Ian

It instantly became my favorite BL I read this year! Relatable themes and characters—I somehow feel seen, and yes, I cried a little.

I'm not sure how to put it together. Are they chaotic? Yes. Are there any life lessons? Yes. Do I love them? Absolutely. I wasn't ready for that because the theme is trying to bring up the quarter-life crisis and the potential struggles for people who work in the creative industry, and this one is particularly about Sentaro, a music producer. I still don't know much about Touma besides his work as a thug, hopefully we'll hear more about his struggles in the next volume. While Meguru is the example of how the absence of parents can shape a kid to grow up feeling inferior and indifferent. I need to mention that love at first sight and having it stay unrequited for a long time are present in this story too.

So, if you're currently struggling, whether to give up or hold onto your dream, I recommend you to read Dysfunctional Family Theory.

Push me away. Tell me that I don't deserve to live. Just say it. And once you do... I can...

"You're kind Chinatsu."

Please... Don't forgive me.

I wasn't expecting myself to love this manga this much. There are so many complex things about the main characters, but it wraps up really well. The art, especially the tattoo, and the scenery are so beautiful.

Afterglow begins with Higuchi Kiyotaka, a doctor who has been transferred to a hospital in a faraway town. Later, he meets Tenju, a high-ranking yakuza, who approached him while he was drunk.

The story is pretty triggering, where Kiyotaka has to deal with his medical trauma as a doctor. Tenju is surprisingly sweet—he becomes the person Kiyotaka can open his heart to, despite having an unapproachable figure. Kiyotaka, with his trauma holding him back from pursuing his dream, and Tenju, with his background making it impossible for him to have a proper career—those things only make them grow attached to each other.

I could give it a higher rating if only their encounter doesn't start like that. I appreciate how the author brings this theme to the readers, and I'm glad we will be able to see them more in the sequel.

A pretty cute story about a talent manager who secretly in love with his talent who works as a VTuber.

The story starts with Sugawara Mayo, a VTuber with social anxiety who is the complete opposite of his bright persona, Maru. His manager, Mr. Ogino, is a supportive man who secretly harbors feelings towards Mayo, often helps him with domestic work voluntarily.

Mayo often feels uneasy with getting praised for his work because what people see is him as Maru, and the only person who cares about the person behind his persona is Mr. Ogino. I would say Mr. Ogino does a lot to help Mayo get mentally better, becomes someone Mayo looks up to, and their feelings actually turn out to be mutual (but the details are rather a spoiler).

The smut scenes happen almost in every chapter and it was SO GOOD. I love the character designs, especially Mr. Ogino's is totally my type 😔☝️. Overall, I like it. No wonder this work won the Chil Chil BL Award 2025. Can't wait to see them more in the sequel!

Oh my god this BLCD is insane.