If you’re a fan of netorare or watching otherwise normal, beautiful women fall to their carnal desires through various acts of humiliation, you’ve probably heard of Takeda Hiromitsu (Twitter, Pixiv, Website). While many of Hiromitsu’s works have not seen the light of day in the West, FAKKU did localize a series of his works that focuses on netorare, the act of stealing one’s lover using whatever means deemed necessary. That series is Ima Real, and it is available for purchase here on J-List!
Ima♡Real consists of a multi-chapter story as well as two one-shots that were published in Comic Megastore and Kairakuten from 2009 to 2013. The titular story follows three different idols who haven’t had the best luck with their work. Usually, this involves the idol finding a boyfriend, which is often considered a no-no in the industry. You are an idol for the people, not a single person! As a result, they are told that, unless they fulfill some crazy deal, they will no longer be idols. The events vary from spending a month filming on a deserted island, going through an obstacle course full of aphrodisiac-lotion-coated items, and eventually performing alongside fellow idols in a very private VIP show, complete with everything you could expect.
Following this four-chapter story, we have two one-shots. The first, “The Budding Crimson Flower,” follows a member of a kendo club who has to “thank” her club’s sponsor for giving them the means to attend a major tournament. This leads to a major theme in netorare, making sweet, sweet love in front of the person you’re stealing the girl from, and they’re none the wiser. The second one-shot, “Mutual Teaching,” involves the use of sleeping pills and then having sex literally on top of the person while they sleep. That guy is truly a heavy sleeper.
Finally, as with most netorare stories, the ones who steal the girls aren’t exactly the most… attractive individuals. This is a well-known trope in the doujin industry known as “the ugly bastard.” Essentially, the ones who, quite literally, steal your girl are typically big men with even bigger tools. Expect tons of ahegao and pretty hardcore scenes, especially as the final chapter comes to its… ahem… climax. If you’re into idols and/or netorare, this book is absolutely for you.
Hiromitsu’s art is absolutely gorgeous, and you can actually see the signs of transformation as each character falls deeper and deeper into their own lust. We go from pure to absolutely drunk on passion as the pages turn, and being able to watch that transition is not terribly common. Usually, it’s “pure one page, ahegao the next.” There’s none of that here — this is true netorare.
If this interests you, and I hope it does, be sure to pick up a copy of Ima Real!
