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alias_sqbrI recently stumbled across a bunch of very cute m/m romances which involve a guy with some sort of magic power/aspect he has mixed feelings about, but then it throws him together with a coworker/classmate etc he'd never noticed much before and love blossoms.
Japanese live action: Cherry Magic: 30 years of virginity can turn you into a wizard?! (telepathy)
American webcomic: Avialae (wings)
Korean webtoons:
The Best Smell (Psychic nose)
For Your Love (gaydar...ok this is a stretch but the dynamic felt similar!)
Japanese language TV:
Cherry Magic: 30 years of virginity can turn you into a wizard?!: A shy office worked develops psychic powers when he turns 30, and is shocked to discover that the Cool Guy of the office is secretly in love with him, and has to figure out how he feels about it. I mentioned this when it had just started, but it's finished now, and it makes for a sweet self contained romance, with a cute theme about the importance of communication. It's very silly and fluffy, like shoujo about ten year olds acted out by adult men in suits. Which I totally enjoyed but YMMV. It's remarkably coy about onscreen kissing for a show about a guy losing his virginity, it felt like a TV standards thing. But while their big romantic moments involve hugs and holding hands they have a fair amount of chemistry and are very cute together. The secondary couple is even sillier but cute enough.
Comics:
Avialae: This webcomic reads like a fairly well drawn m/m fanfic. Specifically, a porny, fluffy, Homestuck(*) highschool wingfic where disaster gayKarkat Gannet suddenly develops wings and needs help from earnest bird-nerd John Bailey and they stumble into having a lot of romantic, lovingly drawn, and very explicit sex. I thought the story would get boring once they get together, but the plot turns into tropey fantasy shenanigans I quite enjoyed. The side characters aren't super deep but get a bit more interesting over time, with some well-intentioned but undercooked diversity including a non-binary character. Both leads are cis, but Gannet hides his wings with binders and bandages, with a lot of Sexy Topless Dude Awkwardly Hiding His Secret Bumps imagery that I personally enjoyed as sort of...taking the fun "trans people are hot" parts of trans-fetishy art without it feeling so personally oogy. But I can see other transmasc people finding it uncomfortable.
(*) I don't actually know that this started life as Homestuck fanfic, and the characters aren't THAT similar, but it amuses me to think of them that way.
The Best Smell
For Your Love:
...ok I didn't get around to reviewing these at the time and now can't remember much about them. But they're both cute Korean webtoons about guys in highschool that I enjoyed a lot. For Your Love is complete, The Best Smell is ongoing but the couple is together. I vaguely recall both having sideplots about an older gay male side character dealing with homophobia, which makes the main characters coming to terms with their own feelings more fraught. Of the two, I enjoyed For Your Love more.
Japanese live action: Cherry Magic: 30 years of virginity can turn you into a wizard?! (telepathy)
American webcomic: Avialae (wings)
Korean webtoons:
The Best Smell (Psychic nose)
For Your Love (gaydar...ok this is a stretch but the dynamic felt similar!)
Japanese language TV:
Cherry Magic: 30 years of virginity can turn you into a wizard?!: A shy office worked develops psychic powers when he turns 30, and is shocked to discover that the Cool Guy of the office is secretly in love with him, and has to figure out how he feels about it. I mentioned this when it had just started, but it's finished now, and it makes for a sweet self contained romance, with a cute theme about the importance of communication. It's very silly and fluffy, like shoujo about ten year olds acted out by adult men in suits. Which I totally enjoyed but YMMV. It's remarkably coy about onscreen kissing for a show about a guy losing his virginity, it felt like a TV standards thing. But while their big romantic moments involve hugs and holding hands they have a fair amount of chemistry and are very cute together. The secondary couple is even sillier but cute enough.
Comics:
Avialae: This webcomic reads like a fairly well drawn m/m fanfic. Specifically, a porny, fluffy, Homestuck(*) highschool wingfic where disaster gay
(*) I don't actually know that this started life as Homestuck fanfic, and the characters aren't THAT similar, but it amuses me to think of them that way.
The Best Smell
For Your Love:
...ok I didn't get around to reviewing these at the time and now can't remember much about them. But they're both cute Korean webtoons about guys in highschool that I enjoyed a lot. For Your Love is complete, The Best Smell is ongoing but the couple is together. I vaguely recall both having sideplots about an older gay male side character dealing with homophobia, which makes the main characters coming to terms with their own feelings more fraught. Of the two, I enjoyed For Your Love more.
