Overly serious Tamiya and his fun loving boyfriend Tohdou have managed to graduate, but their romantic life isn’t fairing so well. With Tohdou busy working on his doctorate and Tamiya busy at his teaching job at the university, time together has been scarce. When Tohdou’s playboy younger brother enrolls at the university, will he be a help to the struggling lovebirds, or a rival for Tamiya’s affections?

 The manga has two different focuses. First is Tamiya and Tohdou’s odd and often seemingly one-sided relationship. Tamiya often acts embarrassed or irritated about his feelings for Tohdou, even in the middle of having sex. He comes across as inconsiderate, even cold in these chapters. When he finally confesses his love to the love starved Tohdou, it is the most awkward and backward love confession ever. I felt sorry for Tohdou for putting up with him. Tohdou is incredibly kind and infinitely compassionate. Their relationship is an enigma. Overall, this second volume doesn’t manage to portray their relationship with quite the same poignancy as the first volume.

The other focus is on Hiro, Tohdou’s younger brother. His start at the university takes a bit of a sordid turn when he commences a very intimate relationship with his professor, Ito. Soon the two have embarked on a clandestine and tumultuous relationship. However, the final chapters give the relationship depth and scope that gives their bond an emotionally moving component. The final story is a bittersweet one when yaoi fans get to see Hiro’s first love, his heartbreak, and the unexpectedly painful aftermath of their reunion years later. It builds to a touching confession by Hiro to Ito that moves the heart. And each of the couples throughout the manga has very intimate and explicit imagery.

Extras in the manga include a full color cover page, translator and editor notes. The dust jacket on the inside also has an exclusive “801-chan” comic strip.

IN SUMMARY:
Not quite as strong as the first volume, Ichigenme still however holds some beautiful and heartbreaking moments and a look at gay male romance with occasional humor and dramatic sensitivity.

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