From infancy to maturity, what Ye Zhou dislikes the most was “two”.... more>>

The reasons were: he was ranked second at home, he had been forever ranked second at school, no matter how diligently he worked and tried, he couldn’t shake off that “second” curse. What was more exasperating was that, at University, not only was he ranked second, but even his appearance that he was proud of had to be classified as second best!

Why can’t I obtain the first place!

The eternal second will rise!

Then, Ye Zhou, after his vigorous efforts finally rises and the result was… the first became his boyfriend.

This is the story of a man who has been forced to be “second” and how he became the first, most popular. <<less

In the year of 2013, the tide of zombie outbreak exploded in everyone's homeland.... more>>

Humanity launched a large-scale battle in the endless nights awaiting for the arrival of dawn.

The end is approaching, is there going to be a way out for them?

Their faiths were shattered into pieces and buried in the ashes of the raging fire.

But within the blazing fire, a newborn hope arise once again. <<less

The target of my unrequited love for three years, Shimabara, was getting married. Asama who was shocked and Shimabara who spoke about his partner strangely…... more>>

Happens in the span of 5 minutes. A short and suspenseful love.

Sequel:
The next Sunday after Shimabara proposed. Asama began living together with Shimabara. However, as expected, a newlywed life with Shimabara wasn’t only sweet… <<less

Everyone knew that Master Qiao Si stood for the word “ruthless” in City S.... more>>

No one dared to call him by name,

Even Master Qiao Si himself seemed to have forgotten his actual name.

At this point of life, Master Qiao Si thought he was capable of seeing through anything in the world,

Except for his half brother –

He’s willing to exchange anything he could afford for a look from Qiao Che.

Duan Heng, who came to serve him ten years ago,

A future star under his patronage and one of his pets,

Was also one of the “tributes” to Qiao Che.

However, this young man was like a loyal and handsome large puppy for him.

His bold love was almost addictive.

Momentary happiness, though it might be illusory, was nonetheless happiness.

Those feelings that should have been long forgotten started to come back…… <<less

He’s just a low-ranking deputy general and he’s a prince. They meet on the battlefield but it turns out to be the beginning of a complicated and beautiful story.... more>>

Murong Yu is a very confident man – until he meets Han Xin.

There’s nothing he cannot get; there’s nothing he cannot destroy.

To let live or not, is all up to him.

He is the future ruler of Great Yan and so it’s only natural that the world should bow down at his feet.

But he had never thought that one day he would lose control of it.

That even his own will would be uncontrollable.

Murong Yu can neither get nor destroy this prisoner of war.

Han Xin has never given a care about the world – until he meets Murong Yu.

He has never cared about anyone, nor has anyone cared about him.

It doesn’t matter if you’re alone or sad, as long as you can still laugh, life will go on.

He has learned long ago how to not question, how not to believe, how not to lose and how not to care.

Destiny’s uncaring teasing and humiliations have already become numb to him.

That’s right, he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Even if it’s this Prince Royal of Great Yan who’s started to warm up to him. <<less

Yokozawa Takafumi is in the midst of heartbreak after being rejected by his one-sided love, Takano Masamune. Will things look up for poor Yokozawa once... more>> he crosses paths with Kirishima Zen, the head editor of a shounen manga magazine, who also happens to have a young daughter? <<less

I think that was the moment when everything started to change.... more>>

I don’t know why but I had never liked anyone in all those years. Even though I liked men, I had never taken a liking to any.

I thought it was out of sympathy and pity at that time.

But someone once said that love stemming from sympathy and pity is actually more down-to-earth. I think it was Zheng Zhihua talking about his wife. <<less

In order to help their chief find a wife, the bandits kidnapped a woman from the bottom of the mountain in order to offer her up to him.... more>>

The chief of the mountain stronghold, Lu Cang falls in love at first sight with the absolutely stunning beauty!

However, on the night of the consummation... <<less

Kyoutarou is walking home from college the way he usually does when he encounters a scene he never expected to. This is how he first... more>> met Yuuki and started his relationship with the Yajima family. <<less

On the outskirts of the Pleasure City of Midas lies the Ceres special autonomous area, commonly known as the slums. Gang leader Riki, looking for an easy pocket to pick in the nightlife districts, gets caught red-handed…by none other than one of the highest-ranking, golden-haired android elites ruling from the capital Tanagura: the “Blondy” Iason Mink!
By all rights, a Blondy standing at the pinnacle of aristocracy and a slummer should have never crossed paths—their chance encounter marks the beginning of a love twisted by obsession, soon spiraling into a karmic chain of events...... more>>

⬇️ //// About the Japanese novel and anime adaptations ////
⬇️ //// About the English translation ////
⬇️ //// Current translation status ////
⬇️ //// Drama CDs, prequel and side stories ////

//// About the Japanese novel and anime adaptations ////

Originally serialized in the bimonthly magazine Shosetsu June (小説ジュネ) spanning six chapters from December 1986 to October 1987, the novel was released with minor revisions into a hardcover edition in 1990.
This first version of the story received a two-episode/OVA anime adaptation in 1992 and 1994.

Between the years 2001 and 2007, the original story was greatly expanded upon and released in six paperback volumes. After a change of Japanese publisher, two more volumes were released between 2009 and 2010, completing the series (the six aforementioned volumes were released as volumes 1-4 in the newest Japanese edition).
This second version of the story was meant to be adapted into a twelve-episode OVA anime—initially planned to release in 2010—but was postponed to 2012, only to be discontinued after the fourth episode’s release.

//// About the English translation ////

The English paperback expanded edition is made up of eight volumes: the six first volumes (Seibido/Crystal edition) + the two later volumes (#7 and #8 in English, but #5 and #6 in the newest Tokuma/Chara edition).
The change in Japanese publisher led to a change in translator for the English edition between vol1 to 6 and vol7 to 8: it is highly recommended to read the fan translations of #7 and #8 as opposed to reading the licensed edition, due to the massive loss in translation (expect a 50% word count difference between the two).

//// Current translation status of the different editions of the novel (as of April 20th, 2024) ////

. Shosetsu June edition, unlicensed: 2/6 chapters, ongoing fan translation.
. 1990 hardcover edition, unlicensed: 2/6 chapters, ongoing fan translation. An older fan translation had 4/6 chapters translated but the project was dropped.
. 2000’s expanded edition, English licensed: fully translated, complete.

//// Drama CDs, prequel and side stories ////

– The Shosetsu June story was adapted into a drama cassette and a drama CD (Dark Erogenous).
– The expanded story was adapted into three drama CDs (Destiny, Nightmare, Resonance)
– A prequel called Midnight Illusion was serialized in Shosetsu June between December 1992 and April 1993, and released as a hardcover in 1996. 3/6 chapters have been fan-translated into English.
– The 5 side stories have all been fan-translated into English (Kizu/Wound, File-0, Cal’s Sighs, Musk, Illusion Night) and are based on the expanded version of the novel.

Look up online “Ai no Kusabi Master List LiveJournal” to find the links to all the material listed above and more.

[This page was updated as per an anon’s request, all credit goes to the AnK community where credit is due.] <<less

Find out Shao Lang’s unexpected encounter in the tram.

The notorious imperial court lackey and the meritorious military general were well-known for their mutual dislike, a pair of arch-enemies set in stone. Who could have foreseen the unexpected change in the winds of heaven: the general injured on the battlefield, both legs disabled, and even forced by the emperor to marry his nemesis. ... more>>

With one marriage edict, two people with mutual hostility are forced to marry and live under the same roof. Yet after these long days together, they come to the realization that this fellow is not truly devoid of any saving grace/unattainable and high out of reach. <<less

Larry died in real life and reincarnated as a fox who was cultivating for immortality. He could only reincarnate again as a human being if he could find the real mu*derer who killed him. “But…ah! Why should I be reborn as a fox fairy!!!”... more>>

“You…don’t come close to me! Leave me alone!” Larry the fox was shivering when he saw a man in white uniform came close to him.

The vet called Frost grabbed Larry up and… “Ackawooooooo!!!!!” It seemed as if Larry’s bark could be heard all over the whole street.

Frost was somewhat confused. “What does the fox say?”

Larry was actually saying:

“Damn you! Let me go! By no means should I be neutered!!!”

“I don’t want to be a little fox! I want to be the Kurama with nine tails!” <<less

The first time he met Xiang Xi, the boy seemed to be staging a collision.
The second time he met Xiang Xi, the boy was in the middle of staging a collision.
And then it doesn't take two days before the boy actually comes crashing into his own car!... more>>

Fate is wild like that, he can bump into him wherever he goes.

This is a very respectable story that begins with a staged crash, a story about the one putting others in place and the one being put in his place.
It’s very respectable. Really. <<less

A song from within the depth of the cosmos. A protagonist with curious beginnings encounters a Star Knight, steering starships deeper yet into space to lead us on a journey full of adventures and unknowns. ... more>>

Klorin, the dark King of Falling Star. The death of a hundred billion stars and the life of the man-made god, Yshzur.

The Republic, the Empire, and the Legion of Falling Star. These three major forces would bring about a ruthless annexation of the Last Utopia. <<less

The Movie Star Chen Yi got hit by a billboard and passed out.... more>>

When he woke up, doctors and journalists were surrounding him, only to hear him say:

“Kind ladies and sirs, I am the humble monk Tang Sanzang, who just returned from the journey to the West and received the precious scriptures from the Gautama Buddha.”

“Amitabha, the humble monk never deceives others. What do you mean by saying ‘movie star’?”

Chen Yi’s agent, Sun Kong, was more than anxious: what should he tell the company and the press about Chen Yi?

Not to mention Qian Xingmo, a millionaire who had kept Chen Yi as his secret lover for a year! <<less

This is the story of 24-year old Edd Talbot, a straight guy who entered the world of amateur gay p*rnography by a twist of fate. He was determined to leave the industry behind after shooting a solo m*sturbation video, but meeting Glenn McQueen changed his mind. Glenn Mcqueen who has been in charge of dozens of gay p*rn video productions; Edd falls hard and fast for this sophisticated man with a devil-may-care attitude.... more>>

Book 1. Walk on the Wild

Book 2. Walk in the Fire

*Extra 1. DIARY & GOSSIP

Book 3. Float in Zero Gravity

Book 4. Walk in the Wind

Book 5. Walk on Water

*Extra 2. On Our Way

*Extra 3. Never Finish <<less

Mu Yunshen returned to his hometown after retiring from the military. He opened a pet shop and lived a quiet life, thinking that the rest of his life was going to be spent peacefully like this, until one day, a young master of a military family he once protected came looking for him…... more>>

“You look a little familiar.” Trolexer looked at Mu Yunshen with dark blue eyes.

“I think you must have mistaken me for someone else…” Mu Yunshen turned around to feed the Iceflame fox in the cage, but only to hide the cold sweat running down his face.

“Let’s see… you look a lot like the guard who used to protect me.” Trolexer said, rubbing his chin.

Mu Yunshen knew he couldn’t hide anymore. What should come would always come, and it was time to face it all.

“That’s right! Do you know how much pain I’ve gone through during the years you were away?!”

“And those two boys in the room! They are our children!” <<less