This is a very, VERY early work of Matsumoto Noda--and it shows. While the ideas present are fresh, and the stories have that youthful heart, the execution...does lack the sensuality and weight that present in their older works. That does not mean this is a bad story, though. On contrary, I do enjoy this a lot. The story features a lot of 'ordinary' guys, as well as guys who are less conventional in BL standards. And the storytelling is warm and tender. Story 1 is a generic highschool crush stories, but the earnest youthfulness gives a charming, delightful vibe to the story. The smut scene here is abit dubcon but in a genuine way that feels like two young people negotiating on consent.

Story 2 is very enchanting. A wistful yet loaded story of a young man's sexual awakening and crush, I love how mono no aware the story is. There isn't much to its plot, but the execution is slow and patient and exquisite...and the ending feels very, very appropriate.

After that tender wistfulness, Story 3 takes a wild turn into a loaded story about someone's kink awakening. I love every lingering gaze to the seme's body hair. It's hot. It's forbidden. It's lewd. And when the mood shifts into smut, it's easily the lewdest part of the story. But at the same time I also appreciate how 'normal' this feels. Like this is less of a full blown kink smut doujin, and more of two young people reveling in their experimenting of each other.

And then Story 4 takes a turn into mundanity. There really isn't much of a plot here. It's really just a story of two men in an established relationship, going together to a hot spring, and having fun. And that's a good thing, I feel, especially for a slice of life story. I appreciate how 'ordinary' the main characters feel.

Lastly, Story 5 is a typical supernatural 'make three wishes' plot. I find it interesting that this story lacks the usual 'backlash' these wishes tend to have, but at the same time the plot beats are very familiar. The way the story ends feels a bit rushed, and together with the generic plot beats.. I do think this story feels a bit undercooked. But nonetheless, I love the message it's trying to tell, and I like the ending.

Overall...yeah, I enjoy this series of oneshots quite a bit. It's lovely to see how far Matsumoto Noda has gone.