Ball & Chain

Synopsis

"Maybe I could have chosen something different..." Keito is a late-20s company employee who's planning to get married as a "woman," despite not feeling cemented into a specific gender or sexuality. Meanwhile, Aya is a married woman in her 50s who continues playing out the role of "wife" despite being in a marriage that's long since gone cold. They both struggle with a gender that was decided upon birth and the "wife" role that became nothing more than a pantomime at some point. This is a story of two queer people who harbor doubts about how they've been treated and shoved into a "normalized" box, and try to take back their true selves. Be it "woman" or "wife". Be it "normal" or "common sense". This is a story for those who fight against what restricts them. (Source: Manga Mavericks Books) Note: - Was nominated for the 30th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2026. - Ranked #3 on the 2025 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of manga for female readers.