Vanilla Volume 1 (Yaoi)

This is actually my favorite manga of the student/teacher genre. The characters are engaging well thought out and I'm glad that it was made in to two volumes instead of trying to cram it into one. It's a simple plot-line but effectively rendered. Morio runs into, quite literally, the new Chemistry Teacher Mr. Saeki, a handsome, but odd, cold, distant man. Instead of keeping away, Morio keeps looking for Saeki but not knowing why... until he finds him with another student, a male student at that. At that instant he realizes that he is not interested in girls after all. Later, he confesses his love for sensei but Saeki wants none of that "bothersome" emotional stuff. He is the "wham, bam thank you ma'am" kinda guy - although without the "thank you" part... and with guys instead of ma'ams. The rest of the two volume series is the back and forth between the student longing for a relationship and the teacher seemingly just wanting to satisfy his desires. Even though my fave of the genre I dinging it a star for the limited range of emotional portrayal. While the blank slate of a face is appropriate for Saeki... the ever emotional Morio always looks sad to me (but then being in love with an emotional zombie could do that). It may be slowly paced for some... but I think it just emphasizes the angst and doubt and the development of the main characters. This is most definitely a two volume read so keep that in mind. While the last pages of volume one hint at what is to come, I would just get the set. Sex scenes are not very suggestive even, so don't buy if you're looking for hot action... it's a sweet read, not too saccharine, but pleasing nonetheless. But to be objective, for a more upbeat, rollicking sex action version for this genre there is the three-volume Prince Charming. And for sweet, touching, drama with more sexuality there is the four-volume Passion. Also both of these other series have better drawings in my opinion. But somehow I like Vanilla more... call me sentimental.

I am surprised by how much I like this. The artwork is average and this is soft Yaoi so no explicit sex. But the evolving love between one innocent 17 year old student and his cold and aloof sensei is emotionally well done. Morio is the student who has known from young that he does not like girls. He is forced to face his sexuality when he accidentally stumbles upon his chemistry teacher, Saeki, having sex with Nakajima, a promiscuous gay student. Of course, Morio already develops a crush for Saeki, when they first meet days ago. Thereon, it is an engaging, angsy and emotional relationship development as Morio refuses to give up on his love for the cold Saeki. It does not help that Saeki only goes for 1 night stand and never make love to another man twice. He does not even remember his sexual partners' names! Saeki does remind me of my favorite seme, Eiri Yuki of Gravitationi and I find him intersting. Told from Morio's point of view, we get to appreciate this confused but determined student's die-hard feelings for Saeki. But it would be nice if we could get into Saeki's head too and understand what makes this cool seme ticks. I finished both Vol 1 and 2 together and find Vol 2 even better! I am surprised this one is not appreciated by more Yaoi fans.

I own the Japanese version but I can't understand much Japanese. So, I can't be entirely sure of what everyone's saying but the pictures told me all in needed to know. The story focuses around an innocent high school/college student who falls for his new teacher. The new teacher, while cold (think Yuki from Gravitation) is very popular. When the teacher notices that the student has a crush on him he tries to mess around with him but he goes faster than the student can handle. His student want more than just some fling and it takes the teacher time to realize that he does too. It's a cute story with a nice relationship build-up. They meet several obstacles (usually the teacher's other lovers) before they can come together. If you enjoy teacher-student relationships or is you like to see the sweet boy who is able to charm the cold guy, then I would definitely pick this book up.