♡ My Review

Living With Him follows Ryota Natsukawa, a university student who is excited to start living away from home. Instead of getting the fresh independent start he expected, he discovers that his new roommate is Kazuhito Tanaka, his childhood friend. At first, Ryota is not exactly thrilled about the surprise arrangement, but it does not take long for the two of them to fall into an easy rhythm together.

What makes the story so charming is how naturally Ryota and Kazuhito reconnect. Kazuhito has those picture-perfect popular guy vibes, so Ryota becomes curious about why someone like him has never had a girlfriend. That curiosity turns into Ryota trying to look at Kazuhito from a girlfriend’s point of view, but the more time they spend together, the clearer it becomes that their relationship is already shifting into something deeper.

This is very much a cozy, fluffy BL, and honestly, that is the biggest strength of the manga. It does not rely on heavy angst, toxicity, or endless misunderstandings to keep the story moving. Instead, it focuses on the comfort of living together, the awkward sweetness of realizing your feelings, and the gentle tension of two people figuring out whether their bond can become romantic.

I really liked how low-stress the story felt. Some BL manga lean hard into painful drama, but Living With Him keeps things soft without becoming boring. Ryota and Kazuhito have a natural chemistry that makes their relationship easy to root for, and the university roommate setup gives the story plenty of cute everyday moments.

Kazuhito’s feelings also add a sweet layer to the romance. The afterword makes it clear that he had already loved Ryota back in junior high, which makes their reunion feel even more meaningful. Instead of feeling like a sudden romance, it gives the story that soft sense of affection that has been quietly waiting for the right moment.

My main critique is that the side characters do not get much depth. They mostly exist to support the main couple’s story, so if you prefer a larger cast with strong development, this may feel a little simple. There is also a small amount of mature content, which explains the publisher’s 18+ rating, even though the overall tone of the story feels much softer and more wholesome than that rating might suggest.

★ What I Loved

• The childhood-friends dynamic felt cozy. Ryota and Kazuhito already have history, so their relationship has a natural warmth from the beginning.
• The roommate setup was adorable. Watching them settle into university life together gave the manga a soft slice-of-life charm.
• The romance stayed low-drama. The story focuses more on trust, comfort, and emotional closeness than unnecessary angst.
• Kazuhito’s feelings were genuinely sweet. Knowing his affection goes back to junior high made the romance feel even more heartfelt.
• It works as a comfort read. This is the kind of BL that leaves you smiling instead of emotionally drained.