Aug 6, 2008
This is everything a good yaoi should be: smart, funny, empathetic, and hot as hell.
'Charismatic' is the best word I can think of to describe Doushiyoumo Nai Karedo. It's not got elaborate art or a 100% unique plot; what it does do is spin the old chestnuts of office romance and "does he love me, does he not, oh woe is me" into something that feels new - and honestly is that not what makes yaoi readers punch the air, the new? We don't really get it that often.
The strength of this manga is in its characters: Shimano, the young guy who's got it made
...
as the popular, handsome heir to his father's company starts to work under his competent (though non-elite) loud-mouth superior in the firm, Kurokawa. They do not get on. Kurokawa provokes Shimano into revealing his more arrogant, spoiled side, and Shimano provokes Kurokawa into, er, making Shimano his 'pillow'. Sexual tension of course then ensues, and as Shimano comes to see his superior in a new light, he begins to find himself needing a closeness it appears he's never experienced before. While divorcee Kurokawa is more obviously in need of some companionship, the reader starts to see Shimano might need a few hugs too, if not more. Many, many more.
(Can I just say that Natsume Isaku does yearning SO WELL? I almost hugged my *computer screen*.)
How you respond to the art all depends on your expectations. If you want flowers and flowing locks and psychological layouts, then you will be disappointed. If you want confident, clean, charismatic artwork that expresses both humour and emotion perfectly, then look no further. My personal make-or-break art foible is in the way a mangaka draws eyes, and Natsume Isaku has totally conquered me on that front - lovely and strong, and able to express hilarious sneakiness.
Doushiyoumo Nai Karedo is a blunt manga. What its characters feel is 'said' right there on the page. This can add up to tremendously effective sequences of emotion, where Shimano and Kurokawa can dance around each other, but not around the reader. If this is your cup of tea, along with characters growing in front of your eyes, humour, adult emotion, men in suits (hooray!), and a truly excellent translation job, then it is definitely worth a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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