Midnight Rain

by CTK

Life’s struggles bring two men together as they teach one another trust, acceptance, and how to love again.

Ethan lives a monotonous life trying to pay off his crippling debt—until the day Mike appears at the neighborhood laundromat looking the worse for wear. Both men find themselves struggling in different ways to go on, and it’s these struggles that bring them together in the throes of passion while simultaneously threatening to tear them apart.

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

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it was alright, even decent. But it's nothing extraordinary..

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Ethan (looking adorably at Mike in the restaurant after getting into a fight with hooligans): He looks like a pissed off hamster.


I mean 😂😂😂😂 they are so damn serious. But also so damn hilarious.

And then too damn cute together!!!!

I just love this manga so much!

Two strangers living life without a care in the world because both are tired of living. Their lives are in danger.
Mike living like a homeless engaging in fights dealing with dealers and the like.
Ethan almost on the verge of giving up on his monotonous life trying to working to pay off a huge debt.

They met by chance in the worse circumstances when Mike got injured after a fight.

Ethan is goofy while Mike is just too serious and insecure. Because who lets a stranger stay in their house for free without expecting anything in return, right?!


But of course, they made a pact to care of each other .... and I ended up going all gooey because they are so damn cute together!!!


I love the artstyle so much!!!!!


All those facial expressions are so damn good 😄😍😭


Love love love!!!!

***This:

(Mike, not enjoying a movie, said things on their first day out together after watching a movie chosen by Ethan saying this)

Mike: Hey, um, did I hurt your feelings?
...I told you from the start...that I have a sharp tongue... You knew that, right?
...I was complaining before, but it wasn't completely terrible.
Also, the popcorn was tasty.

(Me: 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 knowing what kind of a person Mike is and him saying this!)

Ethan: (speechless)

(Me: I know that look 😆😆😅😅😆😆)

[Emna · Rating 4 out of 5]

AT.THE.SAME.DAMN.TIME... next question 🤭

[Sera Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yaoi with mature adults? Yas please

[L Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something special about a BL involving older men and this was no exception. It turned out much better than I expected and I'm glad I read it even though I had no idea what it was about or if I'd even like it.

The MCs are a bit of a mess. There isn't anything happy or bright about either of them or the situations they find themselves in. Ethan has been living a lonely existence, struggling to pay off his father's crippling debt and Mike seems to be caught up in a cycle of violence and crime that causes him to alienate everyone around him.

They find each other at a time when both are at a crossroads. How bad does life have to be before one decides that it isn't worth living anymore? Can a stranger, with more than enough issues of their own, be a lifeline?

I loved everything about this: the dreariness of the setting, the grittiness of the apartment, how desperately Ethan wanted Mike to be in his life, and how in the end their life situations didn't really change that much but they weren't alone anymore. They could face those problems together. 🥲 It was so so good. 5 stars

[spalanai ⛤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

not beating the stereotypes i really be reading any gay shit at 3 am

[hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

this needed to be more than just a one shot 😭
absolutely loved the art and the mature vibes though

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looooved it. The art style is absolutely gorgeous, the story was gritty and honest, Ethan and Mike are hot as hell (and precious little beans), and I was left with a huge smile on my face at the end.

[Daesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The drawings were quite sexy!!! The story had some drama, but was good.

[Julieta Belmonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posta que de los mejores mangas que leí en la vida.

Mike es un tipo que se vive matando a golpes con otros, un tipo duro con una vida aún más dura. Y en esa es apuñalado por unos pandilleros en medio de la noche (y bajo la lluvia) Quizás, por cosas del destino o porque estar a punto de morir hace cosas extrañas en uno terminó en la puerta de Ethan, un tipo que también tiene un pasado y presente oscuro. Así es como ellos empiezan a vivir juntos y aunque Mike no quiere involucrarse demasiado termina hasta las manos con Ethan y este con él.

No es un manga para todos porque lo cierto es que toca temas muy fuertes como el pensamiento de suicidarse pero es muy bueno como CTK le va a dando ese toque típico de sus mangas. Aparte los dibujos querida son lo más.

[MaDoReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sería un 2* más bien, pero estoy generosa y el dibujo de CTK es maravilloso.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5? Tak naprawdę jest to re-read. Kreska strasznie mi się podoba i jest ona głównym powodem, dla którego postanowiłem przeczytać tę mangę. Szczególnie trochę bardziej nietypowe designy postaci. Jeden z bohaterów ma nawet włosy na klacie! Historia mogłaby się jednak obyć bez niepotrzebnej yaoicowej przemocy seksualnej na początku (przynajmniej bohaterowie się odnoszą do tego jako czegoś niepoprawnego). Natomiast jeśli to zignorować to relacja rozwija się całkiem przyjemnie. Taki trochę fluffowy angst.

Edit: Czytane po raz trzeci, tym razem w polskim wydaniu, które kupiłem przede wszystkim dla kreski.

[Marureviere · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

[❄️BooksofRadiance❄️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super cheesy dialogue + horrible/vague art style.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It was an everyday occurrence for me to run into trouble because of my intimidating face and my blunt personality.”

Empecé este manga porque el otro día lo encontré una tienda de casualidad, me gustó su sinopsis y decidí apuntarlo porque es justo lo que necesito ahora mismo: historias muy ligeras que me hagan oxigenar un poco el cerebro, el pobre últimamente no da para mucho.

Me lo leí en menos de un suspiro. En general, no me ha parecido mala. Puntos a favor tengo que en un solo tomo ha sabido desarrollar decentemente el argumento, aunque si es cierto que se nos puede quedar un poco corto para algunos. Para mí, inicia y cierra de forma natural.

“The smell of trash and terrible injuies that done even have time to heal before they multiply. I’ve gotten used to living a life that belongs in a low-budget road movie. ”

También me ha gustado que sean dos personas adultas y no jóvenes. Siento que esto también le da un poco de realismo a la historia y no se me hace tan raro leerlos.

“There is no such thing as kindness without expecting anything in return”.

Ahora en cuanto a puntos negativos, es algo que siempre sucede con este tipo de historias: hay ciertas escenas que se podrían catalogar de “abuso” independientemente que tengan luego represalias y remordimientos del mismo. Las veo bastante innecesarias para mi gusto. Podría hacerme una historia perfectamente sana sin este tipo de escenas o giros de guion.

En conclusión, ha estado bastante decente y me lo he pasado bien. Tampoco pido mucho más, solo dejarme descansar.

“Are you afraid of being happy? ”

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the day that Ethan wished to die, a delinquent came to his doorstep almost crawling, beaten within an inch of his life, which gave him a newfound purpose in life. That is if Mike, the deliquent, will stay with him in the place that they'll soon call home...

One hunk, one bad boy (I kinda love this couple archetype), I was so sure though that it's going to be two hunks, such a shame, I was actually looking forward to that after seeing the cover (I need to see one, but destiny hasn't been that good to me lately.)

I can't even begin to tell you how I love everything about this but the humor-dressed violence is kinda off-putting, I was actually kinda sad for Ethan, although, I mean they're thugs, they talk with their fists so maybe it's some kind of social agreement that we just don't get. But everything else made for it, especially the nice art style! I remembered a specific Niyama manga, a series about police that I read last January, that looked like Ethan which is a favorite of mine too.

I'll give this treat a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I'm hoping for a sequel!!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a melancholy but ultimately hopeful story of two men in difficult, and often dangerous, circumstances. They meet and see something in each other that makes them seek out the other for help and companionship. There's a desperation in their relationship that speaks volumes about their loneliness, but they also have some really cute and sweet moments, plus some steamy ones. Together they choose to walk a new path. I love that this manga focuses on older characters, and even though we don't get more than a small glimpse in their lives, it's a memorable one.

[♡ layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

save me old man yaoi save me

[Nyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old men yaoi my beloved 🫠 this was such a good read, nothing new but for some reason i really liked the characters

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warning for violence, suicidal ideation, and sexual assault.

Every month, for 10 years and 3 months, Ethan has been paying off a debt to local mafia. He has about three more years left, at the rate he's going, but the thought doesn't excite him because he has no idea what sort of life he can even look forward to living. He's at his lowest when Mike, a guy he'd recently met at the neighborhood laundromat, shows up at his doorstep bleeding all over the place.

This isn't the kind of story where much happens - the focus is on Ethan and Mike's developing relationship and their efforts to deal with the baggage they're carrying around, at least enough to let someone else in. Mike is rough around the edges, to put it mildly, and gets into fights as easy as breathing. It probably doesn't help that he has resting tough guy face. On the surface, Ethan is easier to deal with. He's always pleasant, friendly, and welcoming towards Mike, despite the fact that Mike growls at him constantly.

This was an impulse purchase, which is usually not a good thing when it comes to BL. I didn't read any reviews before adding it to my shopping cart! What if it had been rapey and horrifying?

To be honest, the start of Ethan and Mike's relationship did have some moments that tend to be red flags for me. For example, while patching Mike up after a fight that left him with a stab wound, Ethan gives Mike medication for a cut in his mouth and gets so turned on that he gives Mike a nonconsensual handjob. Mike gets understandably pissed off, and yeah, Ethan is horrified by his own behavior but he still did it. Mike eventually beats Ethan up and leaves, which, combined with the volume's hint of "injuries are hot," seemed to indicate that I was going to be in for a bleak and abusive BL. 

At least from my perspective, this did get better and become surprisingly sweet. Part of it, I think, was that their next sex scene was entirely consensual and, in fact, initiated by Mike. And Ethan did seem to genuinely worry about Mike. Anyway, your mileage may vary, but somehow this managed to win me over. 

Mike as the grumpy one and Ethan as the sunshiny one really worked for me. I enjoyed it when Ethan openly expressed relief and happiness that Mike hadn't left yet, and when grumpy-faced Mike worried that he was causing problems for Ethan. One thing I wish had been included somewhere in the volume: a scene in which Ethan noticed the mold removal work that Mike did in his apartment. (Oh, the weird things that can make me feel mushy.)

CTK's art style really appealed to me. Character facial expressions were perfect, particularly in the more sweet and/or funny moments.

Extras:

One full-color illustration, an afterword by the author (thank goodness this volume wasn't as bleak and dark as CTK originally intended it to be), a funny one-panel comic based on the cover art, and the floor plan of Ethan's place. My favorite comment from the author: "There's a lot of facial hair in this manga. Please enjoy." Heh.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[epilogtrzynasty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 Po czasie stwierdzam, że absolutnie nie obchodzi mnie ta historia.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This manga was as generic as its title. You know how yaoi will sometimes try to have a plot, but the author really can't write one, so they try too hard, and it would have been better if they'd just disregarded their poor attempt at a story and wrote a PWP? Yeah, that's this.

I liked that the characters aren't high school teens. The thing is, you don't ever find out WHO they are. One has mysterious debt, and one is mysteriously attacked by gangs every time he shows his face outside. So they kind of hide out together and patch up each other's wounds every time someone comes home beat up. And that's it. That's the plot.

This book also used a trope I hate, and that's the macho, homophobic character that insists he isn't gay but he'll have sex with this guy anyway, cause why not.

The art was pretty good EXCEPT during the sex scenes, because it was so close-up and zoomed-in that I couldn't tell if I was looking at an arm or a leg most of the time.

The final "confessions" scene lacked any emotion for me because I did not like these characters or believe their relationship was a good one.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein BL mit zwei erwachsenen Charakteren, die auch ziemlich echt und nicht kindisch rüberkommen - GASP!
Es gibt zwar nicht suuuper viel Story, aber das wenige, was vorhanden ist, ist sehr süß. Allerdings geht es hier auch ums Thema Suizid, wer das nicht haben kann, sollte hier nen BOgen drum machen, auch wenn alles positiv ausgeht und auch nix dargestellt wird.
Die beiden Chars (die def. einen großen Agegap haben, vermute ich), sind ziemlich erwachsen und ihre Reaktionen sind sehr nachvollziehbar bei allem. Der Ältere, der versucht, sich wieder ein Leben aufzubauen und an dem Jüngeren hängt, und der Jüngere, der sich bloß nicht binden will, weil der andere Schulden hat.
Dazu liebe ich noch den Zeichenstil von CTK.

[Taelyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more BL with older Mature men, I loved the art and loved the characters.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*More of a 3.5*

Ethan is living a dull life, just trying to get by as he pays off his crippling debt. One day there's a break in his monotony when he runs into Mike at the laundromat looking very beat up. Due to circumstances the men get closer and end up living together. Both have struggles that bring them together, but also threaten to rip them apart.

where to read/ buy your copy

There's just something about bl involving older men falling in love that I'm just really into and CTK provides that. Although just like a previous work I've read by them it wasn't enough for me. I enjoyed this, but I can't help but feel like it's missing something. I just wanted more from their pasts, their relationship and just everything. I need another volume. Based on the things we learn about both of them and the way their relationship progressed it just feels like it should be more. Their relationship moves pretty quickly and there was a lot of back and forth that I personally felt like there wasn't enough of them together. I liked what I read and the art was great. I just need another volume or something.

[Ylva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the art style and will definitively pick up anything else translated to english by CTK.

The story was melancholy yet somehow still optimistic. I even liked the vaguely western setting, which I usually finds fall flat for me in a lot of manga. Ethan and Mike made it work. Perhaps because the plot is very bare-bones, and the whole volume is about the interactions of the main characters over fairly short time.

[Angi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much liked this dark love story.

[Eris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like he tian × little mo adult story . Totally like it .

[Vlad Lyssenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

was some of the dialogue a bit cringe?
yes
was the story pretty simple?
yes
but did one of the main characters have huge hairy pecs?
absolutely yes

[Lainy122 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah broken boys finding love together - my heart! Aside from a single consent issue towards the start that is addressed appropriately (a punch to the face and genuine remorse from the respective parties), I enjoyed this immensely.
Grumpy/Sunshine is absolutely my jam.