The first six chapters are one storyline and culminate in the title story, “Duetto.”  It focuses on a love affair that begins in college and lasts in spite of the constant separation of two lovers, as each young man pursues his professional goals.  Dark-haired Shinobu Miura hides his true feelings, the passion and intense love that burn deeply within him.  Shinobu’s dorm neighbor, Eiichi Tashiro, is a reckless free spirit.  Eager for commitment, he doesn’t hide that he has the “hots” for Shinobu.  They fall in love, and it looks like the two will be a committed couple for a long time.  However, Eiichi’s burgeoning career as a photographer means he’s in Japan for a few days only a year.  Can their love survive?

In the two-part “Secrets,” Takayuki is the brunt of jokes because his mother, Aiko, is so much older than Taka’s father, Misaki, who was practically a boy when Aiko seduced him.  However, it isn’t the teasing that bothers Takayuki; it’s that he’s in love with his biological father, Misaki.

THE LOWDOWN:  The “Duetto” suite is quite sweet.  It’s a drawn out, melodramatic love story that would fit a romance novel.  Kujyou’s liquid line work and lush inking delivers the kind of pretty figure drawing necessary to create the beautiful male characters standard in yaoi.

In fact, the exceptional character drawing takes the edge off “Secret’s” incestuous passion fest.  This tale is actually mind-boggling, but it just sits in this volume like it belongs there.  Maybe, it does.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  These well-written stories will attract readers looking for exceptionally finely drawn art.

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