The Last Birthday Party

I love friends to lovers stories. It makes the bond so much more complete and beautiful to me. And this was gorgeous.

Akihito has been in love with Kenji for a few years. They’ve been friends since they were babies. They’ve gotten in trouble together, laughed together, cried together. But this is the last year, Akihito is afraid they will share his birthday together. They go to separate colleges. Kenji is being shown women. And Akihito is to the point of being depressed. He wants Kenji so much. So on the day of his birthday, they decide to get drunk. And at the end of the night, Akihito can hold back no longer. He has to tell Kenji how he feels.

They are such sweet friends. Kenji is the ‘boring, studious’ one. Akihito the more adventurous. Kenji often got in severe trouble for things he did with Akihito, but he kept quiet about it. He wouldn’t have changed a thing. Even when Akihito found out and was in tears over it. And Akihito studied harder than anyone thought in order to be with Kenji. Being away during college has been hell. But the love the have for each other is so sweet. They keep each other grounded and have a bond so strong they go against everything to be together. Just how love should be.

This is a fun look at a different culture. It was also fun to travel through the day with these two men. I like how they relive old memories and make new ones. They also gain the courage to move their relationship forward.