Temperature Rising by Souya Himawari
Publisher: DMP June
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Contemporary, Yaoi
Themes: Compensated Sex, Best Friend Lovers
Rating: Mature 18+
Volumes: 1 Volume
ISBN: 978-1-56970-601-5
Note: Picture taken with my iPhone from my manga library.
Basic Premise:
Minori Otonari is in love with Mizumo Hiraga, but Minori can’t confess his feelings without ruining their current relationship. Minori pays Mizumo for sex. Mizumo won’t take hands out and Minori doesn’t want Mizumo sleeping with other men, so they came to this arrangement. But this emotionless exchange isn’t all Minori wants. Quite possibly, it’s not all Mizumo wants either.
Sex Shown:
Kissing, groping, fondling, pressed bodies, suggestive positions, light bondage, naked breasts (female)
Review:
This was such an interesting story because Minori and Mizumo are starting at the wrong end of the equation. Most yaoi couples struggle to get to the sex. Minori and Mizumo are already at that part. It’s becoming a couple after the sex is over that is giving them fits.
Mizumo is all about money so he can help his family get by without hand outs. He found the easiest way to make a lot of cash and decided his body was a small sacrifice to make sure his brothers don’t starve. Minori is giving up his tiny paycheck to make sure Mizumo only comes to him for sex.
But don’t let that heavy plot fool you. This manga is full of humorous moments that keep the whole thing light and entertaining. There’s one scene when Minori gives his little sister an “instant perm” while she’s trying to do her homework that had me laughing out loud.
This is a great little pass the time manga. It depends heavily on flashbacks to tell the back story. That’s is a little annoying, but the black border makes it obvious when one is happening.
It’s related to Happiness Recommended (same characters but a different couple), which I didn’t know until I looked up the author. I would suggest reading Temperature Rising first and then reading Happiness Recommended or you might be lost like I was. Now that I’ve read Temperature Rising, I’m going to go back and read Happiness Recommended again. I’ll probably enjoy it more.