Absolute Boyfriend Manga Review

Written by Amy O'deay

Absolute Boyfriend
Mangaka: Yuu Watase
Publisher: Viz Media
Genre: Shojo/Comedy/Drama

A more lighthearted and comedic tale than previous works like “Fushigi Yugi” and “Ceres: Celestial Legend”, “Absolute Boyfriend” follows the trials and tribulations of sixteen-year-old Riiko Izawa in her quest for a boyfriend! Riiko’s parents travel for most of the year on business, so her neighbor, Soshi Asamoto, keeps an eye on her. He is the same age as Riiko, but far more responsible and mature.
Rejected at last by her biggest crush, Riiko goes online one night and stumbles across an unusual website advertising her “perfect match”. She signs up for a free trial there, and the next day a huge package is delivered to her. Inside is a gorgeous naked guy who seems to be asleep…and when she finally figures out how to wake him up, he wants to be Riika’s boyfriend! She calls him “Night” and soon learns just how hard it can be to have a cyborg for a boyfriend (and the importance of reading the fine print before signing up for “free” trials!)
As with all of Watase’s works, the story takes a heart-rending turn toward the end and Riika is faced with making a very difficult choice. Unlike “Ceres” and “Fushigi Yugi”, however, this series spans only six volumes and thus there is much less room for deviation from the main storyline. It also limits the number of characters introduced, making it easier to keep track of who’s who without taking notes (which was almost essential with “Fushigi Yugi)!

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