Childhood Friends
These works feature a relationship that started with individuals who were friends during their childhood.
Manga Review | Starting a Family with My Silly Omega by Haruchika
Title: Starting a Family with My Silly Omega
Haruto Yotsuba is an omega, and, as it turns out, his childhood friend is an alpha named Souta Asahi. The two have had a sexual relationship for a while now, under the guise that all omegas have to be intimate with alphas to reach adulthood safely. But unbeknownst to Haruto, this is all a lie. Souta has loved Haruto since they were children, and he has no intention of letting anyone else have him. So, Souta took advantage of Haruto’s innocence and laid claim over him with his body.
But no matter how ignorant Haruto is, he won’t fall for this trick forever, and with other suitors waiting in the wings, Souta has to work fast to ensure that his silly omega stays his.
Manhwa Review | Tenth Time’s the Charm by gom
Title: Tenth Time's the Charm
Hyunwoo is doing everything he can to get by. As a poor college student with chronic health issues, including amnesia and fainting spells, it’s hard to make ends meet, much less to keep a job. Unfortunately, his situation comes to a head when he returns home to find his door locked, his stuff sitting outside, and a note from the landlord kicking him out. With nowhere else to go, Hyunwoo heads out to the street with his few belongings, trying to determine his next course of action.
While out on the street, Hyunwoo comes upon a flyer looking to hire someone with room and board provided at a garden-themed cafe named The Flower Garden of Memory. As a lover of flowers and plants and needing a home, Hyunwoo has no intention of letting the opportunity pass him by. He heads straight to the cafe, only to discover the owner is someone he already knows. The night before, while at a bar, Hyunwoo saw the owner, Hansung, kissing another man in the alleyway. They both are stunned to see each other again. As if his chances of getting the job aren’t already bad enough, he passes out after smelling what Hyunwoo can only assume is Hansung.
Needless to say, when he wakes up, he’s pretty sure he’s lost the job. But after Hyunwoo begs, and coincidentally after he mentions his love of hydrangeas, Hansung gives him a chance. So begins Hyunwoo’s new job at the cafe. But it’s not all flowers and coffee; the longer he works there, the more he learns about his past and how Hansung might have been part of it. His memory seems to be intrinsically tied to this garden of memory.
Manga Review | Charming Scarface by Io Kaziwara
Title: Charming Scarface
Yuma is a big, bulky bear of a man, but inside, he’s a soft sweetheart. This gentle personality manifests in the motherly way he dotes on his younger childhood friend Shizuya, in his love for kid’s picture books, and at work when helping kids find books they’ll love at the bookstore. But nothing gives him more pride than Shizuya. Much of who he is as an adult was carefully crafted for Yuma to be the best big brother and guardian figure for Shizuya. Yuma’s happiness is intrinsically tied to Shizuya’s, and Yuma wouldn’t have it any other way.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard Yuma tries, it seems like Shizuya just isn’t all that happy. Undeterred, Yuma does everything he can to dote on Shizuya in hopes that he will become the upstanding man Yuma knows he can be. One evening, while in town, Yuma’s devotion to Shizuya reaches a dangerous level. As much as Yuma likes to think Shizuya is still the small, sweet, and gentle little boy, Shizuya has played the role of a delinquent through his teen years and, consequently, has gained a violent reputation and many enemies. He’s challenged by some other delinquents, itching for a fight, but what was going to be a fight with fists turns deadly as one of the guys pulls out a knife.
When Yuma sees his beloved Shizuya threatened with a blade, he has no hesitation and jumps in the way, permanently scarring his face and making his life much harder, as children are afraid of the scar. Shizuya is beyond guilty, but Yuma is all too happy to sacrifice himself and his livelihood for Shizuya’s happiness.
Manga Review | My Lovely Bunny by Sakana Tojo
Title: My Lovely Bunny
Uito and Sei have known each other since they were children. And unknowingly to each other, that love grew deeper and deeper until, in middle school, they confessed their romantic feelings at the risk of their friendship. Thankfully, it all worked out, and they have been dating ever since. Unfortunately, in high school, they try to express their love for each other physically, and while they do get chances here and there, it’s nowhere near enough to sate their lust for one another.
Thankfully, with the support of their few trusted relatives, they’re able to enjoy their high school romance. But no matter how much time they spend together, it just never is enough. They can’t wait to graduate high school so they can move in together. Until then, they’ll take advantage of every opportunity they can. If young love can last a lifetime, Uito and Sei are determined to make theirs go the distance.
Manga Review | The Lord’s Bride by Pyoco Asahina
Title: The Lord's Bride
Shion is part of a powerful family, but as a branching cadet family with no blood ties to the main family, he gets all the ire from all the other branches, but without the power the main family has. The main reason for all of the ire? It’s due to a long-held tradition between his bloodline and the head of the main family. Their ancestors were once in love but could not be together due to their differing classes. Unwilling to be without each other, the ancestors performed a bonding ceremony, rebelling against their families and solidifying their love for one another.
Now that Ao, Shion’s former childhood friend, has obtained the role of head of the main family, he fully intends to carry on the tradition of binding their two families together through this bonding ceremony. Unfortunately, this needless tradition has caused immense fury amongst all of the other family members, all of it directed toward Shion, who doesn’t have the power Ao does to defend himself. Shion never wanted to go along with this stupid tradition and, as such, fully intends to escape as soon as he gets the chance. Ao, though, has no intention of letting Shion go.
On the surface, it may seem that Ao is just going along with all of this for the sake of tradition, but there are much deeper reasons that even Shion can’t fathom.
Manga Review | He’s a Predator by Yuji Toriba
Title: He's a Predator
Yuma’s work-life balance is all out of whack. He spends more time at work than he does at home, and even when he is at home, he’s so stressed about work that all he can manage is falling asleep before heading in the next day. His only real reprieve is with his childhood friend Yasuharu, who dotes on and cares for Yuma. Yuma cares for Yashuharu, but there is one thing about Yasuharu that disturbs Yuma. Yuma has a bad habit of saying that he wants to die, and this habit is at an all-time high with all of the work stress. Whenever he says this phrase around Yasuharu, Yasuharu always responds with:
“I’ll eat you.”
It’s undoubtedly just a joke, but the way Yasuharu says it so seriously, Yuma can’t help being bothered by it. Still, Yuma’s phrase might become a reality when, after returning home from a long and strenuous day of work, Yuma passes out on his floor, but not before calling Yasuharu and asking him for help. Yasuharu comes to the rescue, ensuring Yuma is fed, rested, and gets the medical attention he needs, all of which Yuma is thankful for. But Yasuharu doesn’t intend to stop here. Yasuharu demands that Yuma move in with him so Yashuharu can care for him.
Though Yuma is hesitant, the offer is too good to pass up. But is Yasuharu’s offer as innocent as it seems?
Manhwa Review | Double Marks by MIRO
Title: Double Marks
Ash is one of the few unbonded omegas at the aristocratic school of Seytan Academy. As an omega, there is immense pressure on him from his father, who demands the best and nothing less, or he will marry off his son to the highest bidder. The pressure is immense, but Ash has a secret weapon: his childhood friend and classmate Judah. Judah shows his answer sheets to Ash during every exam, even at the risk of failing himself. Why? Judah is an alpha, and he is hopelessly obsessed with Ash. In exchange for helping Ash cheat, Judah asks for sexual favors for his reward, which Ash reluctantly gives.
While this works for a while, the appearance of Isaac exposes their secret arrangement. Isaac is an alpha, and he has his eyes set on Ash. His attention on Ash leads him to catch Judah sharing his answers with Ash during an exam. He takes a picture, which he uses to blackmail Ash into having sex with him, too. Stuck between two alphas, one of which wants him all for himself, all Ash wants is freedom. But can an omega ever truly be free?
Manga Review | I Love my Best Friend by Washio Tobi
Title: I Love my Best Friend
Yoichi has been in love with Shige for as long as he can remember. Shige was the first person he came out to in high school, and though Shige was accepting and Yoichi also planned on confessing his feelings at the same time, Shige also made it clear he didn’t understand why a man would love another man. Knowing that confessing to Shige would probably mean the end of their relationship, Yoichi buries his love. If he can’t be with Shige romantically, he at least wants to maintain their friendship. It’s painful, but being with Shige any way Yoichi can is worth it.
But his efforts are dashed when Shige approaches him with an odd request: “Let me eat your dick.” Apparently, after suddenly noticing the man in the porn he was watching, he wondered if the woman actually enjoyed giving oral sex or not. Wanting to see for himself if it’s as enjoyable as it seems, Shige wants to try it out on the only person he believes he can trust and who might enjoy it: Yoichi. To say Yoichi is shocked would be an understatement. He’s so shocked that he can’t resist when Shige goes on with his plan.
After all is said and done, can Yoichi continue to be friends with Shige? Or has this physical relationship gone one step too far? One thing’s for sure: No matter how hard he’s tried, his love for Shige has never been buried.