A clumsy, scarred love story — “The Correct Way to Read Love” by Ogeretsu Tanaka（おげれつたなか）

Shinshokan Dear+ Comics “Love Rubi: The Correct Way to Read Love” is the title I’ll be introducing!

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

“I wanted to see this crying face of yours.” …———

Back in high school, I was the gloomy, glasses-wearing kid—Suzuki Hiro, and Natsuo Washizawa, my shameless black-history acquaintance, kept pestering me. Years later, I run into Natsuo again—and he confesses his feelings. This is my chance. I’ll date him, make him fall for me, and then dump him in pieces!

From Shinshokan Dear+ Comics “Love Rubi: The Correct Way to Read Love”

“Either way, it’ll just end with me getting hit again.” …———

Hayashida, who used to hang out with “Natsuo” back in high school, ends up seducing his flashy junior coworker, “Hidena,” while drunk, and the two become friends with benefits. Before changing jobs, Hayashida used to hit his partner. With ears full of piercings—each one opened for every regret he carries, he asks: Can you really keep holding someone like me, full of holes, for the long run―――?

From Shinshokan Dear+ Comics “Hodokeru Kaibutsu”

This title is set slightly further along the timeline from “Even on a Rusted Night, Love Whispers,” which was previously introduced on this blog. While it’s not as short as a typical short story and does include painful developments, both narratives strike deep and resonate sharply with the heart. It’s a book you can read again and again, finding something new each time.

The determination to face a dark past head-on and prove yourself through your own efforts is absolutely intense!!

Suzuki-kun was someone with a gloomy personality who never really paid much attention to his appearance, but because he has almost no good memories from his three years of high school thanks to Natsuo—branded as his “dark past”, his resentment runs deep. By sheer coincidence, he runs into that very person again—and ends up being love-at-first-sighted. Just as planned! …or so it seems, but only for a moment. Soon, he’s forced to confront his true feelings. Back then, when no one else would give him the time of day, it was only Washizawa-kun who kept talking to him. Through a relationship set for a limited time, Suzuki comes to recognize the affection he feels for who Washizawa truly is, and makes a certain decision. Even as they painfully miss each other again and again, it’s a wonderful story that pulls you in—made all the more unforgettable by its striking, vivid, and memorable cover (＾＾)

I’ve been waiting for this spin-off!!

So this is a spin-off focusing on Hayashida, who used to run around with Natsuo—what a surprise!! After parting ways with Yumi in the previous work (I’m not entirely sure if calling it a “previous installment” is correct—sorry about that!), Hayashida changes jobs and meets Hidena at his new workplace. Assigned as his mentor, he interacts with Hidena—whose communication skills are remarkably high—while feeling something close to mild inferiority, and before he realizes it, he starts letting his guard down. Their relationship begins as friends with benefits, but little by little, it becomes a new place of comfort for him. He keeps things cool on the surface, yet it’s also intensely steamy and an absolute feast for the eyes. Still, because of what happened with Yumi, anxiety threatens to overwhelm him. I couldn’t stop the tears, desperately wishing for his happiness…!!

Both stories are about facing oneself and living fully in the present.

Struggling through pain, floundering, and ultimately facing a new version of oneself. In reality, there’s only so much we can actually do—but this was a deeply encouraging work. It’s hard to believe this is only the third collected volume, as it resonates all the way down to the deepest emotions. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend starting from the previous works (＾＾)