Don't Call Me Dirty by Gorou Kanbe

 

After some time attempting a long-distance relationship, Shouji is crestfallen when he finds out his crush isn't gay. Having struggled with his sexuality for years, he tries to distract himself from the rejection, in part by helping out at the neighboring sweets shop — but when a young homeless man called Hama shows up at the store, Shouji finds himself curious to learn more about him.

Attempting to make their way in a society that labels each of them as 'outcasts' and 'dirty,' the two men grow closer. Together, they begin to find they have more in common than either of them could have anticipated.

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/3xZUyXL)

Don't Call Me Daddy by Gorou Kanbe

 

Long before the events of Don’t Call Me Dirty, Hanao Kaji and Ryuuji Mita were close friends...

When Ryuuji is left to raise his son Shouji as a single father, Hanao steps up to help him out. At first, their family life is happy and content, but Hanao's true feelings for Ryuuji become more and more difficult for him to ignore. The pressure of staying closeted eventually becomes too much to bear; Hanao leaves, choosing to run from his feelings and his fears of somehow “messing up” Shouji’s life when he starts getting teased at school for having two dads. 

Years later, when he comes home to care for his aging father and ends up advising Shouji on his blossoming relationship with Hama, Hanao realizes it's time to face his own past… and his future.

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/4dgbtW3)

I Want to Spoil Ikuro-san (43 y.o) by Uka Kasai

 

The stoic guy in the black suit is a dork who likes sweets?
As a manager in a fancy cake cafe "Kuma Purin," I was told that liking manly things does not suit me. One day, this mysterious man with eyes like a killer came in front of my shop... It turned out he is a total opposite of myself!

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/3K0tLgN)

Tonight's Take-Out Night! by Akira Minazuki

 

Matsumoto was sent from his company's planning department to assist in the expansion of a fast food restaurant. Little did he expect to encounter sexual harrassment from Iwakiri Kiyoshi, the extremely competent manager of this successful shop. How should he respond? And is it all in jest?

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/44oBsqs)

Cat's Love by Shimaji

 

When Chihiro’s father passed away, Chihiro inherited Tsurumaruya, an old and well-established confectionary shop in Kyoto. While he didn’t inherit a sweet-tooth, he does have a craving... for his loyal clerk and childhood friend, Katsumi. Will Katsumi satisfy Chihiro’s needs, or will Chihiro be stolen away to Tokyo by Mori, an older man after Chihiro’s heart and body?!

The second half of Shimaji's delightful collection of tales contains not only the answer to this question, but also the story of a truly odd couple. Will their relationship develop into something resembling a family, or simply end in tears?

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/4a1POxQ)

Crimson Snow by Tomoki Hori

 

Kazuma, a yakuza, is shot and saved by the heir of a tea ceremony family, Shibata Yukihiro. Yukihiro,the illegitimate son, never allowed himself to ask for anything. Kazuma is the only one that Yukihiro wants to protect even though the burden that Kazuma carries is too dangerous. What should they do?

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/4beXJcn)