A dating app that loudly chimes when you’re near your match in person, sounds fun right? For Harue, an inexperienced 41-year-old gay man who works in software development, he checks the app out on a whim. He thinking his match is probably a catfish and forgets about it. That is until it loudly goes off in synchrony when he arrives at a bar. The other phone chime belongs to Fujishima, a stunning man who is instantly charmed by Harue’s cuteness.
About Lovers on the Last Train
Lovers on the Last Train is a boys’ love manga by Dayoo, published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. If Dayoo’s work looks familiar, it’s because they are also the creator of Lonely Playground which I’ve recommended before.
In Lovers on the Last Train, Harue is a gay man in his 40s who’s never been in a relationship. When he was younger, he didn’t pursue anything and then when he started working, he dove head first and put love on the back burner. When he downloads a dating app his company worked on, that chimes whenever you’re near a “match,” he didn’t think much of it. He accidentally likes someone’s profile, but deems they are probably a catfish. Until one day, he walks by the “catfish” and both their phones go off.
Enter Fujishima, another gay man in his 40s who works in the wedding industry. They get drinks and soon hit up a hotel, where Harue promptly falls asleep before the two can do anything. Thinking this was a one-off thing, Harue tries not to think about Fujushima too much (spoiler alert: he’s not doing a good job at this) but fate keeps bringing them together.
My Thoughts
From the second I started reading this story, I knew it was going to put a hold on me. Both Harue and Fujishima are captivated by each other from their first meeting. Because of their different levels of experience, they both react so differently. Harue can’t believe someone like Fujishima would pay attention to him, and thus doesn’t believe anything further would happen between them. Yet, he can’t stop thinking about or dreaming about Fujishima. He’s afraid to admit to himself how hard he’s fallen and feels so inadequate due to his lack of experience.
Fujishima, on the other hand, is so smitten he doesn’t know what to do. Harue feels so different than anything from in Fujishima’s past. After going through some difficult things, Harue is a bright light in Fujishima’s life. Although Harue is inexperienced and pushing Fujishima away, Fujishima knows that he can’t let this go. I love how relentless Fujishima is in the face of love while still meeting Harue where he is. He’s willing to slow down to match Harue’s pace, as long as he can have him.
The highs make me want to cry just as much as the lows…
Every interaction Harue has with Fujishima makes his heart race and that’s something to treasure. It made me giddy how they both fell for each other and felt something so profound, they knew they couldn’t let this go. Harue may feel insecure, but he is so honest with Fujishima and willing to put his heart out there. Lovers on the Last Train is a testament that you’re never too old for your first love and never too old to go after what your heart wants.
Where to Buy Lovers on the Last Train
Lovers on the Last Train
Story and Art: DAYOO
Translation: Kat Skarbinec
Lettering: Rebecca Sze
Editor: Suzanne Seals
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
Lovers on the Last Train is available for preorder now and will be released on December 16.
Thanks to Seven Seas Entertainment for the ARC!
