【Iyahaya Atami-Kun!】 Is your “like” different from other people’s? A somewhat sad, yet gentle youth x love story.

“Iyahaya Atami-Kun” is the story of Atami-kun, a high school student who is regularly confessed to by girls.
However, his heart is inclined towards men. This manga depicts his homosexuality and the emotional conflict that comes with it. In particular, the story centers on his feelings for his senior, Adachi-san, whom he often meets behind the gymnasium.

The appeal of this work lies in the realism of Atami's inner life and the daily life around him.
His romantic feelings are not depicted as dramatic developments, but as they change little by little in everyday life. The people around him, his classmates, Mr. Adachi's family, and other characters are very realistic and empathetic. Conversations using the Kansai dialect and the natural appearance of the characters add warmth to the work.

The story is told through Atami-kun's perspective.
He has the immaturity of a first-year high school student, but at the same time, he has calm insight. This unique perspective gives the story freshness and depth. As he explores his own love interest, the reader is also made to think about himself.

“Iyahaya Atami-Kun” is a unique work that defies genre.
What does falling in love with someone mean to you, how does it affect you, and what changes does it make? How do those feelings appear to those around you, and what exactly is love? It's not about how it should be, but how it wants to go. This is a work that depicts this from a student's perspective, and as a young man who has yet to experience love.

The deep emotional expression that goes beyond the framework of BL is impressive. Atami-kun's love interest is a man, but that is only part of his humanity. This work skillfully depicts not only love, but also the diversity of emotions such as “love.” For readers, the gentle, everyday, and realistic depictions provide a sense of comfort, like lukewarm water, which is what makes them enjoy the story.