“Over the Squall” — A Heartbroken Civil Servant and a Gentle, Easygoing Guy Find Love Together, by Ueda Aki（上田アキ）

Takeshobo BAMBOO COMICS Qpa collection “Over the Squall” is the title I’ll be introducing!

The following is quoted from the back cover. This review touches on the story’s content! If you just want a brief idea of what it’s about, I’d be happy if you read only the highlighted sections.

※Some expressions have been adjusted and summarized for this blog based on the content of the work.

A five-year love ended in an instant.

Natsurou, lost in thought alone at a park filled with memories while still carrying feelings he can’t let go of, is approached by Tsuyuhiko, a man who bears a striking resemblance to the lover he just parted ways with.

Taken home almost against his will because Tsuyuhiko can’t bring himself to leave someone who looks so heartbroken, Natsurou barely exchanges a word with him and is swept along by Tsuyuhiko’s suggestion to think of him as his ex and lose himself in a fleeting moment of pleasure.

After a night that reveals a side of himself he never knew existed, Natsurou promises to meet Tsuyuhiko again. Something has clearly changed within Natsurou as he watches Tsuyuhiko smile so innocently, but Tsuyuhiko has a rather complicated preference of his own—

From Takeshobo BAMBOO COMICS Qpa collection “Over the Squall”

I’ve been waiting for this spin-off! This is the story of Natsurou, who has parted ways with his lover after his ex reappears in their life.

I was thrilled to discover that I could read a spin-off from one of Ueda Aki（上田アキ）’s works…(^^) If you haven’t read the original yet, I highly recommend checking out my review on this blog first!! It’ll make it even easier to immerse yourself in the world of the story♪

“Wonder Border” — Where Feelings Once Left Behind at the Boundary with the Past Become Entangled, by Ueda Aki（上田アキ）

This heartfelt reunion story by Aki Ueda (上田アキ) is sure to draw you into a world of bittersweet emotions that will tug at your heartstrings from beginning to end!!

bookcafe-rosegarden.com

Our protagonist this time is Natsurou-san, a kind-hearted man with short, dark hair, a refreshing look, and a warm, comforting presence (＾＾). In the previous story, “Wonder Border,” Natsurou-san painfully accepted Hiroharu-kun’s decision to end their relationship. Now, he finds himself alone at night in a park filled with precious memories, reminiscing about the time they spent together. That is where the story begins, as Tsuyuhiko-kun happens to pass by.

Although Tsuyuhiko-kun bears a slight resemblance to Hiroharu-kun, leaving Natsurou-san with a strange feeling he can’t quite shake, Tsuyuhiko-kun insists on hearing him out and takes him back to his place. The two end up spending the night together. It feels as though the emotions he had kept buried have been laid bare, and he realizes that the lingering feelings that had been weighing on him have finally begun to clear.

The Contrast Between Sincere Natsurou-san and Free-Spirited Tsuyuhiko-kun

Tsuyuhiko-kun’s desire to comfort Natsurou-san while he is heartbroken is genuinely kind and touching, but at the same time, his free-spirited preferences make things rather complicated. Unlike Natsurou-san, who wants to build a sincere relationship through love, Tsuyuhiko-kun sees nothing wrong with his approach of simply “comforting someone who is hurting,” finding a sense of fulfillment by allowing himself to be close to them. This is something the two of them would inevitably have to confront after meeting each other.

Tsuyuhiko-kun Starts Learning About Human Emotions Through Video Games

id="s8k4p2" After a misunderstanding between them, Natsurou-san suggests spending some quiet time together at home rather than letting the distance between them remain. In the process, Tsuyuhiko-kun decides to use an otome game to learn more about human emotions and reflect on what they really mean. The contrast between the calm, heartwarming atmosphere and the expressions that reveal how deeply their emotions are being stirred is incredible... That contrast is one of my favorite parts, but there’s also something so bittersweet about it that I absolutely love. Simply the best (＾＾)

Tsuyuhiko-kun’s tendency to comfort others through physical intimacy began when he tried to comfort his fiancé, Gou-kun, after the loss of his older sister. Since then, he had felt compelled to comfort any man who seemed to be hurting, as though it were his responsibility, and had never met someone he truly loved.

And then he meets Natsurou-san. Although Natsurou-san is heartbroken and struggling after his breakup, Tsuyuhiko-kun begins to develop feelings he has never experienced before for someone who is willing to truly face him and understand him. Wanting to respond to Natsurou-san’s sincere feelings and face his own emotions as well, he makes a new resolve. I really love the way Tsuyuhiko-kun opens up about these feelings.

I’d really love for you to read the story for yourself and see where these two end up. I can understand Gou-kun’s feelings to some extent, but as someone who strongly roots for happy endings, I spent the whole time feeling frustrated with him (lol). It’s such a wonderful spin-off that it’s rare for one to move me to tears this much, so I highly recommend giving it a read (*’ω’*)!!