Manga Like Salad Days

A haunting melody lingers in Mafuyu Satou's mind, repeating through a guitar with sorrow and longing. His distant demeanor hides the depth of his emotions from those nearby. An unexpected meeting with classmate Ritsuka Uenoyama could become the key for Mafuyu to express his inner voice. Uenoyama plays in a band featuring soft-spoken bassist Haruki Nakayama and rugged drummer Akihiko Kaji. Though lacking a vocalist, the group performs instrumentally. Their prospects for growth brighten when Uenoyama is captivated by Mafuyu's singing ability and invites him to join their ranks. Band life brings challenges where emotions can strengthen or strain relationships. With Uenoyama's encouragement, Mafuyu may find a way to release the feelings trapped within his soul.

Yu Yang is a dependable and friendly second-year university student who, at the start of a new semester, is assigned to help guide each incoming freshman around campus. During this task, he meets Li Huan, a new student whose imposing height adds to an already cold and distant personality. Despite Yu Yang's attempts to be helpful, Li Huan often responds with disinterest. Initially annoyed by Li Huan's behavior, Yu Yang slowly comes to understand that this unexpected meeting might change how he sees life and, possibly, his understanding of love.

In "Boy Meets Maria," Taiga Hirasawa dreams of playing the lead role in a heroic film story, though he is unsure who his heroine might be. On his first day of high school, he meets "Maria," a captivating drama club member who enchants everyone with her grace and mystery. Taiga immediately declares his love, only to discover that "Maria" is actually Yuu Arima, one of his fellow male classmates. Despite this revelation, Taiga becomes intrigued by Arima's complex and elusive personality, which hides a painful past. Determined in his pursuit, Taiga sets out to uncover the real person behind the facade of "Arima."

High school students Chiharu Saeki and Wataru Toda share a close friendship despite their differing positions in the social hierarchy. As the most popular boy in their grade, Saeki frequently turns down confessions from girls by claiming he already has a crush on someone. Both are passionate about movies and often go to the cinema together, taking turns selecting which films to watch. After one of their movie outings, Saeki confesses his feelings to Wataru, explaining that he doesn't expect anything in return. Instead, he proposes that they spend the summer visiting the real-world locations where their favorite films were shot. Though Wataru initially seems unfazed by the confession, he starts to question his own feelings as their bond deepens through this shared journey.

While visiting his mother over the summer, Haru meets Ren, a boy who has just been adopted into the family. Haru's first objective is to "civilize" Ren before the season ends. But as Haru spends more time with Ren, their bond grows stronger, and Ren begins to come out of his shell. Will they be able to build a true "family" relationship by the time summer is over?

Beneath Hikaru Kusakabe's calm exterior lies a deep affection for Rihito Sajou, a feeling that only needs a gentle gesture to spark. Sajou, known for his diligence and quiet nature, struggles to reconcile his strong feelings for Kusakabe, often lost in thought and doubt, while Kusakabe is bold and direct, holding back nothing in expressing physical intimacy. When Kusakabe shares his dream of becoming a professional musician, Sajou devotes himself fully to preparing for university entrance exams. Their diverging paths cast an unspoken shadow over their relationship: as graduation approaches, the future of their romance grows uncertain. Still, their love provides warmth to each other in the harsh winter and brings hope that one day they will find the answer to a shared yet undefined future.

Eight hundred years ago, Xie Lian was a highly esteemed Crown Prince of flawless lineage, a favored choice of Heaven with limitless promise. Even after attaining godhood and amassing tens of thousands of worshippers, his destiny turned cruel. Time and again, he was stripped of his power and cast down to the lowest depths. Centuries later, Xie Lian ascends once more, though this time he has no followers or incense offerings. One day, after returning from scavenging, he brings a peculiar young man back to his home. This individual is Hua Cheng, the terrifying Ghost King whose very name sends chills down everyone's spines.

During their high school spring semester, Yuiji Hasegawa begins to suspect that his quiet classmate, Yamato Yoshinaga, has romantic feelings for his straight best friend, Kyousuke Hongou. While in a shared study group, Yuiji catches Yamato holding Kyousuke's hand as Kyousuke sleeps, and Yamato shows clear embarrassment upon being discovered. Though initially hesitant due to Yamato's homosexuality, Yuiji decides to keep the incident secret, leading to the start of their friendship. Despite their differing experiences with love, the two seem to grow closer as they work toward understanding each other better. However, the unspoken possibility remains that their relationship might develop beyond just friendship.

In a grim city where criminal organizations hold more power than the legitimate government, Yukio "Yuki" Kousei and his best friend Tetsushi "Tetsu" sell counterfeit drugs to survive. When Yuki's younger sibling falls gravely ill and needs hospital treatment, they decide to rob the safe at the Seidoukai headquarters, a feared yakuza group, aiming to steal a large amount of untraceable cash. Though the robbery goes wrong, Yuki catches the attention of the syndicate's young leader, Kazutaka Hyodo. Hyodo offers to cover Yuki's brother's medical expenses and overlook the break-in, but on one condition: Yuki must visit Hyodo's office every week without fail. With his brother's health at stake, Yuki accepts the terms immediately. As he complies with this arrangement, tensions escalate between the Seidoukai and a rising gang eager to seize control.

Five years after the mysterious disappearance of the fourth prince, an official decree commands that any boy named Wolfgang be turned over to the authorities, launching a widespread hunt for anyone named Wolfgang Goldenleonard. Wolfgang knows exactly who he is and understands that he is being targeted for assassination. Since his mother's death, he has lived in hiding among the street orphans, but when those children are threatened, he chooses to reveal himself. Once his identity becomes known, he is brought to the palace of his tyrannical father. Inside the palace walls, Wolfgang feels intense hatred toward his father. Refusing to conform to the expectations of a Goldenleonard prince, he defiantly breaks every rule he can. Despite being warned never to covet what belongs to the king, his rebellious nature and hot-tempered demeanor attract the attention of the king's favored catamite, Shin Soohyuk. Seeing potential in Wolfgang as a catalyst for change, Shin regards him as the spark needed to ignite a revolution. In exchange for a promise to grant Shin his freedom, Wolfgang agrees to become Shin's instrument.

On the surface, this appears to be a meeting of three girls for the first time. However, this trio shares a hidden truth: each was born male but crossdresses for personal reasons. Ryousuke "Yui" Kijima adopts the persona of his late older sister to honor her memory. Osamu "Parou" Tamura crossdresses to attract the interest of his straight senior at school. Yuuta "Marika" Aoki identifies as a transgender woman. Despite their shared experience, Yui feels uncomfortable with how Parou and Marika seem at ease with their choices and decides to leave early. In Yui's absence, Parou expresses his support for Marika, leading her to develop feelings for him. Although their initial meeting is brief, their lives start to overlap. As they grapple with their gender identities, romantic emotions arise, complicating their relationships while simultaneously bringing them together.

Kutsuna Satoru, a hat maker, discovers Kashiba Ryou collapsed on the side of the road. Kashiba has traveled to Japan with the purpose of taking his own life. Volumes 2-3: Dear Hatter Volumes 4-7: The Speaker

At 18 years old, Yoon Taemin has spent his life alone, mastering survival skills in a harsh environment. He ignores a haunting dream in which a boy jumps to his death and is struck by a truck, only to realize that this nightmare predicts his own actual death in the same way. After the incident, Taemin finds himself living in the body of Min Siwoon, a weak and gentle teenager who had jumped from a building. Despite Siwoon's wealthy lifestyle and caring parents, he faces relentless bullying and contempt from everyone around him, including his brother, because of his inability to defend himself. Adapting to his new reality, Taemin continues as Siwoon, using memory loss as an excuse. However, his past catches up when he encounters Han Siwon, his childhood friend, now a vastly different person. Siwon instantly recognizes Taemin inside Siwoon's body, and the reasons behind their separation begin to emerge.

In "Zankoku na Kami ga Shihai suru," Jeremy suffers sexual abuse from his stepfather, causing deep psychological damage that eventually pushes him to kill. Through a tragic accident, he takes the lives of both his stepfather and his mother. Meanwhile, his stepbrother Ian grows suspicious of something wrong and investigates to reveal the hidden truth about his father's deeds.

In Kaze to Ki no Uta, Serge Battour is the son of a French viscount and a Romani woman. Despite his academic abilities, he faces social isolation because of his heritage and appearance. Seeking acceptance, he enrolls at Lacombrade Academy, his father’s alma mater. Gilbert Cocteau, another orphan from a well-off family, also attends the same academy. Known for his striking beauty, Gilbert is indifferent to his studies and engages in selling himself to other students. He refuses to form meaningful connections with his peers, devoting himself solely to his uncle Auguste. Because of limited housing, Serge and Gilbert are paired as roommates, an unprecedented situation for Gilbert due to his history of antisocial behavior. Serge, an optimistic and friendly person, aims to befriend Gilbert, who in turn intends to manipulate or alienate Serge. Surprisingly, the two develop a profound bond, often fraught with difficulties, which eventually grows into a romantic relationship.

Three years after finishing high school, Hikaru Kusakabe and Rihito Sajou are maintaining their long-distance relationship. Kusakabe throws himself completely into his music career, putting in intense effort and having few chances to see Sajou. Meanwhile, Sajou keeps busy with college club activities and hanging out with friends. Even so, Sajou finds it hard to cope with Kusakabe's absence. When Kusakabe makes an unexpected visit one day, Sajou decides to call off their engagement. Though their feelings for each other remain unchanged, both Kusakabe and Sajou must adjust to this new situation, holding onto the hope that they might reunite someday.

The Hybrid Child is a highly advanced artificial being often mistaken for a doll, capable of learning to read and express emotions. Its growth depends on the love it receives from its owner—the more affection given, the more it flourishes. Kotarou Izumi, an easygoing person, has lived with his Hybrid Child, Hazuki, for ten years, convinced they will always be together. But his life is shaken when Hazuki unexpectedly becomes ill. Through three separate short stories, "Hybrid Child" examines the difficulties faced by both Hybrid Children and their owners.

In "Let Dai," the pursuit of freedom might itself become the prison that traps us. This story of forbidden love and unforgivable betrayal takes place in a cold neo-Seoul, filled with young delinquents and pleasure-seekers. Dai, a morally corrupt teenager, embodies the city's mix of attraction and brutality. As the leader of the ruthless Furies gang, he mesmerizes everyone who sees him while hiding his violent nature. When an upright student named Jaehee rescues a beautiful girl from a Fury attack, he unknowingly starts a path that leads him into intense passion and unrelenting suffering. From his brutal initiation into the gang to a shocking betrayal of his own girlfriend, Jaehee struggles between disgust and fascination. Dai shows himself as a kind, caring companion one moment and a merciless villain the next, stirring dangerous and unexpected desires in Jaehee.

First-year university students Wataru Toda and Chiharu Saeki begin attending different institutions as they step into adulthood. After enrolling, Wataru takes a job at a movie theater, while Saeki works elsewhere. Although they have been together since high school, the demands of their academic and work lives start putting pressure on their relationship. Determined to keep their bond strong despite fewer chances to meet, they decide to uphold their shared custom of watching films together. Recalling their high school days, they set up a special plan for the upcoming summer break. As the holidays draw near, Wataru and Saeki work to deepen their connection while handling this new phase of their lives.

Makoto Kubota lived a carefree existence, spending his time on the youth division of the Izumo Group and engaging in yakuza conflicts, mahjong games, and assassinations. His life shifted when he came across a strange drug called Wild Adapter, which causes unusual effects and can lead to death. This encounter changed Kubota's perspective, prompting him to develop an unexpected bond with a wanderer named Minoru Tokito. As their relationship deepens, they become more entangled in the mystery surrounding Wild Adapter.

In "Until I Meet My Husband," Ryousuke Nanasaki describes his marriage to his beloved partner, also named Ryousuke, which occurred on October 10, 2016. The journey to this milestone was filled with difficulties, such as self-doubt, painful separations, and the challenge of coming out to his family. This narrative, based on Nanasaki's autobiographical web essay, details his life and the path toward finding happiness with his husband.

Kouki has no hobbies, no friends, no romantic interests, no stable job, and no reason to keep living. After an unexpected encounter with some children leads to him being stabbed, he assumes this is the end of his empty existence. As he slips into unconsciousness, he glimpses a stunning angel. But less than a month later, he wakes up fully healed, only to face massive medical bills. To his shock, the very angel from his vision now lives with him, having lost all memory of her past.

In "10 Dance," Shinya Sugiki and Shinya Suzuki are set apart only by a single syllable in their names and their opposing dance styles. Sugiki is known as the "Lord of Standard Ballroom," while Suzuki is the "King of Latin Dance." Despite their mutual contempt, both share the ambition to succeed at the prestigious 10 Dance Competition, which demands mastery of ten distinct dance forms, covering both standard ballroom and Latin dance. Lacking skill in Latin dance, Sugiki seeks Suzuki's instruction, proposing to teach Suzuki standard ballroom techniques in exchange. Though initially reluctant, Sugiki is convinced by his dance partner to agree to this arrangement. As they grudgingly work together to improve each other's abilities, an unforeseen romance begins to develop between them.

Takara Fujishima starts high school and moves into a dormitory after losing everyone in his family except for his father, who is rarely home because of work. He's put in a room with Kosaka Kyomine. Getting used to living together isn't easy, and they end up in plenty of arguments. Kyomine is very introverted, while Takara is extremely outgoing. Still, after their rough start, the two slowly develop a real friendship.