Aoki is dating Ida, a boy in his class. In order to buy Ida a birthday present, Aoki started working part-time, but now it seems Ida doesn’t want Aoki to spend his hard-earned money on him. What’s a boyfriend to do?!
Representation: queer demiromantic Japanese protagonist, queer demiromantic Japanese secondary character, Japanese secondary and tertiary characters.
Content Warning: anxiety, fatphobia, bullying.
This manga is just so beautiful. I am so invested in the story and I cannot wait to keep on reading it in the next volumes. I also really hope the mangaka decides to keep it going and we eventually get to see Aoki and Ida as university students!
I love this so much , the characters are all so sweet and Interesting , the background couple is as sweet as the main . Their dynamic is so nice , very much a "found family" trope. Loved it , I'm impatient for what is to follow.
Now that his job has given him the money, Aoki can finally have presents of mind when it comes to Ida’s birthday. But what of Saionji, his coworker who’s crushing on him? Yes, what about her… Elsewhile, Aida pops the question to Hashimoto, but he might get popped in return if he isn’t careful.
The mix-ups continue in another volume of the little series that could. Despite my continued dislike of its concept of ‘face game’, this is one mighty good shojo series that knows to travel a path slightly less taken and is all the better for it.
Big props to the way the entire Saionji situation gets handled, with the hilarious revelation that Aoki’s sense of self is pretty inflated and Ida’s ability to read people extends beyond his blatant and obvious boyfriend.
Basically, this volume just nails it in the characterization department. Saionji isn’t a tsundere, she’s a classic hard-ass who means well. Aoki and Ida butt heads over kissing and Aoki rediscovers a dream that he’d been shamed into abandoning.
The boys are basically just flirty as all hell and that includes trying to figure out their approach to kissing, which involves revelations from Ida’s past and the two of them harassing the heck out of their poor, harried friend.
As for Hashimoto, she gets what she wants and just as quickly throws it aside, when Aida turns out to be one of those boys who can’t admit his own feelings with any forthrightness. His haughty demeanour hiding his bevy of insecurities is classic male machismo, just distilled down to its important bits.
Hashimoto’s quiet strength can’t be understated - she finally has everything, yet won’t accept it if it isn’t being given with a reasonable amount of sincerity. And that’s not quite Aida’s department. That’s such a good turn for Hashimoto as a character and really colours her in a new light that I really enjoyed.
So, when she breaks things off because she doesn’t feel like she’s been valued, believable. Of course, Aida’s attitude has been hiding how much he cares about Hashimoto and now he has to figure out how to express that properly.
This probably scores the biggest laugh of the volume when it becomes clear just how under thumb Aida is in a relationship and how he can’t stop being a posturing ninny around his guy friends (nor can he manage to say anything without being overheard).
It’s all strong all ‘round, from the looming romance struggles to plans for the future (Ida’s career path is ridiculously straightforward) and all the great character moments. It’s a really strong volume of something that’s really just grown on me a lot over time.
4.5 stars - oh, go on, have your full score, you silly series. Damn those faces, but everything else here was an absolute treat this time out. Maybe not outstanding, but consistent from top to bottom.
A busy volume, covering the romantic rival introduced last volume, a romantic relationship among the secondary characters, and more slow progression in the main relationship. It's all quite cute, but it's also starting to feel like it is biding time with tropes -- birthdays, White Day, college selection -- as the teens enter their final year of high school.
The last line is, "It feels like we've got a long road ahead of us," but thankfully the series ends with the three volumes I now have on hand from the library. Seems like it's is going to wrap up before it has a chance to sabotage itself by sticking around past its prime (I'm looking at you Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You and Komi Can't Communicate).
Aoki is ready for Ida to do more than hold his hand. Will Aida get up the nerve to make the first move or will Aoki have to be the one to initiate again? Also, as a third year, it’s time for Aoki to start thinking about his future. What does he want to study and where? And how will that impact his relationship? This was a cute volume that had some slight forward momentum for our sweet couple.
If Kieta Hatsukoi has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Kieta Hatsukoi has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Kieta Hatsukoi has only one fan then that is me. If Kieta Hatsukoi has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Kieta Hatsukoi, then I am against the world.
I like that Aoki and Ida just really - had their communication sorted. The fact that Ida is not someone that is very expressive of his feelings but only to Aoki makes it cuter :')
Todos han tenido un crecimiento tan bonito. Realmente se nota lo mucho que han evolucionado y aprendido más sobre sí mismos ♡ es tan terapéutico leer este manga 🤧💕 me encantan todos los personajes, hasta los secundarios o que solo aparecen por un rato. Mi fav es Ida, por supuesto ^^
I love the development so much. The character dynamics are top-notch. The art style is hilarious and cute! This series just couldn't go wrong. It never gets boring and it's so easy to read. But we'll have to see what becomes of volume 7. I'm so excited!
Aoki and Ida are now dating. Aoki finally got his paycheck and can buy Ida's birthday present but Ida doesn't want a present so what does Aoki do he buys a present anyways, but is it really for Ida? These two boys are so nerves when it comes to their relationship but are still super flirty and work with each other to figure out how to approach different things in their relationship.
Poor Saionji has feelings for her boss even though he's engaged, but she also seems to have feelings for Aoki. She's really not a bad person like she was portrayed as but just a normal girl who works hard and is confused about her feelings.
The relationship between Hashimoto and Aida annoyed me because she always gets what she wants but then throws it away because she has no self-confidence. Aida really does care about her but has a very shitty way of showing it because he doesn't know how to show how he cares about people.
This volume shows the growth of all of the characters and shows them planning for the future.
Mametaro is adorable with his new collar and the best bonus to this series.
avete presente la felicità, la gioia di leggere qualcosa che vi fa stare bene, vi fa sentire come se al mondo non esista nient’altro che amore e immensa pace per l’anima e il cuore? ecco, questo manga. Una coccola che al 100% vi farà bene, la vostra vitamina B