‘I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up’ is a short manga built around a gimmick (which can be gleaned from the title) and developing into a heartfelt story with cute characters. It’s the story of a woman deciding to grab onto the things she wants in life despite homophobia, misogyny, and parental expectations. The protagonist, Machi, shuts the world out, and lets life pass her by. The deuteragonist, Hana, is an explicit lesbian who has feelings for Machi. The relationship is built on care, and helping each other become better people. The one-shot included at the end of the volume (‘Anaerobic Love’) presentsa dynamic between two girls showcasing a clash between jealousy and attraction. It’s a short, but sweet, rivals to lovers story.