Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 possesses a disarming charm as adorable as the pair’s blossoming relationship.
Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 is a sweet BL manhwa about young, high school love. Despite being in the same grade, there’s a kohai/senpai vibe to their relationship that’s a delight to witness. The first volume shows how easily a misunderstanding after a tragedy can create a separation between friends. Distance can grow, but sometimes all it takes is lady luck to bring people back together. Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 possesses a disarming charm as adorable as the pair’s blossoming relationship.
This Inklore series is from Korea-based webtoon author Bamwoo. The story follows childhood friends, Seo Haebom and Jo Taesung. After Haebom loses his parents in a tragic accident at seven years old, he moves in with Jo Taesung and his mother, Ms. Ha. Unfortunately, this creates a rift between the pair after Haebom hears Taesung tell his mom he does not want them to be brothers. That distance continues into high school. But now with the pair in the same class for the first time, the dynamics shift. Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 leaves their relationship between 7 years old and their high school age obscured. As such, it’s hard to believe they couldn’t bridge that distance all these years. However, their endearing interactions in this boy’s love tale help make up for it.
Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 Struggles to Explain
While they try to show Haebom and Taesung’s relationship to each other, we can see some of the similarities and differences. Haebom and Taesung do not talk much. However, for Haebom, it’s more insecurity and shyness, and Taesung seems like the “man of few words” type. The story focuses on their dynamics now that they are in the same class, and Taesung sees first-hand other classmates bullying Haebom. As he steps in and gets closer to Haebom, there are so many questions around “why now?”
Given the pair live together, it makes no sense that Taesung wouldn’t approach Haebom sooner to mend the relationship or vice versa. Haebom’s hesitance is understandable given his discomfort. But Taesung is another story. Plus, there’s Taesung’s mother. Why wouldn’t she speak with Taesung sooner? It’s been over ten years. Plus, given children’s penchant for gossip, it’s difficult to believe that Taesung never knew about Haebom’s bullying simply because they were not in the same class. Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 leaves too much of the past hidden, creating confusion in the present.
Still, This Pair Is Adorable
Despite some of those missteps—ones that will hopefully receive answers later in the series—Taesung and Haebom are a sweet pair. It’s sad how easily misunderstandings can occur, all because Haebom heard Taesung declare he didn’t want him for a brother. While readers can glean the reasoning behind this as Taesung liking Haebom way back then (apparently that feeling was mutual since Haebom wanted to marry Taesung), that left Haebom feeling unwanted.
Now, as classmates in Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1, Taesung does not hesitate to protect Haebom, even using his presence as a shield. The illustrations help with this because Haebom’s constant blushing whenever he engages with Taesung is beyond cute. There’s an innocence but also a need for him to be closer that he shoves down because of that childhood moment. Taesung rarely blushes. So, that makes the occasions when he does stand out even more, like when they share the cream bread.
Overall, Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 is a promising start provided they explain more about how the pair struggled to connect all these years. Hopefully, the story doesn’t make the majority of the conflict with others center around the pair’s sexuality. Still, thanks to sharing the same class, spring is in the air in Cherry Blossoms After Winter 1 with a romantic naturalness that ensures you’re smiling through each page of this BL delight.
Cherry Blossoms After Winter has four volumes out, with the fifth volume releasing in November.
