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Posted Jul 28, 2022 by

Yuriko and Gakurouta redefine relationships!

In today’s society, the only thing that seems constant is change. I Want to Be a Wall, Vol. 1 brings a new kind of change to the contractual relationship trope as we look at the basis for relationships. 

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*This review contains spoilers! Continue at your own risk.*

Contractual or not, a marriage starts with some kind of romantic chemistry. But what happens if romance just isn’t possible? Well, that’s the case for our main characters, Yuriko and Gakurouta. Cue the plot twist! Yuriko identifies as an asexual woman with a strong passion for Boys’ Love (BL). On the other hand, Gakurouta is a gay man with an unrequited crush on his childhood friend. Yet somehow this unique pair gets married. 

While the reason that Gakurouta and Yuriko had to get married isn’t revealed, one thing is certain: they are willing to give this marriage a try! Since these two aren’t falling in love, they attempt to be the next best thing—friends! Great minds think alike when Gakurouta and Yuriko both search the internet for ways to be good partners. Yet this sweet gesture combined with their lack of knowledge of the other party’s food preferences leads to a week’s worth of grocery shopping completed in advance! Thus, the pair begins to work on their communication.

Yuriko and Gakurouta’s willingness to understand and respect each other lays the foundation for their relationship. This can be seen when Yuriko is there for Gakurouta when dealing with the painful reality of his one-sided crush. But the strongest example is shown when Yuriko explains her sexual identity. 

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The visibility given around Yuriko’s orientation is equally powerful and critical outside and within the novel. Instead of fans reading between the lines or a later revelation at an event, the author provides us with a clear-cut answer that pertains to the plot, making her a rare representative for the ace community.

 So when Yuriko explains that she isn’t comfortable with physical displays of affection such as holding hands, Gakurouta listens seriously and is considerate of her. 

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But make no mistake—Yuriko’s sexual identity is not her entire personality. 

Yes, our BL-loving queen is a hard-working employee that needs money to support her OTP!

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Gakurouta even takes interest in Yuriko’s growing BL collection to better their partnership, and she’s eager to teach him…until he questions her on the omegaverse! (Shhh! We don’t talk about it!)

Gaku discovers the different genres of BL

Seriously, I loved the antics and character interactions in I Want to Be a Wall, Vol. 1. This heartwarming masterpiece reevaluates the main principles behind a relationship and creates a partnership unlike any other. I Want to Be a Wall, Vol. 1 is available now!