Her covers really turned me off with her sunburnt skin coloring style. But here we are and this is actually pretty okay.

Although this seems to be an unpopular opinion, but I’m happy about who Takaaki ends up with- I had been cheering for them all along. Though some people say this series was dragged on too long, I think the length appropriately let the characters grow and understand each other, as well as themselves, better. The main 5 characters all had great depth and though their emotions were kinda jerked around a bit, in the end I think everyone was where they were meant to be.
I would’ve given this a 10 if not for the annoying inconsistencies. Some of it may be due to poor translation, but details from one volume to the next would change- such as names (even of the main characters!). What bothered me the most was that Shinkwawa’s backstory/history at the club was really scrambled up. At one point it says he was already a top host st the club before Takaaki comes along, and then later it turns out he came after Iwaki and it was Takaaki who trained him. I give some leniency since this was written over such a long period of time and so it must’ve been changed without the author realizing the contradiction, but still why I can’t give it a 10.
Overall though, I would definitely recommend it. This should especially appeal to people who enjoyed Haru o Daite Ita, the other huge drama by this author (though don’t get confused that characters between the two series share the same name- no relation, just lack of creative naming)

This is my second favourite work by Nitta Youka (next to Haru wo Daiteite) because it's refreshing, thoughtful, and handles love triangles better than any other manga I've read. It seems that some people in the comments are dissatisfied with the ending, but I absolutely love the final pairing. Let me explain why:

(SPOILERS AHEAD, I WARNED YOU)

First of all, Nitta Youka's works often involve themes of innocence, disillusionment, and cynicism. Why else would she write about adult film actors and hosts? The men in these professions are typically selfish and "disillusioned" about love. Iwaki is the personification of this cynicism -- when he first meets Takaaki, he's amused by Takaaki's innocence. He tries to convince Takaaki that his "method" of being a host is the right method. In other words, Iwaki uses women and makes them fall in love with him to elevate his status to #1 -- whereas Takaaki doesn't want to hurt women, he just wants them to enjoy themselves.

When Takaaki becomes #2 WITHOUT using Iwaki's method (i.e. Takaaki manages to get $$$ without accepting gifts from obsessed clients), Iwaki feels threatened. He wants to assert his dominance over Takaaki, so he cruelly abandons him and scars Takaaki. The message here is this: "I was able to hurt you because I'm an adult, and you're innocent."

Fast forward a couple of years, and Takaaki is now the hot-shot / new Iwaki. He's become manipulative and disillusioned... or has he? The entire manga is about Takaaki trying to figure out who he is (innocent or disillusioned)? He sees himself as the "new Iwaki" and even tries to emulate Iwaki's behaviour. At the beginning of the series, Takaaki has no respect for Shinkawa because Shinkawa reminds him of himself when he was younger, and he remembers how that "innocent self" was hurt.

Takaaki tries to emulate Iwaki's behaviour by cruelly humiliating Shinkawa in the club. Just like how Iwaki had humiliated Takaaki to save his pride, Takaaki is humiliating Shinkawa because he can't stand the thought of being jealous over Shinkawa (who he sees as "lesser" than himself). However, this is the turning point of the story -- Takaaki realizes that he ISN'T Iwaki. After he hurts Shinkawa, he breaks down into tears, because he realized that he's not the cruel, heartless "adult" he's pretended to be all this time.

The rest of the manga is basically Takaaki learning to be vulnerable again. In that respect, Shinkawa is perfect for him, because Shinkawa is the man who should've been there when Takaaki was young and fragile.

On Iwaki's side of things, I agree that he became much more sympathetic later on in the manga, but I seriously disliked him at first because of his cruel treatment of Takaaki. But even if Takaaki and Iwaki had decided to get back together and have an "adult" relationship (where neither of them truly trust each other), Iwaki doens't want that -- he wants Takaaki to go back to the innocent, trusting kid that he once was (which is impossible). The night when Takaaki cruelly humiliates Shinkawa, Iwaki looks shocked because he realizes how much he's influenced Takaaki -- and I argue that he DOESN'T like seeing his influence on Takaaki.

That's just how I feel about it. I really do like that those two ended up together.

I fell in love with Takaaki's character so I didn't really mind who he ended up with. In fact I kept switching between Iwaki and Shinkawa since they both looked good paired with Takaaki. I wish there was more but without all the angst and drama and instead just some happy content, like a sequel of their happy lives or something.

This was really not my cup of tea after Haru wo Daiteite-->which I loved because of it's very real and deeply thought portrayal of a love relationship within a pretty ridiculous premise ;P
I really can't stand cheaters/people who can't make up their minds/really contrived love polygons so this manga was basically torture for me. I really didn't get any depth of feeling from any of the characters except Kenzaki. Pretty superficial in my opinion, made worse by having the story drag out for nine. Flipping. Volumes.

that the ending didn't go as I expected. I couldn't even bear to read the ending when I know how it is going to end already. I think I'm being biased, but somehow it doesn't feel right. So lot of disapointment .

I disliked Iwaki at first for what he did to Takaaki, and Kenzaki for being so bratty. But I end up liking both of them later for being so sincere (especially Kenzaki, he is so hopelessly honest that it's adorable :"> ). And Takaaki, I liked him at first but as the story goes on, not so much. It's like they just unexpectedly change without me noticing.

Nevertheless, it's still a good read. I would have rated 10 if the ending wasn't so akward.

The art is quite good and the storyline is okay and I probably would have rated it a 10 if the characters had ended up with who I wanted them to end up with. I'm so disappointed with the ending and It's unfortunate that I just couldn't take a liking to Takaaki's character.

... Last updated on April 15th, 2013, 11:42pm

Although I liked the story, sometimes it was tiring, but I guess I can't really say I got tired at any point since I read the whole 9 volumes in three days. Anyway, the main couple got back-and-forth so many times! There was development of the characters and their relationships but it wasn't that deep. But what I thought it was the most problematic of all was the translation. Lots of times I had to go back some panels trying to get what was going on over a dialogue... that probably took some of the development away...
I didn't think that the artwork was beautiful, but I liked it. There were some sexy panels lol
Oh! I would love to read side stories of Ishi. Which reminds me, I really liked how there were lots of side stories and things were told from more than one perspective and not always following the chronological order.

i love that it was a love triangle, then love square, then love polygon. i like stories where you aren't sure who's gonna end up with who. and for me, i was always changing my opinion on who should end up with who. i also like that there's character growth. all of the characters go through changes, they're not one-dimensional.

disappointments: very wordy and sometimes (for me) confusing dialogue. i don't know if others had this problem but for example in one particular scene . another disappointment were the sex scenes. i don't mind stories where there isn't a sex scene in every chapter, it actually allows for more plot development, but the few sex scenes in the story just weren't that hot. after reading Haru wo Daiteita I expected Nitta to be able to pull off good storyline and character development without having to sacrifice hot sex scenes

overall i'd say its worth a read, but i don't think it's something that will become anyone's favorite manga

well as many people said this story is not as great as Haru wo daite Ita...but there are probably not more than 10 out there who can compete with it so I say this story is also really great!!
the art is older but I thought it was quite good not to mention that NITTA Youka's art is something you don't see often...drawings with "character"...you can see at first glance it's her work.
I read this manga in one go and there where times when I thought how annoying their behaviour was but in overall I came to accept the ending...wich was not quite to my likeing ^^



if it wheren't for this it could have been one of the 10 who can compete with Haru wo Daite Ita..IMO XD

... Last updated on April 5th, 2011, 9:05am