4.5/5

I love the concept of this book. Ichiro is a cop and Shiro is part of the Yakuza. So, Ichiro is looking into the disappearance of Rion who trained him. He thinks if he gets close to Shiro he’ll be able to find her or at least whatever happened to her. THE THING IS Shiro joined the yakuza to find out the same thing. Rion is his sister. He wants to know what happened as well. So, Ichiro and Shiro work together posing as boyfriends to make people believe they are together so they can both try to research and find out what happened to Rion.

I am extremely excited to read more to one see how deep and dangerous it gets. But also see their relationship blossom and how they handle different challenges ahead.

3.5 stars rounded up

This is a cute and funny story about a police officer, Ichiro, and yakuza lieutenant, Shiro, who team up to investigate the disappearance of a woman they both know, Rion. The art is nice and the characters are often silly, though they get serious when they need to be.

I’m intrigued by the mystery of Rion’s presumed murder, and the dynamic between Ichiro and Shiro is cute. I’ll definitely be checking out the second volume when it releases.

Can you give me volume 2 right now?

What interesting characters this manga presents. Although it is intended to be a BL and to show us romance and scenes that are sometimes a little risque (nothing serious, calm down), I think Kei X Yaku has a great story behind it and they are this type of manga that I really enjoy reading. It is captivating and leaves you wanting much more.

Great mysteries to solve, characters to meet, and I also sense that some tears are coming.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of a cop and a yakuza is very uncommon well for me anyways , it was really interesting and I have a lot of questions, firstly on why Ichiro is so interested in finding Rion, I understand them being partners in the same department and stuff but going against his higher ups to fine her is raising so many questions for me . Also is this going to progress into a BL or is it just like they become like comrades working together to solve the case because him being in love with Chika is throwing me off a bit . Hopefully I get my answers int eh volumes to come which I’m looking forward to reading

A story about a yakuza and a detective teaming up to solve a personal case and develope feelings. In this first volume there is no romance between the leads but they are getiting to be friends and that is nice to see.

It is also funny with simple but beautiful artwork.

Overall a good start to a series which promises mystery and romance

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was surprisingly good. From the cover, I was worried it would be one of those titles with random spicy scenes (nothing against those, just not my type of genre), but it was surprisingly intriguing.

The story follows a CIA-esque character teaming up with a yakuza lieutenant to find out what happened to a mutual acquaintance 3 years prior. Neither of their superiors know what they are up to and they are undercover as boyfriends. The mystery element of this is intriguing. There was a video of the mutual acquainance being attacked but was immediately taken down and she was presumed dead. But is she really dead? What happened to her?

These two complete opposites work together to find out, and they won't stop until they have answers.

— 4.5 ⚝

This was a delightful read. When I started it, I didn't anticipate becoming so invested. I adore the characters and their fun, playful, teasing dynamic. The plot and pacing are excellent. While I wished for a bit more romance in this volume, it makes sense since it's just setting up the story. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next volumes and how these two get together 🥰 I have a strong feeling this series is going to be fantastic!

thank you to netgalley and kodansha comics for an e-arc of this manga. all thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC,
Well this manga was something...A policial romance... omg. The force proximity... all though i wish in this volume we should know more information about the girl, i understand that this first volume qas to explain why they end up working together, that been said,
I can't wait for the next volume

Despite the 50-something page chapters, this volume felt super short. I couldn't stop reading once I started and was finished before I knew it. It's rather fast-paced and gets right to the action, which I liked. The dynamic between Ichiro, a cop, and Shiro, a yakuza, and their fake lovers relationship is entertaining and interesting as they team up to uncover what happened to Rion Nakaba, Ichiro's senior and Shiro's sister.

Recommended for those who like the cop and yakuza dynamic and a fast-paced story.

"Kei x Yaku" is a thrilling dive into a world where law enforcement and organized crime collide, blending political intrigue, deception, and secrets into a compelling narrative. This manga keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its intricate plot and complex characters.

The story follows Ichiro, an agent with the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Security Bureau, who is tasked with surveilling Shiro, a prominent yakuza figure with connections to influential male politicians. What starts as a standard mission quickly evolves into a gripping journey as both men discover they are chasing the same mystery: the disappearance of Rion Nakaba, who is both Ichiro's senior and Shiro's sister.

The dynamic between Ichiro and Shiro is electric, as their professional objectives intertwine with personal stakes. Their decision to pose as lovers to covertly investigate Rion's disappearance adds a layer of tension and excitement, making their interactions both dangerous and intimate.

"Kei x Yaku" expertly weaves a tangled web of political intrigue and personal vendettas. The narrative is fraught with deception, keeping readers guessing at every turn. The manga not only explores the dark underbelly of Tokyo's political and criminal worlds but also delves into the deep emotional connections between the characters.

For fans of BL crime dramas, "Kei x Yaku" is a must-read. Its well-crafted plot and dynamic character relationships make it a standout in the genre. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a mix of romance, mystery, and action.

I went into this one semi-blind, not really knowing what to expect. Honestly, after the first few scenes/panels, I thought I wasn’t going to like it. I really didn’t want to deal with the stereotypical undercover cop x yakuza non-con betrayal manga with very little plot. Thankfully, this wasn’t that, and I think we will get a decent story.

I found the humor bland, except for the interactions between Kai and Yaku, which I really enjoyed. The little bonus comics are super cute. The art is good, and the characters are interesting enough. The pace is quite fast and honestly could have been slowed down a bit. It felt quite short—sometimes it’s hard to tell with digital copies, but this felt like half a volume. Maybe because they added so many bonus comics, it was harder to fit more chapters; it only had three. While a lot happened, I finished the first volume feeling a bit unsatisfied—not with the actual story, but because it felt like I didn’t get a whole volume.

However, this is a digital ARC copy, and if I were to add the physical book to my collection, I would absolutely love that it includes the bonus chapters. After all, physical copies of manga/manhwa, at least for me, are like little, more expensive trophies for completing the digital copy.

This was a bit tricky to rate because there really wasn’t much to rate. I feel like I need to read the entirety of the series or at least the first 2-3 volumes to give an accurate rating and review. However, I was intrigued and could easily be convinced to keep up with this manga.

It’s worth mentioning that, despite the humor, there are quite a few darker scenes, and I’d assume more are to come, so keep that in mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review~

A fun series with a mystery at the heart of it! I like stories where two unlikely people need to team up to solve a case or get to the bottom of something with humour sprinkled in along the way. I enjoyed this volume and it definitely has potential to continue being great.

3.5

A pretty fun and interesting concept! A Yakuza lieutenant and a Special Agent team together to try and solve a cold case that they are both personally connected to. In order to not look suspicious, they create a cover story of them being lovers. This story moves quickly, almost a bit too quickly for my personal taste. The setup for the story is hastily done, and a lot of major plot points happen just a bit too quickly. I did really like that this wasn't an overly comedic or overly [spicy] story with no plot! It's a pretty serious story with a plot full of political intrigue and mysteries, with a little comedic relief every so often. Since there are so many twists and turns, I don't want to talk too much about the story for fear of spoiling it! I really enjoyed the art as well, some of the chapter illustrations were gorgeous.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

the manga is very interesting and flowing, I really like the dynamics of the characters and as a first volume it is perfect. The story is introduced perfectly but without revealing too much so that it keeps the reader's attention until the last page and makes you want to continue reading to see what happens next. I'm very curious to read the second volume!

Kei X Yaku: Bound By Law is shounen-ai, so light BL. I do enjoy yakuza and BL put together, so I wanted to try this. There are already ten books in the series and I'm glad this is slow-burn and there's an actual plot too. Ichiro is an agent from the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Security Bureau and he needs to follow Shiro, who's a yakuza that has interesting ties with certain male politicians. The two meet and somehow learn that they both want to know what happened to this woman, who was Ichiro's mentor and Shiro's sister. Thus they decide to work together in order to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of the said woman. There's humor, but it works and isn't too superimposed. These two are just getting to know one another and it's good. Kaoruhara takes the time to actually grow the characters and the mystery is also interesting.

The art in OK, nothing spectacular, but works well enough with the story line. I'm quite interested in what happens and the story took me by surprise. Long series are always better than short when it comes to BL surely.

This was so much funnier than I expected. I was ready for some yakuza crime and I got an added bonus of great humorous scenes.

The pitch “opposite sides of the law flirt with danger—and each other” is what pulled me in and it 100% delivered. I love how they dive beneath the law to get their hands dirty but i love it even more when they flirt with each other. And I didn’t expect to love the slowburn romance so much. It really builds up the tension between them in the best way possible .

The plot was also really interesting and I feel like Vol 1 did a great job at setting up the stage.

If you’re a fan of crime and murder mysteries, a little gay romance on the side, and witty characters, you’ll love this! It’s a great quick read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a copy

It was cute! I liked it a lot. I've heard there's a TV series so I'm off to watch that and wait for more volumes to be translated!

In a rare occurrence, I read this after watching the live action series that was adapted from the manga series. It doesn't take long to get into the flow of the story, but anyone new to the story might have a little trouble at the very beginning because the action starts before any of the characters are properly introduced.

As with the series, my favorite part is the dynamic between Ichiro and Shiro, their forced proximity/fake dating storyline is full of hilarious banter and ridiculous nonsense. I can't wait for more volumes to be translated so I can continue this story.

I received a digital copy of this manga from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first ever Volume BL Manga. It was a test if I'd like these as a continuing story or one that's more compacted. I enjoyed the first half more than the second. That was because I didn't realize that the story wasn't really evolving from it. A few twists and turns but nothing gritty. A lot of arguing but it feels really fake. I wish it would've gone further with everything it put forward.

In conclusion I will be picking up more from this story. But if it doesn't evolve it might just be the next issue.

Yoshie Kaoruhara's "Kei x Yaku: Bound by Law" is a riveting blend of crime drama, mystery, and unexpected romance that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The narrative follows Ichiro, a diligent agent of the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Security Bureau, who is tasked with the precarious mission of surveilling Shiro, a charismatic yakuza leader entwined with powerful politicians.

The plot takes an intriguing turn when Ichiro and Shiro discover a shared objective: the investigation into the disappearance of Rion Nakaba, a case that is both personal and professional. Ichiro's connection to the case comes from his deep respect and bond with Rion as his senior, while Shiro’s drive is rooted in a more intimate tie—Rion is his sister.

The investigation serves as the backbone of the story, with Kaoruhara deftly weaving in clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing. The blend of Ichiro’s law enforcement perspective and Shiro’s underworld insights creates a multifaceted approach to the mystery, highlighting the stark contrasts and surprising similarities between their worlds.

This manga is a captivating read that seamlessly blends action, intrigue, and emotion. Not only was it action packed it was also surprisingly funny. Overall I had a fun time reading this! Fans of crime dramas and character-driven stories will find much to appreciate in this compelling manga.