How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 1

Tamifull diverges in his manga debut from the typical yuri (girls’ love) genre arc, focusing on the building of a new relationship instead of just the buildup to it. Introverted Miwa Inuzuka has always dreamed of finding love, but growing up in a conservative town in Japan has made dating difficult—especially since she likes girls. After she meets extroverted Saeko Sawatari during a college festival they become fast friends, leading to a drunken confession and coming together as a couple. The narrative then follows along the more practical next steps of a relationship as the women navigate telling close friends about their status, exploring both the emotional and sensual sides of a budding lesbian romance while avoiding the sexual objectification common of the genre. Bubbly and energetic illustrations imbue the comic with the nostalgic mood of recalling first love. This refreshing take reflects the growing complexity of LGBTQ acceptance in Japan, offering realism beyond fairy tale meet-cutes. (June)