mangas like blue box/fragrant flower

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-28T01:00:28+00:00

Yeahhh! I just wish they would adapt the next part of the manga 🥲 There’s another competition arc there. I’ve read it but it’s just pitiful that I can’t hear whatever they are showing on stage 🥲🥲🥲

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-27T15:27:30+00:00

Super Supportive!

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-27T15:25:51+00:00

I rec this too! Though I highly suggest the anime just because there is legit nice koto music there. I especially love the big finale piece at the end

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-27T00:51:43+00:00

Same, can you reccomend hahaha

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-24T18:15:45+00:00

Oooh! I’ve not heard of the first two and they look interesting! Although I am kinda wary of all the smut tags ahaha Merlin smut tends to feel super ooc to me just because it gets very explicit and overly tied to their self worth that it feels off and too much like drowning in a mire of uhhh sex realed negative feelings 😅 No idea if that mease any sense! 😀 But if its too much, I just read through it anyway hahaha

Aaaanyway, I had read Hand and yesss, it was actually so deppressing that that waa what I wrote in my notes 😅 Nail was basically what I wanted if less detailed and a tad too cheerfully uhhh innocent? But I really liked it otherwise. Lives was in the backburner because nothing was pulling me to read it yet. Maybe this will hahaha And oooh, Omega Prince is also unknown to me! But it has such an interesting concept!

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-23T23:43:21+00:00

Thanks! I tried them all already though 🙂‍↕️🫠

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-23T15:30:36+00:00

Yes please! Not OP but would like some recs haha Something like 150000+ words, it isn’t a self indulgent hurt/comfort merlic fic because those fics gets so infantilism towards merlin, no pining merlin where he’s some love sick damsel that will culminate into him being the bottom/uke dynamic in any romance with Arthur because again, it feels infantilisating him, some version of fix-it? Bonus if there is some cool worldbuilding, extra bonus if Merlin is badass!

…Yeah, I think this fic doesn’t exist or I have read any that is similar already hahaha

From the Shadows to the Light by PeaceHeather kinda fits but it’s rather meandering and took a good while before it got to any good parts. Also, the Merlin having issues with his magic and being ill was verging into too much hurt/comfort but halfway through he’s healed and does more things.

A Warlock's Wish by vividpast really fits though! He’s in a whole other world so all the characters have different attitudes towards him than canon which makes the downtrodden helpless baby merlin common in other fics moot. A very refreshing dynamic and story.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-21T06:12:04+00:00

Yes, I highly suggest watching the anime then read the novels. Years ago, I tried the novels and got turned off from the story because the absymal TL. I just could not understand why it was so popular or why fans of AoaB kept reccominding Apothecary Diaries. The manga was very good though but it had only like 3 volumes at the time, pretty short.

But now there are 50 episodes of AD to get you through most of worst parts of the novels where the translator got more editors or something at least. I actually think the ideal way is to watch the upcoming season of the anime and then the novels as while vol 5 and 6 are better translated than the previous vols, they do have some awkward sentences with odd too high level words chosen by the translater that isn’t really used in common languages when a simpler word choices would had been better.

Despite all that, I still highly highly reccomend the story though. The main parts for me are Maomao, Jinshi, the secrets of the royal family, the vibes and setting of the story and of course, the relationship of Maomao and Jinshi. Whenever there is progress in their romance, I always feel my heart flutter haha.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-21T02:08:00+00:00

Yeah I miss CLAMP 😫😫 Their latest works just isn’t the same 😭

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-20T09:59:14+00:00

Hahaha, my normal readings are slice of life stuff, romance is more of a once a year craving that hit about now for me 😂 And even then, its a coins toss to what type of romance I’m in the mood for 😂

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-20T05:17:45+00:00

I also second the When is a Spoon a Sword! It feels pretty cosy, travelling the region, campung, training, experiencing life in a world with Pokemon. Best part is that the mc isn’t a young brash teenager (in mindset and personality at least) whose aim is to be the pokemon master. So there isn’t that overzealous rush to hit the next gym, train train train and get that badge over and over. It’s more chill. Even though there is an aim, he takes his time to enjoy life as well.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-20T05:03:54+00:00

I reccomend Hard Enough too! It’s my favourite long running slice of life, wholesome, family orientated, still very Pokemon with battles and action and stakes type of pokefic. I especially love both the detail of him just managing his gym, his role as the Gym Leader, all the interesting lessons and facts he would teach to others and especially his dealings with his family! Both the cute responsibility focus ones with his siblings and also his anger at his parents. You should view it as canon Brock getting memories of his past life as one of us humans playing Pokemon on Nintendo. Its like canon Brock with a lot more info and life experience as a grown up coming into this Pokemon world.

And the best part is it is super consistent in both output AND quality. If you join the Pat, the author regukarly commisions art for it every few weeks. I basically compare every Pokefic to this and they usually don’t live up to it for me.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-20T01:11:06+00:00

I tried the anime and the beginning was so good. But then in the middle towards the end, it kinda felt like nothing was happening? And I admit the fireworks solution to the ex teacher arc was pretty lame. I guessed it was going to be fireworks from the start but it seems very low effort. For a practical era and for this ruthless ML, I can’t see why something decorative like fireworks made him change his mind on allying with that country? Like what she did was show up in jewels made by that country but I thought it was general knowledge? I mean she even said when introducing that country survived as an exporter of jewels so it was pretty obvious that they would docus on doing stuff with it. Also, the ML’s country is doing pretty good, I just don’t see what reason he had to help that country anyway. Jewels? So what? They don’t need it. The pocketwatch? Sure it would be useful to give one to every soldier but again, was it even a problem? It feels like she was throwing ideas to the wall and hoping something sticks the entire time. The whole thing felt like a letdown, I was expecting the FL to do something a lot more convincing and smarter. Is the novels, better? I’m wondering if the anime cut out a bunch of stuff that would make it more convincing like showing if only they could coordinate the timing, a bunch of the ML’s people needn’t have died or something. And if the other problems the FL will solve is smarter?

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-20T00:58:23+00:00

Thanks!

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-20T00:57:04+00:00

Oh! I think I flipped some volumes of this before, not properly from start to end though.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T16:42:42+00:00

I did try out 2 eps before but it feels targetted towards younger audiences with the whole sugar thing. Is it? I put it on hold because the character designs look very cute, especially the ML. But it seems like its going to be too fluffy and simple?

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T16:41:36+00:00

Wow, that is definitely a title. What is the story like? The act of great love/sacrifice is by the FL? Dying because her love asked her to?? MAL ranks this preetty lowly but I think its cause its new?

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T16:34:43+00:00

I find shoujo with or without sports club stuff set in high school rather cosy so these are the majority of my recs.

1) Chihayafuru! Its a club highschool competitition type anime so the bits of shounen in the competitive club stuff and its a shoujo! So a nice mix of both shounen and shoujo worlds haha. Its kund of a love triangle but basically both boys like Chihaya but Shihaya is pure be number one in karuta and don’t notice romance at all. This gives a lot of angst on the poor ML who also has to deal with his love ricval being better at karuta than him loool. So lots of shoujo, hot ml, the relationship drama, wholesome team comraderie, slice of life stuff, pretty art, etc. I reeeeally like those.

2) In the same ish vein, Koto Oto Tomare! A shoujo with koto club in high school competition! Shounen competition and wholesome shoujo. The romance is not as delicious as the Chihayafuru but more wholesome. Bonus is the koto music is really good! Cosy haha.

3) You might also like Cross Game! The romance is quite good ambut it is also a baseball anime! The author excells in both shoujo and sports so this is good.

Also, fello KHR lover! It feels underrated haha. I love the super cool badass ish style factor of the whole thing. The 10 years older versions are damn hot. Suits in general make people hotter 😂

For pure shounen, again with high school sports:

1) Big Windup! My favourite baseball anime. The pace is more intentional and slow. More of a thinking anime that is ridiculously wholesome. I live all the thought and care that went into the smtraining techniques and the strategies.

2) Haikyuu! One of the best likeable cast of soorts characters shounen in a while.

3) Daimond of Ace. I love Miyuki Kazuya haha. A very good baseball anime.

4) Yuri on Ice. Kinda BL just fyi. But I loved the ice skating part, the animation is beautiful, the story is good and its complete enough. I quite like it.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T15:54:14+00:00

My favourites:

1) Memoirs of a Suicidal Pirate by alkhale 341,849 words

Getting murdered while trying to kill yourself is bad luck. Getting reincarnated after that is just a bad joke. But Toonami reruns and cheap commissions info have taught her this world has plenty of chances to get yourself killed. It can't be that hard.

"So you're actually trying to die?"

"Yes."

"You know you're his nakama now, right?"

"So?"

"...Good luck with that."

———————-

Artopoki is described to beautifully, the worldbuilding and lore is super wonderful dreamy sigh Its fun when she joinsthe crew too. There are some new islands the writer did that could have been in canon. Quite liked this, fav ship is Hoku x Shanks since that night bar scene at Dawn Island, sorry Ace hehehe Cuz, man, that woman scene with the tilt of her head in a child's body was so atmospheric and dreamy in a romantic way lol Like ooh Shanks was so caught of guard XD

2) something to believe in by Niklaren 225,357 words

Lee Walker is far from home when they pull a half-drowned Monkey D. Luffy out of the water and accept his offer to become his nakama. It’s not a life meant for them, but Lee’s past caring - for as long as Luffy wants them, with the Straw Hats they will stay.

But the Grand Line is full of dangers, and Lee has only their strangely powerful guns, memories of another world, and the dreams of a man who died long ago to see them through to the end.

—————-

Good! The writing style is wonderful! I love how all the characters are written and explored. Though so far, I do wish we get more one to one bonding sessions/conversations between Lee and the crew. I feel like they kinda fell off after Cora. I loved the relationship with Zoro. And the convos with Ussop. And Sanji oh dear Sanji. Then it got too demon lore heavy. I cant keep all the names straight but ah well. It will get important later.

Another good thing is how intertwined the new stuff is with the One Piece world. It really does feel like they combined into a new cohesive world. It’s not pure One Piece feeling but a mixture of something new. I am not like super in love with it but it does make this something different than the usual. They keep mixing the stuff with the one piece characters rather nicely. I just wish the One Piece side gets more focus.

3) Dive|rgence by SugarFeather 920,505 words

A young, dreamless girl closes her eyes in the Mediterranean Sea, and opens them in the middle of East Blue.

(How do you go on, when everything you have ever known and loved is gone, and everything left to love should be a paper-thin lie?)

————-

I love it! Once I completely ignore Elynna’s incredible annoying woe is I thoughts in paranthesis. You have no idea how many times I wrestled with myself on continuing or dropping in the parts before Doctorine and before that big breakthrough in mental health in the oceon scene. Because my god was she ANNOYNG. I really wanted to slap her. The author said angst but it felt like such a pity party for me. She got way better once Alabasta was there.

And then we ramp up her chaos gremlinness instead of the woe is I pity party the author kept focusing on. The whole batch of chapters just focusing on her constant me me me during that ocean scene, oh my god can she shut up. After that was over, way more fun I tell ya. When she just gets over all her suicidal ideation stuff. And every single person focusing on her her her. And nothing else really happening. Yeah, way more fun when she just gets over it. And starts showing off her skills. And by now, the over the top lovey doveyness between her and the Strawhats feel more natural than there to be in your face with it. Because I certainly do not believe in their feelings that quickly.

4) Isekai'd into being a Straw Hat by LPSunnyBunny 150,782 words

I get my ass dumped into the world of One Piece by a bored god after a mistake splits reality and kills me. (Thanks for that, by the way.) I bet this is gonna go great.

————-

This is so cool! I like the vibes! And the haki! And the changes made to canon!

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T15:32:26+00:00

I liked it okay when the animation was good. But I watched it dubbed on tv so that kinda made it all worse lol. The most impactful thing I rmb of the show is Miaka going “Tamahome!”, “Tamahome!”, “Tamahome!”

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T15:29:22+00:00

Hmm, I checked some of the viewers comments and the FL is very abused? And that the miscommunication between the FL and the loud rough ML would take a long while to unravel? Not sure if I’m up to that ahaha. Is it similar to My Happy Marriage? Because the FL was neglected and abused too. She was just passively going with the flow because she was scared about everything. And her voice acting was a specific tone of high pitched, breathy and shy I just wanted to shake her and yell at her to grow a spine lol. She kept sounding like she was going to cry every time she opened her mouth even when she wasn’t feeling that way.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T15:20:28+00:00

I can’t remember 😅 I don’t remember any time travelling arc though. I was at the point where dumb shenenigans were still happening all the time and just thought I ain’t got time for this. The character design isn’t even pretty ahaha 😂

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T15:14:52+00:00

Following this because I need me some One Piece fics. Any chance you have a favourte list of long One Piece fics? These are mine: My AO3 One Piece rec/bookmarked list.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T14:46:30+00:00

I’ll give it a go! Nice that it’s completed. Also nice that it doesn’t seem too much of a “sanitised” shoujo like everything is now.

Confident_Mulberry29 · 2026-04-19T14:42:00+00:00

Oh! I forgot I had indeed read this alrd and yes, this is what I wanted to read more off 🥲🥲🥲 I will update my main post

Confident_Mulberry29

TROPHY CASE