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Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol 1: When BL and Parenthood Collide
- Brett H.
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol 1 kicks off with the kind of premise that makes you sit up straighter and think, “Oh, this is going to be messy… and I’m absolutely staying for it.” Mayo Tsurukame introduces a story where unexpected parenthood, unresolved history, and reluctant cohabitation turn two stubborn men into the most chaotic almost-family you’ve ever seen.
This volume doesn’t hold back. It throws emotional baggage at the reader the same way Touma throws attitude. And beneath the yelling, awkward reunions, and questionable decision-making, there’s a surprising amount of heart.
In Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol 1 A Funeral Turns Into a Custody Bombshell
The story begins with Sentaro visiting his late ex-girlfriend Ririko’s family to pay his respects. What he expects to be a quiet, bittersweet moment becomes something entirely different when he’s told he might be the father of her daughter, Meguru.
That would be chaotic enough. But then Touma arrives, the man Sentaro absolutely did not want to see, yet shares a tangled history with.
The scenes from this moment hit fast: Touma’s sharp glare, Sentaro’s shock, Meguru peeking from behind adults like she’s judging both of her potential dads. And then comes Ririko’s final twist, delivered through her will:
No DNA test.
No quick answers.
Meguru chooses her father by living with both men.
It’s untraditional, dramatic, and the perfect catalyst for a BL story fueled by tension and forced proximity.
Two Men, One House, and a Whole Lot of Issues
Once Sentaro and Touma move in together, the real pressure starts. The home is cramped, often messy, and visually loud in the best way. Every panel captures the discomfort of two men who would rather do anything else than share space, especially when a six-year-old with a strong personality is now their unofficial supervisor.
Touma storms around, half-dressed and unfiltered, pushing everyone’s patience. Sentaro tries (and fails) to keep the peace while questioning every decision that led him to this moment. Meguru? She adapts instantly, sliding out of closets, calling shots, and treating them like two bickering pets she’s been assigned.
But amid the noise, the volume gives us moments that soften the edges, Touma stepping back from an argument, Sentaro watching Meguru with unexpected gentleness, Meguru leaning into whichever man feels safe that day. These small glimpses of vulnerability land well because the story takes its time showing how rough the edges are.
A Complicated Past that Still Shapes the Present
The dynamic between Sentaro and Touma is one of the volume’s strongest elements. Their history isn’t spelled out all at once, but their reactions to each other tell the story before the dialogue does. The images make it obvious:
Touma grabbing Sentaro by the collar.
Sentaro snapping back with old resentment.
That moment of quiet when Touma pauses before speaking, something he never does unless it matters.
It’s not just tension. It’s recognition. And it’s clear there’s far more between them than either man is willing to admit yet.
Meanwhile, Ririko’s presence lingers in the emotional spaces of the book. Flashbacks reveal her joy, her recklessness, and eventually her decline. Rather than turning her into a plot device, the volume uses her decisions to shape the story with intention.
She didn’t pick a father for Meguru, she picked the possibility of a family.
Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol 1 is The Start of Something Unexpectedly Tender
By the final chapters, the three of them sitting together, close, tired, and unsure, becomes the emotional thesis of the volume. This isn’t a romance yet, but the foundation is being poured right in front of us.
Sentaro is steadier than he thinks. Touma is softer than he pretends. Meguru is the glue keeping this strange household together.
What begins as an obligation shifts into something with potential. The tension, the comedy, and the rawness give the story its backbone, but it’s the emerging care that makes it worth reading.
Final Thoughts on Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol 1
Dysfunctional Family Theory Vol 1 is a standout first volume because it commits to its drama while still aiming for genuine emotional stakes and comedy. Readers who love:
Forced proximity
Two men with unresolved feelings
A child who steals the scene every time
Humor layered with honest vulnerability
BL stories that grow a family
…will get exactly what they’re looking for here.
And it sets up a story that could easily become one of the most heartfelt BL family dramas out there.
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