幼馴染み 〜荊の部屋〜

by 沙野 風結子, 乃一ミクロ (イラスト)

肌冷えする梅雨のある日、母の葬儀を終えた石井舟の元に、華やかな雰囲気を纏った長身の男・能登敦朗が訪ねてくる。二人は十年振りに再会する、幼馴染みだった。十年前、地味で控えめな高校生だった舟は、自分とは対極の溌刺とした輝きを持つ敦朗に、焦がれるような想いを抱いていた。しかし、親友ですらない、ただの幼馴染みであり続けることに耐えかね、大学受験を控えたある日、舟は敦朗と決別することを選んだ。突然の来訪に戸惑い、何も変われていない自分への苛立ちを覚える舟の脳裏に、彼と重ねた、苦しくも甘美な日々の記憶が鮮明に甦り―。

251 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2013

About the author

沙野 風結子（さの ふゆこ）は、日本のボーイズラブ小説家。
3月18日生まれ、魚座、AB型。東京都在住。
2004年「廻り花を揺らす指」（雄飛 アイノベルズ）が初の単行本。
作品の世界観は多岐に渡り、大半の作品にシリアスで緊張感が漂う。過激なプレイ描写も特徴的。

Fuyuko Sano is Boys Love author of Japan.
Birthday: March 18, Zodiac signs: Pisces, Blood type: AB. Live in Tokyo, Japan.
First published works: 「廻り花を揺らす指」2004.
【Caution】She is not an international author. So the books on English page are considered pirated editions or or illegal browsing.

Reviews

[Commie Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 is too high but 3 is too low, so Imma give this a strong 3.5
The story is really kinda dumb n not super well developed or anything, but boy do I love the bottom. I just have a thing for characters who feel strongly about lots of things, but because of traumas n other personal experiences, they cannot find a healthy way to express their feelings n end up isolating themselves from everything. The bottom in this story is exactly that. He's so friggin twisted n full of negative n ugly emotions, but never act on them, simply because he's far too devastated, too hopeless, n sees no values in himself to actually be able to fight for what he desires.
Some will despise this type of character, not to mention he stays almost the same throughout the story. I on the other hand, love this character just the way he is, and in this situation, I think letting him stay the same is a realisitic choice since love ain't magic, n ppl don't change that easily especially when the twisted emotional reactions and personality are the result of a series of long-term traumatic events throughout one's childhood. Plus the top is decent enough so yes I damn enjoyed the book.
Good for both of the characters for finally being able to reach each other, but man they sure still have a lot to deal with in the future. N that's ok, wish them all the best, really.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars...or something. The thing is, even though this book has its faults (sometimes the fact that the page count is obviously restricted obviously impacts the writing negatively), with Sano Fuyuko's books there always is something that makes it stand out from all the rest and I cannot help liking it even though there are plenty of things to criticize. At the same time, she often writes novels where things seem like one way in the beginning, but once you learn a certain thing and look back, it all makes sense, making some criticism unnecessary. Long story short, I love her writing because it it legitimately different from a lot of other BL, while still containing the essence of what I love about the genre. Also, she is so damn good at writing smut.

Now, this book. It has "Osananajimi" in the title - meaning "Childhood friends". Now, childhood friends to lovers is a theme I love passionately, but the atmosphere of the cover had me hesitate with buying it - that is, until I read the author's description on her blog and was drawn by the catchphrase "seme nipples" (and that is without the doubt the absolute highlight of this novel. *coughs*). And my initial reaction was justified in that this novel had none of the bittersweetness of most "childhood friends novels" - mostly because Shuu and Noto aren't typical childhood friends.

They meet when they're still in elementary school, and Noto moves with his family next to Shuu's house. Shuu's family is pretty much in shatters - his father lives with his lover most of the time and Shuu is alone with his mother who understandably is hurt by her husband's behaviour but then proceeds to release that hurt and frustration by hitting Shuu. Noto's from a rich family and wouldn't usually go to an elementary school like the one Shuu's attending but apparently something happened at the school he was before. When the two of them meet, Shuu is looking at his most precious posession - a razor blade hidden in an amulett pouch. Noto sees that and takes it away from him, and then uses it to force Shuu to let him spend time at Shuu's room. That relationship continues right up until the end of highschool - the two of them hardly ever talk at school, but the time when they're together in Shuu's room turns into something really precious for Shuu, and soon he doesn't need the threat of exposure of his "treasure" anymore. At some point, their relationship also becomes physical, but it's really fucked up.

The two of them never talk about their feelings, which is mostly understandable inside the story, but still really frustrating to read. Actually, my biggest misgiving about the story is how forced parts of it are - the characters' actions make sense inside the story, but the situations their in often feel rather forced. Anyway, after high school Shuu makes sure they go separate ways, but then they meet again 10 years later, but it takes some time until they finally find their happy ending.

About half of the story takes place in their past - I don't think it would have been good to shorten that part, but as a result Noto's changes aren't... well, they're explained, but you don't really understand them. I think it would have been better if she had been able to take more time with how their relationship finally becomes something real, because in a way it's just too easy.

Still, I really liked the way the two of them didn't quite connect when they were kids, even though they were connected at a deeper level, like Sano Fuyuko writes in her afterword. Overall, there were quite a few places where the pieces didn't quite connect or fit too easily, and there were some loose ends. But really, despite its imperfections I enjoyed it.

And, well, last but not least... the selling point of the book really was the "seme likes nipple play" bit. It's something really rare - so rare it's the first time I encountered it in a BL novel and.. tbh I don't think I ever saw it in a manga before either. But damn it's hot. Now I want more of that. Part of what makes it hot is definitely that it requires action from the uke, which is one of my biggest turn ons anyway when it comes to BL sex. You know, just in case you were wondering.. But seriously, Sano Fuyuko is one of the view authors where I genuinely enjoy and look forward to the smut scenes. In about 85% of BL novels they feel so... obligatory, and unnecessary at the same time. But Sano Fuyuko manages to combine good sex with intelligent writing, and even when it doesn't come out perfect it's always enjoyable.