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冴えない僕は、君のヒーロー | I’m Kinda Chubby and I’m Your Hero #2
I'm Kinda Chubby and I'm Your Hero Vol. 2
THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS
Honjirou is a chubby actor with newly found confidence! It’s all thanks to the support of his biggest fan, Konnosuke. Konnosuke’s support helped him gain his first big leading role. He’s been scouted to audition for a TV drama! Meanwhile, Konnosuke is in training at a renowned patisserie, but all his clumsy mistakes are getting him down. As he considers quitting and giving up on his dream, who should appear but Honjirou? The two join hands again as they set out to make each other’s dreams a reality.
The final volume!
Honjirou is a chubby actor with newly found confidence! It’s all thanks to the support of his biggest fan, Konnosuke. Konnosuke’s support helped him gain his first big leading role. He’s been scouted to audition for a TV drama! Meanwhile, Konnosuke is in training at a renowned patisserie, but all his clumsy mistakes are getting him down. As he considers quitting and giving up on his dream, who should appear but Honjirou? The two join hands again as they set out to make each other’s dreams a reality.
The final volume!
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 1, 2023
It was very sweet, but I'm not sure I'd call it BL. There really should have been at least 1 (one) kiss. Sigh.
July 12, 2023
Probably more of a bromance than a romance, this is nevertheless a very sweet little story about two people who find strength in each other.
3.5 rounded up.
3.5 rounded up.
July 1, 2023
Why no smooches?
July 8, 2023
Why are all the reviews asking for kisses? This is a slow-paced and beautiful story. Not every love story needs to begin with sex, and some start with being friends.
Is everyone here just reading for the smut parts? There are plenty of those stories already; be happy that this actually has a story, and is wholesome, and healthy.
I loved it so much, it's so sweet (pun intended)!!
The way they both support each other with their job is really amazing. Especially the line at the end "because we're our biggest fans". Damn! Melted my heart.
I love how close they got in this volume. A few months have passed, but I really do love the slow-pace. Hope volume 3 comes out soon, I'm craving more of them!
Wouldn't mind if this stretches out to 10+ volumes and nothing sexual happens until the last volume. Just reading about their daily lives and seeing their smiles, as they help each other grow, already gives me plenty of butterflies.
Is everyone here just reading for the smut parts? There are plenty of those stories already; be happy that this actually has a story, and is wholesome, and healthy.
I loved it so much, it's so sweet (pun intended)!!
The way they both support each other with their job is really amazing. Especially the line at the end "because we're our biggest fans". Damn! Melted my heart.
I love how close they got in this volume. A few months have passed, but I really do love the slow-pace. Hope volume 3 comes out soon, I'm craving more of them!
Wouldn't mind if this stretches out to 10+ volumes and nothing sexual happens until the last volume. Just reading about their daily lives and seeing their smiles, as they help each other grow, already gives me plenty of butterflies.
July 12, 2023
This book follows Honjirou in his journey in being a struggling actor who is chubby and Konnosuke a struggling chef.
Honjirou has more confidence in this book but still is struggling with making mistakes and not getting the roles he wants, but he finally lands an audition for a TV drama. Konnosuke is training to be a patisserie but also is making a lot of mistakes. They join forces to try to help each other get to their goals.
There is a missing element that would make this be the BL that it is described to be. There is no kisses, or anything over the top turning it into a BL, might be Japanese censorship law I'm not too sure but I really would like to have seen more BL elements.
I'm not sure if there is going to be a next volume but there needs to be some solutions to the cliffhanger at the end.
Honjirou has more confidence in this book but still is struggling with making mistakes and not getting the roles he wants, but he finally lands an audition for a TV drama. Konnosuke is training to be a patisserie but also is making a lot of mistakes. They join forces to try to help each other get to their goals.
There is a missing element that would make this be the BL that it is described to be. There is no kisses, or anything over the top turning it into a BL, might be Japanese censorship law I'm not too sure but I really would like to have seen more BL elements.
I'm not sure if there is going to be a next volume but there needs to be some solutions to the cliffhanger at the end.
July 15, 2024
Not much seems to happen in this series. It’s one of those mangas that feels like it’s on low battery. Perhaps there was an extreme vague story concept and a one shot book would’ve been better.
Every time either character has an issue, it’s solved by pretty much the next sentence. It makes for a light read, of course, but not a very entertaining one IMO.
The art is cute, though. Not entirely sure how this is a BL because it seems solidly friendship only.
Sidenote, if my friends’ parents ever referred to me as their child’s “plump friend” I would be so upset.
Every time either character has an issue, it’s solved by pretty much the next sentence. It makes for a light read, of course, but not a very entertaining one IMO.
The art is cute, though. Not entirely sure how this is a BL because it seems solidly friendship only.
Sidenote, if my friends’ parents ever referred to me as their child’s “plump friend” I would be so upset.
February 14, 2024
It's sweet how supportive these two friends -- and possible romantic interests? -- are of each other, but the mutual admiration is a bit too sappy and their little career victories are just too low-key for me.
I might pick up the next volume, but I'm sure I won't miss much if I don't.
p.s., I see that other reviews mention this might be the final volume, so I guess I won't have to fret about picking up the next.
I might pick up the next volume, but I'm sure I won't miss much if I don't.
p.s., I see that other reviews mention this might be the final volume, so I guess I won't have to fret about picking up the next.
July 7, 2023
It’s cuteness overload. But is it BL? Idk..,
August 24, 2023
What a delightful ending to this series. It was so fun and cute. I just love these two so much.
Read
January 28, 2024so cute!!! I love contempory novels and this is adorbs!! The characters have great motivation and its too cute!!! Also i like the slowburn aspect, idk if its bromance or im being edged by the manga for a slowburn but its great!! I hate slowburn books that say its slowburn and then 1 book in they kiss. Anyways a win is a win! Love this books
June 8, 2024
this was so beautiful !!
i wish baker-kun confessed to actor-kun.. but that's still so adorable. i love their bond
i wish baker-kun confessed to actor-kun.. but that's still so adorable. i love their bond
January 10, 2024
You know what, that was really cute. It’s almost like HEARTSTOPPER coded but they support each other and amplify each other’s bests. I loved it and I can’t wait to see them kiss!!
June 9, 2023
Somewhat spoilery review here:
So, maybe there's something that I'm missing culturally, but I'm not fully feeling this. All the tension building up only results in them being "good friends", I felt like I was misled. So many sweet, yet tension filled moments, and the dudes never kiss or never flat out say, "hey, be my boyfriend" or anything of the sorts. Even when the actor says he loves the baker, it just feels woefully, boringly platonic. The non-romantic story isn't exciting enough for it to end without them being a couple and still be satisfying. Perhaps Japanese censors wont allow queer acknowledgement in a comic (although there **has** to be some gay japanese all ages comics, right??) Perhaps this is a well known genre of manga and im just clueless, to be honest i only read this because i thought it was a gay romance with a fat/chubby male lead-- so is the "super intense platonic bromance genre" a thing that I'm just an outsider to? In the west, we just call it queer baiting. Very disappointed
So, maybe there's something that I'm missing culturally, but I'm not fully feeling this. All the tension building up only results in them being "good friends", I felt like I was misled. So many sweet, yet tension filled moments, and the dudes never kiss or never flat out say, "hey, be my boyfriend" or anything of the sorts. Even when the actor says he loves the baker, it just feels woefully, boringly platonic. The non-romantic story isn't exciting enough for it to end without them being a couple and still be satisfying. Perhaps Japanese censors wont allow queer acknowledgement in a comic (although there **has** to be some gay japanese all ages comics, right??) Perhaps this is a well known genre of manga and im just clueless, to be honest i only read this because i thought it was a gay romance with a fat/chubby male lead-- so is the "super intense platonic bromance genre" a thing that I'm just an outsider to? In the west, we just call it queer baiting. Very disappointed
July 2, 2026
After the shockingly chaste happenings in volume 1, I had low expectations for volume 2. But honey! The girls are DRINKING!
This installment had a little more narrative tension and pull than the first, which I appreciated. I also admired how Nore worked within the (apparently less-than-explicit) confines of the BL genre. In a weird way, the side-stepping of the term "gay" and the lack of explicit erotic content made this duology a little queerer, in a demi- and pansexual kind of way.
This installment had a little more narrative tension and pull than the first, which I appreciated. I also admired how Nore worked within the (apparently less-than-explicit) confines of the BL genre. In a weird way, the side-stepping of the term "gay" and the lack of explicit erotic content made this duology a little queerer, in a demi- and pansexual kind of way.
January 3, 2024
what a cute little series! i loved the dynamic between our characters and the fact that there was no weight-shaming involved in the plot, having a plus-sized character who likes to eat sweets and enjoys the way he looks makes my heart so happy 🍰💕 this was a sweet and wholesome yet lowkey romance that im very happy to have stumbled upon 😊
December 4, 2023
This was really sweet.
January 15, 2024
Cute! I almost thought there would be more physical intimacy between the characters, but it was nice to see the two men just being together and being so kind to each other. Whether the relationship is platonic or ace or just a lovely romance it’s a feel good read.
March 25, 2024
It was like the Hallmark of yaoi. Very sweet.
October 14, 2024
This is so wholesome. I’m dying from cavities. I love how they’re supporting each other and how they’re passionate in their respective budding careers.
June 11, 2026
Give me MORE!!!!!
November 28, 2023
Immer noch super cute und wholesome, aber langsam darf auch mal ein bisschen mehr passieren. Ich hoffe, wir bekommen noch den ein oder anderen Band. 😍
March 2, 2024
aaay k lindos, se aman. Wouldn't say its BL but the subtlety about romance is there, like its the beginning of a romance or insert one sided crush hashtag here. Pero si se aman 100%!!
March 28, 2025
This series is so wholesome! Honjirou and Konnosuke’s relationship develops more in this volume and they become more comfortable and relaxed around each other. I just love that they’re so supportive of each other and want each other to best their best selves. This series is like a more wholesome Heartstopper, without the trigger warnings needed. More please!
June 8, 2026
Very cute follow-up to the first volume, this time focusing more on patisserie Konnosuke. It doesn’t look like there are any more coming, which is too bad. The budding romance between the two friends never gets a chance to take off, but you know that these two will continue to be each other’s biggest fans.
4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
June 15, 2023
I really like this series so far. I’m happy to have a plus-sized male MC, especially one who is so successful. Most of the time, in popular media, the thicc person is looked down upon, so having someone who looks like me be hard working and doing good things to better himself makes me smile.
This is the slowest burn of all slow burns and I’m gonna need something to happen soon, because I was second guessing that this is BL while reading it. I need a kiss or hand holding… SOMETHING.
I know it was in jest, but at one point Konnosuke (while drunk) pokes Honjirou in the cheek and it says “squish” in the frame. I know it was supposed to be funny, but it turned a light hearted sweet book into something else. I didn’t love that at all.
This is the slowest burn of all slow burns and I’m gonna need something to happen soon, because I was second guessing that this is BL while reading it. I need a kiss or hand holding… SOMETHING.
I know it was in jest, but at one point Konnosuke (while drunk) pokes Honjirou in the cheek and it says “squish” in the frame. I know it was supposed to be funny, but it turned a light hearted sweet book into something else. I didn’t love that at all.
May 17, 2024
I didn't particularly like the first volume, so I'm pleasantly surprised by this one. Maybe it helps that more of the focus was on Konnosuke? I'm a little more interested in baked goods than actors, or at least it's more pleasant to look at pretty cakes than to read awkward attempts at on-stage dialogue.
The theme of this volume is that Konnosuke and Ponjirou are trying to forge ahead in their careers, and supporting each other through it.
I'm a bit confused about how Konnosuke had a "signature" pound cake already (according to Ponjirou) when he was starting his third year of training and preparing for the presentation of a special dessert that their shop might sell if he passed. Or why he was shown to be making so many mistakes this far into his career, with his boss telling him he might not be cut out for it, when that didn't seem to be a thing in the first volume. But the main idea was to show that he was struggling, and really relying on Ponjirou's positivity and love of his baking to keep him motivated.
Ponjirou...wasn't actually much help beyond that cheerful optimism. Konnosuke even said himself that it doesn't give him much to go on if Ponjirou just says everything he makes is equally delicious. The idea is to give feedback that helps him to develop something that looks nice, tastes good, sells well, and catches his bosses' attention. But we get a little bit of backstory with Konnosuke's father, who seems to be really hard on his son and has heavy expectations for him, so that supportive cheerfulness is a good contrast to his upbringing.
(Although is it so bad that his dad is running a successful food-based business as well and is hoping for his son to take over from him? Why avoid his calls so hard instead of just being open with him?)
I liked the little scene with Ponjirou running into Konnosuke's father and bragging about him, and the dad trying to mend fences with his son a bit after.
And I chuckled at the TV drama, with Ponjirou flubbing his line-less role but using his quick thinking and charm to pivot - which made his bartender background character become a fan favorite with an eventual spinoff. That was a really cute idea and I could definitely see it working well.
I remained convinced through 90% of this series that it was mislabeled as BL, but there is (sort of) an exchange of I Love You's, and Konnosuke thinking "I fell in love with him," so I guess it was meant to be a romance? It really could be read entirely as a buddy story. They were cuter together in this volume, though, and the whole thing worked a bit better for me.
Still not a favorite series, and since my shelves are struggling for room, I think I'll clear these two volumes out. Cute to read but not something I think I'll feel a need to revisit.
The theme of this volume is that Konnosuke and Ponjirou are trying to forge ahead in their careers, and supporting each other through it.
I'm a bit confused about how Konnosuke had a "signature" pound cake already (according to Ponjirou) when he was starting his third year of training and preparing for the presentation of a special dessert that their shop might sell if he passed. Or why he was shown to be making so many mistakes this far into his career, with his boss telling him he might not be cut out for it, when that didn't seem to be a thing in the first volume. But the main idea was to show that he was struggling, and really relying on Ponjirou's positivity and love of his baking to keep him motivated.
Ponjirou...wasn't actually much help beyond that cheerful optimism. Konnosuke even said himself that it doesn't give him much to go on if Ponjirou just says everything he makes is equally delicious. The idea is to give feedback that helps him to develop something that looks nice, tastes good, sells well, and catches his bosses' attention. But we get a little bit of backstory with Konnosuke's father, who seems to be really hard on his son and has heavy expectations for him, so that supportive cheerfulness is a good contrast to his upbringing.
(Although is it so bad that his dad is running a successful food-based business as well and is hoping for his son to take over from him? Why avoid his calls so hard instead of just being open with him?)
I liked the little scene with Ponjirou running into Konnosuke's father and bragging about him, and the dad trying to mend fences with his son a bit after.
And I chuckled at the TV drama, with Ponjirou flubbing his line-less role but using his quick thinking and charm to pivot - which made his bartender background character become a fan favorite with an eventual spinoff. That was a really cute idea and I could definitely see it working well.
I remained convinced through 90% of this series that it was mislabeled as BL, but there is (sort of) an exchange of I Love You's, and Konnosuke thinking "I fell in love with him," so I guess it was meant to be a romance? It really could be read entirely as a buddy story. They were cuter together in this volume, though, and the whole thing worked a bit better for me.
Still not a favorite series, and since my shelves are struggling for room, I think I'll clear these two volumes out. Cute to read but not something I think I'll feel a need to revisit.
August 10, 2023
Really liked it, but the "romance" was super super super light. It did not feel like a romance. Sad this only has 2 volumes (idk if there's more, i remember on twt the publisher said it was the final volume??), I think it would've benefited from having more time to develop the characters' relationship into something more romantic. By the end of the story, they're friends, not really anything more. Personally though, I don't mind. I thought the story was really sweet and I really liked the characters, and how everything wrapped up. I also loved the author's art style, it was cute!! I would say, don't go into this expecting a romance in the traditional sense and you'll have a good time!
September 4, 2024
I'm tagging based on the fact the book itself is labelled "Teen (13+)" despite the fact there's actually no explicit content in this beyond two bros totally declare that they love each other but in that vague way of the English language where it could absolutely mean healthy masculinity ("heroic" masculinity?) in the "I love you like a brother but also I am absolutely your fan and actually romance never once crossed my mind" sense like they get into in this volume.
(I don't know which word the original Japanese uses, but it's probably the similar "suki" meaning "like" that could be the general like or "I am interested in you romantically" like.)
I'm actually surprised I missed to review the first book, but I'm also not sure how I would review it now. Things that bother me now, though:
- The Title: "I'm Your Hero" sounds rather presumptuous, unless it's a confession that "Your hero who rescued you from that burning building that you didn't know who it was because you had passed out? *I'm* your hero." It's probably from a COMPLETELY unrelated thing where I had a beef with someone in specific, who wanted to be a specific person's hero (not getting into the fact I was dating said person at the time). For one thing, if someone doesn't NEED saving, declaring that you want to be that person's hero suggests that you want them to be in trouble... and what kind of hero is that?? It would be different if that someone was in obvious trouble, like needing a bone marrow transplant, and Would-Be Hero said, "I'm your match! I'm your hero!" Not exactly what's going on here (with my beef and with the book).
I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that it's just a translation issue, maybe. Point still stands that the title rubs me the wrong way, even if it's not REALLY the book's fault.
- "your plump friend": No matter how you phrase it, identifying a person by the fact they are larger-bodied is still pretty rude.* I personally might be a little sensitive about it, since my folks would regularly talk about others' weight (while, somehow, being totally clueless that one such person was at least eight months pregnant), but it's something that I try to avoid. Also, apparently, one is considered overweight with as little as a 20 pound overage, which I personally don't notice on others, so unless said friend is "severely obese," I might actually not associate "your plump friend" with the person in question. I would need to know more solid identifiers (preferably a name, but in some cases, what they're wearing is just as good, since I have friends who are known for certain pieces of clothing).
- ARE they gay?: I hate the Will They or Won't They? of romance when they're CLEARLY on the same page but in completely different books. The pace of this and the first book has been great for best bros, awful for romance. I'm almost going to be disappointed if they end up an item after all. Bros are awesome! Every man needs a good bro to help counteract toxic masculinity.
On the whole, it's a cute story, but not exciting—but that's par for the course with most slice-of-life stories. I do appreciate that none of the characters are as such belittling Honjirou (/Ponjirou) for his weight; in fact, everyone loves his outgoing personality and seem so happy around him! That's worth the price of entry, I think, to have such a non-reaction to his weight, even going so far as for Konnosuke to tell him NOT to go on a diet, just because the scout liked him for who he was.
*Exception if the friend is one of the rare folks who take pride in their weight and make it part of their identity, but I'm hard pressed to think of anyone who specifically wants to be called Fat Charlie (especially if not fat).
(I don't know which word the original Japanese uses, but it's probably the similar "suki" meaning "like" that could be the general like or "I am interested in you romantically" like.)
I'm actually surprised I missed to review the first book, but I'm also not sure how I would review it now. Things that bother me now, though:
- The Title: "I'm Your Hero" sounds rather presumptuous, unless it's a confession that "Your hero who rescued you from that burning building that you didn't know who it was because you had passed out? *I'm* your hero." It's probably from a COMPLETELY unrelated thing where I had a beef with someone in specific, who wanted to be a specific person's hero (not getting into the fact I was dating said person at the time). For one thing, if someone doesn't NEED saving, declaring that you want to be that person's hero suggests that you want them to be in trouble... and what kind of hero is that?? It would be different if that someone was in obvious trouble, like needing a bone marrow transplant, and Would-Be Hero said, "I'm your match! I'm your hero!" Not exactly what's going on here (with my beef and with the book).
I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that it's just a translation issue, maybe. Point still stands that the title rubs me the wrong way, even if it's not REALLY the book's fault.
- "your plump friend": No matter how you phrase it, identifying a person by the fact they are larger-bodied is still pretty rude.* I personally might be a little sensitive about it, since my folks would regularly talk about others' weight (while, somehow, being totally clueless that one such person was at least eight months pregnant), but it's something that I try to avoid. Also, apparently, one is considered overweight with as little as a 20 pound overage, which I personally don't notice on others, so unless said friend is "severely obese," I might actually not associate "your plump friend" with the person in question. I would need to know more solid identifiers (preferably a name, but in some cases, what they're wearing is just as good, since I have friends who are known for certain pieces of clothing).
- ARE they gay?: I hate the Will They or Won't They? of romance when they're CLEARLY on the same page but in completely different books. The pace of this and the first book has been great for best bros, awful for romance. I'm almost going to be disappointed if they end up an item after all. Bros are awesome! Every man needs a good bro to help counteract toxic masculinity.
On the whole, it's a cute story, but not exciting—but that's par for the course with most slice-of-life stories. I do appreciate that none of the characters are as such belittling Honjirou (/Ponjirou) for his weight; in fact, everyone loves his outgoing personality and seem so happy around him! That's worth the price of entry, I think, to have such a non-reaction to his weight, even going so far as for Konnosuke to tell him NOT to go on a diet, just because the scout liked him for who he was.
*Exception if the friend is one of the rare folks who take pride in their weight and make it part of their identity, but I'm hard pressed to think of anyone who specifically wants to be called Fat Charlie (especially if not fat).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews