4 Stories of Romance to Warm Up Your Holidays
Mostly being regarded in Japan as a fun Western holiday instead of a religious one (unless you’re one of the few Christians in the country), Christmas tends to be a romantic occasion for Japanese couples. During this time of the year, expect restaurants that make for great date spots to be fully booked, and theme parks to be filled with couples on dates.
But for the hopeless romantics out there, it isn’t just Christmas that’s filled with lovey-dovey vibes; so is winter in general. Enjoying hot cocoa together, snuggling up to each other for warmth, maybe playing footsie under the kotatsu… the list goes on!
If you too enjoy a good romance here and there, be it your very own real-life romance or fictional love stories, we’ve picked four stories to warm up your winter holidays. Happy holidays from us at Manga Planet!
1. I’ve Never Done This Before: Serious Blind Love Sex with a Popular Guy
Author: Takane Yonetani
Publisher: OHZORA Publishing Co.,Ltd
Genre: Shojo/Josei
Status: Completed (3 volumes)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Hiyori, an energetic and cheerful young woman, is looking for a serious relationship. One night, as Hiyori is on her way home from a matchmaking party, a stranger who overhears her venting rudely tells her that love is merely a dopamine rush.
Though an annoyed Hiyori gives the man an earful about how he shouldn’t dismiss the feeling of love if he hasn’t experienced it, it doesn’t take long for her to shrug off the encounter.
Then, at another matchmaking party, Hiyori seems to have finally found The One in the form of Kuroto. He’s cute and charming, he puts her at ease, and he shares a love of movies with her! They both give in to their impulses and have sex on the first date — and after that, things just keep getting better as they discover how much they’re really into each other.
There’s just one thing: Hiyori doesn’t know that Kuroto is the rude man who made her feel awful that one night! As real as Kuroto’s feelings may be, what will happen once Hiyori finds out?
2. La Danse des Amants: The Dance of Lovers
Author: Yukio Yanagisawa
Publisher: SHODENSHA Publishing Co.,Ltd.
Genre: Boys’ Love (BL)
Content Warnings: Some depictions of dubious consent
Status: Completed (1 volume)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Although he is a talented modern dancer, Regis is plowing through a creative slump for his dance troupe’s Christmas performance. But, no matter what he does, Regis can’t perform to his perfectionist standards.
Frustrated, Regis first lashes out at his dance partner and then seeks the bodily comfort of his step-brother, fellow dancer, roommate Yuui. Intertwined with Yuui’s life and body, can Regis find a release from his past and pain?
Also interspersed are stories about members in Regis and Yuui’s dance troupe.
3. Two Guns Under the Sheet
Story: Nanaoku Hoshii
Art: Taki Kitao
Publisher: Parsola Inc.
Genre: GL/Yuri
Status: Completed (6 volumes)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Volume 1
All Aya ever wanted was a one-night stand who could take her mind off her lost love, but with Sakura, she may have finally gotten more than a one-night stand – she may have finally found “The One”!
But before she rushes into imagining their future together, there’s one uncomfortable question Aya has to face first – could it be possible that her beautiful new love is somehow related to the same organization she’s bound by duty to destroy?
4. City Lights Birthday
Author: Chika Hongo
Publisher: Home-Sha Inc.
Genre: Boys’ Love (BL)
Status: Completed (1 volume)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (readable in full)
- Free preview of Volume 1
Being a beta in a world where alphas and omegas were destined for each other, Azuma had long accepted that there was no such thing as ‘fate’ for him. Still trying to get over a heartache from the past, he meets ‘Mahoro’ by chance one Christmas night.
Pitying Mahoro’s unfortunate state, Azuma tries to offer help, despite being flustered. While Mahoro refuses Azuma’s offer to stay at his house, he invites the latter to drop by his workplace as thanks. It turns out that Mahoro works in a brothel.
As Azuma gets more drawn to Mahoro, he finds out that Mahoro is looking for someone: his fated partner. Against his better judgment, Azuma decides to help Mahoro.
