michi speaks: beast & feast

Hey yeah, minna! Today's exactly a year after the last entry (or should I say, the latest entry we have) that Hime-chama made for Dangerous Minds. Gomen minna-san, for taking a long time to get back on this realm of our esteemed BL Admin. We, the contributors here, had been living the moment and all the days were spent for reaching our dreams, caring for others and soon living with a one true love (hear yea a wedding bell). Not me, by the way. One of the contributors will soon be tying a knot with her Prince.

If you read the header that says 'michi speaks:', then your guess is right. It is now time to take a day off from my client tasks and just digging in for BL story once again. Our great Admin has not summon us yet, so I must pay her a visit and to check how she's doing lately. While I'm at it, here's a latest manga review from one of my fave mangaka, Akira Norikazu.


Mangaka: Akira Norikazu
Status: Complete (1 Volume)
Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Yaoi

Description:

While investigating a murder case, Detective Hishinuma Kazuha is reunited with mobster, Hyoudou Itsuki. During their junior high school days, their relationship was like oil and water; Kazuha minded his own business and Hyoudou was emotionally attached.

Hyoudou is at a bargaining point as he approaches Kazuha: he'll divulge important information about the case in exchange for Kazuha's body. Kazuha refuses such an unfathomable request, but Hyoudou, the unrestrained beast, takes control...

These two interwoven men and their superb, wild, beast-like love!

- mangaupdates.com


My Take:

I truly enjoy reading detective stories and 'Beast & Feast' happens to have but not entirely focused that way. The reason I picked this one is because the description says so and my mind goes in wanderlust for mysteries that are to be unfolded in this story. I often imagined that detectives has the coolest job on earth, not typical for one's bread and butter but the thrill of the moment. Most of the time, I get to wonder how a single piece of evidence could actually lead to a bigger picture on what conspires the event. Deduction is the key for it and the art (and science) behind it is not a simple subject you will learn through academics.

But speaking of deduction, this is what truly lacks on the story, for my fondness for investigative plot was not satisfied. Akira Norikazu, the mangaka, was a bit safe not to push further on the plot for the murder case she came up for 'Beast & Feast'. When reading the first chapter, here we thought the case handled by the First Division Detective Hishinuma Kazuha was a lost cause after it leads them to their 3rd or 4th victim, still not having identified their murder suspect. However, his old high school classmate, Hyoudou Itsuki, suddenly has the answer. In order for the detective to obtain the information, Kazuha has to give his body to Itsuki as an exchange. And after reading, I was wishing for more plots for the murder case but while I was in the middle of the story, I forgot all about it and just been grinning most the time for the smut stuff.

Exactly the point of this manga was to entertain the female audiences about the beast wanting to "eat up" his prey, not in the survivor of the fists sense, if you get what I mean. Think of the green thoughts here, fellow readers! Joking aside and in fact, I do enjoy the whole volume though the detective stuff was lacking. I have great respect for the detectives, the courageous men and women in uniform. So I just have to set aside the profession and see the characters Hishinuma Kazuha and Hyoudou Itsuki in their most human emotions towards their journey to the thorny path of detective-and-yakuza life.

It's a joy to read, I tell you. I even appreciate that part of the story where the main characters were confessing their feelings for each other, you'll see the whole panel filled with flowers that are blooming and their faces where blushing. This signifies a climactic approach that their relationship has become stronger than the first time they met after 10 years. It will leave you smiling, or in my case, insanely grinning.

michi speaks: Toshishita no Ryuugi



Yuusuke and Atsushi

Altenative Title: Cool As You
Mangaka: Maruya Kae
Status: Completed (3 Volumes)
Genres: Drama, Romance, Yaoi


Description:

Yuusuke and Atsushi are not connected by blood. They have not seen each other for several years. Atsushi matured, and even became much more than his older brother. He moved to enroll into University. Yuusuke receives an unexpected visit from Atsushi who has come to live with Yuusuke.

- mangaupdates.com

michi speaks: Hishoken!

Saito Yo and Nabeshima Hisatsugu

Altenative Title: Double-duty Secretary!
Mangaka: Tsunoda Ryoku
Status: Completed (1 volume)
Genres: Romance, Yaoi


Description

Saito Yo has just been assigned to be the secretary of the company's new director, Nabeshima Hisatsugu, who has supposedly "never worked a day in a company" before. Saito is taken aback by the new director's seemingly non-professional demeanor, and he works hard to reform Nabeshima and get him accustomed to the role of director.

A comment Nabeshima makes one day, however, devastates Saito: Nabeshima mentions that Saito wasn't what he thought a secretary should be. Shocked and frustrated, Saito carelessly blurts out while drunk one night that Nabeshima should "take advantage" of his services. From then on, Nabeshima changes his attitude and leaves Saito feeling even more bewildered.

- mangaupdates.com

michi speaks: Café Relish ni Oide

Altenative Title: Welcome to Café Relish

Mangaka: Takatsuki Noboru

Status: Completed (1 volume)

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life, Yaoi

Synopsis:

Inui Takeshi is the owner of a restaurant in trouble! He and his cute younger brother Yasutomo are trying to make a living, but business is just too slow. When regular customer and ex-host Ookami Kyousuke suggests an all-male version of a maid cafe, the brothers reluctantly agree to the idea. Ookami and fellow host Sannoumaru Miyabi move in with the Inui's and begin the adventures of Cafe Relish!

- mangaupdates.com

hime speaks: Koi wa Itsumo Arashi no Youni

Alternative Title: Love is Like a Hurricane

Mangaka: Tokiya Shimazaki

Status: Complete 5 Volumes

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School, Yaoi

Synopsis:

Mizuki gets molested on a train bound for school, and the perpetrator is none other than the school president, Azuma! Mizuki gets called to the student council room, where Azuma confesses his love for him. So begins the tale of this wacky, school story.  -801 Media

michi speaks: Sakura Gari

Alternative Title: The Hunt for Cherry Blossoms
Mangaka: Yuu Watase
Status: Complete 3 Volumes
Genre: Drama, Historical, Mature, Mystery, Psychological, Shoujo, Tragedy, Yaoi


Synopsis:

Sakura Gari is a Taishou Era romantic story, ten years in the making. It centers around the 16 year old Tagami Masataka as he is aiming to find his place in life. While attempting to start prep school as a rounin he encounters Saiki Souma, the son of a distinguished noble of the Saiki Koushyaku family and becomes part of the Saiki household.

It seems as though this will be the story of Tagami's life, taking us through both him growing up physically and emotionally.

- mangaupdates.com

yume speaks: Seven Days

Mangaka: Tachibana Venio 

Artist: Takarai Rihito

Status: Complete (2 Volumes)

Synopsis: 

A third year high-school student, Shino Yuzuru, met Seryou Touji, a junior in the archery club, at the school main entrance on Monday morning.

Seryou is popular among girls and there is a rumour saying that he must go out with the first person who declares love to him on Monday and then he breaks up on Saturday.

Due to curiosity, Yuzuru asked Seryou to go out with him on that day...

(Source: myanimelist.net)

tenshi speaks: Tsureteke Tengoku

Alternative Title: Take me to Heaven

Mangaka: Yamato Nase
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy, School Life, Supernatural, Yaoi

Synopsis:

(From MAL) Ever since Fumiya and his family moved next to a graveyard, Fumiya constantly sees spirits and ghosts. Luckily, His childhood friend Shogo, the son of a Buddhist priest, is always ready to help chase away the problem -- for a price. Somehow, though, it seems that the more this happens, the closer they become...

michi speaks: Crimson Spell

Mangaka: Yamane Ayano
Status: Ongoing
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Yaoi

Summary:

In order to protect his people from attacking demons, Prince Val uses a demonic sword and curses himself in the process. He leaves his kingdom to find a cure, and his search leads him to Hallwil, the person rumored to be the only one who knows how to break the curse. Hallwil agrees to help Val... for a price.

-mangaupdates.com

hime speaks: Saa Koi ni Ochitamae

Alternative Titles: Fall in Love with Me

Mangaka: Yamato Nase
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy, School, Yaoi

Summary:
Noboru seems to have rotten luck at school when it comes to girls, because they all have eyes for only Yuuki – the resident Prince Charming. Tall, dark, rich and handsome Yuuki seems to be the exact opposite of the poor, short and not very manly, Noboru. Because Noboru is from a poor family, he had to work extra hard just to get into this prestigious Seihou Academy – which is mainly reserved for the rich and elites of the society. Before admittance, it was a dream of Noburo to hook up with one of the rich girls at Seihou Academy, but his plans seems to have gone awry, specially when all the girls seems to not pay him much attention and dotes on Yuuki the most. But for some reason, why does this drop-dead, gorgeous hunk, Yuuki, seem to want to get close to him???
-MangaFox

michi speaks: Tsuki ni Hoero

Alternative Titles: Kisu Kara Hajimete, Kisu Series
Mangaka: Takenaka Sei
Status: Complete
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School Life, Supernatural, Yaoi

Synopsis:

Howl at the Moon

Miki is the bodyguard of the super-model, Ran. He’s also the only person who knows that the golden-eyed Ran is in fact a werewolf. Not only does Ran have an animalistic sex-drive, he’s also inhumanly strong. “Then, why does he need me as his bodyguard?” Miki wondered… And then, Ran was stabbed by a fan while protecting Miki...

Start with a Kiss

Super popular high school student Nishimura Jun has a beautiful face, a great body and women lining up to have sex with him! So why is Jun still a virgin? The romantic Jun wants nothing more that a sweet and pure love. Hiding his virginity is becoming tiring, especially since kouhai Machida seems to be onto his ruse...

-mangaupdates.com

hime speaks: Ikoku Irokoi Romantan

Alternative Titles: A Foreign Love Affair, Ikoku Irokoi Romantan - The Romantic Tale of a Foreign Love Affair
Mangaka: Yamane Ayano
Type : OVA (anime); 7-part manga
Status (both manga and anime): Finished
Producers (anime): Producers: ANIK, PrimeTime
Genres: Romance, Shounen Ai, Yaoi

Synopsis:
Japanese yakuza clan heir Ranmaru just got married on a lavish cruise ship, but things aren’t as they seem. The marriage is just for the appearances, and he ends up getting drunk and spending the night not with his bride but with the sexy ship captain. When the two men meet again in Italy, it is the start of a spectacular love story. -801 Media

michi speaks: The Buddy System

Title: The Buddy System
Mangaka: Sadahiro Mika
Genre: Drama, Action, Romance, Hard Yaoi
Status: Complete

Synopsis:

Partners Hiyama Kiichi (26) and Inui Haruomi (29) were assigned to investigate and arrest a drug syndicate. This duo of the Police Department Division 4, the Violent Crime Division, must find a way to get into the syndicate's circle and have them all chained there and then when the right moment comes. So they went undercover, pretending to be as drug dealers.

Kiichi became an errand boy when he entered the group. He later learned that the boss is gay, so he use this advantage to lure the boss to like him in order to gain his trust. Now he became the lover of the boss. He endured all those nights he was being "raped."

michi speaks: Yajuu de Hatsukoi

Title: Yajuu de Hatsukoi
Alternative Title: Wild Beast's First Love
Mangaka: Yamato Nase
Status: Finished
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Yaoi

Synopsis:


Yajuu de Hatsukoi
Tale on an physically-overgrown, sports-dedicated, yet mentally-immature college student finds love for the first time.

- mangaupdates.com

hime speaks: Renai Shinan!

Alternative Titles: Love is difficult!
Mangaka: Noboru Takatsuki
Status: Finished
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Yaoi

Synopsis: When Hatano's scruffy boss Honjou asks for his help with girls, Hatano agrees reluctantly. But Honjou turns out to be surprisingly sexy. Can Hatano resist his own creation?

This manga is consisted of five chapters composing one main story and two oneshots:

1.) Ren'ai Shinan! (3 Chapters + 1 Extra)
2.)Trial Love (oneshot) -Salaryman Kiriya has just broken up with his boyfriend, and feels listless. But he has a puppy-like coworker named Hiura who won't leave him alone. After a kiss on a crowded train, they start spending more time together, but how far will this go?
3) Renjo Sketch (oneshot)
-mangaupdates.com

My Take:
While I was trying to decide what to post next in this blog, I recalled this manga which I read three to four years ago. Michi recommended this manga for me to read at that time and I was curious as I really liked the art style as it bore some similarities to Yamane Ayano. As you all know, I'm a big fan of Yamane-sensei's art and have read a lot of her mangas.

Renai Shinan! is a short manga whose main story is only three chapters long. I really like this manga because of its story. Most oneshots/short mangas simply have very little to no plot at all. However, Renai Shinan!'s story is satisfying for me. There might be some bang action, but the plot is there. Plus *SPOILER START* I really like how Honjou wants to do it only with the person he loves and who loves him back. He doesn't want to do it when there's no love involved. *SPOILER END* Not only is the art style very well drawn, but I love the moments when the characters go goofy.

Trial Love and Renjo Sketch are not so my cup of tea. Trial Love's twist in its plot is very interesting, but it didn't really made an impression to me like Renai Shinan! did. Renjo Sketch is somewhat typical and predictable, so I got bored with the story.

What's really special about this manga is that THE AUTHOR IS MALE. You read it right, sisters. I don't really know whether Noboru Takatsuki is part of the gay community or not, but I was really taken aback then when I found out this information.

If you want a short manga story and isn't up for a BL manga with a lot of volumes, then I recommend this one. It's really light and really easy to finish.

yume speaks: Sex (Love) Pistols

Mangaka: Kotobuki Tarako
Status: Ongoing(7 volumes)
Synopsis:

People are starting to act very odd around Norio. This average, normal boy is suddenly getting a lot of unwanted romantic attention and he can’t figure out why! A broken leg and a fall down the stairs into the arms of a handsome stranger set off the beginnings of an explanation, and it is one Norio never could have possibly imagined. Soon a whole new world opens up for Norio, revealing a secret society of special people evolved from animals other than monkeys. This society has a complex structure and its members are ranked by rarity and desirability, and it turns out that Norio is a particularly rare breed and his DNA is in much demand! How will he survive in this modern jungle where he’s suddenly the prey? (Source: Tokyopop)

yume speaks: Komatta Toki ni wa Hoshi ni Kike

Mangaka: Abe Miyuki

Status: Complete(26 volumes)

Synopsis/Comments:

This is one of my favorite BL mangas. The art is not as high quality as other mangas nowadays but the story is very entertaining. It's like the BL version of Hana Kimi to a certain degree. It has a lot of interesting characters, its funny and light-hearted but it has depth too.

michi speaks: Twin's Labyrinth

Title: Twin's Labyrinth
Mangaka: Akira Norikazu
Status: Complete
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Mature, Yaoi


Synopsis
Ayumu Okusawa lost his job and apartment in a coincidence. He doesn't know how to live in big, unknown Tokyo. He comes from a small village and came to Tokyo because of his grandfather's suggestion. Ayumu doesn't seem depressed but a handsome stranger stops him from commiting suicide and takes him home. The stranger's name is Rin Hayasaka. He's a boss of host-club. He has twin brother named Ren who is Rin's opposite.
- from myanimelist.net

A light-hearted read with gorgeous characters (the twin semes with contrasting looks & personalities are super cool!) and wonderful pairings (yeah, each twin gets his own darling). Mildly angsty, craftily erotic, and lots of fluff--and a happy ending!
- from mangaupdates.com

hime speaks: Viewfinder and Koisuru

Alternative Titles: Viewfinder Series, Target in the Finder, Viewfinder, Finder (and Koisuru side stories etc.)
Mangaka: Yamane Ayano
Status: On-going
Genre: Action, Adult, Comedy, Mature, Romance, Yaoi

Finally, I am able to tackle this surprising update. In my previous review with Yamane Ayano's Viewfinder series, I had deliberately labeled the manga series as 'complete' as other manga sites have labeled it so. And now a couple of months earlier, Yamane-sensei presents us with new updates with her supposedly finished series.

michi speaks: Tsukiyo no Fushigi

Title: Tsukiyo no Fushigi
Mangaka: Chitose Piyoko
Status: Complete
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Smut, School Life, Mature, Yaoi

Synopsis
Matsuoka, a Judo National Champion will try his luck in his new found place, Tsukiyono High School. He got into an all boys' school as a special student for Outstanding Judo Performance. But the one that he had been looking forward to turned out to be in a rural place, opposite to what he had expected. Putting that aside, since he is a special student, he expects a special treatment, like a wonderful dormitory. But he had stumbled upon an old and almost torn down two-storey dorm building. When he was in his room, he simply could not take everything he sees: everything's so messy. His dorm mate was still asleep when he arrived. Running out of patience, he woke him up and removed the bed sheet. And what he saw suddenly made him stunned; a boy with such a pretty body, so slim with gleaming muscles. "Doki doki doki blush blush" was all Matsuoka could react.

Oono, Matsuoka's dorm mate, is a member of the school's Track and Field Team. At this point, he already knew where Matsuoka went out every night. The dorm people had been wondering about the sounds they hear during the night, as if there's a ghost roaming around the building. But Oono knows better than that. So what does Oono do while Matsuoka went off to his night escapades? Aren't you curious? Then better start reading this one.