You can’t go in expecting typical BL material. But if you appreciate two troubled guys finding comfort in each other, this is it.

With a little reading between the lines, there is still plenty of evidence to suggest that their relationship goes beyond just friendship.

As a detective, Ichiro is a stickler for law and order. A lonely young man with a tragic past, he rarely lets anyone in, mostly keeping to himself. On the other side of the law, Shiro is a young and ruthless yakuza leader who turned to a life of vice and violence after his sister’s disappearance. While he has an outgoing exterior and nonchalant attitude, this only masks his deeper fears of abandonment.

Brought together by a chance encounter, the yakuza leader and the public security bureau officer discover a more profound connection than they expected. They are the unlikeliest of pairings but what can I say? Opposites attract.

A fairly wide range of characters propel the show forward. The backbone of the narrative is a sinister plot involving a network of politicians, agents and gang members. And this is really what drives the show. The relationship between Ichiro and Shiro is, unfortunately (and disappointingly for some), secondary.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the story for what it is. Even the is-this-BL-or-not ambiguity.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-review-2022-unfair-to-hold-it-to-typical-bl-standards/
Analysis of why I think they're more than friends: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-episode-breakdown-why-theyre-more-than-just-friends/