It's funny how time changes your perception of things. The first time I read this was 5 years ago. The review I left here was extremely positive and rated it a 9. Now, older, more experienced, I think differently. I still like this manga, I just see some of the parts that weren't so good about it, so I'll have to lower my rate.
I left my previous review mostly unaltered, which you can read bellow, and I still stand by most of it. The only part I erased about it was where I said I didn't understand the timeline. That's because I hadn't read Love Or Pride, which I have now. So here's my suggestion: don't read this if you haven't read its prequel. The timeline gets confusing.
A few things I'd like to add to my previous review: I wish there was more...everything, I guess. I feel like this manga focus too much on the sex and didn't solve the main couple's issues fully.
Kunie really hurt Shou. In fact, over and over again. And although we get to see Shou's feelings and thoughts, we didn't get to see Kunie's until the very last chapter. I also feel like he didn't apologize properly and waited until the last minute to finally explain himself. And Shou accepted it way too easily.
Also, I don't understand why they couldn't be together right away. What I said previously on my review, that their problem is miscommunication, remains true as to why they take so long to be together. However, what I realize now is that nothing changed from the beginning of the story to the end. Kunie didn't do anything differently, nor Shou. It just suddenly worked out fine, and I think there should have been an event to set things in motion.
A positive thing about it, though, is that Kunie touching Yukiya didn't bother me or ruin thing manga for me like I thought it would. In fact, it adds more angst to the story, which is great.
I started reading "Blind Love" because someone told me it was better than Totally Captivated. Well, it's not. It's not even similar, so I can't see why people compare them, but it's definitely not better.
Anyways, that doesn't mean it is not good. It's just my type of story, so I'm kinda biased by that, but I love how their pasts are actually so simple, but deep.
I especially like that the conflict is not whether they love each other or not, but that they can't communicate it to the each other. Shou explicitly loves Kunie, but Kunie himself doesn't know that, and think that Shou prefers Taiki. At the same time, Kunie clearly loves Shou too, but is afraid of telling him that and getting Taiki chosen over him.
As for the characters, Shou didn't get my attention much, although he is a little resistant and does have some personality. But Kunie? He's one hell of a seme! I totally love his cruel / pushy / abusive / dominant / jealous / mean / sadistic / sarcastic / player personality. He's perfect. And sexy, on top of that!
What I like especially about this title is the main characters' relationship. It takes so long to be developed, and yet it is still at the same point after two years being together. Then, after one year, Shou still loves Kunie. After three, they go back to how it was before, but even more intense than at the time. I usually don't like when it drags on like that, but I think it was necessary in that case and, even more than that, express the characters' insecurities over the years and how they have to overcome it to be together. It takes Shou some time to accept what he's doing with Kunie and that he loves him. Then, when he finally does, Kunie leaves. When he gets back, it was his time to realize things. We didn't get to see much of how he changed yet, but I'm sure he's taken his time.
But nothing is perfect. There are some issues that bothered me about this manga.
Shou's relationship with Taiki seems a little forced. Not that they aren't close and have that loyalty thing, but I don't see how it will interfere with Shou's relationship with Kunie. He's supposed to be in a boss / employee kind of relationship with Taiki, and a love relationship with Kunie. But the way they all bitch about it, it almost seems as if he loved Taiki too but was undecided.
As for the plot, nothing new, of course, and they could have been just a little more inventive.
Oh, and good art too!
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