Starting with a Kiss 1-2 by Nitta Youka

Rating: 6
Sublime 2012 - Libre 2011
 2+ volumes
Translation: Adrienne Beck

I should start by saying that Nitta's modern classic Haru wo Daiteita (to be published by Sublime later this year, whoop!) is probably my all-time favourite BL manga, which colours my opinion of her other work, though not necessarily in a bad way; if anything, I'm more critical than a nonpartisan reader since I will always be making comparisons with her biggest hit and inevitably nothing can compare. Starting with a Kiss is no exception though it's a solid enough series from Nitta, displaying many of her signature elements including proud hot-blooded men, lashings of sex, an involving story, and a love for which the course never runs smooth.

It's a yakuza story and, surprisingly, is actually Nitta's first yakuza story, as we learn in the afterword. Why she held off for so long in writing one I don't know because the yakuza world suits her type of characters perfectly: strong prideful men with hidden agendas. Tohru is the son of a yakuza boss and Mutsumi is the son of the gang's second-in-command. When a gang feud threatens to erupt, the two are packed off to a remote island to keep them out of harm's way. Two young horny guys alone on an island in a BL story, what could possibly happen? Sure enough, serious studious Mutsumi is immediately attracted to the beautiful fiery and impetuous Tohru and the pair are soon going at it like bunnies. However, because this is Nitta writing, things are never as straightforward as they seem.

Tohru was charged by his father to persuade Mutsumi, an elite Tokyo University student, to join the gang. When Tohru sees that Mutsumi is falling for him he is conflicted on a couple of fronts. First and foremost, his pride as a man coupled with the insecurity he's always had over his effeminate looks make him doubt Mutsumi's feelings and wonder if he's merely using Tohru as a woman-substitute. If Mutsumi's love is real then Tohru doesn't want him to join the gang just for Tohru's sake. Mutsumi, ready to swear his life to Tohru, wants to join the gang exactly for this reason.

The first volume explores these complicated feelings and sets up the beginning of an interesting relationship between the two. In volume two the pair are back in Tokyo and a proper tale of yakuza drama and intrigue unfolds, centered around a battle for power and succession rights. The yakuza narrative alone is enough to keep me reading, which is good because I find that I'm not that into this couple. While I find their personal conflicts interesting I'm not particularly rooting for them as a couple and I think this is mostly because of Tohru's personality. On the one hand he doesn't want to tie down Mutsumi to the gang just because of love but on the other he can't get enough of his dick and still has sex with Mutsumi. Mutsumi has to be stoic and accept whatever Tohru gives. There's an inconsistency to Tohru's character, whether intentional or not, that doesn't agree with me.

I hope that Tohru improves with future volumes and that I'll come to like him more. There's no question that I'll continue with the series, even with its problems Nitta's intelligent compelling writing ensures that it's still more interesting than the majority of BL titles out there.