▪	RELEASED BY:		801 MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		TOKO KAWAI
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		18+
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/09/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		09/04/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Kiriya, in a gloomy state after his promising career as a pianist is forever taken from him, has his life change completely when he stops a beautiful man from killing himself in traffic. Yuuya has been despondent since a bitter break up, but Kiriya’s saving Yuuya’s life leads to the two tumbling into an escapist tryst. In the end which will win out – love or pain?

Just Around the Corner is a thoughtful romance. As the two continue their “weekends only” involvement, they demand little of each other, seeking the comfort of warm flesh. Shutting out the outside world may work for a while, but do all these two men have in common is pain? When they each discover the other’s real identity, everything changes. The affair is ended and Kiriya finds himself questioning nearly everything. Could a need for comfort simply be the precursor to falling in love? Can love exist under such a tenuous connection? He intends to find out. But many obstacles occur between these two men, including the walls around Yuuya’s battered heart. Love sometimes means trouble and these two will have a great deal to overcome if they hope to find happiness in the end.

The latest yaoi is yet another immensely enjoyable romance from Toko Kawai. Both of the main characters have sympathetic situations, Kiriya in particular who is focused on the most in the manga. The turns the relationship takes keep the romance compelling while at the same time filled with anticipation of “will they or won’t they make it?”. The art style is well done, the men good looking with an interesting change of the older one looking younger and less sure than the younger man in the relationship. When their positions in life change, it is curious to see how the artist alters the expression ever so slightly to impart Yuuya’s suddenly adamant and in control attitude and Kiriya’s sudden youth and insecurity – the complete opposite of how it was when they first met with Kiriya being the sure one and Yuuya being the confused one. Overall it is a feel good story through a lot of obstacles and painful doubts and insecurities.   

IN SUMMARY:
Just Around the Corner is another romantic success in the growing line of Toko Kawai’s yaoi titles. It is a romance that is often bittersweet yet gently paced with likeable characters and an engaging story. It is a sure win for fans of romances.  You never know what life – or love – has in store for you just around the corner.