I read this series in one sitting and enjoy it. The story is pretty unique from the thousands of yaoi I seen. It kind of refreshing in a way. But this series is not for everyone for it does have some dark and sad moments.

I want to rant badly. You've been forewarned!

Art. Sigh. Talk about personal preferences... Their childish and the same time robotic faces is the biggest turn-off... Honestly, they either look like sociopathic mass-murderes or simply clinically depressed and bored to death by life itself and not hiding it. Both options are bloody scary! I can't relate to them at all. While the art is clean - and I really appreciate it - something doesn't fail to irritate me from frame to frame. I'll have to keep it in my mind about this mangaka.

Plot. I like this idea and it all might have gone better if I didn't hate the execution. Exactly because this manga is not mindless kawaii overload about insta-love (just insta-rape more often than not) I'm so sad. Being quite strong-willed myself I don't really appreciate or enjoy how K forces S in different ways even if it's in order to "cure" him. (I do like that he's honest about his ulterior motives, I'll give him that) Tbh, I have a phobia of my own, so I know how irrational and all-consuming it can be (bleagh) but god forbid anyone try to manipulate me by exploiting my weakness. I clench my teeth and do the deed, on my terms and it's non-negotiable, so from my point of view why cannot S? The reward is worth it, I find. If it's absolutely impossible, fine by me, it's okay, too. To each their own. I prefer people to encourage each other, not force, to do anything. Let along of sexual nature. It boggles my mind how K is a doctor, but not with S, as he definitely uses his professional knowledge and skills to mold S into a submissive boysl*t ...the heck?

It's too much lol. Maybe this story was supposed to be the dark kind of reminder that life is unfair but I'd rather it was a manga about how a person heroically overcame his fears in order to be with his caring loving and understanding partner. So ...I'm giving it up at v. 3. G'luck everyone and don't let my (subjective) rant discourage you, please.

... Last updated on March 24th, 2016, 8:28pm

This manga does not tell the story of the conventional romantic relationship that everyone is used to. It does not tell of the story of how two individuals meet and fall in love, overcoming their obstacles together and experience character development that send all readers into a euphoric satisfaction. Please, if you are a reader and is experiencing unhappiness over this revelation I suggest you make a move and get on with another yaoi manga that suits your taste better because the theme in this manga is not meant for everyone. In case those critics have not noticed, this manga has a "psychological" tag on it. Do note that in terms of "psychological" it might have reference not only to our Shirotani but also Kurose.

The author has given us enough hints that this manga does not deal with your conventional romance. It deals with the darker aspects in a relationship between two individuals who clearly have issues of their own. I would say the author has put out Shirotani's mysophobia and inferiority complex that stem from his childhood beautifully while giving the illusions that Kurose will be his cure and that Kurose shall be his knight in shining armor throughout the story. What stays prettily hidden is Kurose's warped personality, his domineering attitude at times (which in actual fact is his true personality) and his skills in manipulating Shirotani.

Over and over again we see Shirotani coming onto Kurose. Kurose does not play an active part in Shirotani's actions but instead he manipulates Shirotani in his own passive way and obtaining his ideal result of Shirotani approaching him on his own. Kurose's shrewd attempt at "cutting off" ties with Shirotani serves as the first clue of his meticulous scheming despite his lack of expression at times and his "I-don't-care" attitude. Time and time again, Shirotani complies with Kurose (especially with things that have nothing to do with helping his mysophobia, sometimes even aggravating it), making Shirotani confused with the situation he's in.

Things in this manga are painfully realistic, especially in terms of Kurose's personality and the relationship they are in. The relationship itself is warped as it is, hurtful, confusing, burdensome at times but I guess love is when Shirotani accepts Kurose despite these things and Kurose loves Shirotani in his own obsessed, possessive way. The fact that Kurose wants to manipulate Shirotani into a person who cannot depend on others but Kurose himself is his own twisted sense of childish love, but it is love nevertheless so let's all calm down before saying there's no love between the characters.

What really amazed me is that the author has captured such realistic painful issues and have put them beautifully in the manga, and I cannot wait to see how things turn out especially regarding Kurose

I adore this mangaka for her Only the Flowers Know and I'm kinda disappointed at the end of volume 1. I don't understand why people go gaga about this manga when the plot is thin, lack of character's development and bond between characters. These were the author's strong points but I can't understand why she stopped doing so?
Hirose is the manipulative kind of person while Shirotani is the weak mental one - I just don't feel any love, it progresses so quickly to the sexual intercourse stage. I can't understand the seme at all.It's nice to look at beautiful art but honestly this manga is a huge turn off to me.
It's kinda sad since I adore the mangaka and I was waiting for her new masterpiece. Guess this isn't the case.

firstly it would be unfair not to acknowledge the merits of the story, so i shall: the art is gorgeous, as per takarai rihito's usual standards, and the premise of the story exudes potential, as many have pointed out. Being a yaoi fan myself, i'll also add that her portrayal of intimate scenes leave nothing to be desired as well.

it's everything else that's lacking- there is practically no character or relationship development (alright, the latter progresses in a purely sexual nature, but is devoid of emotion). The only change we see in Shirotani is his sudden overwhelming physical lust for kurose. Psychologically, he's made no progress and still despises contact with others, even kurose; at this point, i find the constant tension between his aversion to touch and lust for kurose (the latter predictably ALWAYS WINS OUT) tiring. Emotionally, i don't detact anything remotely resembling actual affection from either of then. Shirotani's desperation for kurose's presence seems to end with his physical satiation. Kurose has got to be one of the most wooden, not to mention unbelievable characters who have dropped the l-bomb ever. Actions speak louder than words. Kurose's actions just reveal him to be callous, possibly excited at the prospect of a new sexual toy, and basically a person not to be taken past face value ever.

Others might point to the story's potential to be a 'darker' romance, but having read my fair share of those, i will point out that those Dark romances that are usually successes tend to have both characters in a couple act in morally questionable manners because they are driven by an obsessive unhealthy love for their partner- that's as simplified a plotline as you can get. But love is evident anyways, despite being in an obsessive and unhealthy form, which is more than i can say for ten count.

I feel that takarai rihito's blatant attempts to Darken the story further via the revelation of Shirotani's Dark Past further point to Ten Count's failure as a Dark story. While not pleasant, it didn't come as a shock either. I didn't react with anything other than mild disgust and also annoyance at how many pages (or was it chapters?) the whole back story seemed to span. I really don't feel like it added anything to the plot at all.

Tldr if you want something pretty with gratituous boy sex that has made an attempt to organize itself into a Deep Dark Story this is for you (but i'd say the plot is pretty thin on the ground). If you came expecting plots similar in type and or quality to the mangaka's previous works, run. If you're new to bl and this is your maiden story, you will probably worship it as the Best Story Ever right until you meet Only the Flower Knows or something.

To tell you the truth i'm a bit disappointed..., it started out really well, had good and awkward characters, there was something in the air that made butterflies in the stomach, angst, cuteness and plot. But now it has losen everything that it was and became a hard yaoi without plot... Although i'll continue reading, i feel like it can't really give me anything anymore... It's a shame, really... I was hoping that this one will be unique. But i have to give merit to the art!

I really don't want to use that word, but let me be honest, that's the first thing appeared in my mind when I read the latest chapters. Takarai Rihito's art is fine, but her characters' talks and dialogues are like they were written by a porn mangaka who keeps on writing meaningless sentences as long as they leads to the sex scenes. There's a serious lack of depth. Seven Days was good, but that was because only the art belonged to Takarai Rihito, and the story was TACHIBANA Venio's (though I was a bit disappointed with the ending). So Takarai still needs to practice writing more, in my opinion.

Beautifull art. good plot. Good characters. And provides a range of emotions, really. Some times is cute, others is sad, it also has its funny moments. But most of the times the characters oscilate between sexyness and pityfullness. They are bothe just so messed up...

Like some people say, the beginning had a lot of potential to turn in something great and I agree, but I wouldn't say the storyline is going downhill. There are many ways an author will take their story and this was just the way this mangaka did and I still find it interesting; yet I know it could've been better. However I'm still waiting for an update so it shows I'm still interested.

I really like Takarai Rihito as an artist, but as far as storylines go, I prefer her drawing for other authors (like in the case of Seven Days, or The Sleepy Residents of Birdcage Manor). I really wanted to get into this, I usually like psychological themed comics, but Ten Count is more focused on the yaoi part of it. And don't get me wrong, I've read pretty damn good yaoi stories as well, but for me this one fell short on many levels.