For my yaoi-ambivalent sistren

For those among us who adore yaoi in theory but are put off by the often… interesting ideas about consent and what constitutes a healthy relationship, I have begun compiling a list of non-creepy yaoi manga. If anyone has any recs they’d like to share, I’ll add them to the list with credit.

Please be aware that not all manga by authors on this list are safe.

Mr Convenience, aka Benriya-San, by Yamato Nase:

Summary: Mr Convenience is a couple of stories all centred around a business which does basically whatever. Chiba, in the first and fourth chapters, mostly does jobs like rescuing lost pets and helping people screw in light bulbs, while Miyashiro, in the second and third, would like you to know that he is not a hooker, kthnxbai.

Mamotte Agemasu! by Yamato Nase:

Summary: Takao-kun is deeply obsessed with protecting his older brother - a clumsy but nice teacher. His brother suddenly has some serious problems because of one student. Takao decides to become friends with this rich and annoying boy to help out his brother. Will he succeed? Who is the mysterious brother-stalker?!

Warning: contains an underage boy (about 13, I think) paired with a man in his 20s.

Future Lovers, aka Mirai No Kioku and Kaze No Yuku by Kunieda Saika:

Summary: A sweet romance which starts off as a drunken (but entirely consensual) one night stand but develops into something more.

50x50, by Kunieda Saika:

Summary: Two playboy types keep accidentally sleeping together, and slowly fall in love while loudly proclaiming their heterosexuality to everyone who will listen, including each other and themselves.

Notes: Actually, most things by Kunieda Saika seem to be free of unintentional creepiness, but many of her works are very intentionally disturbing. These tend to be twisty, so examples would be spoilery, but be warned. One story – I won’t say which – involves a subversion of Rape Is Love, in which the survivor had feelings for his rapist which didn’t survive the incident. If you have specific triggers, PM me and I’ll tell you which ones to avoid.

Kakkowarukute Kakkoii Kimi, by Asou Kai:

Summary: Ever since they were little, Yukihisa and Takashi have always been together. However, Takashi recently started acting strange towards Yukihisa. Takashi refuses to come near Yukihisa, baffling him. Takashi offers no explanation for his actions, causing Yukihisa to be filled with doubts about their friendship. What can Takashi be hiding from Yukihisa that's causing him to keep one meter away from him?

Soko ni Suwaruna, aka do Not Sit There, by Asou Kai

Summary: 1-3) Soko ni Suwaruna (Do Not Sit There): Hayama was lovers with his roommate. He went on a trip abroad and when he returned he expected to be greeted by his lover but instead found a strange man named Namikawa. The stranger told him he was to be his new roommate. The truth is, Hayama had been abandoned without knowing about it. Namikawa felt sorry for him, and started to develop feelings of love and jealousy toward the pure and timid Hayama...

4) Maki no Iibun (Maki's Reasoning): A short story from the side of Hayama's ex-lover, Maki.

5) Fureru Chikasa de (So Close That It Touches): Junpei and Tsutoma are high school students and best friends. Tsutoma flirts with Junpei constantly, but does he mean it or is it just a game?

I'm Serious in My Own Way, aka Sorenari ni Shinken nan desu, by Asou Kai

Summary: Oosawa had known Yoshioka for a long time... As his customer, Yoshioka came in and out of the shop with different boyfriends all the time. He thought he knew fully well what kind of man Yoshioka was. But when tragedy hit Chizu, his one and only daughter... and his capability as a single father was questioned... Yoshioka came out of nowhere and offered help. Slowly but surely, Oosawa learned that the man he despised was very different than what he appeared to be.

One Heart by Miyamoto Kano

Summary: A story about a part-time, student worker and his ex-salaryman boss. When his boss's company is in danger of going bankrupt, how will the part-timer convince his ex-salaryman to take a loan from him?

A Love Song For The Miserable, AKA Ochibure Shinshi ni Ai no Uta, by Yukimura

Summary: Asada is truly miserable. After three years, he's been reunited with Nao, who has succeeded as a patisserie and is being courted by Asada’s department store. They parted badly, but Asada’s secret love hasn’t faded. Is it as hopeless as he thinks it is?

Doukyuusei by Nakamura Asumiko (recommended by: spiegel11th

Fujimoto Hajime is a third year high school student who has been dating his teacher Nakajima Keigo for the past six months, but he feels they're in a uneven relationship. Hajime's always the one to seduce Nakajima, and even though Nakajima's birthday is coming up he won't let Hajime buy him a present! Has Hajime been mistaken about their relationship this whole time?

Love or Hate by Kuibira Harumo 

Summary: Prosecutor Kazuki and attorney Yuuichi have been together for five years, but that doesn't stop them from fighting about everything.

Tonari no usotsuki - be side by Nomo Marino

Summary: What starts as a simple kiss between childhood friends, turns into something else. Will their friendship crumble as they become adults or will it become something more?

Blood by Yura Tamaki

Summary: A story about Vinny (a gang leader), his best friend Sean, Skip and Dick (respectively, the errand boy and the muscle of the gang), Kyle (Vinny's younger brother) and Sandy (Vinny's girlfriend). Vinny is homophobic, Kyle is gay and in a relationship with Sean. When Vinny finds out about it, troubles have their start.

Notes: Warning for child sexual abuse, drug addiction, violence, death... all sorts of unpleasantness. It's all unpleasant on purpose, though, so we're good. No, seriously, I thoroughly reccomend it as long as you're in the mood to have your heart broken.

The Sweet and Devoted Me, aka Ichizude Karen na Ore-sama, by Akira Norikazu

Summary: Itsuki is the number one host at the club 'The Rose Garden'. Somehow, he has fallen in love with Ryou, the shy, innocent newcomer. Itsuki is unsure how to confess his feelings, but then, for the club's 5th anniversary, he is asked to wear a very special costume. Will Itsuki's beauty catch Ryou's eye?

Sanzen Sekai no Karasu wo Koroshi aka To Kill the Crows of 3000 Worlds by Saiki Keita

Summary: After making a grave mistake, a military man visits an old friend and says goodbye to his current life.

Overdose by Kawai Touko

Summary: Chikao is a gentle soul who has the bad luck of falling in love with Yuuji, a playboy and cheat. Can his love withstand the heartache or will Yuuji go to far?

Bond(z) by Kawai Touko

Summary: 1) Bónd(z) -
It isn’t unheard of to sleep with your friends after having too much to drink. However, when that friend happens to be a guy as well and you both happen to have girlfriends, things can get a little complicated.

2) Situation -
Yuu and Akira, two childhood best friends who deeply love one another and want to get married when they grow up. However, their teacher told them it was impossible and wrong for them to be together. Despite that, Akira grows up to accept his sexuality. You-chan, however, cannot stop hearing his teacher's words each time he thinks about Akira. Will they get their happy ending?

3) Kitan Garden (Fairy Garden) -
Prince Fiona of the Roses Kingdom awakens each year at the season in which the Maiden Blush roses blossom. And his main motivation for waking up each year is to look at the smiling face of Daichi, a human whose garden Prince Fiona lives in. However, the prince's disappointment lies in the fact that he can never meet him face to face. But, with the help of a witch who wants to grant Fiona one request as his birthday present, he is finally able to stand next to Daichi till the end of the rose blooming season.

4) Sakura -
Ayatsuji Yuichi, a poor salaryman, was ordered by the chairman of the company to live with his grandchild for a month in order to let him experience the poor way of life. As unusual as the command was, Ayatsuji accepted and Asahina Ren, the future heir of the company, moved in with him. Ren, a 17 year old from a very rich family, has never done any house chores! So, Ayatsuji sets out to teach Ren how to cook, and clean and buy a train ticket (!!!) and in the process, the two fall in love. However, as an heir to a prestigious family, Ren fears that he will be forced to stay away from Ayatsuji.

Gozen Yoji, Sasayaku You ni aka Whispering at 4am by Minazuki Akira

Summary: One day, Souichirou met a mysterious guy at bar he frequents. The first thing that guy told him was, “You look like you’re about to die.” Souichirou, however, did not find that the least bit amusing and brushed it off easily... until his first encounter with danger, and then everything started to spiral out of control.

Geshuku Biyori by Ellie Mamahara

Summary: When their old and beloved landlady dies, the tenants of Wisteria Manor are deeply upset - but on top of that, their new landlord, the old landlady's grandson, gives them six months to look for a new place since he can't afford to keep the Manor open. This landlord isn't as cold as he seemed at first, though, and Kuraya, who has always considered himself straight, seems to be falling for him.

Bitter Sweet Cafe by Akira Kanbe

Summary: One day, cafe manager Katsuragi Megumi comes across a depressed, recently unemployed patissier, Honda Yuuji, and offers him both a job and a home. Honda slowly falls for Megumi, but only recognises his love when he accidentally catches Megumi masturbating and calling out another man's name. Is it already too late?

Notes: The prequel is not safe (WTF no just no), IDK about the side story.

Oita Shichatta aka Today's Skies Are Clear by Shinba Rize

Summary: Matsudaira Yasunobu and Hatori Takashi, President and Vice President of the student council are always seen bickering. With both being the sons of opposing boss groups, it was only natural right? However, once eyes are off them, these two love each other with a passion. What'll become of this romeo-juliet relationship?

Kimi wa Amai Amai aka You Are Sweet, Sweet by Hanamura Ichika

Katase and Kohiwa are high school classmates. Liking someone so much it makes your head spin, exchanging kisses with every little chance, touching each other, connecting your bodies...The main story is about two guys in the spring of their youth who find themselves rapidly drowning in one another. Chapter 4 is about a boy who falls in love with his step-brother and falls into bed with his tutor.

I have been informed that chapters five, six and six point five are not safe.

Relationship by Kouga Youichirou

Summary: Akito and Sakuya compete over everything from how fast their hair grows to who can hold out the longest sexually.

Les Sciences et les Fantaisie by Tojitsuki Hajime

Summary: When salesman Yoroizuka runs into his ex-boyfriend Tatemichi Koreeda, he's uncomfortable. But Koreeda gets Yoroizuka assigned to help him in the lab, and Yoroizuka starts to remember all the good times he had with the unromantic mad scientist. If only he could remember why they broke up...

Fair warning, when it gets to the sex scene they start talking about piss and vomit. If you're squicked by that, just try not to read the dialoge in that bit and you'll be fine.

Hatsukoi no Yamai aka Sickness of the First Love by Tojitsuki Hajime

Summary: 1) Sickness of the First Love - After a car accident Ayase begins to see hallucinations of his first love,Haigo, who died as the young man he was. An operation is supposed to fix the problem, but doesn't. Seeing a young Haigo during the day, and a grown-up Haigo at night, has Ayase finally gone crazy?

2) The Mystery That Began on the Train - There are two kinds of customers that Soo, as an attendant on a sleeper railway has to deal with: honeymooning couples and weirdos. Teshirogi is definitely one of the latter. The overly dramatic older man seems to be making fun of Soo, but why does he think they've met before?

3) Kitsune Tsuki (Fox Moon) - Tada is the heir of his family and the last fox spirit handler. As a child he saved the spirit Shiro from being abandoned, and Shiro agreed to stay till Tada was an adult. With only two years left to go, Shiro needs to reconcile his feelings for the human boy.

4) Kikusa Yayoi Zukitan - 2nd year piano student Wachi is playing one day when he's suddenly accompanied by a violin. Enter genius violinist Meguriya. When Wachi confesses to Meguriya he doesn't receive a reply, but when two people are so aligned musically, are words really necessary?

5) A Happy Person - When Komiya disappears from school, Oosakaya is sure that Komiya will contact him. They're dating, after all. But four years go by before a dirty and tired Komiya crawls into his bed and promptly falls asleep. He's happy to have Komiya back, but Oosakaya can only wonder how long it will be before the person who says he loves him disappears again...

6) Speechless - A word game between two colleagues offers one a chance to make his feelings known.