BL Reading List: Future Lovers Volume 2
US Title: Future Lovers Volume 2
Original Title: Kaze no Yukue
Author: Saika Kunieda
Translation by: Jessica Tung
Published by: Deux Press
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13: 978-1934496626
On of my favorite BL manga and I wish there were more like this series. I feel that Future Lovers 1 & 2 are more geared toward an older reader, and for a manga, goes pretty deeply into relationship issues that real life couples face.
Volume 2 is more about situations that Akira and Kento face as a couple. For example, during a summer festival, Akira and Kento run into a high school classmate of Kento’s who is at the festival with his family. There is a moment of awkwardness as Kento hesitates in how to explain his relationship with Akira. This leads Akira to jump in and introduce himself as a colleague and he then excuses himself and walks away. When Kento catches up to him, Kento is upset with Akira for the colleague introduction, stating that he doesn’t want to hide their relationship. Akira shows his insecurities and Kento acknowledges that Akira tries to hide behind flashy clothes (the Japanese seem to love the word “flashy” to describe flamboyant stuff) and a carefree attitude. Kento, who is presented as a bear has a lot of introspective moments in this volume as he thinks about the man he loves.
The topic of marriage and long-term relationships are discussed. Akira even moves in with Kento and his grandparents even though grandpa states, “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”. I’m not sure if that is in the original Japanese printing, but this again shows the level of commitment that these men have and that Kento is willing to put all that he was raised to believe in aside because he loves Akira and wants to spend his life with him.
Although the volume is slim, it is dense with content and the couple’s struggles through different situations. The reader is given a glimpse into Akira’s life and can start to understand why Akira appears to present such a carefree attitude toward life and his relationship. It’s hilarious how Akira outs the couple in front of students and staff and a school assembly.
There is an extra showing Akira and Kento as very old men and how they still bicker and interact even as senior citizens. They are so cute and it is easy to imagine them walking around together as old men.
Strengths: The relationship and the day-to-day struggles that make this a loving couple. Family issues that come up and how the men deal with them but also acknowledging the importance of family. Kento’s insight in why Akira acts the way he does sometimes. Akira’s faith in Kento when in a life or death situation.
Original Title: Kaze no Yukue
Author: Saika Kunieda
Translation by: Jessica Tung
Published by: Deux Press
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13: 978-1934496626
On of my favorite BL manga and I wish there were more like this series. I feel that Future Lovers 1 & 2 are more geared toward an older reader, and for a manga, goes pretty deeply into relationship issues that real life couples face.
Volume 2 is more about situations that Akira and Kento face as a couple. For example, during a summer festival, Akira and Kento run into a high school classmate of Kento’s who is at the festival with his family. There is a moment of awkwardness as Kento hesitates in how to explain his relationship with Akira. This leads Akira to jump in and introduce himself as a colleague and he then excuses himself and walks away. When Kento catches up to him, Kento is upset with Akira for the colleague introduction, stating that he doesn’t want to hide their relationship. Akira shows his insecurities and Kento acknowledges that Akira tries to hide behind flashy clothes (the Japanese seem to love the word “flashy” to describe flamboyant stuff) and a carefree attitude. Kento, who is presented as a bear has a lot of introspective moments in this volume as he thinks about the man he loves.
The topic of marriage and long-term relationships are discussed. Akira even moves in with Kento and his grandparents even though grandpa states, “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”. I’m not sure if that is in the original Japanese printing, but this again shows the level of commitment that these men have and that Kento is willing to put all that he was raised to believe in aside because he loves Akira and wants to spend his life with him.
Although the volume is slim, it is dense with content and the couple’s struggles through different situations. The reader is given a glimpse into Akira’s life and can start to understand why Akira appears to present such a carefree attitude toward life and his relationship. It’s hilarious how Akira outs the couple in front of students and staff and a school assembly.
There is an extra showing Akira and Kento as very old men and how they still bicker and interact even as senior citizens. They are so cute and it is easy to imagine them walking around together as old men.
Strengths: The relationship and the day-to-day struggles that make this a loving couple. Family issues that come up and how the men deal with them but also acknowledging the importance of family. Kento’s insight in why Akira acts the way he does sometimes. Akira’s faith in Kento when in a life or death situation.