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False Memories #2
False Memories, Vol. 2
Tsuda likes Nakano and Nakano likes Tsuda, but somehow the two keep missing each other at the pass. Amused by the awkward relationship between the two, Tsuda’s coworker Saeki takes off with Nakano, leaving Tsuda to tear through the whole town in a panic to find them. But what happens when he finally does? Includes the end of Tsuda and Nakano’s story as well as a short story about a fateful meeting for Saeki, the “eternal teenager.”
202 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2013
15 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Isaku Natsume
58 books195 followersIsaku Natsume (native name: 夏目イサク) is a Japanese author of Boys' Love manga.
Aside from the manga published with publishing companies, she also runs two Dōjin circles: 139 and Chekera.
List of all her works (detailed) : http://infbot.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/...
Associated names :
チェケラ
チェケラ!
夏目維朔
139
Cheke-Rara
Aside from the manga published with publishing companies, she also runs two Dōjin circles: 139 and Chekera.
List of all her works (detailed) : http://infbot.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/...
Associated names :
チェケラ
チェケラ!
夏目維朔
139
Cheke-Rara
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 29, 2015
To be honest I would have preferred it if this volume had been about Tsuda and Nakano only instead of introducing a second couple. Still, it was as fun as her other manga and Tsuda and Nakano are an adorable couple.
July 2, 2021
[ ★★★,4 / 5 ]
[ cw//tw: age-gap (for the second couple). ]
Since it only has two volumes of course the pace would be super fast. The angst is not really the main show in this manga ((they just skims over Nakano's painful past and didn't really talk about it, and the forgiveness came too early)) so it felt a lil bit dull. But well, again, everything needs to be wrapped in two volumes so... 💁🏻♀️
I like the second couple more. They had much more chemistry. Kouhei is a good additional character. He alone can change the tide in the plot. A total cutie too. We need more of him and Saeki story, honestly.
[ cw//tw: age-gap (for the second couple). ]
Since it only has two volumes of course the pace would be super fast. The angst is not really the main show in this manga ((they just skims over Nakano's painful past and didn't really talk about it, and the forgiveness came too early)) so it felt a lil bit dull. But well, again, everything needs to be wrapped in two volumes so... 💁🏻♀️
I like the second couple more. They had much more chemistry. Kouhei is a good additional character. He alone can change the tide in the plot. A total cutie too. We need more of him and Saeki story, honestly.
October 3, 2023
I liked this story probably more than the first. 4,5 stars.
Cute, but too short. I would have gladly read more.
Cute, but too short. I would have gladly read more.
November 2, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
False Memories, Volume 2, completes Nakano and Tsuda's sweet tale and then segues into Saeki finding his own romance as well. Both stories are gentle and full of soul searching more than angst or passion. There are a few very graphic scenes at the conclusion of Nakano and Tsuda's story but it does make for a pleasant read.
Story: Nakano pours his heart out to poor Saeki at a local Otaku bar, telling him about Tsuda. Tsuda, meanwhile, is searching everywhere that night trying to find Nakano, who isn't answering his calls. Calling favors from friends, Tsuda finally finds Nakano but only after Saeki sends a teasing photo of the two together. It takes a good talking together that night but Tsuda and Nakano learn to trust in each others' feelings. Saeki, meanwhile, is lonely despite having any girl he wants. When the adult son of a coworker tries to get his attention about work recommendations, Saeki blows him off. But Kouhei is persistent and for a reason - he has more on his mind than a good place to find a job.
Author Natsume does a great job of giving each of the characters distinct personalities. Shy Nakano, aggressive Tsuda, playboy Saeki, and innocent Kouhei. We really care and want each of this Gundam nerds to find a soulmate within their Otaku world. Placing this with anime model builders really gives this series heart - they feel much more accessible and normal that way. Nerdy guys who love their work and are kids at heart.
The feel of the series is gentle and the conclusion here for both stories is given enough time to mature but not so long that it feels bloated. It's a good conclusion that really works.
Reviewed from an ARC.
February 20, 2019
Of course they get back together! And that side story... I thought the younger man is going to be the seme *LOL*
May 27, 2022
*Reread 5/26/2022*
Honestly don't have much to add that I haven't already said. I will say the one thing I don't love about Isaku Natsume's art is how similar her characters look.
*Original Review 8/1/2021*
Nakano and Tsuda’s story finishes about halfway through this volume, which I think was a good end. It didn’t drag out too long and I definitely would’ve gotten bored of Tsuda’s lovey dovey-ness. I prefer the push and pull. The second half follows Saeki who looks so good when he cleans up?? I was kind of hoping he was going to add more misunderstanding drama with Nakano and Tsuda, but that got cleaned up quickly. I thought his story with Kouhei was adorable though. I really liked them. This was a good series.
Honestly don't have much to add that I haven't already said. I will say the one thing I don't love about Isaku Natsume's art is how similar her characters look.
*Original Review 8/1/2021*
Nakano and Tsuda’s story finishes about halfway through this volume, which I think was a good end. It didn’t drag out too long and I definitely would’ve gotten bored of Tsuda’s lovey dovey-ness. I prefer the push and pull. The second half follows Saeki who looks so good when he cleans up?? I was kind of hoping he was going to add more misunderstanding drama with Nakano and Tsuda, but that got cleaned up quickly. I thought his story with Kouhei was adorable though. I really liked them. This was a good series.
August 25, 2016
I have been reading these like I'm watching an anime, making sound effects and noises in my head during parts lol. Is it adapted into an anime?
October 25, 2017
A very sweet continuation, which introduced new characters I really liked!
March 27, 2022
I gave in and read this one digitally, because I loved the first volume way too much to wait any longer. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on a physical copy for rereading and shelf stocking purposes, because my goodness did I love these books. I'm now deeply regretting I didn't buy everything by Natsume while I had a chance, because some other series are sold out now, too, and I want more. What a fantastic author.
Months back, I'd unfortunately hesitated on buying this series because I'd skimmed through a number of reviews that complained about how the second volume split the storyline in half and introduced a new couple, which is something that tends to annoy me in manga. But in this case...I really liked it?
I think it's helped by the fact that Nakano and Tsuda really didn't need much more to resolve their love story; they were getting pretty close by the end of Volume 1, so a couple solid conversations were enough to bring them back to the relationship they should've had all along.
And that resolution is unexpectedly helped along by Tsuda's coworker, Saeki - a scruffy robot-loving nerd who cleans up really nicely...and always has a string of two or three girlfriends at a time.
What's interesting about Saeki is that he's not actually gross about it, or two-timing anyone; at the beginning of his storyline, he's dating two women, who not only know about each other but are good friends. He keeps things easy and casual and - up until he turns 35 - never really worries about what comes next. When those relationships inevitably end, he'll just move on to the next one, and the next, until...well, the "until what" finally starts to bother him when he sees all his friends and coworkers pairing off around him.
Then, one day, when those two relationships have ended and he's been scammed by a woman he'd just met in a bar, he winds up sitting on a park bench, pitying himself, and runs into his coworker's 20 year old son, Kouhei - who had just confessed to him a few days earlier.
Saeki had turned him down; he's not gay and has never been interested in men. Well, except for that one time when he realized he found Nakano attractive, but he wasn't going to do anything about it, and anyway Tsuda would've clobbered him if he'd tried anything. (Honestly, Nakano probably would've too.) So of course he's not going to try anything with his coworker's son, whom he barely knows - just brief conversations and encounters over the years, as they hung out at her house after work.
Those interactions had meant a lot more to Kouhei, who's confident and determined but refreshingly not pushy. He backs off a bit after being shot down, recognizing that he was trying to move way too fast. They can just hang out and get to know each other more, he says. Have dinner and talk.
Saeki starts to turn him down again, but he's been having a rough time lately, and it is just dinner, and when he gives in and asks Kouhei for a hug, he thoughtfully catalogues the new experience. I liked how real it felt - it's a little weird and different, but not bad. Kouhei has strong arms, a firm body, with none of the womanly softness Saeki is used to enjoying. And he doesn't smell nice, either - he's fresh from a winning tennis tournament, so he's sweaty - all around just very distinctly masculine. It should be a turnoff, but...Saeki doesn't mind it. And they spend about a month getting to know each other, only kissing once, as an experiment, just to see what it's like. (This counts as moving Very Slowly for someone like Saeki.)
Natsume is so good at writing couples. These two are nothing like Nakano and Tsuda - they don't have the overwhelming chemistry or the deep soulmate connection. To be honest, they really might not last at all, although Kouhei's in it for the long haul, if Saeki's willing. But all relationships are different, and I like how distinct and believable this one is.
I like, too, that this isn't entirely one of those "I'm straight except for being ok with sleeping with one dude" scenarios. Saeki's kind of experimenting still, testing out new things because what he's been doing with his life clearly hasn't been working...and it turns out he really enjoys spending time with Kouhei. He'd "lost" his best friend to a wonderfully happy marriage, so I think he's filling that gap in a lot of ways, too, with male companionship that's comforting and fun and lets him be himself in a way he probably never was with his women.
What I really liked is that Kouhei kinda gets that...although he misinterprets it. Before they have sex for the first time, they have a conversation that leaves Kouhei deeply embarrassed and ready to leave, because he'd been assuming all along that Saeki was bi - openly so. He never would've tried pursuing a straight guy. The way Saeki had talked about his coworker/best friend, Kouhei had thought they'd probably hooked up a few times, and that Saeki had definitely been in love with him for years. So the marriage opened Saeki up to a possible new relationship, and Kouhei finally made his move, and...it turned out he'd been wrong about the whole thing.
Saeki stops him, though, and they talk about it again. (Man, do I love communication in romantic settings.) He still doesn't have everything figured out, but he really likes Kouhei, and he's willing to try this. So they do, and it works out pretty well, and there's a lovely bonus scene with the two of them as a more established couple. (Although how is Saeki ever going to tell his coworker, Kouhei's mom, what's going on between them??)
I like the friendships in this manga. Even though two volumes is a pretty short run to cover two couples and their work lives and their external friendships, Natsume fits it all in so well. It's such a nicely developed world that I love spending time in.
And of course the main couple, Nakano and Tsuda, get some really fantastic content here, too - the first half of the volume, plus the closing bonus chapter. (Tsuda also shows up in the background of Saeki's story, being blissfully happy because he's in love and in a committed relationship.)
I loved Nakano's conversation with Saeki in the bar; he's not open about who he is or who he loves, but after sticking his foot in his mouth a few times, Saeki finally figures out what's going on and does his best to help Nakano sort things out with Tsuda. It becomes increasingly clear that while Saeki is mostly straight but maybe a little fluid, and Tsuda is possibly bi and mostly just an idiot, Nakano is very definitely gay and has been hiding it from everyone - and mostly from himself - for a decade.
We got the backstory of that relationship in Volume 1, but it's somehow even more devastating here, when Nakano and Tsuda finally sit and talk, and Nakano reveals exactly how painful it was to fall in love with his best friend, sleep with him, think they were both in love, and then find out Tsuda was just playing with him, ready to toss him aside the moment he could get a girlfriend instead.
The drama isn't drawn out; they're adults and they're able to talk through the miscommunications and the hurt and start up a relationship they'd both really wanted all along. And oh goodness is it satisfying. I love that Tsuda tries his best to take it slow, and carefully checks with Nakano at every point along the way: can I kiss you? Are you doing ok? Does it hurt? Do you need me to stop? He learned, and he grew up, and he's putting those life lessons into practice, treating his boyfriend with all the care and commitment he deserves.
It's honestly just lovely. I enjoyed this series so much, and I love how Natsume writes about relationships.
3/26/2022: Finally tracked down an overpriced physical copy! Worth it, though; I still love this series a lot. It's so refreshingly mature and achingly feel-good.
Months back, I'd unfortunately hesitated on buying this series because I'd skimmed through a number of reviews that complained about how the second volume split the storyline in half and introduced a new couple, which is something that tends to annoy me in manga. But in this case...I really liked it?
I think it's helped by the fact that Nakano and Tsuda really didn't need much more to resolve their love story; they were getting pretty close by the end of Volume 1, so a couple solid conversations were enough to bring them back to the relationship they should've had all along.
And that resolution is unexpectedly helped along by Tsuda's coworker, Saeki - a scruffy robot-loving nerd who cleans up really nicely...and always has a string of two or three girlfriends at a time.
What's interesting about Saeki is that he's not actually gross about it, or two-timing anyone; at the beginning of his storyline, he's dating two women, who not only know about each other but are good friends. He keeps things easy and casual and - up until he turns 35 - never really worries about what comes next. When those relationships inevitably end, he'll just move on to the next one, and the next, until...well, the "until what" finally starts to bother him when he sees all his friends and coworkers pairing off around him.
Then, one day, when those two relationships have ended and he's been scammed by a woman he'd just met in a bar, he winds up sitting on a park bench, pitying himself, and runs into his coworker's 20 year old son, Kouhei - who had just confessed to him a few days earlier.
Saeki had turned him down; he's not gay and has never been interested in men. Well, except for that one time when he realized he found Nakano attractive, but he wasn't going to do anything about it, and anyway Tsuda would've clobbered him if he'd tried anything. (Honestly, Nakano probably would've too.) So of course he's not going to try anything with his coworker's son, whom he barely knows - just brief conversations and encounters over the years, as they hung out at her house after work.
Those interactions had meant a lot more to Kouhei, who's confident and determined but refreshingly not pushy. He backs off a bit after being shot down, recognizing that he was trying to move way too fast. They can just hang out and get to know each other more, he says. Have dinner and talk.
Saeki starts to turn him down again, but he's been having a rough time lately, and it is just dinner, and when he gives in and asks Kouhei for a hug, he thoughtfully catalogues the new experience. I liked how real it felt - it's a little weird and different, but not bad. Kouhei has strong arms, a firm body, with none of the womanly softness Saeki is used to enjoying. And he doesn't smell nice, either - he's fresh from a winning tennis tournament, so he's sweaty - all around just very distinctly masculine. It should be a turnoff, but...Saeki doesn't mind it. And they spend about a month getting to know each other, only kissing once, as an experiment, just to see what it's like. (This counts as moving Very Slowly for someone like Saeki.)
Natsume is so good at writing couples. These two are nothing like Nakano and Tsuda - they don't have the overwhelming chemistry or the deep soulmate connection. To be honest, they really might not last at all, although Kouhei's in it for the long haul, if Saeki's willing. But all relationships are different, and I like how distinct and believable this one is.
I like, too, that this isn't entirely one of those "I'm straight except for being ok with sleeping with one dude" scenarios. Saeki's kind of experimenting still, testing out new things because what he's been doing with his life clearly hasn't been working...and it turns out he really enjoys spending time with Kouhei. He'd "lost" his best friend to a wonderfully happy marriage, so I think he's filling that gap in a lot of ways, too, with male companionship that's comforting and fun and lets him be himself in a way he probably never was with his women.
What I really liked is that Kouhei kinda gets that...although he misinterprets it. Before they have sex for the first time, they have a conversation that leaves Kouhei deeply embarrassed and ready to leave, because he'd been assuming all along that Saeki was bi - openly so. He never would've tried pursuing a straight guy. The way Saeki had talked about his coworker/best friend, Kouhei had thought they'd probably hooked up a few times, and that Saeki had definitely been in love with him for years. So the marriage opened Saeki up to a possible new relationship, and Kouhei finally made his move, and...it turned out he'd been wrong about the whole thing.
Saeki stops him, though, and they talk about it again. (Man, do I love communication in romantic settings.) He still doesn't have everything figured out, but he really likes Kouhei, and he's willing to try this. So they do, and it works out pretty well, and there's a lovely bonus scene with the two of them as a more established couple. (Although how is Saeki ever going to tell his coworker, Kouhei's mom, what's going on between them??)
I like the friendships in this manga. Even though two volumes is a pretty short run to cover two couples and their work lives and their external friendships, Natsume fits it all in so well. It's such a nicely developed world that I love spending time in.
And of course the main couple, Nakano and Tsuda, get some really fantastic content here, too - the first half of the volume, plus the closing bonus chapter. (Tsuda also shows up in the background of Saeki's story, being blissfully happy because he's in love and in a committed relationship.)
I loved Nakano's conversation with Saeki in the bar; he's not open about who he is or who he loves, but after sticking his foot in his mouth a few times, Saeki finally figures out what's going on and does his best to help Nakano sort things out with Tsuda. It becomes increasingly clear that while Saeki is mostly straight but maybe a little fluid, and Tsuda is possibly bi and mostly just an idiot, Nakano is very definitely gay and has been hiding it from everyone - and mostly from himself - for a decade.
We got the backstory of that relationship in Volume 1, but it's somehow even more devastating here, when Nakano and Tsuda finally sit and talk, and Nakano reveals exactly how painful it was to fall in love with his best friend, sleep with him, think they were both in love, and then find out Tsuda was just playing with him, ready to toss him aside the moment he could get a girlfriend instead.
The drama isn't drawn out; they're adults and they're able to talk through the miscommunications and the hurt and start up a relationship they'd both really wanted all along. And oh goodness is it satisfying. I love that Tsuda tries his best to take it slow, and carefully checks with Nakano at every point along the way: can I kiss you? Are you doing ok? Does it hurt? Do you need me to stop? He learned, and he grew up, and he's putting those life lessons into practice, treating his boyfriend with all the care and commitment he deserves.
It's honestly just lovely. I enjoyed this series so much, and I love how Natsume writes about relationships.
3/26/2022: Finally tracked down an overpriced physical copy! Worth it, though; I still love this series a lot. It's so refreshingly mature and achingly feel-good.
April 12, 2024
Nakano and Tsuda:
Oh jeez. My heart broke a little for Nakano. He wasn’t treated well by Tsuda in the past and he even believed that the only reason Tsuda wanted him at all was because he was skinny and young and more feminine in appearance back in the day, and now that he’s a grown man Tsuda can’t pretend he’s a girl as easily. Apparently Tsuda said that he saw him as a girl when they got together in high school (he was also freaking the crap out about liking a guy). So ****ed up.
At least the sex in this book was consensual and enjoyed by them both. That’s an improvement. Also I guess it’s unusual for M/M manga written by straight women to even acknowledge rape was bad or have the rapist apologize and not do it again and try to make amends. God.
Saeki is a cis bisexual (likely homoromantic) guy. He’s Tsuda’s coworker. He flirts with Nakano to get a rise out of Tsuda (and because he thinks he’s hot), and it works. He’s 35. He sleeps with a lot of women but is also attracted to men, and apparently hasn’t ever felt romantic feelings toward a woman. It’s a bit confusing because he talks about “going for guys” now, and then later says “I don’t swing that way.” Weird.
Kouhei is in college. He’s had a crush on Saeki since he was a kid. He’s possibly bisexual. Age is unspecified.
Content warnings and tropes:
—High school exes
—High school friends
—Opposites attract
—Queerphobia
—Age gap? Saeki is 35 and Kouhei is in college but unspecified age. So around a 15 year age gap?
—Hero worship (Kouhei thinks Saeki is really cool and used to want to be like him as a kid)
Other:
—No cheating
—No breakups
—No one has kids
—No (real) romantic rivals (Saeki likes to torment Tsuda by flirting with his bf though)
—Sexual roles: Tsuda tops and Nakano bottoms. Kouhei says he’s fine with either (verse) but Saeki seems to prefer to top
—HEA implied for both couples
Oh jeez. My heart broke a little for Nakano. He wasn’t treated well by Tsuda in the past and he even believed that the only reason Tsuda wanted him at all was because he was skinny and young and more feminine in appearance back in the day, and now that he’s a grown man Tsuda can’t pretend he’s a girl as easily. Apparently Tsuda said that he saw him as a girl when they got together in high school (he was also freaking the crap out about liking a guy). So ****ed up.
At least the sex in this book was consensual and enjoyed by them both. That’s an improvement. Also I guess it’s unusual for M/M manga written by straight women to even acknowledge rape was bad or have the rapist apologize and not do it again and try to make amends. God.
Saeki is a cis bisexual (likely homoromantic) guy. He’s Tsuda’s coworker. He flirts with Nakano to get a rise out of Tsuda (and because he thinks he’s hot), and it works. He’s 35. He sleeps with a lot of women but is also attracted to men, and apparently hasn’t ever felt romantic feelings toward a woman. It’s a bit confusing because he talks about “going for guys” now, and then later says “I don’t swing that way.” Weird.
Kouhei is in college. He’s had a crush on Saeki since he was a kid. He’s possibly bisexual. Age is unspecified.
Content warnings and tropes:
—High school exes
—High school friends
—Opposites attract
—Queerphobia
—Age gap? Saeki is 35 and Kouhei is in college but unspecified age. So around a 15 year age gap?
—Hero worship (Kouhei thinks Saeki is really cool and used to want to be like him as a kid)
Other:
—No cheating
—No breakups
—No one has kids
—No (real) romantic rivals (Saeki likes to torment Tsuda by flirting with his bf though)
—Sexual roles: Tsuda tops and Nakano bottoms. Kouhei says he’s fine with either (verse) but Saeki seems to prefer to top
—HEA implied for both couples
October 12, 2021
This is my combined review of V01 and V02.
Volumes 1 and 2 of False Memories includes two related stories. The first and main story which takes up all of volume 1 and half of volume 2 is about Nakano and Tsuda who, after 10 years, are reunited as a result of a partnership between their toy making and toy design companies, respectively. Tsuda is shocked and overjoyed to see Nakano, but Nakano couldn’t feel any more to the contrary if he tried. The second story features Tsuda’s colleague and senpai, Saeki, and Ueda, who is the son of their company’s receptionist. Saeki, a thirty-something otaku is confused and annoyed by the confession and interest of the bright-eyed and dangerously charming younger Ueda.
The title story had me smiling with watery eyes. Thinking back over the titles I’ve read by Natsume, I believe this is the first time she’s written one with this type of conflict. All of her other couples were embarking on their first go-round, but Tsuda and Nakano, while they weren’t an actual couple in the past, they were intimate. She’s done reunions (Devil’s Honey and Dash), childhood friends (Tight Rope), office romance, (Ameiro Paradox and Doushiyoumo nai Keredo), and the gregarious vs. the reticent (No Color), but none of them have been done quite like this. None of them have pulled at my heartstrings quite like this.
Natsume hit upon something that just gets to me, that I’m totally at the mercy of. There are few things that can turn on the waterworks faster than a character acting in earnest, but not being believed or taken seriously. And I also have a soft spot for a character denying their feelings because they’re afraid to get hurt again. I am so weak to these moments, especially the former and this is why watching Tsuda and Nakano’s courtship had me tied in knots. Tsuda was at a loss and he felt left behind and he didn’t really understand why Nakano severed ties with him, but their reunion was like another chance for him and he charged ahead half blind in pursuit of reconciling. Nakano, on the other hand, initially felt used and discarded because of what happened between them in the past, but as the story developed, his views on what exactly Tsuda’s intentions were, both in the past and the present, became more confused and continued to morph until they ultimately stabilized into what he assumed was a misunderstanding on his part. But at the same time, his original feelings never completely went away and it was those that he eventually expressed to Tsuda once he reached his tipping point.
There was a decent amount of build up that included a significant turns of regression on Nakano’s part due to him trying to figure out if he could actually be friends with Tsuda or if he just needed to treat him like any other business partner just to make it through, because there was no way for there to be anything else between them. He did his best in his tormented state, but his will was no match for his true feelings nor Tsuda’s aggressive pursuit.
And Tsuda was aggressive; not horrible, mean, or antagonistic, and his intentions were innocent enough, but he did not know where to draw the line. He only had a strong desire to be with Nakano again, though, to which extent was something that he was coming to terms with. Well, actually, he knew for a while prior to their reunion, but believing that he’d never see Nakano again meant that he could settle on a somewhat vague understanding which did not require any sort of commitment from his heart. But upon seeing Nakano again, he too had to wrestle with the past, present, and what they meant for the future.
Their struggle–which was both helped and hurt by Saeki–and how Natsume didn’t gloss over their reconciliation, but allowed them to have it out until the truth was revealed, is what convinced me that they earned their happy ending. And they were just the cutest–mostly Tsuda; he was unbelievably happy like he’d won the lottery and never had to work a day in his life again. There was no suaveness in his expressions; he was totally in love and he couldn’t hide it, not that he even tried. It’s rare to see a seme so enthused about being with someone and they not be the the usual overgrown puppy-dog type. And Nakano, not that he didn’t look like he was in love, but he seemed more relieved than anything else, like the lottery winnings would be able to cover things that he was at a loss to deal with before. He looked like he felt safe or rather, that his heart was safe in Tsuda’s hands.
All of that lovey dovey was much to Saeki’s chagrin. Not that he’d readily admit it. And to top off his smoldering jealousy–which extended beyond Tsuda’s love aura–his BFF and fellow toy designer, Fuku-chan announced that he was getting hitched. And all of that unfolded to usher in something I’m not used to seeing from Natsume: protracted inner monologues–copious amounts. Seaki talked to himself a lot. He moved about and interacted with other people, but the majority of the first chapter saw him deliberating over the current state of his life–a life that could not figure how and where a guy–15 years his junior, no less–could fit. This story was only two chapters long, so I can’t say much without getting into specifics, but there were two of things that I enjoyed quite a bit about the story. First is that Saeki was a lonely and bitter man and he had no idea that he was. And the second thing was Ueda’s assumptions about Saeki’s whole love situation prior to their brief and unconventional courtship.
I bought volume 1 some months ago and was a bit out of sorts when I found out that the digital for volume 2 had been delayed. I never did find out what the hold up was, but it’s fine, I have it now. In preparation for volume 2, I reread volume 1 so I could get the full effect. I’m glad I did, because I enjoyed it much more this time around. This series offers a lot of what’s good about Natsume’s work but still manages to bring something new to her repertoire. And I know my review focuses on all the love, but as you would expect, her humor is on point as well. I hope her titles are doing well for SuBlime, because I want to see more of her work licensed.
Volumes 1 and 2 of False Memories includes two related stories. The first and main story which takes up all of volume 1 and half of volume 2 is about Nakano and Tsuda who, after 10 years, are reunited as a result of a partnership between their toy making and toy design companies, respectively. Tsuda is shocked and overjoyed to see Nakano, but Nakano couldn’t feel any more to the contrary if he tried. The second story features Tsuda’s colleague and senpai, Saeki, and Ueda, who is the son of their company’s receptionist. Saeki, a thirty-something otaku is confused and annoyed by the confession and interest of the bright-eyed and dangerously charming younger Ueda.
The title story had me smiling with watery eyes. Thinking back over the titles I’ve read by Natsume, I believe this is the first time she’s written one with this type of conflict. All of her other couples were embarking on their first go-round, but Tsuda and Nakano, while they weren’t an actual couple in the past, they were intimate. She’s done reunions (Devil’s Honey and Dash), childhood friends (Tight Rope), office romance, (Ameiro Paradox and Doushiyoumo nai Keredo), and the gregarious vs. the reticent (No Color), but none of them have been done quite like this. None of them have pulled at my heartstrings quite like this.
Natsume hit upon something that just gets to me, that I’m totally at the mercy of. There are few things that can turn on the waterworks faster than a character acting in earnest, but not being believed or taken seriously. And I also have a soft spot for a character denying their feelings because they’re afraid to get hurt again. I am so weak to these moments, especially the former and this is why watching Tsuda and Nakano’s courtship had me tied in knots. Tsuda was at a loss and he felt left behind and he didn’t really understand why Nakano severed ties with him, but their reunion was like another chance for him and he charged ahead half blind in pursuit of reconciling. Nakano, on the other hand, initially felt used and discarded because of what happened between them in the past, but as the story developed, his views on what exactly Tsuda’s intentions were, both in the past and the present, became more confused and continued to morph until they ultimately stabilized into what he assumed was a misunderstanding on his part. But at the same time, his original feelings never completely went away and it was those that he eventually expressed to Tsuda once he reached his tipping point.
There was a decent amount of build up that included a significant turns of regression on Nakano’s part due to him trying to figure out if he could actually be friends with Tsuda or if he just needed to treat him like any other business partner just to make it through, because there was no way for there to be anything else between them. He did his best in his tormented state, but his will was no match for his true feelings nor Tsuda’s aggressive pursuit.
And Tsuda was aggressive; not horrible, mean, or antagonistic, and his intentions were innocent enough, but he did not know where to draw the line. He only had a strong desire to be with Nakano again, though, to which extent was something that he was coming to terms with. Well, actually, he knew for a while prior to their reunion, but believing that he’d never see Nakano again meant that he could settle on a somewhat vague understanding which did not require any sort of commitment from his heart. But upon seeing Nakano again, he too had to wrestle with the past, present, and what they meant for the future.
Their struggle–which was both helped and hurt by Saeki–and how Natsume didn’t gloss over their reconciliation, but allowed them to have it out until the truth was revealed, is what convinced me that they earned their happy ending. And they were just the cutest–mostly Tsuda; he was unbelievably happy like he’d won the lottery and never had to work a day in his life again. There was no suaveness in his expressions; he was totally in love and he couldn’t hide it, not that he even tried. It’s rare to see a seme so enthused about being with someone and they not be the the usual overgrown puppy-dog type. And Nakano, not that he didn’t look like he was in love, but he seemed more relieved than anything else, like the lottery winnings would be able to cover things that he was at a loss to deal with before. He looked like he felt safe or rather, that his heart was safe in Tsuda’s hands.
All of that lovey dovey was much to Saeki’s chagrin. Not that he’d readily admit it. And to top off his smoldering jealousy–which extended beyond Tsuda’s love aura–his BFF and fellow toy designer, Fuku-chan announced that he was getting hitched. And all of that unfolded to usher in something I’m not used to seeing from Natsume: protracted inner monologues–copious amounts. Seaki talked to himself a lot. He moved about and interacted with other people, but the majority of the first chapter saw him deliberating over the current state of his life–a life that could not figure how and where a guy–15 years his junior, no less–could fit. This story was only two chapters long, so I can’t say much without getting into specifics, but there were two of things that I enjoyed quite a bit about the story. First is that Saeki was a lonely and bitter man and he had no idea that he was. And the second thing was Ueda’s assumptions about Saeki’s whole love situation prior to their brief and unconventional courtship.
I bought volume 1 some months ago and was a bit out of sorts when I found out that the digital for volume 2 had been delayed. I never did find out what the hold up was, but it’s fine, I have it now. In preparation for volume 2, I reread volume 1 so I could get the full effect. I’m glad I did, because I enjoyed it much more this time around. This series offers a lot of what’s good about Natsume’s work but still manages to bring something new to her repertoire. And I know my review focuses on all the love, but as you would expect, her humor is on point as well. I hope her titles are doing well for SuBlime, because I want to see more of her work licensed.
January 15, 2021
The first third of this picks up from where volume 1 left off, nicely concluding Tsuda and Nakano's romance. The rest of this follows Tsuda's colleague Saeki who finds his life strangely empty as his friends hook up. Tsuda now has Nakano, thanks to his intervention, and his best friend Fukanaga announces his engagement to his long term girlfriend. At 35, Saeki is left on the sidelines with no hobbies and suddenly no friends to hang about with. He looks back on his life and the emptiness of the two women he's currently dating and begins to feel really sorry for himself. Then along comes Kouhei, the 18 year old son of another co-worker, who brazenly confesses his love and asks him out. Saeki is thrown for six, he's never dated a man and he can't understand why Kouhei is into him. And yet despite rejecting him he can't seem to get the kid out of his head.
I'm not usually a huge fan of May-to-December pairings, however I really like Saeki and he totally deserves some happiness. Didn't think this side story was too bad.
I'm not usually a huge fan of May-to-December pairings, however I really like Saeki and he totally deserves some happiness. Didn't think this side story was too bad.
October 27, 2018
Nakano and Tsuda's story carries over from volume one but gets wrapped up fairly quickly, and very sweetly -- misunderstandings resolved and confessions all around! Then we're on to Tsuda's coworker Saeki and the oh-so-relatable mid-thirties crisis of realizing everyone around you is settling down and you seem to have missed the boat. (Less relatably, despite being shallow and kind of a loser, Saeki has a cute college student chasing after him for a date.) I wasn't as enthused about the side-story as Nakano and Tsuda, but I do want to give credit where it's due: I'm not used to seeing "oh, I thought you were bi" in a BL story, and it was kind of refreshing just having someone say the word "bisexual". Even though the assumption was incorrect, it didn't feel like a "gay for you" plotline. I'll be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.
November 29, 2025
For a two part series this was pretty impactful. I absolutely adored both Tsuda and Nakano and was happy to see them happy together. I wish the volume stopped with that as the story with Saeki has a trope I despise in BL. Oh I knew him as a kid and watched him grow up and now he’s declaring his love let’s be together even though it’s so gross. The sad part is it could’ve been cute if the child part wasn’t in there. It left such a nasty taste in my mouth that it took away enjoyment. I actually wish that somehow someway in another of the managakas series that Tsuda and Nakano make an appearance because I really enjoyed their dynamic.
July 26, 2021
This was such a cute and satisfying ending! I love seeing our main couple's happy ending. Natsume also introduces a new couple once the main one ends. I liked their dynamic, as well. We follow their colleague Saeki, and a young man Kohei who is in love with him. This is a fifteen year age gap, and I loved it! Both are adults but there's still some hesitancy to the relationship because Saeki is friends with Kohei's mom. If you like age gaps, I'd recommend it. I wish it were longer, I would have liked more of their relationship.
CW: Age Gap
CW: Age Gap
March 7, 2022
A great conclusion to the duology. Nakano and Tsuda have such a wonderful adult relationship. And I love that Nakano ain't afraid to call Tsuda out for the misunderstanding that happened between them. The volume also includes a side-story that follows Saeki, a play-boy coworker of Tsuda's, and Kouhei, a college student that's the son of the receptionist of the company. Their story does involve age-gap between two consenting adults and Kouhei (20) seeks out a relationship with Saeki (35).
Seriously, Isaku Natsume has done it again!
Seriously, Isaku Natsume has done it again!
March 29, 2019
Cute story continued
This was a light, fun read. It was a cute story with engaging characters. The reason it is not a 5, it felt cliche and predictable. Still enjoyable, just lacking that originality piece.
This was a light, fun read. It was a cute story with engaging characters. The reason it is not a 5, it felt cliche and predictable. Still enjoyable, just lacking that originality piece.
October 3, 2019
3.5 stars
I really liked it but it was too short. I would also have prefered it if the second volume was about the main couple. I loved the second couple and it would have been nice if they would be in a third volume.
I really liked it but it was too short. I would also have prefered it if the second volume was about the main couple. I loved the second couple and it would have been nice if they would be in a third volume.
August 18, 2023
I was surprised by this second volume. They certainly wrapped up the drama between our main couple quite quickly. One chapter was all it took before introducing us to a new love story. Which was sweet and cute! I kinda wanted more from the main couple, just see life after they got together.
April 5, 2024
Oh this volume was even better than the first! Love how Tsuda was scared when Saeki abducted Nakajo LOL. And I thought I would hate the fact that the 2nd half of this volume was about Saeki and Kouhei, but I loved their story just as much!
September 17, 2024
I'm happy Nakano and Tsuda managed to talk things through and work out their feelings. I'm not a fan of age gaps, but Saeki being able to find someone who can bring butterflies in his belly is enough for me to ignore it. Hope they both live their happily ever after to the fullest.
January 17, 2019
4 out of 5 stars
May 22, 2019
This was just so basic, it couldn't hold my attention at all. The second story was a little better, but all in all, this wasn't memorable.
August 2, 2019
4 stars
satisfaction, my friends
satisfaction, my friends
April 25, 2020
Fue un grandioso final para Nakano y Tsuda.
La historia de Saeki también me gustó bastante y me alegre por él.
La historia de Saeki también me gustó bastante y me alegre por él.
March 28, 2021
Not as interesting as volume 1
This volume was a let down in comparison to volume 1. I was not invested in the secondary characters. It could have been much better.
This volume was a let down in comparison to volume 1. I was not invested in the secondary characters. It could have been much better.
July 1, 2021
3.5 stars.
October 16, 2021
cuuuute!!! and I liked the other couple’s story too :)))
May 25, 2023
3.5 stars
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