Finished
“Baker Ono forgets partner Sakai after accident, yet feels drawn to the lonely stranger he no longer remembers.”
Kowagaranaide, Soba ni Ite
こわがらないで、そばにいて
7.8
4,491 readers · 33 favorites
Boys Love
Drama
Romance
Erotica
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
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Honest pros & cons
Based on your library
Synopsis
Baker Ono forgets partner Sakai after accident, yet feels drawn to the lonely stranger he no longer remembers.
I thought it would go well for you and me from here on after. "Let's pretend it never happened. From the very beginning." Ono Shizuka is a baker who got into an argument with his partner Sakai and fell off the stairs. The accident caused him to forget about Sakai entirely. However, he now is very interested in the beautiful but lonely man.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 4 sampled reviews
7.5
/10
What 4 readers settled on.
67%
recommend
Score distribution
median 8.5
mode 10
σ 2.87
Agreement
Polarized
σ 2.87 · split reception
The polarity gap
7.0 pts
Recommenders 10.0 · others 3.0
Yes
No
Score over time
↓ 2.50
Running avg · Jul 2018 → Jan 2026
Snap verdicts
· shortest highly-rated reviews
- 10 “This manga is a short, sweet, and deeply emotional experience, bolstered by soft art and a compelling dual-perspective narrative. There are no notable criticisms to mention, as the story delivers a...”
- 10 “This manga is an absolutely beautiful hidden gem that packs incredible depth into its characters and storyline, all complemented by art that never disappoints. There are no criticisms to be found...”
- 7 “The execution is solid and well-paced, leading to a final payoff that is genuinely sweet and satisfying. However, the story relies on predictable tropes and stereotypical character dynamics that...”
Verbosity
Short · 100%
Medium · 0%
Long · 0%
Read Order & Related
A self-contained story.
No sequels, spin-offs or alternate tellings — Kowagaranaide, Soba ni Ite begins and ends here.
Cast
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See all →Publication slate
A Manga Publication
- Format 6 × 1 ch × vol
- Total read 0h 48m approx
- Published Nov 2015 – Mar 2016
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M39784 catalog