A taciturn, beast-type mechanic × a Shiba-dog-style streamer — “We’re Not Cut Out to Be Lovers” by Hirokawa Kou（弘川コウ）

Let me introduce ShuCream’s from RED COMICS, “Ore-tachi wa Koibito ni Muiteinai”!

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.

“Don’t test my patience—I’ll pounce on you!”…――――――

Kumazawa, a taciturn mechanic, decides to confront his loud neighbor Koichi, who constantly streams flashy “how-to-be-popular” dating advice. When the door opens, he’s met with a friendly but airheaded, handsome guy who’s like an excitable Shiba Inu. Provoked by Koichi’s yapping energy, Kumazawa suddenly goes in for a deep kiss, leaving him weak in the knees! From that day on, Koichi starts asking Kumazawa for kisses, but his unwitting allure gradually begins to wear down Kumazawa’s patience…⁉

From ShuCream’s from RED COMICS, “Ore-tachi wa Koibito ni Muiteinai”

Neighbor × streamer—IT’S HERE━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━!!

Hirokawa Kou（弘川コウ） is an author I’ve had my eye on for a long time, and with the happy news that this title is getting its second volume, my curiosity radar finally went *PING‼*—so I ended up having a great time reading it. To be honest, I haven’t read many works featuring streamers before, so it all felt really fresh!

Koichi, the streamer, is the bottom, while the taciturn Kumazawa is the top, and the story is set in a very realistic world, making it easy and enjoyable to read (＾＾). There are moments that make you feel a little on edge, thinking “Is this going to turn into a neighbor dispute…?”, but the way the story gradually closes the distance between them has a really great pace—neither too comedic nor overly lovey-dovey in the first half. Just when I was thinking how good that balance was, Kumazawa suddenly goes in for a kiss ////// and it plunges straight into a dangerously spicy mode…!!!

A taciturn beast of a man and a Shiba Inu–type puppy—who knew they’d be such a perfect match…!!

Kumazawa, who works as a car mechanic, is serious and steady, living alone in a neat, tidy apartment. Through interactions sparked by his neighbor Koichi’s friendly, approachable personality, a space that belongs to just the two of them slowly takes shape. Kumazawa starts watching Koichi’s streamed videos, can’t bring himself to refuse when Koichi asks for kisses (even though he was the one who made the first move), and finds himself agonizing—despite having always avoided getting involved with straight guys based on past experiences. Around this point, I realized, “Ah, this is an obsessive top,” and my entire being rejoiced (＾＾). I was completely hooked from there.

There’s nothing more lovable than a lovable airhead

The easiergoing or more airheaded the character is, the stronger that protective instinct becomes—it makes you want to cheer for the top, like, “Please protect this precious bottom!!”. And as I kept reading while thinking that once you fall for a Shiba Inu–type, there’s no turning back, I realized I’d already crossed the point of no return (lol). Hang in there, Kumazawa…!!

If I had to put their relationship into words, what would it be… maybe something like caring-for-you neighbors? There’s this image that having an openly possessive, beast-type guy as a boyfriend would be a lot of trouble, but Koichi doesn’t seem entirely unhappy about it, which makes him so cute. So for a clear answer, I really hope you’ll see it for yourself (＾＾). I’d love to introduce volume two on this blog someday as well!!