The battle scenes of this bickering buddy duo are incredibly cool! “Nocturnal Dogs” by Yoichi Makina (与一マキナ).

Introducing “Nocturnal Dogs” from Tokyo Mangasha’s NUUDE COMICS (Nuude Comics)! (Please note that the publisher may have changed; for the most accurate information, try searching by the title.)

The following is quoted from the back cover. This review does touch on the story’s content! If you just want a quick summary!! I’d be happy if you read only the red text and highlighted sections.

※Please note: This work contains depictions of vampires and bloodshed. Reader discretion is advised※

“Make sure you savor my first time properly…” ———

In an era where the “Rufsol Virus,” which turns humans into bloodthirsty monsters, has spread throughout society.

Assigned to the anti-virus unit known as the Knox Soldiers, the troublesome mercenary Lil is suddenly joined by Zane, introduced as his new partner.

Zane has an unusual background as a former infected survivor—?!

An elite, straight-laced Zane × Lil, a free-spirited fighter raised on the streets

A rivals-to-rivals, bickering-couple buddy BL set in a ruined city, where both leads are attackers!!

A bickering couple buddy!!?

If that phrase instantly caught your attention, this is definitely a title I want you to check out! This was the work through which I first discovered Yoichi Makina (与一マキナ) (^^). I was immediately drawn in by the cover featuring handguns and fangs, and then I found myself reading with intense personal curiosity, wondering which one would be the top?…! (If you figured it out right away, that’s impressive!!)

※This section touches on story details. Please be advised that it contains panic, violence, and depictions of blood, which may be disturbing for some readers.※

It is a story about people living in a dangerous era where a virus known as the “Rufsol Virus” has spread, and anyone attacked by those infected will become infected themselves and be driven by an uncontrollable urge to prey on others. The depictions of being attacked, bitten, and beaten can be painful to watch (>_<), but everything is portrayed so coolly that you’re quickly pulled deep into the world of the story.

The anti-virus unit, the Knox Soldiers, are so cool!!

When you picture people belonging to a unit or organization, it’s easy to imagine uniforms, handguns, and that sort of thing, right? Put simply, their role is an extremely dangerous mercenary job—eliminating those who have been infected by the virus. And the one who belongs to that unit is the protagonist, Lil. With dark skin, long hair, and a street-raised, free-spirited nature, Lil is very much the type who walks his own path. By order of his superiors, his new partner ends up being Zane.

An elite who is also a former infected (survivor)!?

The blond elite Zane can’t stand Lil’s methods, environment, or behavior, and the two have a hard time seeing eye to eye. Having a dynamic like this around really makes things progress in interesting ways, doesn’t it!? (lol) Because Zane himself is a former infected, he carries deeply bitter memories and struggles to break free from them, but thanks to Lil, he gradually begins to face his past. Lil has his own burdens as well, and the process of the two slowly opening up and revealing their true feelings to each other is absolutely wonderful…!!! It was so, so good (^^).

There have been some changes in the publisher due to various circumstances, but a highly anticipated sequel has already been released, so I hope to introduce that one here someday as well! If you love buddy stories or can’t resist bickering couples, please be sure to give it a read!