Ordinary college student Masahiko goes to live with his aunt and uncle, Yukari and Sora Wakanae. While excited about meeting his relatives for the first time, he is surprised to discover that his lovely aunt Yukari is actually a man, and his handsome uncle Sora is really a woman. Their plucky daughter, Shion, is revealed to be... whichever gender she feels like (Though for the time being she's sticking with female).However, given Masahiko's current fate: living alone in a fetid apartment that he can't afford and with no family to return to: he decides to stay anyways. Eventually, Masahiko's desire for a real home coincide with with the Wakanaes' surprising generosity to anyone who is willing to accept their family at face value, and he quickly becomes Happily Adopted into the household.By the mangaka Tsukasa Hojo, Family Compo is a Slice of Life manga that, perhaps, has a more realistic than average depiction of transsexuality, and at the same time has a remarkably positive tone with tremendous emotional poignancy.Available to read here.The entire manga, albeit in Chinese, is available here. Click on the chapter you want and use Google Translate to find the “read” link if you don’t want to download.
Bastard: Saki doesn't know who Kaoru's father really is, and, despite telling her this while she was young, in the end she tells Kaoru that Tatsumi really is her father, after Tatsumi pays Saki to do so.
Kaoru harbors deep Angst against her mother for conning Tatsumi for child support though he's not her real father, to the point of becoming a Female Misogynist and wanting to be a boy just to be less like her mother. However, when her mother tells, or really lies to her, that Tatsumi really is her father, Kaoru is infuriated and nearly attacks her.
Hidden Depths: Revealed on the 65th day, where, despite all of her manipulation, she genuinely cares about Tatsumi and the happiness of her child; she copes with this by "being the villain".
Black Comedy Rape: The film club gets raped by the transvestites at a bath.
Boobs of Steel: Sora, a muscular guy who gets into fist-fights and knows Kendo, hasn't had his substantial breasts surgically removed. As a result, he cannot go to the beach, much to his chagrin.
It's a mystery how he managed to grow so tall and muscular, and his feet so big, without the aid of hormones. He was manly even in high school.
Also true for Yukari, who isn't a strong as Sora, but stronger than she looks, because she's a man.
Don't You Dare Pity Me!: In volume 5, when Sora has appendicits, he insists that his period isn't an excuse to finish his work late. Even when he collapses and is dragged to the hospital, he resists seeing a gynaecologist because he's a man.
Double Standard: Sora seems to get a lot more attention than Yusaki. Sort of makes sense, because Yusaki’s more feminine and quieter.
Guy on Guy Is Hot: Averted by Asoaka, who is disgusted when she thinks she sees Masahiko and Tatsuya kissing.
Good Parents: Despite how freaked out Masahiko is initially by his new parents, they turn out to be positive role models who do their best to treat himself and Shion with the love and respect they deserve.
Have I Mentioned That I Am Heterosexual Today: Masahiko primarily, but most of the characters invoke this trope at one point or another, which is odd considering the manga's focus on transsexuality and alternative gender expression. It's justified at least with Sora and Yukari, who are clearly monogamous and straight, but are far more comfortable with switched gender roles.
However, Yukari recognizes that no matter what she does, she is still biologically a man. Which is why she gets so emotional over having a child.
Insufferable Genius:Shion is very smart (and hot, as a girl), but at times will create messes out of fun, especially for Masahiko, and will say she doesn't feel responsible.
Karaoke Bar: At one is where Masahiko learns the family secret, since he forgot it due to being drunk.
Kissing Cousins: Masahiko and Shion. However multiple times Masahiko has mentioned he wanted them to be Like Brother and Sister, he's constantly referred to as Shion's brother, and Shion's parents do act as his parents.. So it seems like adopted Brother-Sister Incest.
Lethal Chef: Sora, and apparently evenmoreso Shion.
Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Sora and Yukari invert this trope, but for practical reasons since Yukari is the guy but far better at being a domestic than Sora on her best day, and Sora is rather adept at being a bread winner and father figure despite being a woman.
It may just be a translation convention. It's possible in Japanese to speak about someone in the third person without ever revealing their gender. The scanlaters may have just found it too awkward in English and just defaulted it to her chosen gender.
The raw clearly does not refer to gender. For example, "kono" is used before face, and means "this" not "her".
Psycho Lesbian: We get some of that from Shion in volume 8.
Rated M for Manly: Sora, in a more toned down version. There are several moments where either the author or Masahiko asks if Sora really is a woman.
Recursive Crossdressing: Masahiko asks Sora and Yukari to come to his college entrance ceremony dressed as "what they really are". He swiftly regrets this, as they look so awkward that everyone assumes they're crossdressers.
Schoolgirl Lesbians: They're college age, but Masahiko Masami picks up a fangirl in addition to all the drooling guys. Naturally, she thinks Masami crossdresses as a man.
Stupid Sexy Flanders: Normally caused by Masahiko or Yukari. And possibly Shion.
The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body: Totally averted/ inverted (The Body Is A Plaything Of The Mind). Shion's neck even becomes manlier just from dressing as a man.
Transsexual: Sora and Yukari Wakanae, Kaoru "half-assedly", and Sora's assistants: Susumu (no "lance and balls"), Hiromi ( Shion's first love no operation, has long blond hair), Kazuko (Judo champion), and Mako (wears glasses).
It happens to Sora far more frequently than Yukari: Twice in front of Masahiko and almost a third time at Christmas, in front of Yoko, to the husband of a stranger, to a gynaecologist, and to Saki.
Younger Than They Look: Kaoru is strangely tall for a girl, taller than both Shion and Masahiko, but is the youngest one of the group, having just turned 17 at the time of introduction.
.The entire manga, albeit in Chinese, is available here
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