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It doesn’t happen often that a manga receives a sequel seven years after its conclusion that feels seamless, almost self-evident. “Our Dining Table” was complete in itself and a well-rounded, gentle love story that survived all the years of major Boys’ Love clear-outs. All the greater was the surprise that “Our Dining Table: Seconds, Please!” not only works, but feels like a natural continuation.
The manga has been published in Japan in the RuTile magazine since March 2023. The license for the US market is held by Seven Seas.
How was it?
The manga does not begin after the time skip from the first volume, but directly after the events from back then. We accompany Yutaka and Minoru as they settle into their newly found relationship. In many small moments it becomes visible how much Yutaka has blossomed. His initial shyness toward closeness and eating in company continues to dissolve, because the Ueda family consistently makes him feel that he is welcome. Tane, Minoru’s little brother, remains the heart of this patchwork dynamic at the same time.
The warmth of the shared meals, the everyday chaos, and the consideration everyone shows for one another continue to give the manga this unmistakable sense of comfort.
Although the tone remains tender, the author also begins to approach themes that are more complex than in the first volume. One of these is the question of how Yutaka separates his feelings for Minoru from his familial bonds with Tane, which have also developed strongly. Minoru addresses this openly. He wants to know whether Yutaka truly sees him as a partner or whether his love for the family overshadows everything. The way the two discuss this uncertainty once again shows the maturity and sensitivity of this series.
Another important narrative arc concerns Minoru’s past. His reserved mention regarding the ex in the first volume is now made more concrete and leads to a conflict that is less melodramatic than one might initially think. The relationship was complicated and closely intertwined with a difficult phase of his life, particular family burdens, and a painful farewell to his mother. Minoru does not want to talk about it, but this very point pushes Yutaka to his emotional limits. Jealousy, insecurity, and the desire to truly know everything about each other intertwine and are handled in an honest and understandable way. The scene in which Minoru explains why he kept many things to himself for so long is one of the strongest in the volume.
This openness is one of the manga’s greatest strengths. The characters are allowed to show vulnerability while also learning to give each other space.
Yutaka’s relationship with his family remains a quiet shadow over the story. The moment when he goes to his brother’s wedding is telling and at the same time told in a restrained way. His family remains distant, but a letter from his brother suggests that this topic could play a larger role in the upcoming volume.
Mita Ori’s style has changed slightly over seven years. The characters appear softer and rounder, yet everything fits harmoniously into the familiar atmosphere. The quiet gestures, the sparse panels, and the importance given to everyday actions remain a hallmark of this series.
Seven Seas publishes the volume, like its predecessor, in the publisher’s standard small format.
Is Our Dining Table: Seconds, Please! worth reading?
“Our Dining Table: Seconds, Please!” is a sequel that one might not necessarily have expected, but so far it does not fall into the trap of many Boys’ Love sequels. The story remains warm, calm, and affectionate, while developing enough new facets so that it does not feel like a repetition of what is already known.
Fans of quieter, grounded Boys’ Love will continue to be excellently served.
Our Dining Table: Seconds, Please! Vol. 1
€12,79
€14,99
The beloved Boys’ Love hit that inspired a live-action returns with an all-new collection of short stories!Yutaka and Minoru have gone from friends to lovers and made a loving home for themselves and Tane-kun. As their relationship grows, so do… read more
