Read on Renta!:
The Top-Ranked Omega Doesn’t Believe In Destiny by Sakae Matsubara
Japanese:
No.1オメガ様は運命を信じない
No.1 Omega-sama wa Unmei wo Shinjinai
Links:
Sakae Matsubara’s Homepage
Sakae Matsubara’s Twitter
Hanaoto Twitter (publisher)
Hanaoto Homepage
Sometimes you see a cover and you’re just like “yeah, I’m gonna like that series.” Just one look, and you add it to the cart. You don’t read the description, you don’t read the tags, you don’t look at the reviews—you don’t need them. You just know this specific book was made for you. And that’s how I felt the second I saw The Top-Ranked Omega Doesn’t Believe In Destiny.
First of all, the redhead bottom—Aka—is just so extremely My Type. The art is beautiful and the linework is so soft and clean. The coloring is stunning. The contrast between the two character is also extremely eye-catching and instantly speaks to their personalities: Aka and Soei’s colors contrast brilliantly, Aka in intense fiery red with Soei in soft, calm blue—as does their level of undress with Soei fully clothed in a suit while Aka only has open shirt and collar, not to mention the difference between Aka’s look of sensual arrogance, while Soei looks serious and concerned. I knew without even reading a single page I was going to love both of these characters as well as their dynamic.
And, sure enough…! So if you, too, are interested in seeing what’s so intriguing about this top-rated omega and his elite suitor, read on!
The story revolves around Aka, our titular “top-ranked omega.” He works at an omega sex club that’s specifically oriented toward high-end alpha clients, and it’s his goal to remain in his coveted No. 1 position—even as a cute new boy is threatening to steal his throne. While it’s Aka’s job to service and appeal to alphas, in reality… he kind of hates them. He doesn’t like feeling like he’s being looked down on or judged by alphas, especially since all it takes for them to lose their minds is “an omega’s ass.”
So when alpha Soei shows up at his club asking for the “top seller” and then has the audacity to pity Aka for his role as an omega sex worker, it makes Aka furious. In the middle of sex he snaps and decides to mock and deride Soei, telling him omegas should be the real top of the food chain. Afterward, Aka is initially upset, having derided what could have been another wealthy repeat customer—but, to his shock, Soei requests him a second time, this time as a date outside the club at Soei’s actual home. And as if that wasn’t unexpected enough, suddenly Soei takes him him by the waist and announces Aka is his fated pair, and they’re going… to get married…???
Aka is, of course, dumbfounded. But Soei promises his a massive amount of money to just keep the façade going—at least long enough to get Soei’s parents to give up on forcing him into an arranged marriage with another alpha. Plus, it’s an amount of money that will keep Aka at the top of his club’s pecking order… Aka has no choice but to accept.
The premise sounds relatively simple, but the story actually has multiple twists and turns—to the point where it actually feels a lot longer than it even is (and it’s already long for a compiled manga at over 200 pages). From Soei’s neglect, to Aka’s near-miss with being paired by a previous client, the sudden appearance of Aka’s real fated partner, Soei’s past trauma and his reason for refusing his engagement, all while Aka and Soei continue to bond and be drawn to each other… there’s a lot going on with this manga, but it’s all perfectly paced to the point where nothing feels overly expository or from out of left field. I don’t want to go too much into the deeper plot since some things are supposed to be a bit of a surprise, but just know that by the end you’ll feel satisfied and ecstatic about these two finding each other and getting their happy ending.
I wouldn’t be the Lord of Loving Uke Characters if I didn’t gush about Aka a bit; he’s just such a strong and intriguing person. So much is made of fate in omegaverse stories, and it’s usually the catalyst that brings the main couple together. In Aka’s case, however, he decides to reject it all—he will decide who he wants to be with and who he wants to love, and nothing as weak and inconsequential as “fate” is going to change that. Through the course of his life Aka’s been through so much, all while shouldering the burden of his trauma all on his own. Aka is completely self-made, having lost everything multiple times in the name of choosing his own destiny. Such a beautiful and strong character; I honestly can’t convey the love I feel for him.
Then you have Soei, who’s very different from Aka. Stunted by his past trauma with fellow alphas and trying his best to avoid confronting his fears, Soei is rich and powerful but also incredibly kind and empathetic. He knows what it’s like to be looked down on, and he doesn’t want that for Aka. However, in his tendency to protect the things he holds dear through avoidance and fear, he ends up hurting Aka and wounding his pride multiple times. By the end, though, Soei is willing to face his fears head-on if it means protecting the future he wants them to build together.
As you can see, their relationship is really wonderful and multifaceted, and I love the way Matsubara has them play off each other—it really feels like they’re both individuals first, and a couple second. They don’t just magically get along perfectly—they accidentally misunderstand each other and make assumptions that lead to the wrong moves and hurt feelings and having to discuss their wants and needs. But at the end of the day they’re willing to adapt and change themselves if it means they can be together.
Matsubara’s art is also perfect for this. The expressions throughout the manga are incredibly vivid. You know what the characters are thinking and feeling without them having to say anything, and the emotional scenes are so much more impactful with just the look on Aka’s or Soei’s face. The backgrounds are mildly detailed so the world feels full and alive, but it doesn’t distract from the main draw of the story and characters. Also, I love the way the hands are drawn. I’m sorry. I just love nicely drawn hands.
Also, every outfit Aka’s drawn in is so cute??? I love him in his little turtleneck and cape jacket in particular. Too bad he only wears it for a few pages.
And I can’t just not mention the sex scenes. I already mentioned how expressive the faces Sakae Matsubara draws are, but when you mix that with lots of dynamic posing, the ero scenes are a real treat. Aka is truly so cute and alluring, incredibly practiced at sensually appealing to his partner after an adulthood in the sex industry. I also love Soei’s constant battling with his instincts, desperate to prioritize Aka’s pleasure and comfort. Once again, the contrast between the two men as they’re drawn together is delicious. I also like how Aka’s sex with other partner’s is handled—at no point is his body treated as dirty or defiled, nor does it feel like his sex work is belittled.
However, just be warned that there are some somewhat uncomfortable scenes with Aka’s previous clients (dub-/non-con and assault). I think the story handles it well, but I’m also not personally particularly sensitive to those themes. If you are, please be cautious!
Overall, this is a truly wonderful BL with a lot of great story, sexy scenes, and impeccable characters with a surprising amount of growth all in just one (delightfully long) volume. If you have similar taste to me at all, I highly recommend giving this one a shot. Let me know if you fall as hard for Aka as I have!
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