That Blue Sky Feeling, Vol. 1

This introductory volume does an awesome job of separating itself from characterized BL series by focusing on just one gay male 11th grader and his struggles to deal with trying to have a normal high school life even though he has a rumor spread around that has outed him. Unable to deny the true accusations he keeps to himself in school so as to not “weird” people out. However, a classmate has taken interest and wants to get to know him and be his friend and help to break him out of his shell, and thus the manga launches.The premise paints a picture of Kou as just a guy who has to stay to himself in order to live out his high school life drama free but can be himself outside of it. I found it to be an emotional premise as high school is the time of one’s life and stays with them and it paints the picture that he’d always have memories of how terrible and lonely his high school life was. Perhaps it is great that he could meet Noshiro, who just transferred to the school, and has nothing to lose by befriending this loner. I think it is this aspect that makes this series feel so different than other series. We don’t suddenly have the character just wanting to get in Kou’s pants and fall in love with him at first sight, but rather we have Noshiro taking extreme and genuine interest in trying to get Kou to experience what school life can really be about. From just confronting him about the rumor, taking interest in making sure people dont hurt his feelings, then some time trying to accept him for who he is, and then taking baby steps that make me genuinely smile and feel happy for Kou as he goes from loner to acquaintance with classmates to even legitimately smiling and laughing with Noshiro, it becomes a sweet story. Further, it is awesome seeing how Kou starts to let Noshiro come into his life ever closer, though it isn’t immediate, and it isn’t without taking a few steps back, but rather its calculated and done with concern for protecting Noshiro from some of the rumors and treatment Kou has faced. This ultimately leads to our favorite friend in storytelling, “Miss Understanding,” to rear her head in full form to lead to tears. However, things resolve with some outside help and some realization for Noshiro that he is experiencing the rises and falls of having a best friendship going on.So overall, this is a great story of acceptance and friendship.There are a few questionable aspects, like Kou’s 26 yr old ex-boyfriend (when Kou is only in 11th grade), Noshiro going over to that guys house.I think there are questions as to the life of the series and its end goal. I’m hoping Kou gets with someone who isn’t Noshiro, and Noshiro gets with Kou’s female friend. Kou is seen to have many non- school contacts suggesting he isn’t a total loner, but it is unexplained how he is meeting other gays.Art is pretty fresh and clear, there is a bonus omake, and author and artist comments.

While this art leaves a little something to be desired in a mass of hot bodied yoai characters it brings something to the table that can be lost in some stories. This book has a lot of heart it's more shonen AI than yoai. About 2 boys in high school one a not so closeted isolated gay kid and the other a newly relocated (seemingly asexual he is in the 11th grade and has had no real sexual interest an anyone) guy how is struggling (light struggle not a slice of life here) with his sexual identity and his ever developing friendship with the class gay kid. I typically go for the hard yoai with tons of sex but every once in a while a sweet story about two boys figuring out what love is will catch my eye. I'm happy I bought this manga

Read this on an app so happy to have gotten the book.

I will never get over this series it is so good at explaining what it's like to figure this stuff out

~4 StarsI just love when we get realistic stories that feature LGBT characters. It happens so little, where it's not just yaoi, but a slice of life story, or even just a story that includes gay characters, in manga.Noshiro transfers to a new school, where he discovers that Sanada is treated differently. Everyone else is being so nice to him, and yet no one really talks to Sanada, and that bothers him. When he finds out it's because there are rumors that Sanada is gay, it bothers him even more. He doesn't think he's homophobic, and yet it makes him think of Sanada differently, at first.There's also Yamada, Sanada's only friend at the beginning. She seems sweet, and that could go in a few different directions. We also meet Hidemitsu, Sanada's older ex-boyfriend. This is an interesting development, and I appreciate the input he gives, how he tries to help guide them both.I liked the realistic discussions in this book, how Noshiro was conflicted about the rumors, and how Sanada confronted him about it. And how Noshiro went to Hidemitsu a few times for advice, when he was struggling with his feelings.This volume was so good, and just what I wanted. I'm so glad it's being released, and I really can't wait to read more.A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

I really enjoy this story. It's more realistic to how many experience the development of their sexuality while in high scgiok. Yeah there is an older guy that someone says that they dated before but I don't think they actually dated. I think the characters says that to throw his friend off again. I think the older friend just helped him realize who he was is all. It's hard navigating something like that on your own especially when it isn't supported by the community around you. I think this story is a cute slice of life closer to an actual experience.

Adorable novel about two boys that are dealing with typical high school boy stuff. Very slice of life as well as wholesome. Must read for gay manga readers!

the blond kid is in high school but ex boyfriend was 25 years old and this is played off as an ok thing so it was gross and bad