In Love’s Key, Reprised | BL Manga Review

This title… is definitely something. I’ve been loving these oneshots lately, they always have such unique storylines. This was actually my first time reading about a conductor and I loved it!

Rural Respite for a Weary Heart

Forced by poor health to take a leave of absence, curmudgeonly conductor Kiri returns to his rural hometown for some much-needed rest. But on his very first night back, he comes dangerously close to freezing to death—until local grocer Osamu scoops him up out of the cold and into the warmth of his embrace. Can this younger man, a years-long fan of Kiri’s work, thaw out the ice in the maestro’s heart? Or will Kiri be doomed to a life of frigid loneliness forever?

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Art: 5/5

Characters: 5/5 & Story/Plot: 5/5

This was way funnier than I expected.

It’s a very character-driven story. Kiri, the conductor, starts off kind of an asshole but really warms up by the end. I adored the dynamic between the two leads—every grumpy butthole needs their overly enthusiastic golden retriever to balance them out.

Despite touching on themes of family issues and grief, this manga turned out to be more amusing and cute than melancholy.

The only downside? It did end a bit abruptly. But other than that, I absolutely adored this story.

Writing/Dialouge: 6/5

“Maestro, my ass”

Whoever did the translation/localization deserves a raise… its so good! I want to know what the original Japanese was!

Extras:

Sweetness: 5/5

Osamu is literally just the sweetest person ever.

Spice level: 4/5

dicks are censored tho

Second-hand Embarrassment: 0/5

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In Love’s Key Reprised:

📌grumpy x sunshine

📌opposites attract

📌hometown love story?

📌country bumpkin x city person?

^I got to get better at this tropes thing lol

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