Atsushi remembers his first love. Ma-chan was the new older boy next door and wanted to be a teacher. Atsushi very much wanted to be this nii-chan's first student. Ma-chan may have moved away, but Atsushi never forgot him, and so decided to make his dream come true by turning down the premium high school he was recommended for to go to the high school where his beloved Ma-chan works as the school nurse. His first day proves very eventful. First, he finds the students seem to be big scary thug looking types. Second, he meets his best friend from primary school, who has a crush on him and is determined to make him his. Third, Ma-chan seems to have changed drastically since his boyhood and doesn't seem tor recall Atsushi at all despite having sent a letter to him just before Atsushi's graduation from junior high. Atsushi refuses to let these things stand in the way of his true love, but has he got something wrong somewhere?

I first fell in love with Kodaka's manga thanks to Kizuna, and I have to say that while this is an entirely different flavour, it certainly hit all the right notes. Atsushi is a bit on the naïve side but certainly isn't stupid. He is admittedly misguided a few times, but he quickly figures out his mistakes and makes up for them. The two Ma-chans are a real contrast. Masami is sweet and gentle in nature while the other, Masayoshi is a devious sort but unfailingly honest but with a tendency to procrastinate that leads him into trouble with Atsushi. The rest of the cast really shine too, making this a true ensemble piece: from the love struck childhood friend (Kouji) to Kouji's pretend girlfriend whose camera is every ready to catch a m/m romantic moment with rabid fujoshi fervour to Masami's shy and gentle bear like boyfriend, and even the "ladies" at Club Lush.This is a much more light hearted series than Kizuna; the jokes are witty and the characters sensitively portrayed. Fans looking for action should be aware that there isn't really anything until later volumes, as this volume sets up the story and the mangaka allows the relationships to build into ones with substance. This is part of the charm of this series; so much of it is the couples discovering love and trying to nurture it rather than a quick hop into the hot and heavy. It's certainly a rare treat in the world of BL, and one that is worth savouring.

Kodaka first drew this back in 1993, a full year after beginning Kizuna. The art therefore is similar in style to that, though her characters do not share identical faces made different with changes in hair style. Some crossover between the two series does occur as they take place in the same world. Look closely and here and there you will recognise side characters and settings from Kizuna as main side characters and settings for BTE, and even spy Kei now and again as the series progresses. While the date for this certainly more than 10 years in the past, it certainly is not dated. Indeed, the only thing to really date this would be if you are very familiar with Kodaka's recent work, where her individual style is unmistakeable but appears to be much more refined as it has matured. For this particular manga, though, this is no setback. The more relaxed forms perfectly suit the tone of this manga, while her current style's sense of restraint better fits her current series, Border. It is almost as if her style changes subtly to fit each of her casts' personalities and the different tones of her storylines.

As for presentation, I have no complaints. The cover is attractive, though admittedly not that exciting. The translation is smooth and even the kids' banter seems unforced. The price at first glance looks steep, until one notes that it is 350 pages, which is fairly substantial for a manga. Sadly, there is not an e-edition, so e-reader users will have to put up with only a paper copy. I'd like to thank Digital Manga providing me with my review copy.