Hebi no Seikatsu

Like others have said, something is off here, most likely the writing and how it's constructed to be a tearjerker rather than a natural story. The art, while not terrible, didn't stand out to me as particularly good either. Part of me respects the mangaka for wanting to go with bittersweet endings in both cases, but neither of the two stories appealed to me enough that I'd want to read them again.

Harumachi no, is the most well-done of the two stories, which still isn't saying much. I sympathized with Hirono for a bit, until it became clear that this was another one of those "things would be easier if they just talked it out" plots; in the end, his refusal to talk to his brother out of guilt...really doesn't hold any water. The ending was sappy and silly, especially the kid's butting in to what could have been a good talk between Hirono and Yuuma. It could've been an interesting story, but ended up as yet another "everyone is defined by their secondary gender only".

And the hinting at Hirono and Yuuma "finally" getting together because Hirono's brother died? Lolwut. Unlike other comments I've seen, I actually liked Seono's confession about having taken away Hirono's chance with Yuuma—at least that gave him some edge and stopped him from being reduced to "the poor rape victim". Yuuma and Seono's kid was weird as hell, too—your parent just died and you're all happy and quirky?

Hebi no Seikatsu started off OKish but turned into a telenovela with that twist/betrayal. Unfortunately, there's not much to Ruka, and at times he's overshadowed by the side characters. There's a lot of jumping around between plot points for such a short story, which makes things feel rushed. Then, the ending has him randomly interested in a coworker who'd been in, like, two panels before? So much for character growth. I can't say I would've hated this plot if it were done well, but Ruka and Sei are so one-note that I couldn't take them or their angsting seriously.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this as an omegaverse story, or as a psychological drama, or for the art. Sooo I probably wouldn't recommend this at all, haha.

... Last updated 2 years ago

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Different from other BL

by suzakufire
4 years ago

Rating: 5.0 / 10.0

I kinda get where the mangaka was trying to go, but somehow it fell short. The premises of both stories are good, but I get the feeling the mangaka didn't know how to carry them forward and conclude them? It was just all very messy and hastily concluded. Shame, it could have been some groundbreaking work, the themes they tried to touch on are rare in BL.

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SPOILERS

by whydontyoujustsay
5 years ago

Rating: 5.0 / 10.0

seriously, both of the stories would have been fine if these dumb people knew about polyamory... geez... so annoying.

I guess the first story was sort of moving? but not enough to make up for how HORRIBLE the second story was... I mean, the uke was awful, everyone was awful. not a redeemable character.

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Well

by OmNom
6 years ago

Rating: N/A

First story is moderately sad but far from gut-wrenching, and even turns cliched towards its ending. The oudated and overdone execution played a big part in dragging down the plot. Second story is completely pointless; all that premise and yet absolutely nothing note-worthy happened, and I'm not just talking about the romance department. It didn't even turn psychological which is usually the last resort that most writers turn to in an attempt to edge-up their work. It really served no purpose whatsoever, with a messy pacing that also did it no favour.

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Not recommended

by liontaraki
8 years ago

Rating: N/A

I just don't get it. You take an interesting, unusual theme like the omegaverse system and you make a plain, mushy story, filled with japanese cliches... And I've read enough japanese-oriented mangas and watched enough japanese-oriented series to know that both stories, from start to finish, contain all the typical japanese cliches that could possibly fit in a story. Spoilers----> In the first story, the innocent young brother ends up stealing his older brother's romantic interest and has a child with him. Then, he's diagnosed with an incurable disease and dies shortly after. Then the older brother returns and accepts his younger brother's apology through the letters he left behind. Then, he decides to raise his late brother's family in his place. In the second story, a frivolous guy meets someone that makes him consider monogamy and then that guy leaves him cause he wasn't in love to begin with, our boy has his heart broken and continues life. You don't even need to watch any j-drama after that, you'll know exactly what happens next...

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Two stories

by 801crazed
8 years ago

Rating: 7.5 / 10.0

I appreciated the first story for being omegaverse yet focusing on a non-romantic brotherly relationship. I also like that ending was openended and didn't force Hirono as a replacement.

The second story was okay but was a little all over the place and not as tightly written.

... Last updated 8 years ago

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The happiness doesn't compensate for the sadness

by Dagorkitty
8 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

The stories were good quality and quite interesting, but the redeeming factor in both stories wasn't strong enough to counterbalance the tragedy, though in the second one it was a bit better. I wish we could see more of what happens after the first part ends, I feel like I needed to see the protagonists happiness to make sure everything is right in the world (which of course it isn't IRL). I've read manga without a happy ending, and some have been fine, it has been appropriate, but in this story I felt like I needed one. Maybe because I felt like it was going there, but I wasn't clear enough. Oh, and just let the tears flow, better get it out of your system sooner than later.

P.S. - This is on the verge of being tragedy, if it already isn't.

... Last updated 8 years ago

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So sad but so good

by Chainless
9 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

Tissue alert! This is one of those stories that rips your heart out and then breaks it into pieces.

The love triangle (if you can call it that) between the twins and their friend is heartbreaking and makes you think how unfair the world is in real life too. Seono (nor Yuuma) didn't break his brother's heart intentionally, but he (they) still did and all three had to live with the consequenses. Seono got a happy life, but without the brother he loved and felt guilty for it til his death. Hirono lost the guy he loved and in a way his brother too, for he could not watch them be happy together.

I'd like to think that in the end both brothers got their chance (and time) to be happy with the one they loved. The sad part is they couldn't do it at the same time and without the other one either being away avoiding the other, or dead.

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