Taishin has moved to Tokyo from his hometown of Fukuoka to start college and reunite with Takara, a stranger who had consoled him in his grief the year prior. However, when he finally gets the chance to express his gratitude, Takara gives him 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.
By Minta Suzumaru
Series Takara's Treasure
Volume 1
Release Date 11.09.2024
Genre Yaoi
Age Rating 18+
Publisher SuBLime
CW None
Rating ★★★★☆
My Review
Ever since this manga was released, it’s been on my wishlist. I absolutely loved Golden Sparkle by Minta Suzumaru, so I was excited to read this story. I even saw that it got an drama adaptation, which looks promising as well!
The story centers around Taishin, who moves to Tokyo to attend the same university as Takara, a person he encountered in the past. During that first meeting, Takara comforted Taishin when he was crying over his lost pet, a moment that left a lasting impact on Taishin. Wanting to properly thank Takara, Taishin is driven to reconnect with him—even if it might seem a bit excessive to move to the same university. It feels more like a case of love at first sight that Taishin didn’t initially recognize due to his inexperience. Takara is initially put off by Taishin's behaviour, finding it a little odd, yet he can't resist helping him out and eventually warms up to him. Their interactions—as members of the same hiking club—gradually brings them closer. Later, at a welcoming party of the club, a drunken Taishin confesses his feelings, leading them to start dating.
What I appreciate about this one-shot is its refreshing absence of the usual red-flag behavior; yet it still presents characters with depth and unique personalities. Taishin has an innocent, somewhat spacey nature, while Takara comes from a wealthy, complicated family with divorced parents and has a subtle greedy streak when he desires something. This trait isn’t exaggerated, as it sometimes can be in other stories, and it adds to the realistic charm of their relationship. I like that the mangaka shows where the behaviour comes from, it helps you understand the character better. Though I have to say, it does seem like Takara is more the main character in this story- his background seems more fleshed out.
The story flows smoothly, focusing solely on Taishin and Takara’s growing bond and their hopes for the future. It’s a manga you can easily finish in one evening and feel satisfied with, though I wouldn’t have minded more content, especially since the ending leaves their future a bit open. If you are looking for a cute, relaxing and easy read- this is definitely one looking into. Who knows—maybe one day we’ll get a sequel, and if so, I’d be excited to see where their journey goes next!
