Desire

I found this manga slightly disturbing, not so much because the uke seemed reluctant or was being manipulated, but because the tone was relentlessly angsty.

Our main character is Toru, a shy, quiet student and the opposite if his best friend Ryoji, a popular jock and a typical teen. Ryoji makes no secret of his sexual activities and doesn't seem very concerned when he finds himself getting aroused by Toru, even thinking about him while having sex with his girlfriend.

Ryoji admits all this to Toru and suggests that they experiment with each other sexually. Having discovered early on that Toru has harboured a crush on Ryoji for years, the reader might expect Toru to be happy at this revelation but instead he is torn between his longing for Ryoji's love and the knowledge that he might have to settle for his body.

Having written this review I realise that Desire had more good points than I gave it credit for. The realism of Toru and Ryoji's first time together is one and the erotic dialogue, particularly from the brash Ryoji, is another.

Still, I can't ignore the angst. I don't usually mind but this yaoi would have benefited from some lighter moments which would also have made me care more about the otherwise uninspiring characters.

The art is a little scrappy but admirably individual. The sex scenes are very visceral but as a whole Desire lacks the delicious tension found in Only The Ring Finger Knows, also by Digital Manga Publishing.