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After Seven Seas published “Two Lions” in the US market in 2021, the publisher is now releasing another standalone manga by the artist titled “Only the Stars Know,” whose other works have primarily been published by Kodansha.
While only “Two Lions” by Nagisa Furuya has been released on the German market so far, the manga artist is currently enjoying significant popularity with publishers in the US market, and numerous other works have been released in recent months.
The manga was originally published in Japan under the title “Hoshi dake ga Shitteru” from January 2016 to January 2017 in the Boys-Love magazine RuTile.
How Was "Only The Stars Know"?
Sora Yuki is a twenty-year-old second-year law student whose life has recently taken unexpected turns—he lost his job overnight, and his girlfriend broke up with him. During a nighttime walk to clear his mind, he stumbles upon a man sitting in a secluded part of the park, observing the stars.
Sora and the man strike up a conversation, and Sora feels comfortable enough to talk about his problems. As the first tears fall, something completely unexpected happens: the stranger kisses him! Although Sora initially dismisses the night as an unexpected encounter with a stranger, he will not see the man who stares at the sky for the last time.
By chance, he encounters the man again in a café situated halfway between his new job and the university. Sora initially wants to leave, but because the food is so good, he keeps coming back and gradually becomes accustomed to the stranger, who eventually introduces himself as Kengo Tohno.
The story Nagisa Furuya tells is narratively simple, perhaps overly so, with only five characters and a very clear and straightforward main plot. Those expecting more explicit scenes might be disappointed and should look for other Boys Love works. However, for fans of gentle Boys Love stories and Furuya's work, this volume will certainly meet expectations.
Tender yet impetuous feelings are the focus of this manga. The author presents us with a rather simple, if not banal, story. Rather, we experience the development of a friendship and how feelings gradually evolve from it.
As with other works by Furuya, there is a deeper message between the lines here. The mangaka shows us that in a relationship, it is also important to see the world from the perspective of those who are important to you. This is also illustrated by Kengo’s vision impairment. Due to his red-green color blindness, he sees the world around him differently from most of society and is forced to live a different life than he originally planned. This theme interestingly runs throughout the story, and it’s a bit unfortunate that it wasn’t given more time, as it could have been a thought-provoking issue.
Another metaphor is hidden in Sora’s name or its writing. The Kanji writing is identical to the word for the universe, which has a deeper meaning, especially in relation to Kengo. Kengo had wanted to become an astronaut, but his vision impairment made that impossible. Through Sora, the cosmos becomes a part of his life in a way.
Nagisa Furuya’s artwork is delicate and soft, which fits well with the tone of the volume. The mangaka focuses on the characters, while the backgrounds are kept simple. The characters’ emotions are depicted gently yet expressively by Furuya.
A downside is that the manga presents a non-consensual kiss right from the first pages. The reason Kengo kisses Sora, as he later admits, is because the sight of his tears had such an impact on him. However, it is questionable whether this situation was truly necessary for the start of the story.
Seven Seas releases the standalone volume in the standard paperback format. At the beginning, readers are treated to a color page featuring the two characters.
Is "Only The Stars Know" worth reading?
“Only the Stars Know” has some weaknesses regarding the depth of the plot and the artwork, but the standalone volume is still a worthwhile read. Although it is a volume that might not linger long after reading, it conveys a pleasant atmosphere that is likely to appeal to fans of quieter slice-of-life Boys Love stories.
Only The Stars Know
€13,49
€14,99
A self-contained Boys' Love romance about two men connecting after a serendipitous first meeting--by the creator of The Two Lions (also from Seven Seas)!Sora hasn’t been having a great weekend. Not only did he lose his job, but now his… read more
