Der Metalhead von nebenan

by Mamita, マミタ, Katharina Schmölders (translator)

Im tiefsten Winter wird Kento kurz vor seiner Wohnung vom Schneesturm niedergerungen. Als er wieder zu sich kommt, kniet schon der Sensenmann neben ihm, um ihn ins Totenreich zu begleiten … denkt er. Doch schnell erkennt Kento, dass es sich bei der düsteren Gestalt um seinen Nachbarn Soshi handelt, einen liebenswerten Metalhead. Zwischen Kento und seinem Retter entsteht eine enge Freundschaft, bis Kento eines Abends von seinen Gefühlen für Soshi übermannt wird und alles aufs Spiel setzt …

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

218 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2020

About the author

Mamita (マミタ) is a Japanese manga author of BL genre.

Reviews

[Celes · Rating 4 out of 5]

ESTUVE A PUNTO DE LLORAR AJDKJDDK IMAGINATE DECIR “AH SI MI VECINO METALERO? YO LLORE CON ESE”

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

first of all, if yk my reading taste, i'm usually more into the emotional/angst/dark side of romance and i need to be in the right mood for a cute, lighthearted one; however, i'm starting to think i don't have a preference when it comes to (romance) mangas but, for BL romance mangas, the cute and wholesome ones are definitely my cup of tea. it just brings me so much comfort and serotonin—something i've come to realize with the ones i've been binging recently.

i adored both Kento and Soushi, but i have a soft spot for Soushi bc he was so relatable yet adorable at the same time. 🥺 one thing i wish was done differently was the telling over showing from the end of ch 1 to the beginning of ch 2. we were supposed to believe these two had bonded over the course of one year but, when i turned to ch 2... it was already a year later?? i'm disappointed we were robbed of their cute moments, especially bc that could have been used as a progression when it came to showing how close they had gotten during that year of being neighbors and sharing meals together. bc of that, it did feel like the romance in the last chapter was rushed.

i loved this regardless bc their interactions were just so... cute and wholesome. literally brought a smile to my face whenever they interacted. i'd recommend this if you want a manga filled with warmth and comfort. <3

[Angel (๑❛ᴗ˂̵)〜☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

we have a wholesome start! kento b like: the cold never bothered me anw~ but hes not elsa so he almost froze to death LOL
socially awkward metal fan x puppy-like person that doesn't have money

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing is very off, but the neurodivergent hero is written so thoughtfully and understood so well by his love interest that it more than makes up for that.

[Lydia Ralte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and Wholesome

[♡ layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

there are certain sorrows that only a good yaoi can heal

[Marc D. ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 estrellas.

La nueva joyita de mi biblioteca 💙
Pensé que se estaban terminando las lecturas de cinco estrellas este año, pero este manga llegó a demostrarme lo contrario ✨

[Brigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and wholesome, just really wish it was more fleshed out. There shouldn't have been a one year time skip - it would have been so much more profound to see how their relationship developed.

[bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

『 ★★★★ 』

A story of a socially anxious metal fans who has a difficulty to talk to people with an extrovert and cheerful postgraduate student who actually had a deep sense of insecurity and a worrywart.

Basically, polar opposite: [check]

The cover art and color palette sold the entire manga. From the moment I saw it, I just know this manga would be wholesome and warm and nice.

Even though the characters and stories didn't really get enough time for more through development to label this as an "excellent" manga ((since the author throw in a year-long time skips, but well— it can't be helped since it's a stand-alone and not a serial)), I still like all the characters, their characterization, and the subtle little development.

p.s:
1) SOUSHI's GAP-MOE IS JUST TOO MUCH TOO HANDLE— ((i mean: he cooks? he bakes? he knits? he's literally perfect??? i can't i want to [squish] him so bad what a cinnamon bun he is— okay i'll shut up.))
2) The band names-play was a really nice touch! "System of an Up"? "Pan Tera"? I was legit wheezing LMAO good job author!

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Metal is fast. Powerful. Intense. And… um… It blots out all the outside world."

This isn't the type of book I usually read, so I assume you all noticed it and were surprised. Here's the thing, I've been seeing this book everywhere—on social media, at work, and even in ads on almost every book site I visit for both work and personal reasons. It was everywhere!

Honestly, calling this book sweet doesn’t even cut it. It was ridiculously cute, and I absolutely loved it. The chemistry between Kento and Soushi was so swoon-worthy that it’s hard not to enjoy anything about this story.

[Sera Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was super cute!! At first, I didnt get the pacing, but by the end I really enjoyed it! Super sweet and gentle.

[hannah⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this was so cute AGH soshi is so me I fear

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was just as soft and gentle as its precious characters. Filled with gorgeous art and loving acceptance, while I wish it was just a bit longer, I still very much enjoyed this.

[Acordul Fin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed the story too. I really empathized with Soushi. I just wish it was longer.

[Belle Sabattin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me entretuvo, pero creo que aparte de que el co-protagonista es metalero y "rudo" creo que la historia en si no era nuy diferente a cualquier otro BL o incluso no BL. Por eso, no le puedo poder más de tres estrellas... y no le doy dos porque me parecieron demasiado adorables las escenas de la guardería y me sacaron alguna risa.

[ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

hm i'm actually a bit conflicted about this one, i think i set my expectations a bit too high. i did enjoy it though, definitely a nice short read! i really liked this quote ''you can't go through life avoiding people forever. i was never okay by myself. not even for a minute.'' i can relate to soushi a lot TT

[Marureviere · Rating 3 out of 5]

☀️3.5 stars☀️

This BL introduces and follows the slow burn romance of Kento and Soushi. Kento, a pre-school teacher-in-training, was one day saved by his anxiety-riddened metalhead neighbor Soushi when the latter found him outside his apartment almost freezing to death in the middle of winter. Their relationship started and evolved from there, and for about a year, the two of them ended up hanging out and eating together every day.

This manga tbh gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings. Plus the lovely artstyle suits the overall atmosphere and theme of the story. I loved Soushi, the socially anxious metal-enthusiast who likes to knit, bake, and cook. He fairly easily summoned my protective instincts, especially with his gap moe. 😭 He was also very relatable to me in a sense that he suffers from social anxiety and is thus severely conscious and anxious of what other people think of him. Externally, he's all dark aestheticーhe always glares at people and maintains an intimidating expression. He also listens to metal as a form of escapism because he's terrible at social interactions and confrontations. Although deep inside he's emotionally vulnerable and just wants to be loved and accepted by someone for who he is.

Kento, on the other hand, is his polar oppositeーhe's warm, friendly, outspoken, and basically everything that Soushi is not. I enjoyed their opposites attract dynamic and it was a joy to witness when they eventually got together. 🤧

My minor complaint here would probably be the lack of an in-depth development when it came to their romantic relationship, though it is understandable since it's only 6 chapters long. But still, because of the length constraints, the manga suffered a bit in its last chapter where Soushi was only starting to realize his romantic feelings for Kento and was still confused about his sexuality. As a result, the ending somewhat felt rushed and sudden. If only there was more build up and if we delved deeper into the change in their relationship dynamic.

However, this was still a good read! A palate cleanser that you can read in one sitting and I recommend if you're into:

☀️ friends to lovers
☀️ grumpy x sunshine trope
☀️ opposites attract
☀️ slow burn with minimal smut

[bunny. ۶ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

can't believe i found such a precious gem i'm completely in love with soushi and kento 🥺

[Demian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi vecino linyera

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha estado muy linda. Sin embargo, siento que me esperaba algo más. Me he sentido asimismo identificada con el gusto musical del protagonista, pues al final es una música que le relaja.

¿Lo recomiendo? Sí. La verdad es que ha estado bien.

[Kenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encantó fue una historia corta pero muy linda 😭🥰

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
ko-fi • Instagram • TikTok

What an absolutely wonderful story of found family and friendship, love of music, trust, and finding your own voice.

Tonari no Metaller-san "My neighbor, the Metalhead" follows the story of a young man, Kento, who gets trapped in the the middle of winter - outside his apartment - and is found by his neighbor, Soushi. Who also just so happens to be a serious fan of Metal music. Soon both of them find themselves eating breakfast and dinner together and growing closer together.

I absolutely adored this manga! The art was stunning and I could honestly look at Mamita's work all day if I could. The panels felt simple yet told such a big story at the same time. I loved how well the dialogue and art flowed together and how it was so easy to transition from one person to the next.

However, what I loved more was watching Soushi and Kento grow closer together over the year they have spent eating with each other. At the beginning you can obviously see that Kento finds Soushi attractive; however, he never really does anything with it. Kento and Soushi are completely night and day and the mangaka expresses this through her artwork. Soushi is the quiet metalhead that wears black and Kento is the bright and bubbly, never have a worry kind of guy.

I loved how much plot we were given in this stand-alone manga. We were able to delve into Soushi's past and understand why he is so quiet and not very outspoken. Music is a powerful thing and it brings people together, and it was so interesting how Mamita uses this technique as a way to express Soushi in words when he himself does not like to talk and is very soft spoken.

And then of course there is Kento who is anything but soft-spoken yet has the fear of coming out to Soushi. Kento tends to cover up his feelings with talking too much and exerting a lot of energy. It's an amazing contrast to that of Soushi and maybe that's why these two fit so well together. They just make sense. And can we take a minute to appreciate the fact that Kento is becoming a pre-school teacher! UGH that ripped my heart in two.

And if you are looking for a BL manga that is focused on plot and very little sex (and I mean little like a 2 pager), then I definitely recommend reading this manga.

**If you want to read an English version of this manga than click HERE

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 5 out of 5]

˚.🎀༘⋆ The Metalhead Next Door was such a nice surprise! The romance was such a good slow burn and the characters so intriguing you want to read more, more and more. ˚.🎀༘⋆

This is one of the most wholesome, sweetest romance manga I've ever read. I seriously was eating it up AND COULDN'T STOP. The story is so tender and down to earth. I loved reading about these two people who couldn't be more different and how they found a friendship by sharing meals, spending time together, and being there for each other. This friendship soon develops into unrequited love between them, forcing them to analyze the future of their relationship.

It's definitely a manga I'm going to revisit every year! This is definitely up there for me with Our Dining Table (which is one of my all time faves as well!)💗

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una noche de helada un chico rescata a su vecino quien a raíz del frío queda tirado a metros de su entrada.
Al principio el rescatado se asusta de la apariencia del vecino salvador, por vestir de negro y ser metalero.
Este vecino comienza a cocinarle desayunos y cenas por un año sin casi mediar palabra.
Es una historia muy lineal sin sorpresas, es todo muy previsible pero no deja de ser simpático y estar bien narrado y dibujado.

[Literary Lusts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very soft and fluffy romance manga. The story involves two men who become neighbors, then friends, and then fall in love. One is a young grad student who's very open with his emotions and works for a children's daycare. The other is a shy and anxious metalhead who works at a bakery. It does have a scene with a character in their underwear and there is a spicy scene at the very end. But otherwise it's not very explicit. There's also lots of cute pop up notes explaining metal music and the metal community. If you are looking for adult LGBTQIA+ manga with some romance and delicious illustrations of baked goods, this for you.

[Adelle R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ve výsledku roztomilá záležitost, moje očekávání ale byla přece jen krapet vyšší. Hlavně - tady byl časový skok v momentě, kdy se ty postavy seznamovaly a sbližovaly! Najednou máme prostě věřit, že jsou na tom jinak? Největší škoda. A konec poměrně urychlený (a spicy scéna za mě trošku cringe). A přiznávám, že jako metalista jsem doufala v trochu méně povrchní reprezentaci :') Ale abych si furt nestěžovala, kresba je pěkná, příběh je roztomilý, jak jsem už psala, ti dva měli fakt potenciál a zajímavě zpracovaná byla Soshiho sociální úzkost, to se moc často nevidí až takhle do extrému.

[José Vitor - zetalendo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Após Kento desmaiar pra fora da casa num inverno bem forte, seu vizinho, Soushi, vê e leva ele pra dentro da própria casa, para que ele não tenha uma hipotermia. Após isso, surge uma amizade entre eles e Kento começa a ir tomar café da manhã e jantar na casa do vizinho.
Soushi é bem reservado, tem um estilo de roqueiro mal-humorado, não gosta de falar e não saber ter uma interação social como as outras pessoas. Apesar disso, Kento continua interagindo com ele.

Confesso que eu esperava um pouco mais desse mangá. Eu tive um grande problema pra me conectar com a história no começo, só fui me importar mais do meio pro final, quando entendi melhor o Soushi, mas aí já era tarde demais.

Senti que a autora não conseguiu desenvolver muito a trama, com acontecimentos extremamente rápidos e rasos. Seria bem melhor dividir em dois volumes, ou mais, e desenvolver melhor a relação entre eles e os traumas.

O último ato, extra 5.5, achei bem desnecessário, mas entendo que isso seja um "requisito" para mangás bl.

Apesar da história não ter me prendido, eu amei os traços do mangá, são bem claros e bem feitos. No início tem três cenas coloridas e a colorização também está lindíssima.

No geral, achei uma história ok, nada de tão espetacular.

[frau.meln · Rating 4 out of 5]

kaum klappte ich den Manga zu, bedauerte ich bereits den Band ausgelesen zu haben.

Diese Geschichte ist so sanft und irgendwie auch ein wenig schwermütig. Dennoch niedlich und es gibt einige witzige Momente. Aber vor allem hat mich Soshis Wunsch nach Veränderung sehr berührt. Ich konnte förmlich spüren, wie schwer es für ihn war.

Grundsätzlich fokussiert sich die Erzählung auf die Gedanken- und Gefühlswelten beider Protagonisten. Dennoch fiel es mir schwerer mich in Kento hineinzuversetzen. Nichtsdestotrotz war er ein toller Gegenpol, zu Soshis Schüchternheit.

Zu Beginn gibt es ziemlich schnell einen Zeitsprung, der mich etwas irritierte. Bei dem bekommt slowburn eine ganz neue Bedeutung. Nichtsdestotrotz ist das auch schon das einzige, was ich zu meckern habe.

Insgesamt mochte ich diese Slice of Life Atmosphäre, die langsamen Schritte nach vorn und die beiden Charaktere sehr. Mein Herz zumindest, haben sie erreicht.

[caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute i’m so happy they’re so happy in love

[ziya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

cute?