Book Review: Your Honest Deceit, Vol 2 by Sakufu Ajimine

 

Your Honest Deceit, Vol 2        

Author: Sakufu Ajimine

Publisher: DramaQueen LLC

American release date: April 1, 2000

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Yaoi/200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★

 

Just when Kuze thinks he can relax because he has Kitahara all for himself, another rival rears his ugly head!  Tsutsumi is a former classmate who invites Kitahara out, gets him drunk and takes him back to his hotel room. When Kuze calls to see where he is, Tsutsumi gives the appearance that something is going on, to Kuze’s intense dismay. When he does get home, Kitahara explains that Tsutsumi was only teasing, but Kuze doesn’t quite see it that way.  Things go from bad to worse when Tsutsumi decides to drop in to the law office because he just has to see what Kuze looks like. And then he drops a hint of something about Kuze’s father! Will this be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?

In a side story, Kurosawa is faced with a dilemma when a client dumps a cat at the office and won’t come back to claim it. Someone has to take it in, but that’s not in Kurosawa’s  temperament to do so… or is it?

In another side story, a young man shows up at the law office demanding to see Kitahara. When he does, he disdainfully calls him a bear, which provokes Kuze to anger while Kitahara is dumbfounded.  After he leaves, Kitahara calls Tsutsumi to substantiate the young man’s claim. Turns out to be true – Yuki is Tsutsumi’s nephew. And he came to face Kitahara because he is jealous of his uncle’s interest in him. Turns out he has a crush on his uncle!

The last side story is The Covetous Man. Naoto and his older brother Niichan are very close. While most people despise their siblings hand-me-downs, Naoto lovesto have things that belonged to Niichan. He becaomes interested in anything that Niichan expresses an interest in, including his girlfriends. Niichan would laugh and say Naoto could have whatever it was. But then comes something that Naoto cannot find an interest in, or rather someone – Akihiro! After expressing his hatred of Akihiro to Niichan, he is shocked to learn that his brother dumped the other boy! Akihiro approaches Naoto and wants to know why he hates him. Can Naoto remedy the situation, and will he want to?

I love Kuze and Kitihara as a couple but after a while the constant vying with other men because they are going after Kitihara gets old. I would rather see them in other situations, including more work situations. Maybe even the courtroom. I know the series is over, but one can dream, right? As for the side stories, they’re okay. Kurosawa’s story is cute. Be aware of the uncle/nephew dynamic in that one, if incest bothers you, you should probably skip it. The brothers’ story is okay too. I would have liked more Kuze and Kitihara, though. All in all, a worthwhile read.