This was such a cute manga. The story is simple not some grand tale which is nice. You don't always need some over the top plot to tell a story. The main characters are brought together because their names are unique and they bond over that. And the moment they realize they have feelings for each other is just a sweet moment. The artwork is nice to look at. It has a comforting feel to it. This is a must read for someone who is wanting a cozy BL manga to read.

I definitely will be looking for more manga told by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of Number Call.

"One simple word...one little smile...makes such a difference."

A high romance of two young men that are brought together from the similarities of their names.

Akito goes by Eito and meets a classmate named Tomoya Hatta, also known as Hachi, which is "8". They became close from casual greetings and conversations in the hallway, but it changes when Eito realizes that his feelings for Hatta goes deeper than friendship. As he confronts his new feelings, Hatta already showed signs of feeling the same way yet. However, the possible discrimination that comes with not being straight, there was a fear of driving each other away.

It was medium paced and had a easy-going flow. This was overall a nice and calming read!

**Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review**

4 ⭐️
I really liked this manga, the premise was fun and pretty unique, and though it was very short I feel like the author managed to make it interesting and to create a connection between the reader and the characters.
Both main characters were adorable, and their friends were also very funny and sweet !
I would have liked seeing more of the romance part and not only the pining one but I still very much enjoyed this read. Also, the drawings were absolutely beautiful and I really liked the composition of the pages, and the choice of focus on different parts of the characters' bodies to convey the emotions, it was well done.

That was a cute read!

Not really anything groundbreaking as far as story or themes, but I did like the name angle. I thought the MCs had great chemistry, as well, and I was really rooting for them!

If you're wanting a low-angst one shot of classmates falling in love, then I def recommend this manga!

Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha
I frequently search Netgalley for Graphic Novels, Comics, and Mangas for in-between the more time-consuming books I read. When I do, I especially look out for queer content, as I want to support the diversification of stories by reviewing and recommend those. In case of this manga, I’m not too sure of speaking out in favor. It’s not problematic at all, don’t get me wrong. I simply was a bit disappointed by its story. Initially, I was quite intrigued by this idea of names/numbers getting our protagonists in contact. But I think this issue had me quite confused at times. Therefore, I couldn’t really feel the trouble produced by the confusion later in the story.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed my short time with Eito and Hachi.
Both appear to have quite opposite personalities. When they coincidentally meet, they nevertheless connect—at least Hachi seeks the other out again and again. Through his insistence, they become friends whose interactions I liked reading. Especially the more ambiguous and even romantically charged they became. We are allowed to follow both characters through their days and their thoughts, which helped to catch their blooming feelings. Of course, they were also connected to insecurities of first love and overall queerness. Some of their interactions (also with their friends) really amused me and warmed my heart.

Flaws
I would have enjoyed this story way more if it wasn’t for smaller problems. It caused me quite some trouble to figure out which bubbles were referring to speech or to thoughts, further, to which speaker/thinker. Additionally, I was not always sure about the characters, as two important ones had light hair, the other two dark hair. I would have wished for more distinctive drawings. Furthermore, I couldn’t fully grasp Eito’s emotions at some instances. I felt like his facial expression was mismatching the overall situation. Nonetheless, his actions most-often spoke louder than words or looks.

In conclusion,
I was looking forward a lot to this one, but it unfortunately did not meet my expectations. The story was a bit slow and, for me, did not offer any real highs or lows. It is a nice friends-to-lovers story, but I could not fully grasp its inducing word play.

This was cute but highly forgettable manga. I thought the characters and story were cute, but it had nothing else going for it. One thing I did not like was that the art was very simple, with not a lot of backgrounds or shading. Most of the time, I couldn't tell the main characters from the side characters since the designs were extremely similar and simple. Overall, it is not a bad read, but nothing great either.

I appreciate your detailed review of "Number Call" by Nagisa Furuya. It's clear that you have a good understanding of the story's nuances and a keen appreciation for the author's unique approach to storytelling. Your comparison of this work to Furuya's previous manga, "My Summer of You," adds context and insight into your expectations.

In the rewritten review:

"I approached 'Number Call' with high expectations, having previously enjoyed Nagisa Furuya's work, particularly 'My Summer of You.' Fortunately, 'Number Call' lived up to these expectations. The story revolves around Eito Tachibana, who harbors resentment towards his name due to teasing related to the number 8. However, his perspective changes when he encounters his classmate Tomoyo Hatta, also known as Hachi, the Japanese word for 8. Their similar names become the foundation for a blossoming friendship that may evolve into something deeper.

What sets 'Number Call' apart is its unique premise, bringing together two characters through an unusual coincidence of sharing similar names. While I may not personally relate to having an uncommon name, I can appreciate how such a connection could forge a strong bond between characters.

In a genre often characterized by familiar tropes, 'Number Call' offers a refreshing take on LGBTQ+ narratives. The author skillfully navigates away from clichés, presenting readers with a storyline that feels both authentic and heartwarming. Despite its relatively short length, the book manages to evoke genuine emotions, leaving the reader with a smile and occasional giggles.

Overall, 'Number Call' is a delightful and charming read that I wholeheartedly recommend. Its endearing characters, unconventional premise, and lighthearted tone make it a standout in the realm of LGBTQ+ literature. Your thorough review, highlighting the strengths of the narrative and its emotional impact, adds credibility to your recommendation, making it likely to resonate with readers who appreciate these elements in a story.

4 stars

It’s a short and cute love story. I do wish it had been longer and had multiple volumes because this would have been a fantastic slow burn and I also wanted to get to know the characters more in depth, including the side characters.

Number Call had a cute premise but it just didn't deliver. The art is pleasant and simple, but I had to flip back and forth because the two leads had friends who basically had similar character designs with the other lead. The meet cute was indeed cute, but after that, I couldn't get into whatever chemistry they were supposed to have. It's a fluffy short read, if you're into that, but I can see why this was just a one-shot. Hopefully Furuya's future titles will be better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for this e-book copy!

I've been enjoying reading Nagisa Furuya's one-shots as they are being licensed in English. In Number Call, you have two high schoolers who share a dilemma of their names both meaning the number 8. They find solace in each other and wonder if their friendship can turn into more. I thought this was a solid read. It wasn't my favorite one-shot from this author but I still enjoyed reading about the main two and their relationship. If you already like this author, I would recommend checking this out and if you aren't a previous fan this can be a good starting point.

Even after reading the explanation in the back I’m still a little fuzzy on how Japanese characters can be misread tbh, but I thought the concept of connecting over their link to the number eight was clever and cute. And I really enjoyed watching the sweet bond between Eito and Hachi grow. Such a tender, comedic, and happy story!

Number Call is a story about two school boys who meet by chance and become friends because they have similar names.
Both boys go by names that sound like the number eight. Akito (nickname Eighto) has never liked the jokes that have come with his name. But when he meets "Hachi" (Japanese for 8) he doesn't mind him making the comparison as something they have in common. As their friendship grows Eighto realizes something more is drawing him to Hachi.
This is such a cute Shounen-ai. It's written by Nagisa Furuya the mangka who wrote My Summer of You, The Two Lions and My Ultramarine Sky. So I knew I was going to get a cute slice-of- life story of two school boys falling in love. Typical of this author, wholesome and sweet. I recommend this one for when you want something like that, familiar and cozy.

Such a wholesome story! I found the progression of their bond so sweet and endearing and really enjoyed seeing how they came to terms with their feelings.
I'm currently learning Japanese and could appreciate the puns within the names, but I don't know that it wholly translates to English well. That said, I really appreciate the additional info at the end to give more explanation about the names.

The main lead characters have unique names and it brought them together. The plot leads to the development of the bond between two characters and we get to see the attachment between two.
The book is quite comforting and beautiful in itself, so it was a total treat for me to read. I finished it in one sitting only.

This was an interesting manga I personally read a lot of bl manga and I think this is good but a little more slow burn then I like. But I liked the characters and I thought that this is a cute slice of life book where it is very fun and cool but I would of liked to see more of side characters like the main characters friends and some home life as it focused on the high school setting and the couple are cute just it doesn’t allow you to connect with the characters in only one setting

This is Nagisa Furuya's first manga volume, and so it is a really simple and sweet story. Eito and Hachi bonded over how their names have something to do with the number eight. Both are shy, especially studious and introverted Eito, but they unexpectedly form a fun and deep friendship which feels... like more. However, they're so confused, cue "but we are both boys" and "what am I feeling?" thoughts. Absolutely 10/10 portrayal of that high school queer experience in a heteronormative world (minus homophobic high school peers).

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this advance review copy, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Cute, fun, easy read about learning to love your name. As someone who dislikes my current name this made me think of my name in a new light.

I loved this story but wish it was longer and more developed.

I would first like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an advance readers' copy of "Number Call" by Nagisa Furuya.

"Number Call" tells the story of Eito Tachibana, a young man who has always despised his name due to the teasing it invites, as it bears a resemblance to the number 8. However, his perspective on his name changes when he encounters his classmate Tomoyo Hatta, also known as Hachi, which is the Japanese word for 8. As their paths intertwine, their similar names serve as the foundation for a blossoming friendship that may evolve into something deeper.

Having previously enjoyed Nagisa Furuya's work, particularly "My Summer of You," I approached "Number Call" with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. What sets this book apart is the unique premise of two individuals brought together by an unusual coincidence of sharing similar names. While I may not personally relate to having an uncommon name, I can appreciate how such a connection could forge a strong bond between characters.

In a genre often characterized by familiar tropes and storylines, "Number Call" offers a refreshing take on LGBTQ+ narratives. The author skillfully navigates away from clichés, presenting readers with a storyline that feels both authentic and heartwarming. Despite its relatively short length, the book manages to evoke genuine emotions, leaving the reader with a smile and occasional giggles.

Overall, "Number Call" is a delightful and charming read that I wholeheartedly recommend. Its endearing characters, unconventional premise, and lighthearted tone make it a standout in the realm of LGBTQ+ literature.

this story is so good. the 'i wish you were the opposite gender so i could date you' trope is so underrated, it's criminal.

the storyline is good. eito and hachi? their names basically paved the way for their bond. i love it.

In to the great tradition of Nana and maybe even Free! here we have a protagonist and a to-be love interest with similar, easily mistaken names that are both variations on "eight." And while that connects them, there's more than just the names that keeps them connected...

This was a cute little one-shot BL manga but in the end it had me going, 'oh, that's it?' I'm glad for the little epilogue and I'd definitely read a sequel manga about them in college or after or whatnot (what college is Hachi even going to!). This was like italian ice on a warm day, light and refreshing and not too much substance but sometimes just what you want.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eARC in exchange for review!