Number Call | Review

Number Call

Story and art by Nagisa Furuya

Kodansha, Released 3/12/24

Rated: Teen 13+

In numerology, the number 8 can symbolize a multitude of things, such as balance and achievement. In this Boys Love (BL) manga, the number 8 connects two classmates whose names are a play on the number, and delivers a beautiful slow-burn romance. 

Eito Tachibana has always hated his name due to the puns regarding the number 8. One day, Eito meets Tomoya Hatta, nicknamed “Hachi,” which is coincidentally the Japanese word for “8.” What begins as casual greetings and run-ins evolves into a blossoming friendship that begins to become something more. 

I can’t stress enough how much I loved this one-shot story. I honestly didn’t need another volume to explore what’s building between our two main characters. The story was perfectly packed and I felt very satisfied by its conclusion. The flow of Number Call was perfect as the reader witnesses the growth of Eito and Hachi, as well as their relationship. We experience the ups-and downs, the communication (and sometimes miscommunication), and the resolution that these two experience. Nothing feels rushed or takes away from what is transpiring. In addition, there’s no fan service that we see in certain same-sex stories we have read in the BL/GL genres. Number Call succeeds in showing that you can build a beautiful same-sex story without fetishizing our main couple. I found myself rooting for this couple along with the side characters who witness the growing attraction between Eito and Hachi. 

Does Number Call achieve the balance and achievement that the number 8 represents? In my opinion, it actually does and it would be an incredible disservice to sleep on this manga

Filed under: Manga, Reviews, Young Adult