About:
Warning:
This review will contain spoilers for the manga and anime series I Seriously Can't Believe You.... While the manga may vary slightly from all other forms of media, it may have similar story elements and could be considered spoilers.
Content Warning: There may be references to manipulation, commentary on a person’s body weight, homomisia, mentions of breakups (not between the main couple), attempts to out someone, and perceived relationship between an adult and minor (not between the main couple), as they appear in the manga.
Synopsis:
Iida is popular. Girls constantly surround him, but he’s never had a girlfriend. This intrigues Kon and his friends, who are trying to figure out why such a handsome and popular guy is single. They ultimately end up at one conclusion: maybe he’s gay? Unwilling to let go of his curiosity, Kon decides to confess to Iida, hoping to reveal whether or not he’s gay. The confession ends in rejection, though Iida is very kind and considerate about it, which Kon is surprised by. Once again, Kon is only further entranced by Iida.
However, what Kon doesn’t know is that Iida is gay, and his sudden confession has started Iida on a spiral. Iida didn’t know who Kon was before, but now that he’s received his confession, Iida can’t help noticing him no matter where they are. He’s gone through great effort to hide his sexual orientation, including avoiding other men as much as possible. But for whatever reason, Iida just can’t seem to escape Kon. I mean, Kon already confessed to him. Would it be so bad if Iida took the plunge and tried to get close to him in return?
Review:
The art on the cover is a bit deceptive. I was really drawn in by it. It’s very smooth and clean. I love how expressive the characters are and how soft their designs are. Unfortunately, within the series itself, the style is very inconsistent and much more boxy than I would have expected. It’s not the worst style, and it’s actually very clean overall, but it’s just not as nice as the cover might suggest. It’s a bit disappointing, but I wouldn’t say it’s terrible. Just meter your expectations, and you will likely not be horribly disappointed.
Personality-wise, however, I love these two. Kon is a bit airheaded and a ray of sunshine, while Iida is much more serious and cold. It’s the good old funny man and straight man dynamic, which I love to see in BL. In the case of a romance like this, it makes Kon the key to opening up Iida, who has been hiding his true self and feelings. Unlike Iida, Kon is an open book. He’s not afraid to put himself out there, even to the point of pretending to be gay, in order to reach out to Iida. This is one of my favorite dynamics, and with their stark contrasting personalities, it adds to the humor as well as the volatility of the emotions. I love it.
Furthermore, this openness is what sets up the primary foundation for this relationship: porn. I adore this premise. The idea that Kon is willing to watch various types of porn in an effort to find Iida’s preferences is hilarious and sexy and sets the stage for how quickly these two grow to trust and rely on each other. While it is silly, it does remind me of one of my favorite titles, Golden Sparkle, which also dealt with high school boys exploring their sexuality together. I do think Golden Sparkle is more effective and well-crafted, but if you like Golden Sparkle, I imagine this one will probably be right up your alley, as well. I love how seriously Kon takes this task, keeping a journal of the various things they’ve watched together, with a list of what I would call tags and Iida’s reactions to each, which guide him on what he wants to show Iida next. It shows how endearing and caring Kon is as a friend, and that makes me love that goofball all the more.
Unfortunately, as much as I like the premise and the characters, this ending is pretty lacking. Of course, the story builds up to them finally confessing that they actually like each other beyond friendship and ultimately consummating their relationship. However, it ends right after the act, which is really unfortunate. Granted, I am a very greedy reader, always looking for more. But it’s so unfortunate that we see them pining for one another, have sex, confirm they want to be together, and then have it end right after. I would’ve loved to have seen them interact more as an official couple, but we don’t see any of that. It ends on a high but leaves me wanting so much more.
Results:
Admittedly, if the art were better, I’d probably call this a favorite. The ending is a bit lackluster, but the premise and characters in this are so fun that it’s hard not to enjoy it. It leaves me craving more from these two, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. I imagine many people will either adore this title or hate it simply due to the ending. I ended up really enjoying it, and I think it’s worth reading. It’s a really good laugh, surprisingly emotional, and has just enough smut to keep my fellow degenerates interested. I’m a fan.
Have you read I Seriously Can't Believe You...? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!