The Trash Explorer

Welcome aboard, I am the leader of Trash Explorer Scans, Cheska, and this serves as my spazz blog. Please dm me if you have anything you want to relay or ask! And no, I don't share BLCDs.

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The google site and discord are CLOSED until further notice. Please read my announcement.

Completed/Dropped Projects:

365 Days of Yearning for You by Taki Nekoze *dropped*

Alternative by Tenzen Momoko

Blue de Roi vol. 1 by Tenzen Momoko *dropped*

Bokura no Tsuzuki by Amamiya

Customer Masquerade! vol. 1 by Seto Umiko *dropped*

Far From Romance by Amamiya

Fluorite Star by Suno Natsuko

Fruits, Gateau au Chocolat by Kitahala Lyee

Friends by Kurahashi Tomo

Ginga ni Hitori Nobara no Kimi by Miike Romuco

Goshujinsama wa Ouji ga Osuki by Yoshio Akira

Haru Made no Kyori vol. 1 & 2 by Harumoto Kon

It's A Lie by Yukue Moegi

Kare ga Masuku o Hazusu Toki by Taki Nekoze

Kare to Karera no 243-pun by Kitahata Akeno

Koto no Ha no Hana by Sunahara Touko & Miike Romuco

Minori no Mori by Maripaka

Musunda Koi no Tsutaekata by Yoshio Akira

Say You Love Me by ma2

Secret Blue by Kure Yuki

Shirayukihime ni Kuchizuke by Yoshio Akira *dropped*

So Long As We’re Together by Yoshii Haruaki

Sono Suki Honto by Taki Nekoze

The Love Was Certainly There by hagi

This Ends Tonight by Kinoshita Keiko

Toaru Shotenin no Koimonogatari by Taki Nekoze

Tonari no Kimi no Suki na Tokoro by Jun

Tone to Makoto wa Tokidoki Koibito by Taki Nekoze

Tone to Makoto wa Honto no Koibito by Taki Nekoze

Wananaku Kiba no Dahlia vol. 1 by Takanaga Hinako

White Liar by Serizawa Tomo

Ongoing Projects:

Sunshine After Smoke Blue Rain by Hamada Kamome

Tomorrow Maybe Love by Yamashita Machi

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BLCD Review: Saezuru 7

Title: Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai 7 (囀る鳥は羽ばたかない 7)

Author/Artist: Yoneda Kou

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/07/28

Cast:

Hatano Wataru + Shingaki Tarusuke

Okitsu Kazuyuki

Masuda Toshiki

Ookawa Tooru

Ueda Yuuji

Satou Takuya

Miyake Kenta

Ito Kentarou

Nara Tooru

Synopsis: Adaptation of the 7th volume of the series.

Review Proper

I'm not sure what's gonna end first: the series or my fucking life.

As much as I love Saezuru, it's gone on for so long that it's starting to get old literally and figuratively. You know, I wouldn't even be mad if Yoneda Kou ended the series by killing Yashiro off in 6. 7 is still well-written to a point and the BLCD did deserve to rank second AGAIN in chil-chil 2022, but I'm not sure about the future of this series (it wasn't nominated in 2023 tho which is one of the few good things about 2023's).

I say a lot of things, but I'm still invested in vol. 7 & 8.

I don't know who I'm jealous of, BUT THAT SHOULD BE ME! This scene is in vol 8, not 7, but I wanted to include it anyway.

I do agree that Saezuru portrayal of the whole yakuza deal is the realest 'cause happy endings over there are quite rare, but this isn't a novel that comes out in one go. Doesn't help that June is ass. I've heard from several friends who've read the latest releases that it feels like it's lost its way and that just makes me sad. I'm still hopeful tho.🤧

As I've already stated, this placed second in 2022's awards. I mean, it's Saezuru. Frontier doesn't spare a penny for it lmao. All the major characters are voiced, and they managed to bring the A-listers back again. Sometimes, I forget that Saezuru is actually based on a manga whenever I listen to the BLCDs 'cause the production is just that good.

Shingaki slayed as usual. I've said this many times before, but no matter how bad or how well he does in another role, he will always be Yashiro. I just came from Tsunaida and we're in the middle of a Rei event in Nu:carnival, so I would expect myself to adjust to Yashiro, but I didn't need any of that lmao. Yashiro is truly Shingaki's magnum opus. I'm not at all surprised that he placed 3rd best seiyuu for Yashiro. Deserved.

Speaking of Nu:carnival, I will forever be obsessed with Yashiro's relationship with the other characters aside from Doumeki. Nanahara's voiced by my one true love, Okitsu, but like Yashiro, I love him for his character and not his voice. It is nice having the other veterans in here with him, too. The slut trio is complete with Daddy Complex SatoTaku, Boss Ass Chaser Okitsu, and Damel in Distress Shingaki. #BLESS I want Kamiya to end up with Nanahara.

I haven't heard Wacchan in years HAHAHAHAHA. His Doumeki is still amazing as always. My issues with the story aside, I'm really looking forward to his "break" in vol. 8. EEEEEEE

Special mention to my Ryuuzaki and Miyake Kenta who made their comebacks here too. I missed him so much! LMAO

The BLCD is pretty accurate to the... magazine at least, but June does sell the translated tanko (fortunately). Like the previous installments, reading the manga while listening to the BLCD was so smooth because it was so accurate. Now 7 does end in a cliffhanger, so I don't really advise listening to it if you still don't have 8. But if cliffhangers aren't an issue for you, then break a leg!

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BLCD Review: Zanzou Slow Motion

Title: Zanzou Slow Motion (残像スローモーション)

Author/Artist: Janome

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/05/28

Cast:

Furukawa Makoto x Nakazawa Masatomo

Eguchi Takuya

Satou Gen

Tadokoro Hinata

Yasuaki Takumi

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Ichikawa Aoi

Yanagi Kouhei

Karino Sho

Synopsis:

What happens when two rival directors who hate each other's guts are forced to share one roof? And what if one of them has a secret he's been harboring for years? Throw in a shared love of movies, BL manga, and an accidental kiss, and you've got the next heart-pumping love story in Midorigaoka High and the sequel to Twilight Out of Focus 1. Jin Kikuchihara, third-year director, main actor, and president of the film club, and second-year director Giichi Ichikawa see eye-to-eye on very little. Jin is flashy, flirty, and focused on keeping everyone happy, while Giichi expects the best from himself and others, and will compromise nothing to see his vision through. Constantly at each other's necks, the two can hardly stand to be in the same club. But what will happen when family trouble forces them to live in the same room? Will their shared interests bring them closer as friends, push them further apart as rivals, or something else entirely?

Review Proper

I love Tasogare Outfocus, but this is actually my favorite Janome.

The second installment curse strikes again!

UGHHHHHHH THIS WAS SO WHOLESOME. Don't get me wrong, Tasogare Outfocus is written pretty decently, but I really don't like how Janome just glossed over Hisashi's SA and grooming like that. It reminds me a lot of Etude vol. 1. I can still get over Etude vol. 1 'cause it's not that uncommon to see in sports and Ichi-san's deal with Futami was given some closure in 2, but given how short Tasogare Outfocus was, Hisashi felt like he just lmao byed his teacher. 😔Doesn't help that it kinda doesn't matter anymore in overlap even though it hasn't been long since it ended. Is my son Hisashi really okay now? 🥹

I'm old, so DK BL doesn't appeal to me that much anymore. It's also hard to find good DK rivalries nowadays that aren't just about fucking or delinquents. Zanzou Slow Motion, however, just checked all the right boxes for the category: simple, no drama, and no loose ends. That coupled with Janome's element of touch?

And can we talk about this monologue?

Ugh.

I will say Jin's suspenders, Ichikawa's snatched waist, and the ABO shout-out greatly influenced my decision too. Y'all should get suspended in high school, not wear suspenders!

Onto the technicalities...

I don't think I've heard these two co-star before (or I just don't remember), so I was a bit skeptical especially 'cause last I heard Makonyan in a DK was in, well... Given as BLCD!Ritsu. And where else did we hear Yuuma star in a DK too? Yuuma as Anime!Ritsu. We just had Given Anime!Ritsu in Tasogare Outfocus being somewhat friends with Ichikawa and now we have BLCD!Ritsu (thanks to ecargmura for catching this!) trying to romance him. They used very different tones for Ritsu, but the vibe was the same overall. THEY'RE THE SAME PERSON. Makonyan and Nakamo also played tops in the last works I heard of them (Makonyan as Takaba in Kurui Naku and Nakamo as Yakumo in Nu:carnival), so I was concerned about a lot of things. Thankfully, however, instead of Makonyan going for his Ritsu tone or his lighter Kimitte Yatsu for a more youthful vibe, he went all shounen in here lmaooo.

His bwakame was so funny it reminded me of this:

I love roasting Makonyan more than any other seiyuu out of fondness, but I'm really proud of how far he's gone. He's gotten so much better in his delivery, and it's obvious in his budding anime career, too.

But...

I didn't expect there would be improvements in his bedding techniques too...

What the fuck was that? HAHAHAHAHAHA. WAIT. No, y'all don't understand. I have most of this man's r-18 otome CDs and BLCDs, and I have never heard him this... this hot before???? Jin is such a smooth flirt, so I had some expectations on the delivery, but FURUKAWA MAKOTO HISSES. HE HISSES!!! SIR IS THIS APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR FOR A HIGH SCHOOL BOY??? THEY DON'T EVEN SHOW THEM DO THE DO FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE??? WHERE WAS THE NEED?!

PUTS THE GODDAMN FU IN FURUKAWA MAKOTO ALRIGHT!

First it was Ono Yuuki, now it's Makonyan. Is Nakamo's ass really that good that his tops go all in???

I admittedly don't have a lot to say about Nakamo because that man always slays. I was afraid that Makonyan would overpower him during their Netflix and chill, but as soon as I had that thought, Nakamo pushed back like??? THEM SHAKIRA HIPS DON'T LIE!

HOW DO I LEGALLY MARRY GINGER RECORDS???

I didn't read the scan or the official English release 'cause I actually had the raws, so I can't vouch for the translation. As for faithfulness to the manga, however, I need to stress that there were a lot of rearranged events and cut dialogue. One notable instance was Ichikawa's message for Jin. It was placed after their kiss in the last chapter, so I believe that these changes are quite significant. It is still possible to read the manga while listening to the BLCD, but I suggest reading the manga once first so you're aware of which pages you need to jump to.

Chil-chil Awards 2022 was a scam 'cause this wasn't nominated for ANYTHING! This might actually just be my favorite BLCD of 2021... and Makonyan was my favorite actor in this series so far. OKITSU AND MAKONYAN REALLY SWITCHED IN THIS LOG HAHAHAHA. Makonyan and Nakamo at least won in my heart. 😌 Definitely listen to this if you're a Makonyan fan or if you're a fan of the series in general. It's also perfect if you're looking for something light and sweet but immersive at the same time. Chesk gives this a 9/10! Only the third 9 after Sonna ni and KD!

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BLCD Review: Tasogare Outfocus overlap

Title: Tasogare Outfocus overlap (黄昏アウトフォーカス overlap)

Release Date: 2021/06/18

Shop: CD + Manga

Author/Artist: Janome

Cast:

Uchida Yuuma x Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Nakazawa Masatomo

Ichikawa Aoi

Yanagi Kouhei

Otsuka Takeo

Furukawa Makoto

Satou Gen

Tadokoro Hinata

Synopsis: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Review Proper

That's it. That's the review.

Y'all know I love Janome and this series to death, so I won't be talking about the plot. Am I looking forward to the anime? No.

Yuuma and 2gu-2gu slayed their roles as usual. I can't believe this wasn't nominated during chil-chil 2022. What a huge disservice! How are y'all nominating Takasaki Boscos and Momose Ans on that shit and not Janome?! Yuuma was nominated for 16th best seiyuu for Hisashi and landed right after Matty, but I think he deserves to place higher.

I MEAN, HELLO???? THE NIPPLE PLAY ON HIM???

I don't know what to feel when the normies think of Yuuma as Kaveh and not Mr. Sex-on-Legs himself. I love Yuuma as Alhaitham's a bottom, but Hisashi's just—UGH! He's so sexy one minute, then so soft the other. 🥹

I don't plan to listen to Taiyou-kun, but 2gu-2gu should've been nominated for this instead. 2gu-2gu's range as Mao is just insane. It's also funny that he sounds more like Etou-san than Yuuma lmaooo. I am obsessed with Yuuma as Hisahi ngl, but 2gu-2gu was the star of this BLCD.

UGH.

I really want to marry Ginger's casting director. They don't miss. 😌

I will say that it was a struggle to read the manga along the BLCD. I was a very good girl these past few years 'cause resisted the urge to read the manga beforehand, but my resistance might've added to my struggle lmao. I was jumping from page to page 'cause I didn't know where the BLCD started (actually starts in chapter 3 of the overlap tanko). I wouldn't have been confused if I read the table of contents, but I clearly can't read.

Anyway, I couldn't afford the luxury of buying Kodansha's English release, so I couldn't check the translation. But I mean, it's Kodansha. unless... I don't think they've cut anything out and actually just added more dialogue in, but there's nothing really major, so you can definitely listen to the BLCD while following the manga. I definitely recommend getting this if you love the story or are looking for something immersive. Please love my sons. It's the best red-string series out there even though it didn't mean to be.

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BLCD Review: Tsunaida Koi no Kanaekata

Title: Tsunaida Koi no Kanaekata (繋いだ恋の叶え方)

Release Date: 2021/08/25

Shop: CD + Manga

Author/Artist: Yoshio Akira

Cast:

Shingaki Tarusuke x Eguchi Takuya

Nakajima Yoshiki

Oi Marie

Synopsis: The bane of my existence. Adaptation of the second installment of the same name.

Review Proper

When I was dying of an ear infection back in December, I had the most vivid dream of Morpheus from The Sandman sitting at the foot of my bed telling me that my life was one of his tools that he needed back. In exchange for my life, Morpheus promised me he would go back in time to stop me from making a mistake that I wished I hadn't done.

I chose working on this fucking thing.

Don't get me wrong, Tsunaida had the best plot out of the series and all of Yoshio Akira's works. I'd even go as far as saying it's one of the best releases of its time—it was nominated for Best Series in the 2021 chilchil awards for a reason (it was robbed, I tell you). It's just my life has gone downhill since I picked this up. HAHAHAHAHA Not to mention, older Chesk was bad and cringe. I'm sorry for arguing with you over this series, Kimmy. It wasn't worth it.

This series is still ongoing, only god knows why. I got so sick of it to the point that I started hating Yoshio Akira and forgetting all about the plot, so I didn't expect myself to cry during the climax HAHAHAHAHAHA FUCK WHY WAS THIS STILL SO GOOD???? I'M ANNOYED I still hate it tho

I forgot just how painful this was. I'm at this point in my life where if that would happen to me, I would just LEAVE.

Anyway, onto the topic of the BLCD...

I didn't think it was going to be possible, but Shingaki really changed his Hara-san tone!!! Thank god! This is it! This was exactly the tone I envisioned his Hara-san would be in! I'm not sure if it's 'cause everyone from the producers (except the director) and the sound team was changed, but Tsunaida and Kanawanu are worlds apart. I usually dislike inconsistencies in series with multiple installments, but I'll let this slide. Let's all just pretend that Kanawanu doesn't exist.😌

Egu also went a pitch higher in this. It's still far from what I wanted for Kaoru, but he was able to make the role his own. I'm not sure if it's because of the change in the mixing, but Egu finally sounds like he was recording with everyone here. I said in my review for Kanawanu that he wasn't syncing with his own brother, Kakeru, and it turns out that Egu actually was voicing Kakeru too lmao. How can you not sync with yourself, man? But that just means that the mixing for Kanawanu was that bad. I haven't listened to Tabete mo Oishikuarimasen yet, but I feel like Egu and Shingaki should've been nominated for Tsunaida. I mean, Shingaki is a queen as Yashiro and his nomination is deserved, but let's all put those older series to rest now. 😂

I also missed Nakajiki as Keiji-san!!! He promised to bring Hiro along next time, so if I'm not hearing Saitou Souma in Musunda, I will riot! No, I didn't check the cast list.

The BLCD is pretty accurate to the manga, save for that extra bathroom sex in Track 2. It's quite long, but there isn't any complex dialogue, so I suggest just closing your eyes and absorbing the bathroom bambo. 😌 I actually wished it was longer toward the ending chapter because I felt that it was rushed in the manga, but alas. I've read Renta's license, and it's accurate as well. In conclusion, get this if you like the series. 100% recommend!

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BLCD Review: Old-fashioned Cupcake 2

Title: Old-fashion Cupcake with Capuccino (オールドファッションカップケーキwithカプチーノ)

Author/Artist: Sagan Sagan

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/12/22

Cast: Azakami Youhei x Okitsu Kazuyuki

Review Proper

What to say? Maybe it's the ADHD or the fact that I just came from two long BLCDs, but I'm always in a bad headspace when I listen to OFC. 😅 The second volume just went the second route of sequels: misunderstandings/insecurities featuring third-party appearances. I really get where Nozue-san's coming from and I'm not saying that his insecurities are invalid or whatever—it's just that he's the one who wanted to make their relationship low-key, but he was doing the worst job at it. 🙄And like what I've said in my review for volume 1, they don't have a big age gap, so this age gag with Nozue-san just annoys me. It doesn't help that they mention it every five pages or so. The more Sagan Sagan does it, the more Nozue-san's age sounds more like an excuse than a gag.

Yoneda Kou's spoiled me to the point that I can't accept anything less, it seems. 🤷Don't blame me for comparing, they also have a Togawa over there.

Anyway, that's enough of the plot.

Chil-chil 2023 was a lie. There is no way Okitsu placed fourth while Youhei placed 13th. If anything, they should be reversed—and that's coming from me, one of the biggest Okitsu whores on this site. But being an Okitsu simp also means I know how that man sounds like, and that man sounds awkward af in this tone. His Nozue-san is too slow and too light for him. Nozue-san does have moments where he'll explode in panic or anger, but considering how light and slow Okitsu's portrayal of him is, you would expect his explosions to be more on the lighter side, right? WRONG. HE GOES FULL JONATHAN JOESTAR TO DO IT LMAO

SUNLIGHT YELLOW OVERDRIVE!!!

I failed to mention in my first review that Nozue-san looks like Italy from Hetalia which is why I wanted NamiD for him... if he wasn't so problematic. Anyway, thankfully, we have a live-action. I very much prefer Kouhei Takeda over Okitsu as Nozue-san. HAHAHAHAHAHA

Youhei was the true MVP of this BLCD. I don't get how he placed so low. He was very stable, and his sex appeal shined throughout the CD. It kind of reminds me of Maeno's tbh. Chil-chil 2022 might've robbed him, but this man has earned his seat at the "tops you should look out for" table in my view. Congratulations!

The BLCD was pretty accurate to the manga. Read-alongs are indeed possible with it, but I will say that I had an issue with SuBLime's localization. For one thing, the second volume wasn't consistent with the first. Togawa calls Nozue-san "Mr. Nozue" in the first volume while he calls him "Nozue" in the second.😑I don't want to go on a long rant about honorifics, but when it comes to stories where age is an important factor, I am firm in my belief that the Japanese or a close English equivalent should be used. It's a Japanese story set in Japan; it's not your culture to localize. There, I said it.

Also,

Yes, we stan being redundant even when the original wasn't. 😌 I wouldn't be nit-picking if y'all just licensed Koi ga, SuBLime.

Still, please try supporting the official transla localization if you can. I can't say that the production was great because of Okitsu, but this actually placed fifth in the 2022 awards, so do with that info what you wish. If y'all want more office bl, then I shamelessly recommend Yoneda Kou's Doushitemo Furetakunai (Ishikawa Hideo x Nojima Kenji) and Soredemo, Yasashii Koi o Suru (Morikawa Toshiyuki x Nojima Hirofumi).

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BLCD Review: Sei no Gekiyaku

Title: Sei no Gekiyaku (性の劇薬)

Author/Artist: Mizuta Yuki

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/10/27

Cast: Morikawa Toshiyuki x Nojima Hirofumi

Synopsis:

“I’ll find all of your most sensitive spots.”

Makoto Katsuragi, a man working for an advertising agency, has so far led a perfect private and work life. However, that all comes crashing down in an instant when he loses everything he holds dear. In the midst of his despair, he drunkenly climbs onto the ledge of a tall building and is about to jump, when… “If you’re going to throw away your life…let me have it.” He is saved by these words offered by the sudden appearance of Ryuji Yoden, and decides to do exactly as Ryuji says. From the moment Makoto awakens in Ryuji’s room, his daily life of retraining begins, giving away not only his body but his heart…

Review Proper

Uhh.

Hmm.

???????

If y'all know me and or have read my older posts, you'll know I hate this type of plot. However, I had to listen to this 'cause the last I heard of Morikawa Toshiyuki was in 2021, and Nojima Hirofumi in... 2019?! *goes into existential panic*. It doesn't help that these two were Shigure-san and Haru in Nights Before Night. I wanted my happy ending with them to happen even though it was nearly impossible since these two are already inactive in the BL industry. Having the two of them come back and co-star in a BLCD again is just too good to be true... and I was right. I didn't expect them to come in for one of the sketchiest things in the market. I really don't know what Frontier is smoking, having all the budget for veterans like these only to put them in weird projects.

Biases and triggers aside, I think that Sei no Gekiyaku failed to deliver what it was set to convey. It tried so hard to be deep and psychological in the beginning, but it's like sensei just threw that out the window in chapter 3. It reminds me a lot of Lala no Kekkon and Derail. What was all that build-up for, then? I'm gonna say it. If you wanna use Stockholm Syndrome, then commit. This is also true with the discarded BDSM. I don't like these themes, but damn, do I feel bad for them 'cause they all felt pointless in the end.

Anyway, onto the topic of the BLCD itself...

You'll miss a lot of things if you haven't read the manga beforehand. There was a lot of added and dropped content that was understandable since no other characters apart from the two leads were in the BLCD. But that also led to Ryuji's older brother's presence being missing in the BLCD. Although Ryuji mentions him in the BLCD often enough, the manga just shows Ryuji's trauma better since we get to see him constantly haunting Ryuji. I'm not sure if they've changed censorship laws on BLCDs because the same thing happened in Kuroe to Mesu, but the BLCD was less graphic than the manga. Take that part where Ryuji rapes Makoto in the bathtub. You can hear Makoto take a toy in, but you'll never know it was a dildo mount whatchamacallit if you didn't read the manga.

There's also that part when Ryuji loses it when Makoto smiles when they were fucking. Nojinii does chuckle then, but you wouldn't pick that up if you didn't know what happened in the manga. It might've been better if Ryuji loudly thought: "Oh crap, he smiled."

The original plot was already badly paced, but the BLCD was even worse lmao. The tracks don't even start the same way the manga chapters do. I really don't recommend listening to this if you haven't heard the story and are a beginner to Japanese. Speaking of reading, idk what happened to futekiya, but the translation progressively got worse towards the end of the manga. I also read the scanned version of this when it was still unlicensed, but it was also a bit off.

Now for the light in the tunnel: the voice work.

I tried to fight it. I really did.

But I'm always going to be Moririn trash.

Don't get me wrong, Morimori did spectacular here (duh). But I really hated Ryuji that I initially had no thoughts other than respect towards his voice acting here... until he whispered in Track 4, that is. At some point, I just wanted to throw Nojinii out of the picture 'cause THAT SHOULD BE ME???!!! I'LL SLURP THIS SPAGHETTI OFF THE FLOOR ON ALL FOURS FOR YOU, MORIKAWA TOSHIYUKI!

My god. Frontier sure has taste in VAs but not in stories.

He was just-ugh. I wonder how he does that. Like in Tadaima, he makes you feel like he's talking to you rather than his co-star wtf. I was gasping for air goddammit. This man is a danger to society.

As for Nojinii, I actually thought that his voice was too high for Makoto in the beginning. It was almost in the same range as his Haru, and I imagined Makoto's voice to be lower. It did grow on me, though. I missed my bottom Nojinii. Of course, he did excellent as well. His fear was really believable in the first tracks that I just feel so bad for him 'cause he needed to throw that all away. 🙄

Man, I can't help but think that Morimori and Nojinii were wasted on this work. Again, it's already a miracle to have them back, so this might be the last time they ever pair up again. And for fucking Sei no Gekiyaku? Part of the reason why I stopped listening to BLCDs was 'cause I wouldn't know how to cope if I saw more of my favorite older VAs leaving the industry. That's also why I stopped doing releases lists. Hype around BLCDs has steadily been on the decline and if you haven't noticed, there's been considerably fewer releases too. The manga scene isn't doing well either. I'm just so afraid it'll all run out someday. *crisis*

Going back on topic, I do not recommend this BLCD. If you're into psychological and BDSM, I would look into Harada or Kabukichou Bad Trip instead. If you're a fan of Morimori and Nojinii, I still wouldn't recommend it if the theme isn't your thing. Let's just re-listen to Nights Before Night and suffer instead. 👍

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BLCD Review: Nikurashii Kare

Title: Nikurashii Kare (憎らしい彼)

Author/Artist: Nagira Yuu

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/07/23

Cast:

Ono Yuuki x Saitou Souma

Morikawa Toshiyuki

Matsumoto Takuya

Matsui Akiha

Maeda Hiroki

Tonozaki Yuusuke

Horie Shun

Sahara Io

Miyama Mari

Kumagai Mirei

Yamane Masashi

Tamano Shouyo

Miki Shinichiro lmaooo so random

Synopsis: Second installment of the series.

Review Proper

My brain too smooth for this. Don't get me wrong—it's good, but I don't have the patience to sit through three CDs of this. 😂 I fell asleep 5 times. A new record!

It would've been better if Hira just stopped talking to me in formal Japanese 'cause it makes my brain crash. He says a lot of deep things when he can't even grasp the shallowest of concepts. I also have a love-hate relationship with Hira's train of thought 'cause how can he jump to all these conclusions but never the right ones? He's still absolutely sad in the head, but idk, I'm here for it lmaooo.

The same goes with Kiyoi. Like boi, you're the only one with half of a functioning brain here, so idk, use it?

Kiyoi: "I don't wanna be with you anymore."

Hira: *leaves

Kiyoi:

Like in the first BLCD, I still can't figure out if I should feel concerned for him or Hira. I mean, if someone I knew had this relationship, I would personally ask both of them to leave each other and see a shrink. 😂 I dare say that their relationship would be the most normal one there is if Kiyoi wasn't such a tsundere and if Hira was just less of a weirdo.

How are we bringing your parents into this already when you have a wack-ass relationship???

But hey, nothing like a good kidnappin' and one mc almost dyin' to solve communication issues, right?

The things you do, Nagira Yuu.

As usual, the voice work is phenomenal. Saitou Souma won as best voice actor for Kiyoi at the chilchil 2023 awards while Ono Yuuki placed 2nd for Hira. There's just something special about Saitou Souma and Ono Yuuki in Utsukushii Kare. Their chemistry is good and so natural! It's like they bring out the best in each other. I especially love hearing Ono Yuuki come undone under Saitou Souma's Kiyoi but immediately get his revenge in disc 3.

I'm already nominating this as Souma's best match up in 2021. Sorry, Makonyan. Let's see if someone else rises to the challenge.

As for the accuracy...

So I've actually tried listening to this back in 2022. Yes, I'm writing this review in 2024, and this is the very CD that caused my burn out lmaooo. From what I read from the trial, it doesn't start the same as the novel, so I was confused. I didn't take the liberty of buying the whole novel, so I'm not sure if they really do have the same content. They do have the same name, though. Idk. Again, Hira speaks in formal/old Japanese, so the struggle made me put this off. 😅 And it just snowballed from there 'cause I'm loyal to my log. I don't keep up with the manga either, but I think the third volume is still at Utsukushii Kare and not Nikurashii Kare.

Long story short, I can't say if it's accurate to the source material, and I won't be able to recommend read-alongs for both Utsukushii Kare and Nikurashii Kare.

The two installments are equally interesting. Both are jam-packed with nicely paced content. I feel more comfortable with Nikurashii Kare, though, 'cause Hira made me uncomfortable in Utsukushii Kare, while it was Shitara who made me uncomfortable in Nikurashii Kare lmaooo. I loved Hira's little character development here, and I wish I could say the same for Kiyoi.😂The comedy and action were also good, and Moririn's presence made it 100 times better. It might not make my 2021 faves, but it's definitely one of the best-produced ones—it won best BLCD at chilchil 2023 for a reason.

Let's pray to god I survive the third installment. 🤞

[trashexplorer]

BLCD Review: Ikigami & Donor

Title: Ikigami to Donor (イキガミとドナー)

Author/Artist: Yamanaka Hiko

Shop: CD + Manga

Release Date: 2021/12/03

Cast: 

Nakajima Yoshiki x Saitou Souma

Yamashita Seiichirou + Kawanishi Kengo

Kobayashi Chiaki

Yashiro Taku

Komada Wataru

Hayashi Miho

Shiozaki Tomohiro

Higa Ryosuke

Abe Ryouma

Torashima Takaaki

Oota Kensuke

Nakashima Takuya

Fujita Mami

Miyama Mari

Souya Kazuki

Synopsis: 

"Your blood and flesh, all of it is mine." An ikigami and a healer, together their souls support each other, blooming into love...

In the distant future, ordinary teacher Yoshino learns that he is a "donor" for the strongest species, the "ikigami." These warriors are tasked with protecting the country. "The unique ability of a donor is to use their bodily fluids to heal ikigami." Yoshino learns this fact and is shocked. Thus, Yoshino is forced to live with Kidou... At first, he is like a beast, demanding Yoshino's bodily fluids, but slowly, the underlying loneliness begins to show...

"Someday, if I met a donor, could they come to love me? That thought is the only reason I survived..."

Review Proper

I can’t believe Yamanaka Hiko’s been terrorizing me for over twelve years now. OH MY GOD I’M SO OLD. And true to the Yamanaka Hiko brand, this turned out to be another fantasy masterpiece (read His 500 Years of Suffering Romance). This was definitely the type of thing that would do great even without the BL aspect of it. Now, I did have an issue with Kidou being an asshole (he's almost killed Yoshino more than once), so I’m not excusing it. But I do get how and why he turned out to be like that and I'm aware that it's important for his character development. The world-building was great, don't get me wrong, but it's definitely dubcon 2015. I would strongly advise you not to get into it if that's a deal breaker for you.

Anyway, onto the voice work.

Souma used a tone so close to Gucci's that I kept imagining Gucci being Yoshino. Yes, I didn't read the manga while listening to the BLCD. It was like after graduating Karasuno, Gucci went on to become a teacher, then a donor lmao. His Yoshino panics more like Honda-san, however, so my final verdict is that his Yoshino is half-Gucci, half-Honda-san.

This isn't Nakajiki and Souma's first rodeo, but I'm glad to say that their performance/dynamic here is different from Mikeneko and XL Size. I expected Kidou to be a mix of Amano and Anaconbayashi-kun 'cause the former was cocky and the latter was stoic, but Kidou was only 50% of that mix and 50% brooding, suffering, I'll-protect-you top. Am I even making any sense? Again, I listened to the BLCD first, but the sound direction they gave Nakajiki was very different from what I thought he'd sound like after I read the manga. It’s almost like what happened with OnoD’s expressive Hasebe-kun in the Kotonoha BLCD vs the more stoic Hasebe-kun in the manga. 

The voice work of our two leads was 👌. This might just be my fave out of their pairings 'cause the sex isn't over-the-top like XL Size and Mikeneko. I will say that I wasn't completely sold on Yamashita Seiichirou as Shibata-san 'cause I feel like he speaks too slowly, but I'm sure it'll grow on me by the time I listen to their spin-off. KawaKen was fine. My heart broke for him every time Shibata-san rejected him, so it's safe to say he's got Taki-kun down already.

Oh. I did have a slight issue with the sfx too. Why was it so watery??? Lmao. Even r18 otome cds aren't that wet. But it's not so glaring that it'll turn you off.

The BLCD was almost perfectly accurate to the manga. I highly recommend this to those learning mid to higher levels of Japanese. Futekiya has licensed volumes 1 & 2, so please try to support the official release if you can. I'd be lying if I said that I agree with how they translated it so... literally?, but I think it's also important to see how things are translated that way if you're aiming to dip your toes into translation aside from studying the language. For example, they used "Living God" throughout the manga instead of "Ikigami." It's correctly translated, but I personally prefer retaining the original title. You know, like how Viz uses "Kaiju no. 8" instead of "Monster no. 8?"

God knows if I'll ever survive the spinoff that I wanted to work on. I avoided talking about it for a reason lmao. Anyway, if y'all liked this, then please give 500 Years (Ono Yuuki x Suzuki Tatsuhisa) and Shortcake no Ichigo Sawaranaide (Nojima Hirofumi x Takeuchi Ken). These two are android bls and Ikigami to Donor is more guide bl, but they both share a futuristic vibe.

[trashexplorer]

BLCD Review: Neko to Spica

Title: Neko to Spica (猫とスピカ)

Author/Artist: Hatoyama Tama

Shop: CD

Release Date: 2021/12/24

Cast: 

Takeuchi Eiji x Sakakihara Yuuki

Nakajima Yoshiki

Muro Genki

Synopsis: 

Salaryman Kawamura Kouta hates troublesome things. The only exception is the black stray cat that likes to sit in front of his apartment.

One day, he stumbles upon a black-haired boy who seems to have replaced his favourite cat. When the boy collapses in front of Kouta, he decides to take him in on a whim.

What will happen to Kouta‘s trouble-free everyday life?

Review Proper

In the words of my favorite reviewer, 

“what shota nonsense is this” - Kimmy

Hi, Kimmy. I’m making a BLCD review comeback so I can listen to your Momose An after I finish this log. I have like, a whole year’s worth left before I get to it, though. 😂

Anyway, back to the review.

I love how they never addressed the elephant in the room. Kouta was worried about the whole situation at first and did ask his senpai for advice, but senpai was just “if he cute, you eatin’ good tonight, boiiiii”. 

I don’t buy that bs that maybe he looks like that ‘cause nekohumans just look that way, but look at my boy Shiina. See, if this didn’t pretend that it was to be taken seriously, then they should’ve just made them fuck with no conflicts whatsoever. Not everyone can pull off a Sweet Delivery Boy, sorry. Sei was 18 at least.

Anyway, enough with the plot. This is shota bait, that’s all you need to know. I listened to this mainly because this is Takeuchi Eiji’s debut and I’m a Nakajiki hoe and my first review of Sakakihara Yuki. 

Oddly enough, I’ve actually kept up with Latte’s Neko to Spica when it was still being actively released, so I already have an idea what Kouta would sound like. Plus, as I’ve mentioned earlier, this was similar to Sweet Delivery Boy in terms of plot, so I was pretty sure someone similar to Katou Masayuki was gonna get it, if not Katou himself. Now, Eiji—Eiji, Eiji, Eiji. Where’d you been hidin’ all this time??? Y’all might think differently, but Katou has a rather unique voice in the BLCD industry. As far as the BLCD and R18 Otome CDs I have of him go, he doesn’t really have that wide of a range. This isn’t a bad thing, however, and that makes him distinguishable from the rest. One could even consider this as his brand because no one else has that next door onii-san flat tone except him... but that was until Takeuchi Eiji entered the building.

MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!!

Finally, another next door onii-san! This is also Eiji’s natural tone ‘cause this is what he also used in the cast talk. AND! HE PERFORMED PERFECTLY! He really did it like Katou omg, and I mean that he slayed from the get go like a fucking veteran. *wipes tear* I’ve just called my bank and asked for a credit raise so I can buy more Takeuchi Eiji! 

As for Sakakihara Yuki—bruh, I was blown away. This man wtf. He sounds like Ayumu. 😂 I initially thought that he makes it higher like Ayumu, but his high voice... is legit... I really had to check multiple times if he really was a man (he is). I fully believe that Yuki has the highest natural pitch in the BLCD industry. He did just as good as Mr. Eiji and considering that this was just his second title (after that 3P thing I will never touch), I have really high hopes for him. Ayumu, Suzuki Yuuto, watch out—this man’s about to steal y’all seats away. 

In conclusion, the production on this was great. I mean, plot aside, of course. Also, I can’t with Brilliant Prin proving themselves as a hit or miss yet again. I wonder why Cendrillon didn’t get the same treatment lmao. This was also pretty accurate to the manga, so if you’re a beginner and don’t mind the shota, break a leg. They’re just fucking most of the time, so there aren’t any difficult terms either. I hope Brilliant Prin and Tama’s happy that this could serve as Japanese language education, if nothing else. God so many other things that deserve an adaptation but they chose this ughhh. If y’all are looking for another owner and pet story, I raise you Goshujin-sama to Inu starring Yasumoto Hiroki and Yusa Koji. It’s gonna bite you in the ass after you find out it ends up in a cliff-hanger, but that shit is the standard. Not Sakyo Aya’s Kuroneko series, but that. Change my mind. 

[trashexplorer]

It is my pleasure to announce that Etude has finally been licensed! We're almost through with vol. 3, so we will still be releasing it but will be taking 1-3 down before September. A big thank you to everyone who's loved and supported our sons. I have prayed for this moment ever since it dropped and it's finally here. 🤧My heart is full. BLCD when Please support Etude and Cyan once it's out if you can!

[trashexplorer]

Status: Complete (Oneshot)

Synopsis: Broham reunion eight years after high school graduation.

I’m open to re-translation, but please use your own scans. Please refer to my re-translations post to see if there already is a scan team re-translating this work in the same language you will be proposing.

Please don’t upload/post this on reading sites and don’t forget to support the author by buying the original goods if you can!

Spazz

Won't you say you love me? Ooh-whoa~ Ako pa ba ang 'yong minamahal~?

Happy Holidays, everyone! It is that time of year again when I bait you with oneshots that will never have a tanko!

Don't worry. Finding out this is a one-shot hurts less than seeing the cover of the magazine this came in, finding out that the sensei made a story about a different couple than the one on said cover, discovering that the story sensei put was actually good, stalking sensei to see if they plan to make more BL, and finally being hit with the reality that they're only in shoujo. Now that's tragic.

I think about this cover every day. Now, for a message from real-time Chesk:

2023 has not been kind to the team, myself included, so I'm grateful and proud of everyone who's helped in letting these projects see the light of day. As some of you may already know, I jacked my knee up back in June. I've always been a big walker, so having that taken away from me really messed with my head for a while. My road to recovery has been a roller-coaster, and I can't really say that I'm doing better 'cause it still fucking hurts lmaooo. But my knee is a little further down the list of my concerns right now, so please know that I am at least physically alive. 👍

Here's to hoping for a better year ahead of us.

[trashexplorer]

Title: Sunshine After Smoke Blue Rain vol. 2

Status: Completed

Author/Artist: Hamada Kamome

Synopsis: 

Azuma Sakutaro works as his ex-colleague-cum-rival, Kuji Shizuka's, assistant for his translation work. The two begin to feel as though their clocks that had stopped ticking started moving again...

I’m open to re-translation and can trade my vol. 1 and 2 cleans for the succeeding volumes. Please refer to my re-translations post to see if there already is a scan team re-translating this work in the same language you will be proposing.

Please don’t upload/post this on reading sites and don’t forget to support the author by buying the original goods if you can!

Spazz

Thank you all for waiting! Hopefully, it's not 2024 yet when howdy posts this. 😬 I'm really sorry I prioritized Fluorite Star before this. Man, I realized a lot of things when I got back to working on Smoke Blue. I mean, I knew Kuji was head-over-heels with the bad, bad man Azuma is, but I didn't know that he was that whipped like, I'M SORRY, BUT WHAT DO YOU EVEN SEE IN THAT DUMBA—

Oh.

Well. You're on your own, Kuji. Good luck.

Smoke Blue will have a fourth volume. I've already read through the third and my god was it heavy. I shed a few tears even. 🤧 While I can't make any promises, I'll try my best to see this series through because I like inflicting pain on others. God forbid there be a fifth volume tho or I'll throw myself off a building.

[trashexplorer]

Status: Complete

Synopsis: 

Twenty-eight-year-old Shiraishi Kei has tasted both the sweets and sours of love and has since vowed never to fall in love again. As a freelance beautician, he is designated by upcoming actor, Jinnouchi Taiga, who was in need of a hairdresser. Taiga, who initially had a mysterious and standoffish air around him, completely changed in Kei's hands. What was supposed to just be another appointment ended with them going out for a meal and…

"Are you looking for someone to have some fun with?"

See how the line between lies and sincerity is blurred in this Showbiz BL starring a younger chameleon actor and a hairdresser who is skeptical about love.

I’m open to re-translation, but please use your own raws. Please refer to my re-translations post to see if there already is a team re-translating this work in the same language you will be proposing.

Please don’t upload/post this on reading sites and don’t forget to support the author by buying the original goods if you can!

Spazz

This post might just disappear after a while since sensei is very thorough. ✌ Man, I'm also guilty of being a celebrity BL simp even tho they also turn out to be hit or miss most of the time. It's so funny 'cause I really found Taiga to be hot in the first two chapters, but he was unfortunately eclipsed by Youji-san. Doesn't help that shit hit the fan after chapter two. I consider myself a realist, so I can't help but roll my eyes at sensei's attempts at making such a big deal about the acting=lying issue. Are they making Taiga out to be Joaquin Phoenix or something? 😂

But that's just me. I hope y'all enjoy this, regardless.

[trashexplorer]

Status: Complete

Synopsis: 

Suzu fell in love at the live house that day...

The man was none other than the vocalist, Youji, who came to stand in for one band at the live. Youji was as hard to understand as he was alluring, but Suzu summoned all his courage to ask him to join the band and unexpectedly won him over. Like a moth to a flame, Suzu is carried away by the man's overwhelming sex appeal and starts a physical relationship with him, but...

I’m open to re-translation, but please use your own raws. Please refer to my re-translations post to see if there already is a team re-translating this work in the same language you will be proposing.

Please don’t upload/post this on reading sites and don’t forget to support the author by buying the original goods if you can!

Spazz

If y'all know me, you'll know I love band BL despite the majority of them pissing me off in the end (shoutout to 2gether and Given). I just love musik, yanno! 🤧 So when I saw Fluorite Star listed as a nominee in the 2023 chilchil scam awards, I was so shocked because 1. I didn't know it existed and 2. I've bought all the band BL serialized in the past two years. But now that I've discovered it, I've made it my mission to let everyone know that FLUORITE STAR WAS ROBBED.

I MEAN, LOOK AT HIM—

HELLO???!!! Also, if they ever make a BLCD for this and Youji-san isn't Satou Takuya, I WILL RIOT!

THE SENSUALITY, SENSUALISM, SENSUALIZATION???!!!

Saki-san and Kuji still have a place in my heart, but unlike Saki-san who's more on the cute puppy side and Kuji boy who's more mature and intellectual (Am I saying Youji is an idiot? ABSOLUTELY) kind of sexc, Youji was just... Suno Natsuko doesn't even need to make him say anything to make you curse god for making Suzu his favorite and not you.

I've been unmotivated these past few months, but Fluorite Star lit a fire in me. It was just so funny and sexy and so sweet at the same time! A well-deserved break from Minori and Smoke Blue indeed. Not sure if I'm still alive when howdy posts this, but there's a 100% chance you'll see this posted first before White Liar and Smoke Blue lmaooo (edit: she's right). Speaking of sequels, you guessed it! Fluorite Star will have a sequel, Infinite Star! It will be about a different couple, but I'm not revealing who they are. Tho I mean you can check sensei's twt. I'm already so obsessed that I won't shut up about it. Sorry, Lucy.

Have some more Youji-san for the road~

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Title: So Long As We’re Together

Status: Complete (Oneshot)

Author/Artist: Yoshii Haruaki

Synopsis: Husbands being domestic.

I’m open to re-translation, but please use your own scans. Please refer to my re-translations post to see if there already is a scan team re-translating this work in the same language you will be proposing.

Please don’t upload/post this on reading sites and don’t forget to support the author by buying the original goods if you can!

Spazz

I said I wanted something sweet and uplifting, but why do married couples make me cry everytiem? This is also our sneaky White Liar 5 announcement too. I will now be officially on vacation from this point onwards, so I’ll see you guys in real time when I see you. 👋

[trashexplorer]

Title: This Ends Tonight

Status: Complete (Oneshot)

Author/Artist: Kinoshita Keiko

Synopsis: Lovers be ending things tonight.

I’m open to re-translation, but please use your own scans. Please refer to my re-translations post to see if there already is a scan team re-translating this work in the same language you will be proposing.

Please don’t upload/post this on reading sites and don’t forget to support the author by buying the original goods if you can!

Spazz

Happy Pride, everyone! I wanted us to work on something sweet and uplifting for a change, so I picked up a few titles from the Same-Sex Family Anthology a few months ago. Hopefully y'all find this cute at least (warning: they're idiots).