Here and There and Us

This one is for the lovers of slow burn. Achira Kochira Bokura tells the story of two classmates with very different personalities (one introverted and shy, other extroverted and charismatic) who befriend each other against the odds. As a slice of life, there's not a lot going on in terms of plot, focusing mainly on their school life, their struggles with university entrance exams, their relationship with other classmates and above all it shows how the relationship between the two main characters slowly grows and changes and how they change with it. The romance and character development are subtle but very present, and it feels likethey develop very naturally. Since this was originally published as a seinen and not a BL (although since then it has been republished under a BL label), the romance is more subdued than in the average BL, and it avoids many tropes typical of BL, so in that sense, it feels quite fresh. The artstyle is also very unique. It's a realistic and sweet story that was really enjoyable to read, and I think it's very relatable to anyone who has found themselves developing romantic feelings for a friend.