Title:
The Metalhead Next-Door (Japanese romaji: Tonari no Metaller-san)
Author:
Mamita
Synopsis:
About to freeze to death on a day of heavy snow, Kento is saved by his neighbor Soushi. Dressed all in black, taciturn and scary-looking, Soushi seems hard to approach, but his eyes, almost hidden by his long hair, shine as if pleading for something. After that day, the two of them end up eating together every day for one year. Kento, while hiding the fact that he's gay, doesn't want the peaceful and happy time they share to come to an end. Can he keep a lid on his feelings...?!
Where to Read:
Amazon, Renta, Cmoa, Chara Comics. There's no official English release at this time.
Content Warning, Trigger Warning, Spoiler Warning:
This manga includes topics that may be unsuitable for non-mature audiences. Topics include: Explicit content in the extra. This review may also include spoilers. They will be kept as minimal as possible.
My Thoughts:
I'm a metalhead who doesn't look like one, that's probably the reason why I was so drawn to The Metalhead Next-Door. (I was 100% that girl who pulled up to my high school in my tiny car, blaring metal and screaming along. I got a lot of weird looks because tinted windows are illegal where I live without a special permit). My economics teacher literally asked me "What has happened?" when I told him I like metal, and my math teacher of three years, swim coach of four, just stared at me weird and went "Okay...". So I felt connected to Soushi immediately; I knew immediately that he was someone who was different from his appearance. Not to mention we both suffer from social anxiety, and have introverted tendencies.
About mid-way through the manga, Kento, our other main character, asks Soushi why he likes metal. "It allows me not to converse with others," he answers. "Metal is fast, strong, and heavy. So...so, it will cancel out the noise outside...But now I listen because I like it." Wow, okay, hitting me in the feels. I started listening to metal because I like it, but it soon became a coping mechanism for me, just how it had with Soushi. It does exactly what he says: It keeps the noise out, it allows you to focus on what you really want to do, and not have to worry about conversations that make you anxious. Soushi's always been shy, introverted, having trouble speaking, just like me. But Kento becomes someone who will wait patiently to hear what Soushi has to say.
I have to say, Kento is such a great person, it even almost got him killed (that might be an exaggeration). I don't have any friends who can stand metal, so seeing Kento want to go to a concert with Soushi was so sweet to me, even if it was based just a lil' on jealousy. During the concert, Kento suggests they watch from the center. I started internally screaming "Oh no!!! He's gonna get killed!!" And yes, he almost gets killed when he unknowingly steps into the circle pit.
Kento, after a year of the two of them being friends, starts to fall for Soushi. He pulls away from him for a few days, needing to think things over by himself. Soushi, being the introverted person with social anxiety, starts to overthink the messages Kento sent him. He starts to come to the conclusion that Kento might like him, and Soushi tries to understand his own feelings towards Kento. "I've never really liked someone romantically before," he thinks. I completely understood where he was coming from. When he shut himself off from others to make his life easier, he wasn't able to know if the things he feels towards Kento were platonic or not. He freezes up in the snow, worrying Kento after Kento figures out his own feelings. Soushi can't get his words out, starting to cry, but Kento waits for him. Again, I understood Soushi. I have trouble getting my words out, crying as I'm getting frustrated at myself for stuttering over my words, and not conveying stuff properly. But Kento waits, not demanding Soushi talk immediately or leaving. They may have some different interests, Soushi may look scary, but Kento loves him for his personality and kind heart. In the end, isn't that all anyone can ever want?
