Arioto is an incredibly written story about Aya Fuwa, lesbian loner, paying popular "straight" girl Marika Sakakibara ten thousand yen a day to make her fall in love... with another girl!? 😳 While on the surface it may seem like a stereotypical predatory lesbian preying on an innocent girl who secretly likes it, the characters have more depth to them than that. Aya lets her emotions get to her while Marika puts up a mask to shield her true self not only to others but to herself. The core of the series, however, is the sexy scenarios cooked up by Aya pay-for-gaying Marika. By usingthe initial framework of a stereotype of a lesbian chasing a straight girl, Arioto is able to simultaneously create an enticing dom/brat relationship for those who enjoy it and a mystery of why Aya is so obsessed with toying with Marika. Arioto eventually moves on from this plot to be about the relationship between the two girls and their inner lives' changing due to it.

That said, the series has plenty of hot & steamy action between girls. Too many good scenes to list! Scenes where Aya plays with Marika in an attempt to get her to see the light of yuri are as erotic as they are creating interesting character moments. In tying sex to not only character interactions/motivations, but to personal enjoyment for the viewer, Arioto creates a sensual atmosphere that makes you wanting more.

On top of that, the series is so funny! Marika repressing as hard as she is can only bring me laughs, as it comedically exaggerates and satirizes societal conformity towards treating same-sex attraction as nothing serious. As a lesbian who went through a phase denying my attraction towards women, I adore this cathartic look at my inner younger self. Lesbians comfortable with their sexuality reacting to Marika's over-the-top comphet is also hilarious!

Those put off by fiction playing with controversial subjects beware! The characters are teenagers and the sexual scenes are of dubious consent. This does not bother me, however, as they are fictional characters in fictional scenarios. In the immortal words of Marika in chapter 2: "at the end of the day, it's just fiction... if you read a manga with murder, do you get homicidal urges?" It's doubtful any minds can change on this, but the "controversial" elements of Arioto are enjoyable to me, and that's what matters in my review :) also stockholm syndrome isnt real

All in all, Arioto is a fun, if not beginner friendly, yuri series about realizing your true gay self. Highly recommend!