Akita Shoten Releases First Volume of New Romantic Comedy Manga "Gozen 2-ji no Heart Fizz"
Akita Shoten released the first volume of the new manga series Gozen 2-ji no Heart Fizz (Heart Fizz at 2:00 AM) by Yako Ieme on May 15. The series focuses on the life of a "salaryman" who, despite being highly skilled in the business world, has great difficulty communicating with women. Published under the BaLmy Comics label, this work combines modern romantic comedy elements with an interesting twist.
The story's protagonist, Tou, has developed a phobia of women due to past romantic traumas. One night, while wanting to overcome this and set sail for a new romance, he meets a stunningly beautiful "concept cafe" worker in a district full of entertainment venues. After spending the night together under the influence of alcohol, Tou gets the shock of his life when he wakes up in the morning: the person he spent the night with is actually a feminine man (otokonoko). This unexpected beginning opens the door to a process where the character will face both his own fears and social stereotypes.
The series' author and illustrator, Yako Ieme, is known for handling the inner worlds and emotional development of characters with a sincere language. Gozen 2-ji no Heart Fizz is not just a comedy of misunderstandings, but also deals with the characters facing their own prejudices. Serialized within Akita Shoten's digital BL (Boys' Love) magazine BaLmy, the series has been met with great interest by fans of the genre. The success of the author's previous works signals that this new series will also gain popularity in a short time.
This new manga is especially for readers who are curious about how "otokonoko" (feminine male) characters are positioned in an adult and professional setting.
