping with - and the whole chapter is pretty much him literally going from one to the other. It's not a trio situation, since Komatsu's gay, but any other barriers between the three of them get broken down pretty quickly.
No one's cheating, but this still......isn't something I'm interested in reading, and I certainly didn't expect to see so much explicit straight sex in a BL story. It's a weird thing to warn for, I guess, but I wish I'd been warned!
I did like the short bonus chapter with Komatsu and that woman meeting up again, years later...although I'm not sure why it seemed like he was paying her the money Ryuichi stole from them both? But it is kinda sad that she was able to brush an attempted reunion with Ryuichi off, while Komatsu fell for it again.
Like I said...realistic. But kind of a bummer. At least it didn't happen to any of the characters I'm a lot more attached to.
So next came Arisaka and Hibiki, in a two-part story that's surprisingly sweet, especially considering how things went down with them in the previous volume. I think they're roughly on the same timeline as Kusakabe and Sajo, since Hibiki is out of school now but still "underage" - which in Japan means 20, the legal drinking/smoking age. (And maybe some other things? I'm not entirely clear on that.)
Anyway, I guess the family objections have been smoothed over, or maybe Hibiki's just moved on. Now we're at the stage of Arisaka coming out to his daughter, who's getting married, is interested in reconnecting with her long-lost father, and apparently had no idea why he'd actually left her mother.
These scenes were...rough. But beautiful. And I hope I get to see more of how it all plays out, because I'd like to see the families joining together a bit more over time. (And seeing her cute nerdy husband!) I got the impression she and Hibiki would get along well, actually, even if it is weird for her dad's new significant other to be closer to her age and male. The thing is, she didn't seem to mind those parts...I think the devastation really came from the fact that she hadn't known this about her father for so many years.
That theme comes up again with Hara and Sorano, after an excellent chapter where Sorano got to reconnect for a bit with his first love, and to show how much he's moved on.
The time jump here has to be a lot longer, because Sorano's been out of school for two years, and he and Hara are finally starting up the physical/romantic relationship they've apparently been waiting five years to begin. Wild. I find it sort of doubtful that Sorano would've actually stayed a virgin all this time, and was Hara waiting for him, too? Interesting. Wouldn't mind learning more. Pretty different from poor Komatsu's mess...
Anyway, there's a really funny bedroom scene with Hara and Sorano, followed by some great emotional stuff, including Hara wanting to come out to his 70 year old dad, and regretting that he never truly knew his mother before she died...and that she definitely didn't know him. One of the last things he remembers her saying was a wish that he'd find happiness - love, which she'd always assumed would be with a woman.
There's an absolutely wrenching line from Komatsu, when Sorano talks to him about this - Sorano doesn't want his parents to know, and argued with Hara about whether it was selfish to tell his dad so late in life.
"When you think about your parents dying without you telling them, without knowing you..." Komatsu says, "with things like that...I feel like it's a betrayal."
Ouch.
Nakamura always has this incredible balance of immense sweetness and gritty realism. Even in the final chapter here with Kusakabe and Sajo recommitting to a life together - a marriage - it's with the understanding that they have to give something up. Sajo can imagine Kusakabe as an incredible, loving father...but if two guys get married, they can't have that future. Not in Japan, not at this point.
Those reminders make me sad. But there are still ways of finding happiness despite those limitations...and while Komatsu might be struggling on the romantic front, at least the other three couples have been making fantastic progress. I loved all their scenes together, and I loved the bits of friendship strewn in, too. Another great installment of this series. Can't wait for the rest.
October 28, 2025
LE DIJO QUE IBA A SER UN BUEN PADRE Y LE VOLVIO A PEDIR MATRIMONIO CREO QUE ESTOY MURIENDO
Read
February 24, 2024I'll not be rating this since I only read the chapters with Sajo and Kusakabe. Those parts were cute as all heck. The parts with the teachers n the weird pedo shit... Ew. Skipped those for my health
May 26, 2024
Ten tom podobał mi się najbardziej że wszystkich, chociaż ma swoje wady.
Autorka przedstawia nam dalsze życie bohaterów, których poznaliśmy już w poprzednich tomach i w większości jest to sielanka. Na dosyć małej przestrzeni (lekko ponad 300 stron) dostaliśmy historię czterech par oraz kilku postaci pobocznych, więc nie były jakoś szczególnie rozbudowane. Tylko na tyle, żeby zarysować nam ich dalsze losy.
To, co przeszkadzało mi w tej historii to chronologia. Rozumiem, dlaczego autorka chciała zakończyć cykl rozdziałem o Sajou oraz Kusakabe, ale jednak dostaliśmy też historię Sorano oraz Hary, która działa się ok. pięć lat po poprzednim tomie.
Nie muszę chyba mówić kolejny raz, jak wielką jestem fanką tej kreski oraz historii? Autorka ma niesamowity, niemal poetycki (jak na mangę) styl, dzięki któremu czyta się szybko oraz z wielką przyjemnością.
"O.B." jest idealnym zakończeniem cyklu.
5/5
Instagram: @book.dirtytome
Autorka przedstawia nam dalsze życie bohaterów, których poznaliśmy już w poprzednich tomach i w większości jest to sielanka. Na dosyć małej przestrzeni (lekko ponad 300 stron) dostaliśmy historię czterech par oraz kilku postaci pobocznych, więc nie były jakoś szczególnie rozbudowane. Tylko na tyle, żeby zarysować nam ich dalsze losy.
To, co przeszkadzało mi w tej historii to chronologia. Rozumiem, dlaczego autorka chciała zakończyć cykl rozdziałem o Sajou oraz Kusakabe, ale jednak dostaliśmy też historię Sorano oraz Hary, która działa się ok. pięć lat po poprzednim tomie.
Nie muszę chyba mówić kolejny raz, jak wielką jestem fanką tej kreski oraz historii? Autorka ma niesamowity, niemal poetycki (jak na mangę) styl, dzięki któremu czyta się szybko oraz z wielką przyjemnością.
"O.B." jest idealnym zakończeniem cyklu.
5/5
Instagram: @book.dirtytome
January 20, 2024
"I know I'm going to make you happy."
Reread 2024: My rating of this is literally one for the Sajo and Kusakabe chapters (and chapter three). I skipped the other couples because those age gaps disgust me <3
I am so in love with this and this preview of their domestic life. I love them so much and their love and them as individual characters. I love how Kusakabe is just content to be near Sajo when he's busy. Like yeah, the hurt is there too and especially when he has to leave, but I love that he wasn't like mean about it? He's such a good guy and I'm so glad that they have each other.
I could go on forever about Kusakabe, but also when he just keeps reassuring Sajo that this relationship is what he wants. That Sajo is what he wants. It makes my heart so warm and glowy and I fully believe in him as well. Nakamura's art style really drives it home as well because the expressions on the character's faces are always so perfect.
Spoiler section of me shouting about them being in love:
Something about this series though that I find so strange is that everyone seems to always fall for Sajo? Like in this volume we have a whole chapter dedicated to one of Sajo's friends from college and his perspective of their relationship and him definitely having a crush, but it's so weird? Like why? It just puts me off as a reader because of the whole Hara-Sensei thing and then this. Like, despite this series being almost an even split between the two in the relationship, I can feel that the author likes Sajo more and his plot more than Kusakabe. I liked the chapter though, it's just weird to me.
Reread 2024: My rating of this is literally one for the Sajo and Kusakabe chapters (and chapter three). I skipped the other couples because those age gaps disgust me <3
I am so in love with this and this preview of their domestic life. I love them so much and their love and them as individual characters. I love how Kusakabe is just content to be near Sajo when he's busy. Like yeah, the hurt is there too and especially when he has to leave, but I love that he wasn't like mean about it? He's such a good guy and I'm so glad that they have each other.
I could go on forever about Kusakabe, but also when he just keeps reassuring Sajo that this relationship is what he wants. That Sajo is what he wants. It makes my heart so warm and glowy and I fully believe in him as well. Nakamura's art style really drives it home as well because the expressions on the character's faces are always so perfect.
Spoiler section of me shouting about them being in love:
Something about this series though that I find so strange is that everyone seems to always fall for Sajo? Like in this volume we have a whole chapter dedicated to one of Sajo's friends from college and his perspective of their relationship and him definitely having a crush, but it's so weird? Like why? It just puts me off as a reader because of the whole Hara-Sensei thing and then this. Like, despite this series being almost an even split between the two in the relationship, I can feel that the author likes Sajo more and his plot more than Kusakabe. I liked the chapter though, it's just weird to me.
Read
January 18, 2023I wanted to wait a few hours and think about a review for this volume because of how different it was from the previous ones.
Disclaimer, I did not read Volume 4 I had no interest whatsoever, my biggest gripe with this series is the student teacher dynamics, and if you read any other review of this series I've done then you would know I want to be a teacher.
Now I thought I would skip a few stories, but I read them all. I was only really iffy with Arisaka/Hibiki and Hara/Sorano. I think I like Sorano as a character, but his relationship with Hara just creeps me out because Hara is just creepy. Arisaka doesn't make sexual advances on his students, at least from what I saw unlike Hara, and that is what I think makes Arisaka/Hibiki a more tame and to some acceptable.
If we were to talk history these relationships are not uncommon. Older men with younger men has been seen through out history. Young adult men would have sexual or romantic relationships with older men in part because of how small the community was, in some cases the only other gay man you may have met could have been at least ten years older than you. This is also seen in history with straight couples. Age gaps are not abnormal or inherently wrong, what is wrong is an adult in a position of power having a relationship with a younger person that they have power over. In other words, a grown ass adult and a child is just wrong.
Teacher/student relationships are a terrible and old trope that needs to disappear. It also can be extremely harmful as it puts in the minds of readers that these relationships are normal and that it is normal especially between gay men. It could be used to silence victims of child sexual abuse or give an out to their abuser. While Nakamura creates a story that is amazing and really makes me feel wonderful, I think she could have left out Hara or made him simply a supportive gay teacher, that may not be out, but could guide his students, instead of a creepy pervert.
The other stories though were just fabulous, I don't have much to say about them. I do wish though that Kusakabe and Sajo did end up taking a bath together, I mean it was set up and everything. You can definitely see how this series has become more adult since the boys left high school, and I like it. I think the stories with Sajo and Kusakabe portray a fairly health and stable relationship. Also the art is just so magnificent. I love slender long limbs, and pointed edges in my manga.
Disclaimer, I did not read Volume 4 I had no interest whatsoever, my biggest gripe with this series is the student teacher dynamics, and if you read any other review of this series I've done then you would know I want to be a teacher.
Now I thought I would skip a few stories, but I read them all. I was only really iffy with Arisaka/Hibiki and Hara/Sorano. I think I like Sorano as a character, but his relationship with Hara just creeps me out because Hara is just creepy. Arisaka doesn't make sexual advances on his students, at least from what I saw unlike Hara, and that is what I think makes Arisaka/Hibiki a more tame and to some acceptable.
If we were to talk history these relationships are not uncommon. Older men with younger men has been seen through out history. Young adult men would have sexual or romantic relationships with older men in part because of how small the community was, in some cases the only other gay man you may have met could have been at least ten years older than you. This is also seen in history with straight couples. Age gaps are not abnormal or inherently wrong, what is wrong is an adult in a position of power having a relationship with a younger person that they have power over. In other words, a grown ass adult and a child is just wrong.
Teacher/student relationships are a terrible and old trope that needs to disappear. It also can be extremely harmful as it puts in the minds of readers that these relationships are normal and that it is normal especially between gay men. It could be used to silence victims of child sexual abuse or give an out to their abuser. While Nakamura creates a story that is amazing and really makes me feel wonderful, I think she could have left out Hara or made him simply a supportive gay teacher, that may not be out, but could guide his students, instead of a creepy pervert.
The other stories though were just fabulous, I don't have much to say about them. I do wish though that Kusakabe and Sajo did end up taking a bath together, I mean it was set up and everything. You can definitely see how this series has become more adult since the boys left high school, and I like it. I think the stories with Sajo and Kusakabe portray a fairly health and stable relationship. Also the art is just so magnificent. I love slender long limbs, and pointed edges in my manga.
September 22, 2022
3.75.
A good end!!!
I’m so happy the author went this direction, the years later approach. Though I still find the 2 adult/teenager relationships creepy as all hell, she did the VERY least, and aged everyone up.
Again, the absolute best aspect of this series is Sajo and Kusakabe. I wish the side stories weren’t a thing, I don’t really care for these other characters, though I like their designs. Sajo and Kusakabe’s story is a 5 star overall, though more slice of life, I adore it. The first manga is still objectively the best, though. The movie is a comfort movie for me, I’ve watched it so many times.
A fine series, with major ups and downs (please don’t read Hara and Sora), and a better end than I was expecting.
A good end!!!
I’m so happy the author went this direction, the years later approach. Though I still find the 2 adult/teenager relationships creepy as all hell, she did the VERY least, and aged everyone up.
Again, the absolute best aspect of this series is Sajo and Kusakabe. I wish the side stories weren’t a thing, I don’t really care for these other characters, though I like their designs. Sajo and Kusakabe’s story is a 5 star overall, though more slice of life, I adore it. The first manga is still objectively the best, though. The movie is a comfort movie for me, I’ve watched it so many times.
A fine series, with major ups and downs (please don’t read Hara and Sora), and a better end than I was expecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2023
5 estrellas para los capítulos de sajou y kusakabe, siempre. La forma en que su relación ha madurado y ver a sajou cada vez más abierto y expresivo me llena el alma🥹 Y EL FINAL POR DIOS, ESTOY LLORANDO MUCHO
bno, ahora si. DETESTO a Arisaka (bala y al río), Sora no podría chuparme más un huevo (aunque la reunión con su amigo/ex-crush me gustó), y cada vez que Hara siquiera asoma la cara genuinamente quiero arrancarme los ojos, sus capítulos se me hacen tan tediosos que solo los ojeo para ver si el asqueroso menciona a Sajou. Komatsu y Ryuichi fue interesante tho, definitivamente me gustaría ver más de Koma y su desarrollo.
bno, ahora si. DETESTO a Arisaka (bala y al río), Sora no podría chuparme más un huevo (aunque la reunión con su amigo/ex-crush me gustó), y cada vez que Hara siquiera asoma la cara genuinamente quiero arrancarme los ojos, sus capítulos se me hacen tan tediosos que solo los ojeo para ver si el asqueroso menciona a Sajou. Komatsu y Ryuichi fue interesante tho, definitivamente me gustaría ver más de Koma y su desarrollo.
June 7, 2023
5tags1rec:
short stories in shared universe - growing together - navigating a relationship - adult life is hard - teacher and student romantic relationships
(still, hara-sen and that side story can die in a ditch. I really like him in the role of supporting teacher for the main couple, but that teacher-student stuff is just not at all navigated in ways I find well done, much less appealing.)
short stories in shared universe - growing together - navigating a relationship - adult life is hard - teacher and student romantic relationships
(still, hara-sen and that side story can die in a ditch. I really like him in the role of supporting teacher for the main couple, but that teacher-student stuff is just not at all navigated in ways I find well done, much less appealing.)
November 14, 2024
This manga had me feeling the full spectrum of emotions. Kusakabe and Sajo had me smiling and happy, and also a little sad because they're currently long-distance. But the thing is, they're making it work. Despite feeling lonely and missing each other, they love each other and are so happy when they're together that you know its all worth it. You know there is a time in the future, soon but not soon enough, when they'll be able to be together all the time. They are looking forward to that, and we as readers are looking forward to it too. Honestly, this couple was a balm to the soul.
Other couples were visited, and while I don't love them as much, it was nice to see them too. Then there was one "couple" that was so messed up. I was like, "No, this is toxic. Please don't fall back into his trap. Love yourself!"I was happy that they only had one chapter dedicated to their story. I get that its good, showing different love stories. This chapter didn't feel like a love story though, it felt more like a cautionary tale.
I've already requested the next volume. I hope we get more of Kusakabe and Sajo.
Other couples were visited, and while I don't love them as much, it was nice to see them too. Then there was one "couple" that was so messed up. I was like, "No, this is toxic. Please don't fall back into his trap. Love yourself!"I was happy that they only had one chapter dedicated to their story. I get that its good, showing different love stories. This chapter didn't feel like a love story though, it felt more like a cautionary tale.
I've already requested the next volume. I hope we get more of Kusakabe and Sajo.
February 17, 2024
This was a very long Manga and it felt long to me. The author covered all these couples from past stories in this and I think it would have been better if it was focused on our main characters. I do enjoy their story.
They have graduated high school and now they are in the real world. One is in a band and the other is in University and very busy. When they get to be together they are more comfortable with each other. It's simply daily life stuff they are showing and it's very sweet and wonderful. I love how they take care of each other.
There other arcs were fine, but I really didn't need them. I hope the story gets more focused in the future. I know there is at least one more volume.
They have graduated high school and now they are in the real world. One is in a band and the other is in University and very busy. When they get to be together they are more comfortable with each other. It's simply daily life stuff they are showing and it's very sweet and wonderful. I love how they take care of each other.
There other arcs were fine, but I really didn't need them. I hope the story gets more focused in the future. I know there is at least one more volume.
January 1, 2025
Компилация от кратки истории с различни двойки. Повечето историйки обаче са свързани с Кусакабе и Саджо. Малко е нетипично усещането, че вече живеят в съвсем нов свят, светът на "възрастните". Остават себе си, но видимо оставят усещането у читателя, че са пораснали. В историите им имаше доста топлина и искреност, което като цяло беше най-важното.
Сора продължава да ми е далечен, въпреки че Хара сега изглежда не чак толкова депресиран.
Арисака някак не ми допада, нещо в характера му ми липсва. Забавно е все пак как Хибики е от онзи тип герои, които приличат на наемни убийци, но всъщност се занимават с творческа дейност, тъй да се каже - готвене :D
Останалите герои, които видяхме, са ми доста по-далечни и към тях като цяло май не чувствам нищо конкретно.
Сора продължава да ми е далечен, въпреки че Хара сега изглежда не чак толкова депресиран.
Арисака някак не ми допада, нещо в характера му ми липсва. Забавно е все пак как Хибики е от онзи тип герои, които приличат на наемни убийци, но всъщност се занимават с творческа дейност, тъй да се каже - готвене :D
Останалите герои, които видяхме, са ми доста по-далечни и към тях като цяло май не чувствам нищо конкретно.
February 15, 2023
Meh. Like I felt when I read Sora & Hara, this series has really lost its luster for me. The moments between Sajo and Kusakabe are sweet but not enough. And really, most of this omnibus is actually the side stories and I confess, I didn't even read them because I do not care about the two illegal pairings between teacher and underage student (even if I think everyone's at least a legal adult in these side stories) or the explicitly sexual one. This one for me was just really dull.
January 15, 2024
4.5 stars
I literally love Sajo and Kusakabe so much and they were in this volume a lot more than the last so it got 4.5 stars rather than 3. I would've given it 5 but it's the fact that the age gap couples were in this volume as well that made it be less. I literally love that Sajo and Kusakabe are going to get married at 20 I think that's just absolutely adorable and that's the next volume which I am so excited for 🤭
I literally love Sajo and Kusakabe so much and they were in this volume a lot more than the last so it got 4.5 stars rather than 3. I would've given it 5 but it's the fact that the age gap couples were in this volume as well that made it be less. I literally love that Sajo and Kusakabe are going to get married at 20 I think that's just absolutely adorable and that's the next volume which I am so excited for 🤭
February 16, 2025
i maybe or maybe did not skip some chapters bc i skipped the volume before this one... erm sorry i do NOT care about that teacher and his love story... esp since i heard he got together with a high schooler uhhh yikes... also i didnt even know who half the people were omg... you skip one volume and suddenly 373738 people were introduced... oh well
November 17, 2025
Super happy to read more about the main couple from the original 3 volumes! While I don’t care for the teacher, I like the model’s story. Also, I don’t really care about the baker and teacher…..
I almost forgot! By the way, in my honest opinion, the fashion designer’s backstory is pathetic and gross. I hated his story! (╯°益°)╯彡┻━┻
I almost forgot! By the way, in my honest opinion, the fashion designer’s backstory is pathetic and gross. I hated his story! (╯°益°)╯彡┻━┻
March 29, 2019
3.5/5
This volume explores the relationship between the main characters post-high school when they live in different cities. Their story is very satisfying and very sweet, as always.
This volume features multiple spin-offs between other characters. I enjoyed a few, and didn't enjoy a few so much (urg that damn teacher). I mostly cared about the protagonists and would have liked even more of them.
NB: This volume is definitely in the "adult" age range. There is explicit sexual content.
This volume explores the relationship between the main characters post-high school when they live in different cities. Their story is very satisfying and very sweet, as always.
This volume features multiple spin-offs between other characters. I enjoyed a few, and didn't enjoy a few so much (urg that damn teacher). I mostly cared about the protagonists and would have liked even more of them.
NB: This volume is definitely in the "adult" age range. There is explicit sexual content.
July 11, 2023
Only reason I’m giving it four star and not five is because some of the other stories make me uncomfortable and the only reason it has four star is because of the main couple I love them together they are cute af.
February 1, 2025
"I saw him walking with a guy with fluffy blond hair. It wasn't just his neck. His skin and even the air he breathed out seemed colored a faint pink."
All I can say is, Alexa play No. 1 Party Anthem.
All I can say is, Alexa play No. 1 Party Anthem.
December 1, 2019
Son tan bonitos que me muero.
February 8, 2020
D'aaaaaaawwww
June 27, 2022
4.5/5
July 12, 2022
4.5 really good
Read
July 18, 2022brb sobbing
I can't wait to see hikaru and rihito get married in blanc
I can't wait to see hikaru and rihito get married in blanc
July 25, 2022
I really like Kusukabe & Sajo, I just REALLY wish we didn’t have to put up with side stories about teachers dating their students.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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