A cool and devoted childhood friend obsessed with an unlucky protagonist...?! *Thanks for the Haunting, Kurose-kun Vol. 1* by Takomaccho (たこまっちょ)

Today, I'd like to introduce *Thanks for the Haunting, Kurose-kun Vol. 1* from ShuCream's from RED label!

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.

Yuma Kurose, a lonely boy who can see ghosts, was being tormented by a recurring nightmare.

Drawn as if by an unseen force, he returns to the hometown from his dreams, where he encounters Kaito, a man surrounded by terrifying spirits.

"I'll protect you." For some reason, Kaito keeps pursuing him with a serious and unwavering gaze.

Soon after, the spirits that had been surrounding Kaito suddenly possess Yuma all at once—!?

A cool and possessive top × a sweet, resilient bottom with terrible luck

Their reunion sets the time that had long stood still into motion once again.

A coming-of-age horror BL that's a little scary and incredibly pure!

From *Thanks for the Haunting, Kurose-kun Vol. 1* (from RED, ShuCream)

If you're even a little sensitive to horror, this one might be a bit intense for you...?!

As it happens, I wouldn't say I'm particularly good with horror myself...! But the detailed artwork of the spirits is fantastic!! This was the very first time I thought, "Maybe I'd like to try reading a BL manga with actual horror elements." This was also my first time reading one of Takomaccho (たこまっちょ)'s works, and honestly, even the cover looked scary. Scary—but my curiosity won out in the end. (Looking back, that was a great decision on my part! (lol))

A protagonist cursed with the ability to see what should remain unseen・Kurose-kun

Kurose-kun was injured in an accident when he was young, but his memories of that time are vague. One day, he reunites in his dreams with a boy he had once been very close to. Ever since childhood, when he lived with his grandmother, Kurose-kun has been able to see things that should not be seen—spirits and other supernatural entities. Because of this, he is constantly tormented by nightmares featuring that mysterious boy. Concerned by Kurose-kun's pale complexion and worsening condition, his mother suggests a change of scenery, and he ends up moving into his grandmother's house. Even there, memories of that figure continue to resurface. Personally, I found those scenes genuinely frightening, so if you're especially sensitive to horror elements, please proceed with caution...!!

Kaito Kiriyama — the childhood friend Kurose-kun reunites with on his first day at his new school

Kiriyama-kun is undeniably handsome, but the "things that should not be seen" clinging to him are constantly hanging over his head, making it impossible for Kurose-kun to look at him without fear... Gigantic eyeballs and writhing masses that resemble strands of black hair seem to drift around him, creating an incredibly unsettling sight. So when Kiriyama-kun's face is finally revealed, and it turns out he's a cool blond guy, I was shocked for an entirely different reason Σ(ﾟДﾟ) Seriously, how can someone be that handsome? And then I found out he's on the swim team too—now *that's* a top-tier gap moe moment...?!!

The reason why Kurose-kun has been plagued by these nightmares is gradually revealed as the story unfolds. From this point on, my emotions were all over the place—one moment it was adorable, the next it was terrifying—but that's exactly what made it so captivating. Alongside the fragmented memories of his past, a certain presence begins to awaken. That mystery is deeply connected to Kurose-kun's previous life, and little by little, the truth starts to come to light. I especially loved the way fantasy and reality were woven together throughout the story (＾＾)

I really enjoyed the interactions between Kiriyama-kun, who is secretly carrying feelings he keeps hidden, and Kurose-kun, who may be reserved but is surprisingly honest about expressing his emotions. They're just so adorable together... I definitely wouldn't want to experience the frightening situations they find themselves in, but the atmosphere between the two of them is absolutely wonderful. To be more specific: their hilariously broken sense of personal space, lending each other their gym clothes, and Kiriyama-kun's complete inability to pick up on important cues when it matters most. Each of these little moments feels like a puzzle piece made entirely of cuteness, coming together to create a story that's incredibly easy and enjoyable to read (＾＾)

The heartfelt truth behind his desire to cherish and protect him

The story takes us back to Kiriyama-kun's bittersweet childhood past, a past filled with loneliness and heartache. The reason he appears so cool and distant is because he feared that people around him might get hurt or be put in danger if they became too involved with him. Because of that, he felt he had no choice but to deliberately keep others at arm's length... Even so, Kurose-kun was different. He continued to talk to him and spend time with him without hesitation. Although they were only together for a short while, those moments remained in Kiriyama-kun's heart as irreplaceable memories he could never forget.

The lingering resentment of a love from long ago begins to entwine itself with the lives of the two in the present day...

Just when the two of them are finally starting to grow closer, a vengeful spirit suddenly appears between them. But... the first volume ends at an unbelievably suspenseful moment...!! I can't wait to see how everything will be resolved. I'll definitely be sharing my thoughts on the final outcome when I review the second volume here on the blog, so please look forward to it...!!