Sakende Yaruze by Takaguchi Satosumi
 vol. 1 ISBN4-04-852645-6 |
 vol. 2 ISBN4-04-852785-1 |
 vol. 3 ISBN4-04-852929-3 |
 vol. 4 ISBN4-04-853058-5 |
 vol. 5 ISBN4-04-853159-x |
number of volumes: 5 (complete)
comic line: Asuka CL DX
publishing house: Kadokawa Shoten
size: B6
Major Characters:
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Hisae Shino is a voice actor that just learned he has a teenage son and seeks more work to support his new family. Strangely, his new job is for the uke of a yaoi drama cd. |
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Koizumi Tenryuu is the voice actor that does the seme to Shino's uke in that drama CD. He develops an interest in Shino, and pursues him in an understated manner involving good conversations, alcohol, and random kissing. |
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Tsuzaka Nakaya is Shino's 17 year old son by an old classmate. He's a hockey player and a pretty typical teenager. He's more suspicious than his father and is protective of his father. |
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Mizusawa Terushi voices a seme to Shino's uke in another drama CDs. He, too, develops an interest in Shino. Unlike Tenryuu, he is more obvious and a bit shameless about it. He has a bit of a one-sided competition going with Tenryuu in that. |
The Story
Shino opened his front door one day to find a son he never knew waiting outside. Nakaya came to live with his father since his mother died, and is bitter about the situation. It doesn't really help that he, as a high schooler, looks older than his 33 year old father. The amount of disbelief Nakaya has for his current situation is pretty tangible.
Since he has a new person to support, and his current (child's) show is ending, Shino searches for another job, which turns out to be a yaoi drama CD. There, he runs into an old acquaintance, 35 year-old Koizumi Tenryuu.
The series revolves around Shino and Nakaya's life as they adjust to life with one another and Shino's new job and the people he meets through it. There are appearances of other people, like Mizusawa, who wants Shino's attention, Nakaya's maternal grandmother who is a very proper lady, and other voice actors who add their 2 cents to plot. And all the while, Shino and Tenryuu are circling one another and cautiously spiraling to a relationship.
or are they?
Commentary
The story itself is fun to read, or look at, as the case may be, and the jokes are pretty funny. Most of them are at Shino's expense, commenting on how he looks like a boy, his voice is cute, and how he is such an uke (for voice-acting). Poor Shino. XD
Shino really is quite cute and is more than a little oblivious. Perhaps oblivious is not a good word for it. It's more like he's resigned to his situation of always getting teased.
Tenryuu is such a calm figure. He acts mature, unlike Mizusawa, and comes across as very easy-going. Except when he wants to pursue Shino, and then he's a bit more to the point. Nothing more obvious than some invasion of personal space and kissing. It's real subtle.
It's just too bad that Shino thinks he's just being teased at first.
No matter how many times Tenryuu says, "suki" to Shino, it doesn't go further than conversation for a very long time. It's worthy of some hair-pulling at times (resolution? resolution?!), but I think it's what makes Tenryuu a great character. He's not like the stereotypical seme who will push and push until Shino gives in.
Art-wise, it's quite nice. It's a bit rougher and not as solid as other comics, which gives it a bit of an airy feel. When the lines are minimalistic, it almost slows the scenes down, giving it a rather nice look to it.
It also has what I've dubbed "the demon stole my soul" eyes, because... they don't have pupils. Or rather, clearly defined pupils. This would normally annoy me, but it works with the art. And, y'know, I'm really stuck on this story.
For those that are hunting for the truly graphic comics, this is not one for you. Sorry, eh?
Extra~!
MangaBonBons.net has a summary page for the first 1.5 volumes of the series.