Kagakubu no Megane

Kagakubu no Megane is a heartfelt story about two nerds with a promise: if they won't be in a relationship by the end of their second year of high school, they'll date each other.

Sako and Akui are two typical characters, the so-called "losers" of most stories—they wear glasses, go to anime cons, and they're in the chemistry club. They're just two best friends who want to experience what a real romantic relationship is like.

This story of these two lovers resonates with me strongly because it's not your generic BL love story. It's not a jock and a nerd falling in love at first sight. Sako and Akui are two great friends who start seeing each other in a different way after the start of their relationship. It's not a coincidence that they fall in love; they both put in the effort for a 'perfect' relationship.

Kagakubu no Megane teaches a lot about the importance of acceptance, patience, and support. In the chapter 'living creatures of the beach' Takarada talks to Akui about accepting them, their relationship, as long as Akui is sincere about it. This is the turning point where Akui really accepts their relationship and his attraction towards Sako and starts to really take everything more seriously, their relationship and, more importantly, Sako's feelings.

I am happy the author takes the time to talk these issues through in the manga, as in many other mangas I've read, they don't talk about these issues so openly. Takarada's support also helps Akui realize that it doesn't really matter what other people think about them, as long as he is happy with what he and Sako have going on.

It is also thrilling to see them talk about their hobbies and how big of an impact they have on their personalities. In my opinion, the hobbies of a person play a great role in their character, and the manga agrees with this sentiment as well. It's refreshing to see nerds being nerds without getting bullied by another character just for the sake of telling the audience that the chararacter's an outcast. In the first chapter we get to know that Akui and Sako are not well known between their peers and that they don't have many (or any) friends besides each other.

I am personally a sucker for stories that talk about queerness free of inhibitions, but in this story the absence of the theme makes a lot of sense, as they're only two freshly out queer boys who are navigating through not only their first relationship but their first queer relationship as well.

The sex scene in the 7th chapter made me happy when I read it; it feels very real how they can't/won't go all the way on their first time and that they wouldn't push one another to do something they are not ready to do yet. The last few sentences show us how much they've grown since the start of the manga: "Let's take it slow. It's not something we should rush into.". It plays as a contrast between Sako rushing into their relationship headfirst without much serious thought and where they are now as a couple.

In my opinion, as a nerdy guy in high school with little to no relationship experience, this story uses its characters and their strengths and weaknesses perfectly to tell a short story of maturing and falling in love.