Arranged Marriage Between Teen Alpha and Omega
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Warning:
This review will contain spoilers for the manga and anime series I Wanna Love You, Kiss You, Bite 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 arranged marriage, virgin-shaming, and sexism (based on secondary sex), as they appear in the manga.
Synopsis:
Akihiro and Reiya are intensely in love with one another. They appear to be a fluffy and sensual teen couple, but they are much more than that. Akihiro is actually an omega, and Reiya is an alpha. Unfortunately, these secondary genders are rare, and often parents, desperate to protect their children, seek out partners for their children. As luck would have it, Akihiro and Reiya are from the same neighborhood and even go to the same high school. So, their parents jumped on the opportunity and arranged a marriage between the two.
While they weren’t into this arrangement to begin with, they have come to love each other wholeheartedly.
And now, they can’t wait to graduate and finally get married. Their parents want them to be close and eventually fall for one another so they can have a happy marriage, but one thing alphas and omegas are known for is getting into trouble. Pregnancy is a real possibility, and Akihiro and Reiya are perfectly aware of that. Still, hormones and pheromones are raging, and they want nothing more than to take things to the next level. So, when Reiya gets a special gift from one of his classmates, they’re not going to stop at heavy-petting and foreplay.
Review:
Let me go ahead and admit that I adore pretty much everything I’ve ever read by Sakana Tojo (or Tohjo as it is romanized for this publication). Their art isn’t perfect, as it is super sketchy, but it has this sweet, fluffy quality to it that just sticks with you. It gives off shoujo vibes, and you feel those bubbly, fluffy, flowery, and sparkly textures and decorations common in scenes of that genre, even when they aren’t visually present on the page. Sakana Tojo embodies that sickly sweet art style, and the sex scenes are equally as soft. I will say, it can be hard to discern what is happening during the more active scenes because of the sketchiness, and there is a lot of wetness and saliva, but I just adore the vibes this style gives. I was so happy when I saw I’d be able to get a physical copy of Sakana Tojo‘s work from Tokyopop, because I had read the entire digital backlog on Renta!, and there is nothing like seeing it in person.
Another thing that Sakana Tojo excels at is the slow, domestic storylines where the smut is definitely the focus, but it is framed in light narratives that develop the relationship and the type of sex we experience with the characters. That is no different here. The omegaverse is the foundation, and it’s used to push the relationship between Reiya and Akihiro forward, but it isn’t the primary focus, which I really like. This is the perfect palate cleanser after all these long-winded, deep stories. All of Sakana Tojo‘s work that I’ve purchased is short-form, and they are masterful at it.
But let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the narrative. Sure, while there isn’t much, what is there has surprising depth. To protect their children, the parents have arranged a marriage between Akihiro and Reiya. Marriage is a huge commitment, and a very adult topic for two teens who have little to no experience in romantic relationships. There is an innocence and playfulness in their intimacy as they imagine what married life will be for them. But there is also a looming sense of unease and stress over the unknown. Pregnancy is mentioned early on, and is the main thing preventing them from taking their physical relationship to the next level. It is a powerful reminder of their age and how they may not be as ready for all of this as they might feel. We also see this hinted at by their friends and family, who question them and guide them in their relationship.
But they are undeterred and proceed forward. Then, Akihiro experiences his first heat. This is the key element of the omegaverse used to develop their relationship, and it is powerful. Akihiro is quarantined at school and is forced to wear a collar. Reiya wants to help him and protect him, but all of their peers stop him. It is in this moment that the two realize the gravity of their relationship. Sure, they love each other, but they have a responsibility to one another as partners, and alpha and omega. Intimacy is important, but it isn’t everything, and it is in this moment that they grow from a carefree teen couple into adults, at least in their understanding of their relationship. It is presented very simply in the story, yet it is an intense moment. If you’re hoping for lots of omegaverse worldbuilding and such, you will be disappointed. This is set in the omegaverse, but it isn’t about the omegaverse, and that is its strength.
Results:
If it wasn’t clear from the review, I am a huge fan of this creator. I have read so much of their work, and as soon as another drops, I jump to consume it immediately. This is one of the best examples of their work. It isn’t the cleanest, and it has a very light narrative, if you can call it that at all, but it is just as satisfying in its flaws as it is in its perfection. Add in the omegaverse, my favorite setting of all time, and this becomes an instant favorite. It is fluffy smut heaven, and if you are looking for porn with a plot, look no further.
Have you read I Wanna Love You, Kiss You, Bite You? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!
