By Ryoku Tsunoda
Digital Manga Publishing, 180 pp.
Rating: M (18+)

Takayama quietly idolizes his coworker Ishikawa, a power salesman who outperforms everyone else. Unfortunately, Ishikawa catches him with another man in an alley one night and walks off before Takayama can explain. Embarrassed, Takayama isn’t sure how to face him at work, but the awkwardness doesn’t last long since he walks in on Ishikawa getting rejected by a female coworker the next day. Before Takayama can fully grasp what is going on, he realizes that Ishikawa needs sexual release and isn’t shy about taking it when he can. One thing leads to another and the two become sex partners despite the fact Ishikawa isn’t gay.

I haven’t actually read very many workplace romance-type stories like this, so this was a treat. The relationship dynamic was surprisingly good and notably drama-free. Neither wants to commit to the other for most of the way through the book, and the casual sex the two have is relatively satisfying in the context of the story. Takayama usually resists Ishikawa’s advances, but since he prefers casual encounters to steady relationships, he allows himself to get drawn into Ishikawa’s whims. There is some slight drama towards the end when one decides to break things off before they become attached, but it’s more romantic than anything else.

The one thing that did bother me was the reason behind their relationship. Ishikawa actually only really hooks up with Takayama when he needs to blow off steam, and it seems like he’s being used. I might not have thought as much about it if the first sex scene between the pair hadn’t been borderline non-consensual, and I only say borderline because Takayama seemed amused by Ishikawa’s attitude afterwards. The first page of the book is actually the middle of this scene, and then the story goes back in time to establish the working relationship between the two and catch things up to that page. It’s unfortunate it starts off that way, because that’s not at all how the rest of the story is, and it sort of gets off on the wrong foot.

Neither Takayama nor Ishikawa is developed that deeply. Ishikawa is a near-perfectionist about his work, and the casual sex happens when something goes wrong since he feels he can’t reveal his frustrations and anger in front of his coworkers. He’s also kind of a jerk who insists on having his way, which goes along with the power salesman personality. Takayama fits well with him since he’s a pretty amiable guy and seems able to roll with Ishikawa’s punches.

The art is average, about what you’d expect in a book like this. It’s good-looking and serviceable, but not much more. The two main characters are never really shown outside an office or bedroom setting, so you never see them in anything but suits and don’t see much variation in backgrounds either, though the backgrounds are drawn in slightly more frequently than expected.

After the main story, there’s an unrelated story with different characters, then a somewhat silly side story about Ishikawa the power salesman trying to get Takayama to spend the night at his place. It’s not so silly that it deviates from the tone of the main story, so it winds up being a good way to end the volume. The unrelated story wasn’t nearly as good, and was a pretty straightforward love confession between two long-time friends about to be separated because of college.

Overall, this was a pretty good read. The mood is light, the couple compatible, the plot moves along well, and the drama is manageable, which is about all I can ask for in a story like this one.

Where Has Love Gone? is available now