Slice of Life
A depiction of mundane experiences in art and entertainment.
OGL Comic Review | Star Collector by Anna Backhausen
Title: Star Collector
Fynn is far from a model student. He’d much rather spend his time smoking and lazing about than going to class, and he does so quite often. He is even less inclined to attend class when his girlfriend breaks up with him. She was very kind about it, but her reasoning has Fynn rather stumped. She implies he might be interested in other things, only being with her because it’s easier to go with the flow. He can’t imagine what other things that might be as he mourns the end of their relationship.
That is until he sees a guy with a telescope after spending a night on the nearby hillside to smoke. The young man is named Niko, a new student at his school. Fynn isn’t interested in the stars, but he is definitely into Niko. For the first time in a long time, Fynn makes a concerted effort to attend class, all because he wants to learn more about Niko. Can he draw Niko’s gaze away from the skies and onto him? More importantly, is his interest in Niko love or just curiosity?
Manhua Review | Me and My Zoo by La Mian Hua Tang De Tu Zi
Title: Me and My Zoo
Duan Jiaze has recently graduated from college. Unfortunately, the job market isn’t all that fruitful for a fresh graduate, but his luck takes a turn when a relative passes away, leaving behind a derelict zoo in the hands of Duan. While it isn’t much to look at, with most of the facilities in disrepair and the animals on their last legs, Duan has no choice and takes the opportunity to take over the zoo and bring it back to greatness.
Thankfully, Duan isn’t alone. He is inexplicably chosen by the heavens in the form of an app on his phone to take on the zoo under the Lingxiao Hope Project. This zoo will not be inhabited by just zoo animals but by deities needing vacations or punishments in the mortal realm. As Duan works at the zoo, he is given missions by the app to complete, and in turn, is gifted with feed from the heavens, free facilities, and, better yet, gods with animal forms to draw people to the zoo.
Duan is sure his Wonder Park Zoo has every chance in the world to succeed if only he can wrangle these godly animals dispatched to him. That’s easier said than done when his first divine animal, the three-legged crow Lu Ya, sent there as a punishment, acts more like a lord than a prisoner. Can Duan find the courage to command the great Lu Ya, or will he lose the zoo and what little pride he has left?
Manga Review | An Innocent Puppy Meets a Two-Faced Cat by Niyama
Title: An Innocent Puppy Meets a Two-Faced Cat
Naohito is very hardworking. He wants to move up the corporate ladder as soon as possible but doesn’t think that’s possible if he reveals his true self. So, he puts on a friendly and gentle mask that he uses with everyone at work. This leads to everyone liking him, but no one really knows him. His existence, while successful, is ultimately very lonely. Though he has a long history of lovers and relationships, none lasted because they eventually realized Naohito would always put up a front. They never really know who he is. Nearing forty, Naohito is losing hope that he’ll ever have a romantic life partner, but the only friend who knows him for who he is, Seiji, isn’t ready for him to give up just yet. Seiji ends up talking Naohito into coming to a singles mixer where Seiji works. Despite Naohito’s disinterest, he decides to go.
As expected, Naohito ends up being the oldest man there, and he has no interest in getting involved with any of the young people romantically or otherwise. While he does his best to remain distant and just enjoy the food, another young man ends up coming up and making himself at home at Naohito’s booth. The young man’s name is Tohru, and he also came for a friend with no interest in dating anyone there. Unlike Naohito, Tohru is open and honest, obnoxiously so, and the young man is able to pull out the more honest side of Naohito as well. After an uncomfortable walk to the station together, Naohito writes this encounter off as a strange one-time interaction. Surprisingly, he runs into Tohru at one of his client’s locations.
Unable to brush the young man off without risking his contract with the client, Naohito is forced to appease Tohru whenever they run into each other. Unfortunately, this happens far more often than Naohito ever intends. After Tohru’s apartment burns down, Naohito feels compelled to help the young man by letting him move into his extra bedroom. So begins this unlikely duo existing together. While Naohito was perfectly content living alone, having the vibrant Tohru around only highlights his loneliness. Will he be willing to accept this new life of light and honesty? Or is he too old to change his ways?
Manga Review | Restart After Growing Hungry by cocomi
Title: Restart After Growing Hungry
Yamato and Mitsuomi have been together for three years, having only known each other for four years. They spend almost every moment they can together, and though they’ve never labeled their relationship, they don’t question what they mean to each other and are just content being in each other’s presence. That is until they attend their friend Harada’s wedding together. During the reception, it becomes clear that word of their relationship has gotten around, but thanks to Harada and Yamato, the pair avoid being outed among their peers. Still, with so many people aware and such great effort being taken to diminish their role in each other’s lives, Mitsuomi can’t help but wonder how Yamato sees their relationship.
It gets even more confusing when Mitsuomi’s mother brings up the new partnership system their prefecture has accepted. While it doesn’t function the same as marriage, it does help legitimize same-sex couples in the local government’s eyes. Mitsuomi doesn’t see much point in it since it doesn’t provide any benefits that traditional marriage does, but he can’t help but bring it up to Yamato just to see his reaction. Shockingly, Yamato seems put off by the idea and makes it clear that he is happy with their relationship as it stands. That was no different than Mitsuomi’s own reaction, but for some reason, hearing it from Yamato hurts Mitsuomi.
Just what are they to each other, and does Yamato actually love Mitsuomi like Mitsuomi thinks he does?
Manga Review | Restart After Coming Back Home by cocomi
Title: Restart After Coming Back Home
Mitsuomi, from the time he was a teen, has had one goal: escape his small town and make it in Tokyo. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done, as time and time again, Mitsuomi’s anger gets the better of him. Once again, he gets fired and has no other choice but to return home to stay with his parents. While he has always avoided staying in the countryside and taking over his family’s business, at the age of twenty-five, with no other direction in his life, that might be his only option, if his dad will even give him the opportunity.
While bemoaning his fate, Mitsuomi meets an unfamiliar face, which is odd for his hometown. The young man is Yamato, adopted by Mitsuomi’s long-term neighbor and farmer who never did have children of his own. Yamato is the same age as Mitsuomi, but his life seems completely put together, with Yamato helping his adoptive father out in the fields and making deliveries around town, all with a smile on his face. However, no matter how well-integrated Yamato is in this rural town, everyone still whispers, questioning his reliability as an outsider.
Mitsuomi can’t stand the judgment and makes it his mission to befriend Yamato. But no matter how hard Mitsuomi tries, there are walls around Yamato that he just can’t seem to tear down. More importantly, this mission of friendship has evolved into something deeper for Mitsuomi. He doesn’t just like Yamato as a friend. He’s steadily falling in love.
Manhwa Review | Unintentional Love Story by PIBI
Title: Unintentional Love Story
Wonyoung’s successful career is put on hold after his superior gets caught in a scandal. The company, Taepyung Group, is unsure if Wonyoung played a role in the scandal, so to hedge their bets, they fire him. Needless to say, Wonyoung is heartbroken. His parents were beyond proud of him for getting a job at such a prolific company, so he can’t bring himself to tell them about his situation. Rather than finding a new job, he desperately wants to get back into Taepyung Group. To gather his thoughts and wait out the ensuing investigation, with little hope that he’ll be brought back, Wonyoung leaves Seoul for the countryside, where he tries to relax.
While checking out the area, Wonyoung happens upon a pottery studio and store where a potter sells all manner of bowls, cups, and the like. It just so happens that the man who owns this store is none other than Yoon Taejun, the chairman of Taepyung’s favorite potter who has been missing for a long time. However, he isn’t going by Taejun anymore. Instead, the name he answers to is Joohun. Is this the same guy? There’s no question in Wonyoung’s mind that it is, but why is he hiding out in the countryside?
Seeing this as an opportunity to win back favor with the chairman and get his job back, Wonyoung relays Taejun’s location to his former coworker, who talks Wonyoung into getting close to Taejun in hopes of winning an exclusive contract with Taepyung. While Wonyoung feels this is unethical, his desperation pushes him forward.
Manhwa Review | I Have a Boyfriend by PIBI
Title: I Have a Boyfriend
Hyunho is a show-out when it comes to soccer. It’s his life, and he hopes to go pro before graduation. When he isn’t thinking of soccer, though, he keeps the torch for his middle school friend Gyul lit. Unfortunately, due to unfortunate circumstances in Gyul’s family forcing him to move away and Hyunho having to go to a different school, the two never speak again. Even so, Hyunho can’t help thinking back to that sweet little boy who gave him the courage and opportunity to follow his dream as a soccer player.
To Hyunho’s surprise, he ends up running into Gyul on campus. Hyunho is ecstatic, considering this his chance to confess his feelings to his long-lost love finally, but Gyul isn’t the bright and smiley boy he once was. Instead, when Hyunho tries to get close to him, Gyul is cold. So cold that Hyunho wonders if this is even the same person. As Hyunho scours campus to get more information on Gyul, he discovers that most people avoid Gyul simply because he isn’t at all friendly and spends all his time studying or working to pay for his little brother’s school fees and put himself through college at the same time.
This doesn’t deter Hyunho in the least. He’s determined to do everything he can to help lighten Gyul’s load and, hopefully, woo him in the process. Regardless, he just wants Gyul to be happy again.
Manga Review | Mr. Mini Mart by Junko
Title: Mr. Mini Mart
Nakaba has become a NEET. He dropped out of school due to intense bullying and has spent every day at home ever since. He would be in high school right now, but the thought of returning to that situation is too much to bear. But being stuck in his room for the rest of his life is neither feasible nor ideal. So when the opportunity to work at a relative’s convenience store comes up, he takes this chance to get back out into the world and start a new life for himself.
Unfortunately, it isn’t all that simple. His coworker, Yamai, is a big tough guy, and even though they are close in age, Nakaba can’t help feeling intimidated by him. Nakaba also can’t help hating him, even just a little bit. That is until he catches Yamai saving a kitten in a busy street. Yamai smiles so gently and tucks the kitten into his jacket. Nakaba isn’t sure he’s looking at the same person. Now that he knows that prickly exterior is hiding a much softer inside, Nakaba wants to get to know this sweet Yamai. But will getting close to another person lead him to a devastating end like his school life had?
There’s only one way to find out.
Manhwa Review | Behind the Desks by Day7
Title: Behind the Desks
Lee Taesung just got a job at his former high school. Naturally, he’s a bit nervous about returning to a place after so long, but he’s also nostalgic as he walks through its familiar gates. One key memory that still brings him joy is when he was in the infirmary, slacking off and napping. He woke up briefly to find a stranger sitting by his bedside. The stranger covered Taesung’s eyes, keeping his identity somewhat vague and prompting Taesung to fall back asleep. From then on, Taesung was in love with this stranger, and even today longs to reunite with him.
To his surprise, while trying to find the main office for his first day, he runs into someone who looks very similar to his first love. He’s not totally sure it’s him, but he can’t help but feel drawn to this fellow teacher because of their similarities. The teacher’s name is Seo Sunny, also part of the science faculty (Taesung is the physics instructor, and Sunny is the chemistry instructor). Whether or not Sunny is the man Taesung has longed for all this time doesn’t matter in the end. Taesung wants Sunny and will do what he can to get close to him.