Trouble sparks in a shared living space?! “Love Nest Vol. 1” by Minaduki Yuu (南月ゆう).

Introducing “Love Nest Vol. 1” from Shinshokan Dear+ COMICS!

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.

There’s a wound inside me that will never fade—it’s always been there.

While searching for a new place to live, Masato Hozumi (穂積匡人) ends up staying at a separate residence owned by the proprietor of his regular gay bar.

However, an unexpected resident, Asahi (旭), is already living there.

Living with a sloppy, brazen man who is the complete opposite of the neat and meticulous Masato quickly pushes his irritation to the limit. More than anything, he hates that being around Asahi somehow brings back memories of a former lover.

However, Asahi pays no mind to Masato’s discomfort and keeps closing the distance between them more and more…?!

A spin-off of the hugely popular series “Change World”!

From Shinshokan Dear+ COMICS “Love Nest Vol. 1”

Hozumi from “Change World” takes the spotlight as the main character!

Working as a systems engineer, Hozumi is well known in “Change World” as the so-called (adorably) annoying character (or so it seems?). With his short black hair and cat-like expressions, he’s totally my type, and I really enjoyed the previous work thinking about how he has that irresistible charm that makes him hard to hate despite playing the disliked role (＾＾). He’s probably the kind of person who’d be hard to get along with in real life, but this story delves into Hozumi’s past as well.

Unable to endure the noise problems in his current apartment, Hozumi begins searching for a new place to live. Around that time, he’s introduced to a separate residence by Naru, the owner of the gay bar he frequents. Though Naru seems a bit suspicious, Hozumi is gently talked into moving there. He never imagined this would become the catalyst for meeting a certain someone.

A roommate with unshaven stubble and a perpetually lazy-sounding voice?!

On the very day he moves in, the person waiting in the room he’s shown is Asahi, a man sporting unshaven stubble. About the same age as Naru, he’s the complete opposite of Hozumi, who’s usually very mindful and put-together in his daily life. Faced with the shock of an unexpected roommate, Hozumi does his best to maintain a calm, orderly routine—but around Asahi, he can’t help getting worked up, and at the same time begins to let his true self show. That more genuine side feels warmer and more approachable, and I personally found myself liking him more and more (＾＾). Like a hissing cat, really (^^)

The wounds from Hozumi’s past and the pain Asahi carries within him

As they spend time together without putting up walls, the two are gradually forced to face the pain each carries from the past. They’re not exactly running away, but watching them slowly reveal the events they’d rather avoid—at least if they could—feels deeply bittersweet. And yet, as they try to face those feelings head-on, the way they’re drawn to each other quietly sinks in. That said, things don’t go quite so smoothly on Asahi’s side (laughs). This push and pull is part of what makes the story so compelling, and I truly love how Minaduki-sensei portrays the delicate exchanges of the heart…!!

Of course, there are plenty of intimate, emotionally charged developments, but what truly stands out is how beautifully the story portrays a lack of composure that spills out alongside an air of allure, as well as the delicate ways the characters come to accept one another. It’s a truly wonderful work…! If you haven’t read it yet, I wholeheartedly recommend going through the entire series (＾＾).

Both the upper and lower volumes are planned to be introduced on the blog in the future! Whether you’re just starting to get interested in Minaduki-sensei or you’re already familiar with her work, this is a title everyone can enjoy—so I highly recommend checking it out!!