In this sweet BL story, shut-in Kamakura has let a traumatic event at work defeat him, and he stays inside, speaks to no one, and doesn’t take care of himself or his apartment. He has become a hikikomori. Even a baseball shattering his balcony window doesn’t seem to shake him out of it…Until the stranger Katsuyoshi climbs his balcony to check and see if he’s alright.

It turns out Katsuyoshi is the neighbor below. He sees Kamakura’s living conditions and offers to help him clean, especially with the threat of eviction from the landlord, and Kamakura reluctantly agrees. What challenges Kamakura even more is that during the cleaning process, he stays overnight with Katsuyoshi at his apartment, and the two form a special bond with each other that goes beyond their individual traumas.

So, I really loved this manga. I identified with it so much on a personal level. When I lived in Japan in my own apartment, I would suffer from bouts of depression and let my living space go completely out of control. During COVID especially, I gave up on everything. If it wasn’t for the kindness of my friends who checked on me and helped me clean up (and this happened three times!!), I would’ve been buried under the rubble of cardboard boxes, unwashed dishes, and color-coded trash bags.

I considered my friends coming to help me clean an enormous gift. It’s a huge deal to have people see you at your most vulnerable, where it’s clear you haven’t been taking care of yourself or your things…and they don’t judge. They’re just there to help you get your life back in order.

My friends astounded me just like Katsuyoshi’s actions astounded Kamakura. How can a neighbor just swoop in and offer help like that? How has Katsuyoshi managed not to judge Kamakura for his filthy lifestyle?

It turns out, Katsuyoshi has some experience with this. His younger brother also dealt with isolation and letting things go, and Katsuyoshi has memories of terrible things he’d said to his brother due to his lack of understanding. Katsuyoshi has matured over the years, but he is estranged from his brother. He sees a little bit of his brother in Kamakura in terms of how he has lived, but the similarities end there. Katsuyoshi is drawn to Kamakura naturally, and develops feelings for him as Kamakura grows and changes.

The two share some awkward moments of intimacy, but the two don’t actually do anything physical until much later in their friendship, where they feel more sure of themselves, have grown out of their trauma, and feel mutual adoration for each other.

It’s particularly touching because Kamakura has felt such shame about himself for such a long time, and Katsuyoshi embraces him anyway.

It was just a really bittersweet moment and I am so glad this couple came together. I love happy endings and I can see them being together for a very long time.

So yes, this was an enjoyable read and it touched me personally. I really felt connected to Kamakura and admired Katsuyoshi’s lack of judgement. I also liked the art of this manga. The men look sleek and their appearances are unique, also. The art isn’t overly detailed with tiny flourishes and flounces sometimes seen in romance manga, as it really wouldn’t fit the realism of this story.

I followed Joe Aruku on Amazon to see when more of his manga will be released, as I’m pleased with his work as an artist and storyteller. I’d be happy to read more of his work.

If you are looking for a sweet, sensitive story about two men recovering from past trauma who find each other and help each other grow, I recommend this manga. It was an emotional reading experience for me and I fell in love with the kindness and respect the leads held for each other. What a great couple!

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TOKYOPOP’s imprint LOVE LOVE published The Stranger in the Hoarding House August 12, 2025 in digital and August 26, 2025 in print. You can purchase directly from the publisher or at various stores online dedicated to selling books.