Best Boys Love Manga of 2020

Kenshirou Midou is a popular student who harbors a secret: despite being a boy, he has always loved the art of cosmetics. Because of his efforts to keep this low profile, only his sisters and Hiura Mihate, a childhood friend, know his hidden obsession. Apart from his siblings, Hiura is Kenshirou's only hope at realizing his potential. Kenshirou begs Hiura to let him practice applying makeup on him, and when Hiura finally succumbs to his request, the drastic transformation shocks Kenshirou. From the appearance of a dull, slender boy to a charming petite girl, Hiura's new look evokes something in Kenshirou. On the other hand, Hiura has had feelings for Kenshirou long before his dramatic change. Often watching from the sidelines, Hiura thinks that a romantic relationship with him is beyond his reach. But with the revelation of Kenshirou's unusual hobby, Hiura remains optimistic and decides to devote himself to his friend's passion. As their affection for one another intensifies, the pair slowly develops an unbreakable bond.

At first glance, Yeon Skylar is a model student, with his excellent academic performance, an award-winning photography club career, and considerate disposition. Despite it all, he is somewhat introverted, and his only real friend is Seong Chan-il, a friendly, outgoing classmate. For a year already, Skylar has been hiding his crush on Chan-il—and especially his extensive collection of all the candid photographs of Chan-il he has taken in secret. Skylar's peculiar hobby is discovered by Baek Cirrus—Chan-il's seemingly kind and sociable friend. Cirrus promises not to expose Skylar's secret, but Skylar's anxiety deepens with everything Cirrus does. His words always carry double meanings, and his teasing is always a breath away from confessing everything to Chan-il. A tense game of blackmail, emotional control, and shifting power arises between Skylar and Cirrus, two broken teenagers who fear one another, the world, and the consuming intensity of a love neither expected.

Chu Sangwoo, a computer science student, is an uncompromising creature of habit who follows a meticulously organized schedule, drinks the same coffee every day, and sits in the same spot in each class. Tasked with doing a group assignment alongside freeloaders, Sangwoo decides that it is only logical not to credit them. However, his strict treatment causes his popular senior Jang Jaeyoung to lose the opportunity to graduate and study abroad. Seeing as he did nothing wrong, Sangwoo avoids Jaeyoung's constant phone calls. As fate would have it, the two men meet when Sangwoo needs a new graphic designer for the 2D game he is making. Jaeyoung is known for his charming personality, but he actually hides a hot temper. Despite his unchanging situation, Jaeyoung cannot stand Sangwoo's apathetic attitude and decides to get revenge by interrupting everything Sangwoo spent years carefully planning. Sangwoo tries his best to keep his calm, but Jaeyoung's presence and attractive smile may prove to be more than just a bug in his perfectly coded life.

On October 10, 2016, Ryousuke Nanasaki married the love of his life, Ryousuke. But the time leading up to this day was anything but easy. Feelings of self-hatred, heart-wrenching breakups, and coming out to his family—it was all an uphill battle. Based on the autobiographical web essay of the same title, Boku ga Otto ni Deau made follows Nanasaki's life and his journey to discover a happy ending together with his husband.

In the winter of 1990, a young man named Alan finds himself lost and searching for direction. He currently cannot find it at home nor through the church. But when he meets Hayden, a free-spirited cook, he at least finds someone he can relate with. He may not know where his life is going but at least he has someone to lean on. But Alan's new life, filled with new feelings and many new challenging experiences, may force him to find his path on the road...

Already at his wit's end, 29-year-old corporate slave Seiichirou Kondou suddenly witnesses the ground opening up and swallowing a woman. Amid his efforts to save her, the two are transported to another world. He soon learns that the people in this world summoned a saint to save their kingdom from a plague. As compensation for dragging Kondou into the mess, the kingdom assures him that they will provide him with a comfortable life and fulfill any of his desires. To everyone's surprise, Kondou asks for a job. After successfully becoming an accountant at the Royal Palace, Kondou devotes himself to his new post. His accurate and thorough work catches the attention of various high-ranking officials and knights, especially Aresh Indolark, the cold-hearted Knight Captain. As Kondou adjusts to his new exhausting and dangerous environment, he begins to find solace in the company of Aresh, whose icy demeanor may be just a facade.

Night after night, Elva steps forth into the black sea, sword in hand, to drive back the creatures that surge from the waves. Elva is one of the "kannagi," warrior priests chosen by the divine to protect the island. With his snow-white hair, unaging youth, and black-stained limbs—proof of the corruption that gradually takes the life of every kannagi—the local people fear and shun him... at least until his path crosses with that of a boy named Alto. Enraptured by Elva's strength and lonely soul, Alto swears to serve him and free him from his cursed fate. After eight long years, Alto has grown into a capable and fearless young man, unwavering in his devotion to his kannagi. Elva had long ago resigned himself to an early death—but somehow, Alto's presence seems to be gradually healing him of the black sea's corruption...

Hashimoto is your average office worker—young, and prone to being pushed around by his demon boss, Shirase. His only escape is his favorite online game, and the friends he's made within. But when he plans an office meetup for his party, he gets the surprise of his life...! *Note: Originally self-published on Twitter and Pixiv, was then licensed by Ichijinsha for commercial release. *

Sada is an earnest high school teacher admired by students and colleagues alike, a man who always goes above and beyond both inside and outside of the classroom. One night while walking through the city, he stumbles upon a student being violently attacked in an alley. As he tries to call for help, Sada finds himself on the end of the attacker's blade, bleeding to death on the ground. When he wakes up on a slab in an unknown laboratory, he comes face-to-face with his savior, a scientist named Mamiya. But Sada quickly realizes that in cheating death, he has become something...inhuman. What's more, he's now fully dependent on Mamiya to survive. What awaits him in this new life of death and deadly secrets?

The apartment complex on the infamous Ira Street is a last resort for those fortunate enough to scrape together a few pennies. People deal with poverty and violence daily, and now a string of murders has solidified fear into their bones. Shavonne, an aspiring young writer, is no exception: he struggles to hold a job, his love life is in shambles, and it seems like he even has a stalker. But the bleakness of his days changes when he meets his next-door neighbor, Lewellyn. Lewellyn is charming and undoubtedly handsome, but he is rather eccentric. Day after day, he sits on the staircase and peels onions, and his wealth is too suspicious for an Ira Street resident. Despite the warning signs, Shavonne accepts a dinner invitation from Lewellyn. However, during the candlelit dinner, Shavonne stumbles upon a mutilated corpse—later discovered as evidence of the Ira Street murderer's latest crime. As Shavonne tiptoes around Lewellyn trying to save his own skin, strange things begin to happen, and he wonders if Lewellyn is his enemy or the only one truly on his side.

Kohei Sugihara, college student with hearing loss, and Taichi Sagawa, his ever-optimistic former classmate, met in a chance encounter that ignited an undeniable spark that would eventually blossom into love. Now it's spring and as Kohei nears graduation, his search for a job begins. Meanwhile, Taichi finds himself in charge of someone new at work. Life is busier than ever, but all in all, things seem to be looking up for the pair. That is, until the sudden appearance of Ena, one of Kohei's old flames.

After years of battling the stubborn odds against them, Hikaru Kusakabe and Rihito Sajou are at last living together. Inside their modest apartment, there is now plenty to experience for the first time. Between sharing one coffee mug and learning each other's food preferences, Kusakabe and Sajou are growing ever closer—and very soon, they have issues just keeping their hands to themselves.

Shizuki is a hedonistic playboy who plays the baritone saxophone in the local council's brass band and he openly dislikes the band's popular and prince-like flutist, Yano. At a glance, it seems like they barely associate with each other during practice. However, due to a shared interest, they now have secret meetings in hotels afterwards...

Taishin has moved to Tokyo from his hometown of Fukuoka in order to reunite with Takara, a stranger who had consoled him in his grief the year prior. However, despite finally getting a chance to express his gratitude to Takara at college, he is given the cold shoulder! But Taishin, undeterred, decides to pursue Takara anyway, and Takara finds himself becoming more and more enchanted by Taishin's straightforward and earnest gaze.

"This pounding in my chest is more than just admiration!?" Tomoya Ishida is a newbie editor at fashion magazine Sophia Monthly. After his senior's sudden hospitalization, he's hastily assigned to collect a column manuscript from the famous culinary researcher Ayumu Mitsuya. He pays him a visit soon after, and to his surprise, finds an affable, older man who speaks in a Kyoto dialect. Being asked to wait, Tomoya is served a simple dish that entices his stomach, and soon he finds himself eagerly awaiting their next encounter!

Chansol never experienced friendship before he met Park Hanhoo, a troubled boy who terrifies school gangs and hides his face with an unruly haircut. But when a horrific event turns Chansol's world upside down, he is forced into hiding and reneges on his promise to stay by Hanhoo's side. Now an adult, he's back to resolve old issues, but with the truth about his past hidden behind a world of mafia bosses and shady business, his only option is to infiltrate it as the manager of an unhinged arms dealer. As Chansol sets out to coax information out of his new boss, he realizes that seducing this handsome maniac may just bring him closer to the truth and the friend he used to call Park Hanhoo.

Having been chubby as a child, Cha Siwon suffered cruel rejection from his first love, and it completely crushed him. For years, he has studied, worked out, and taught himself to exude confidence and be the most popular guy wherever he goes. Now in college, Siwon is ready to conquer another social scene, until he meets a man he can only describe as a natural charmer—Hyung Daun. Daun effortlessly outshines everyone else, and his self-awareness and ego match Siwon's. He comes from a wealthy family, his beauty is blinding, and everyone is remarkably drawn to him. So, Siwon just cannot quite understand why someone who has everything would be so clingy and refuse to leave his side. But even though Siwon insists he has no interest in Daun, it soon becomes difficult to ignore his enchanting presence.

Ayumu Isuzu lives in a world without sound. He may not hear the world around him, but he knows many things: that 'thank you' and 'sorry' look just the same in sign language and that he can't just leave this musician where he found him, all beat up like that. What can Touka and his violin bring into Ayumu's life? And what can Ayumu bring to Touka's music?

Miki Donoue has been plagued by bad luck since childhood... Then, one evening, he encounters a mysterious, semi-transparent man who claims to live by consuming other people's emotions. Is this merely a dangerous deception, or could this intriguing stranger change the direction of Miki's life?

This is an examination that puts your life at stake. Answer a plethora of questions, pass the exam, and you may live. Two-faced examiner, Qin Jiu, meets the cold examinee, You Huo. In this inhumane system, both of them who have lost their memories go head to head against each other. Despite that, they have a strong mutual understanding. Alarms go off and the system collapses time and time again. During which, their memories gradually return. It turns out that even at the end of the world where there's only dust left, you're still the first person I met. What's so great about this system? We'll just destroy it. The world is brilliant and grand still, so welcome home.

Seo Jinhyuk is, more than anything, bored. His father is an unsung movie director, his mother is rarely home, and he lives in a big, empty apartment all by himself, studying and diligently attending school. He cannot wait to be independent and free from the frivolous high school hierarchy; like most people, he is a bystander while the aggressors pick on the victims. Among the bullies, Lim Heechan stands out with his handsome looks and a perpetually apathetic demeanor. Taking a shortcut through a residential block no better than a junkyard, Jinhyuk witnesses Heechan getting beat up by his own father. Jinhyuk may be desperate for anything—good or bad—to kill his ennui, but he has no intention of intervening and putting a target on his back. Yet Heechan takes notice of him, and through a few small interactions, Jinhyuk spots something gentle, humane, and pitiful in Heechan. Before long, their quiet moments together begin to transform indifference into something unexpectedly intimate.

Minoru Sayo is an office worker who lives an upright but mundane life. That is, until one day, he turns into a vampire. Unable to forgo his scruples, he refuses to feed on humans and attempts to soothe his thirst with cat blood. On one such night when he's out prowling for a feline friend, he runs into his coworker in the same department, Yamadera. After a few drinks at a bar, Yamadera falls asleep at the station leaving his vexing neck exposed and vulnerable. Overcome with annoyance and hunger, Sayo takes a bite and discovers...? Will Sayo find a way to become human again? And what really lies behind Yamadera's sweet mask? Take a read and find out in this emotional and twisted tale between a 40-year-old virgin and his sadistic junior colleague!

When Minobe Chihiro is admitted to a private arts academy to study ballet, the last person he expects to train with is surly second-year student Ichinomiya Shun. Yet by some stroke of luck, the two are paired up for their school's mandatory pas de deux practice. While Minobe has fallen at first sight for Ichinomiya's superior dance sense, the second-year's attitude leaves a lot to be desired. For Ichinomiya, being paired with Minobe as a dance partner is just one of the ways he'd like to be together with his new partner. It's not just grades that have Ichinomiya dancing with Minobe—he's head over heels, and he's after Minobe's heart!

A collection of four Mo Dao Zu Shi side stories which were not included in the original Taiwan physical release.

What were Hirano and Sasaki like as first-years? How did Kuresawa become so dedicated to his mysterious, BL-loving girlfriend? And what’s going to happen between Kagiura and Hirano on Pocky Day? Find out in this collection of stories that reveal how Miyano and Hirano became friends, what the upperclassmen were like when they started high school and a behind-the-scenes look at their circle of friends. See how the story unfolds from new perspectives, and get more details about what goes on in these beloved characters’ lives. ** **Official English:**

"Hey, should I provide you therapy?" Tired of love and on the verge of turning into a workaholic, Kiichi Sakuraba, finds himself waking up in a bar he visited on his way back from a close friend's wedding ceremony. There, he meets reckless and good-looking university student, Nao Kijima—? They exchange promises to hug just once a week. What is this, so gentle, so warm, with a faint pleasant smell... Being strung along by the younger Nao, who has his own circumstances, what will happen to Kiichi—?!

Kurashina is a high school student who has a complex about being a Dom. He thinks Isshiki, the student body president with an imposing figure, is a Dom and has a one-sided inferiority complex. One day, Kurashina finds Isshiki collapsed on campus. Unable to overlook his unusually weakened appearance, he takes care of him. But when Isshiki confides in Kurashina the surprising fact that he is a Sub, Kurashina feels guilty for his behavior because of a misunderstanding that has led him to behave coldly. Thinking that Isshiki had no particular partner and was feeling ill due to a lack of communication with a Dom, Kurashina then suggested having a light play with him as his way of making amends.

Aspiring manga artist Taisei Kuji is an assistant to his sister, a popular BL mangaka. One day, Taisei was unluckily run over by a truck and found himself reincarnated into the omegaverse world drawn by his sister!

When family obligations force Sun Yool, a stressed-out law school student, to the countryside, it seems like a great opportunity to escape the chaos of the city. After all, the great outdoors promises fresh air, sunshine... and a new romance?! Soon after arriving, Sun Yool is thrown into a series of strange encounters and misunderstandings with his 20-year-old neighbor, Yechan. But in spite of Yechan's bumbling first impression and Sun Yool's prickly exterior, the two find themselves drawn to each other... Will this tractor-driving stud's rustic charm be enough to melt this cold city boy's heart?

Yoon-jae is just a normal college student who lives alone...until his new neighbor, Beom-jin, moves in one floor below him. Then, things get weird. Namely, Yoon-jae starts seeing ghosts everywhere, and they start stalking him. Turns out, a mysterious bell that belongs to Beom-jin is now tied to Yoon-jae's wrist, and it summons ghosts wherever he goes. Unable to remove the cursed thing, Beom-jin suggests that Yoon-jae help out with his work until they find a way to remove it. Oh, what kind of work? Sending ghosts to the afterlife, of course.

Thanks to the scar on my face and I guess my "vibe," I always thought I, Hiro Qi, would end up forever alone. That is until Duke Nan made his way into my life! He's the classmate I saved from bullies (which led to my scar) and it turns out this cheerful, friendly guy works as a wellness guru. Duke's offered to improve my self-image, and help me land my dream job and make new friends. He's even moved in with me! But I'm starting to learn that even the most perfect smile could be hiding a secret...

Motokawa's the guy who says stuff without any mental filter, and Okumura's the guy people avoided since they found out he was gay. They may seem like an unlikely combination, but when Motokawa gets saddled with a pretty large contract to close, Okumura's the only guy he can think of to be his co-lead. Motokawa says this is just because of Okumura's responsibility and seriousness towards work, but should it also be of note that he thinks Okumura has a cute smile...?

**Hoshina** dreams of making it big with his band—but writing love songs has never come easy. That is, until he meets **Seto**, a sweet and disarming part-timer who shines a little too brightly in Hoshina’s jaded world. When a rainy night leads to an unexpected encounter, Hoshina finds himself drawn to Seto’s honesty and warmth. But discovering Seto is still in his final year of high school leaves Hoshina spiraling with guilt… As Hoshina tries to distance himself, Seto only steps closer—determined to love, and be loved, even if he’s still figuring out how to be a grown-up. *Maybe love doesn’t have to be perfect to be real… Maybe it just needs a good melody!* *Source: TOKYOPOP*

A special short story for the kemomimi series! The boy that first appeared in "Thoroughbred Doesn't Flutter" is...? *Note: Debuted in B's-LOVEY recottia Vol. 101*

Takara Shun, a high school student who belongs to a popular group in the class, and Taichi Amagi, a pure boy who is not a conspicuous type but is liked by people, realize their love for each other. Even though they start dating in secret, it is difficult to be honest.

*Even if it's not fate, I still want to be with you the rest of my life.* Ayumu, an omega who works at a real estate company, is struggled by the fact that his pheromones are extremely thin and unattractive. One day, he stumbles and fall in love to Ren, an extremely beautiful alpha working at a brothel, at first sight. When he finds out that he is living an unstable life with his cute daughter named Rui, he gets worry and starts to takes care of them. Ayumu is moved by the unreliable sexual side of Ren, and his feelings for him grow stronger. However, this triggers his pheromones to grow stronger because of the incident, and he unknowingly seduces him...!?

There are four Magic Divisions in the military giant that is the Kingdom of Hiraith. The First Magic Division is the elite of the royal guard, the Second Magic Division is the field combat unit, the Third Magic Division is the research and development organization for magic and magical tools, and the Fourth Magic Division consists of those who have other unique skillsets. Among them, Levi was the most unusual, being a sorcerer incapable of using magic and having nothing he wanted to accomplish. In the midst of his days of mere subsistence and despair, Levi meets Prince Saphir, the 13th prince, who is known as the Moribund Prince. Levi, 16 years old, and 6-year-old Saphir...it was a fateful encounter! In a royal palace full of malice, the two of them discover human warmth for the first time...

*"What a cute face..."* he said stripping off his mask and kissing him. Kyota, who hides his face with a mask due to his past trauma, closed off his heart and lurked inconspicuously in class. However, he is persistently bothered by Arino, whom he wants nothing to do with. But when Kyota revealed his face as he was being teased, he turned red while resisting, and his crying face became all the more attractive to Arino...

At Pororo Academy, a school full of boys with special powers, there's one with a different ability called "Blue Line". Said ability "enhances the abilities of the person he kisses". A school-life romantic comedy (with a dash of fantasy) that starts with an inevitable kiss!

An adaption of the visual novel Koshotengai no Hashihime (古書店街の橋姫) or Hashihime of Old Book Town. Chapters 1 through 3 are oneshots, featuring both gen and pairing stories, while chapter 4 onwards follow the game's storyline.

Meet up-and-coming indie manga artist, Nekoyashiki Mamoru! He might have garnered a small, dedicated fanbase devoted to his gay comics and even scored a coveted seller’s booth at the bi-annual Comic Kingdom event, but this paltry fame isn’t enough! It’s certainly not on the level of Kazama Issei, an actual idol and Mamoru’s childhood friend. When a chance encounter throws them back into each other’s orbit, things get complicated as the ever-cheerful Issei brings back messy childhood memories and inspires feelings of inferiority in Mamoru. Their paths crash together in this story about professional challenges, personal feelings, and…moobs? *Source: J-Novel Club, Vol. 1*

Wu Yu, a newcomer to the Public Security Bureau, is gentle and frail. He doesn’t care about the difficulties posed by Bu ChongHua, his strict boss, and only wants to stay in the background and be paid on time with enough to sustain himself. However, no one knows that he is being targeted by top drug traffickers for a large bounty, or that this courageous young man had previously slaughtered the dragon of the abyss. With a chain of interlocking cases, a series of troubles come one after another. Can these two work together to survive the difficulties?

A handsome man in shining armor falls outside his door—?! The bartender Maki takes in the stranger, but he is at a loss for words trying to communicate with the mysterious foreigner from a medieval culture?! A spin-off of Yamada-sensei's popular series *Koisuru MOON DOG*!

It all started back in the middle ages in Italy, the fabric of human relationships . And now, Gepettos's suffering has just begun.

Kei and Mako have been friends since junior high. Mako was kind to everyone, so he was always surrounded by a crowd of fans. Kei had a crush on Mako, but he was content to stay by his side as a friend. At the high school graduation ceremony, Kei finally confessed his feelings to Mako, only to find out that Mako felt the same way, too. Kei was overjoyed, "We can finally be together!" But then Mako revealed his secret to Kei, that he is a "kami-sama."

Kiki's life is defined by his mother's obsession with social media, who exploits him at every turn. Ridiculed by his classmates and ignored by his teachers, he comes home only to be put in front of a camera again. In a world where he has no place to belong, his only solace is Taiyo, the boy living across the street. Kiki admires Taiyo’s strength — if only he could tell Taiyo how he feels... But Kiki's unrequited love is about to awaken something monstrous...

A mystery romance between a beautiful aristocrat and a Japanese student set in England at the beginning of the 20th century! For some reason, incidents haunt them everywhere they go. Al solves cases with his clear mind and Ichiro's ability to take action and his intuition, but these two begin to form a bond that goes beyond friendship. .. ..!?