Ranked #625

Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume wo Miru (Manga)

When it comes to the yaoi genre I usually don’t hold high expectations story-wise, you can surely find new twists or interesting details out of the classic stereotypes, but apart from that, it is too often that all the elements seem to revolve around only one thing: sex.

Well, this story is not like that at all. This manga is not your usual yaoi. It was beyond all of my expectations to the point that it surprised me, in a really good way.

The set-up is something I have seen before countless times: sempai meets kouhai from old days, kouhai is in love with sempai since a long time ago without telling, kouhai uses sempai actual weakness and blackmails him with the "I want your body in exchange..." demand. After that, things are not quite simple; this is a deep story where the feelings of the characters are really well conveyed to the reader, you are allowed to see their struggles, their hesitations and the implications of such a difficult situation as a homosexual falling deeply in love with a straight man that doesn’t feel anything in return. Nor love, neither sex are given facts here, everything happens after a proper development of the characters feelings or train of thought, and even those intimate situations remind you that things aren’t really simple when it comes to love between the same gender.

The dialogues are just brilliant, after reading another stories from the mangaka I would say that this one has a hint of her psychological streak. Mizushiro Setona did really well with this story, I consider this the best yaoi so far, and maybe this is the result of the work of such experienced mangaka. The characters are real, you can see their good points, their bad points and the way they improve, the way they make mistakes and go on ahead, their feelings...and you can really sympathize with them. Besides that, both of them act actually like men..you will not find the stereotype of the seme/uke here that makes you think that is actually a woman and not a man what you are seeing.

The art is no big deal, but I find it nicely done, Mizushiro Setona has her own style which has improved a lot with time, and although it looks a bit odd at the beginning, it gives kind of calming sensation later, she really knows how to portray emotions, not only in words but also with the characters expressions, my only complain about the art is that some characters look a lot like others, that is all. Everything else compensates it.

So…If you like really nicely done stories, stories that make you think, while keeping you really interested; stories that talk about actual love and its development in a good pace, while reminding you what it really feels to be in love, and the hardships of trying to convey it when it is unrequited; and besides that you like yaoi, well, this is the perfect choice for you.

---Queen2408 for The Anti Girly Uke Yaoi club.You are invited to join and participate in the discussions. read more

There will always be a manga with very obscure scenarios. Those with extensive narrations and dialogues that leads you in deep thought and reflection. Male homosexual relationships are intriguing, Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume wo Miru is intriguing.

It is unmistakably a mouse trap.

If you ever thought reading one of the most decent stories that includes homosexual relationships, you may take this one into consideration. That which interweaves the art, characters and plot into a flawless lacework with no strings unwoven.

The story technically revolves around Kyouichi, a married man with lots of adultery in it. And it seems that these little mistakes he has gave a way for Imagase to create a new connection with him. Unfortunately, Imagase, a past underclassman of his, is a hired investigator of his wife. Imagase knows the bad stench of the relationship. Kyouichi’s gone frantic. He’s confused. He is dead meat if this news arrives to his wife. But Imagase assures him that his little play arounds with different mistresses will end up like a bubble with an exchange of one little thing.

His body. Imagase wants it. He wants it ever since college days.

What makes Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume wo Miru different from all the other mangas is the package itself. It’s simply alluring, deceiving and blinding. One may dislike it for some imbecile reason, the other may be totally in it. I may join the latter, I may also be the first. It is confusing. Beautiful. Really something sensible as a yaoi read.

Story-wise the manga has given a new meaning for its league. It’s simple at first but it definitely changes its pace towards the following chapters. It focuses on Kyouichi’s unfaithful, simple-minded, dense and confusing train of thought. However, it also talks about some past events during their college days and Imagase’s view about Kyouichi. When looking from Imagase’s stand, it makes the story more depressing and bitter. The hardest part of his unrequited love is he is inlove with someone who is straight and indecisive. The only way to show him this kind of love is by forcing on to Kyouichi. The volume has numerous of love making and dialogues along with it. Still has the yaoi feel, only better.

The art is interesting in different points. It sometimes focuses on the eyes, the lips and other different parts where it shows more affections, emotions and compact. All in all, the art is actually kaleidoscopic in a way. It’s sometimes intense and sometimes gentle. There is no stable and monochromic style in it. The scenes are different from the other. It communicates with the reader as if trying to say something behind the profile. The sexuality is occasionally in cold sober. The feelings are forced unto each other. The other may not want it, the other will. It defines two different people from different worlds. Not as equals, not as people on the same wavelength.

The characters has a grade of 100 out of 10. The way they were delivered is simply astounding. In terms of the use of character portrayal is one of the best that I have come across. Kyouichi’s wavering feelings has left Imagase to be unable to hold back his emotionality. Imagase is temperamental for the time being. Why? Is it because he got his hopes up to where he thinks that Kyouichi might have a slightest chance to fall for him? Maybe. Or, maybe not.

Imagase’s nature is somehow childish. He wants to own Kyouichi. He’s possessive and doubtful of him when he is with the girls. These feelings germinated from the time they went into the same college up to when Kyouichi had gotten married. Is he a bad person? I don’t think so. I believe he’s just someone who can’t hold on to his feelings any longer. For several years, he had kept them. He treasured them as if he had hope. He did have.

Kyouichi is your run-of-the-mill playboy character. Not actually the type wherein he’s in a harem but he just sticks to whoever shows affection to him. May it be love or lust, he is easily swept away by feelings. Confused with Imagase and to his own sexuality, he fights back against the fact that he might be a homo. But beneath his inane decisions and thoughts there is a hidden abashment of his own mistakes. He wants to renew himself and he just didn’t know the right way to do it.

Beside the manga lies cigarette butts that remained untouched. The atmosphere reeks of cigarette. Whoever reads this piece of art may fall into deep slumber and dream that life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to dance in the rain. read more