I seem to be one of the few who prefer the first story. On that note, I needed more. I needed so much more of Haruya and Makoto. I felt like it was such a waste to include 3 other chapters with other stories, when all I wanted to see was the two of them...this story needed more drama, more resolution, more explanation, more dialogue, more feelings. And yet it was perfect just the way it was. I really, really loved it. While I believe it wasn't perfect for just the reasons I said, it was still able to get through to me in a way most manga rarely do. I wish, however, that everything had been taken more seriously, and perhaps that could summarize all the other things I said. Haruya touches Makoto out of the blue. They go their separate ways, and yet there is ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLANATION WHATSOEVER as to why! It was SO sudden. That made it all the more heartbreaking, actually, but two times in their lives, they were apart for years, so I think their feelings would have been built up a lot more. They would be really hurt by each other.
This story was even more to my liking because the characters were so good. Haruya is the type of seme that's perfect, in my opinion. Just what a good yaoi manga needs. While it seems like Makoto is the one with unresolved feelings because he doesn't talk a lot, he's the one who's actually sure since the very beginning, while Haruya has always been the one pushing him away. A seme that won't admit it, yet can't stay away. Makoto is amazing, too. He's quiet, which makes for more conflict.
However, I wish this also had more sex. While we got to see them touching each other quite a lot and even kissing sometimes, their first time was actually not illustrated properly, and that's a shame.
And an "I love you" at the end wouldn't hurt, either.
As for the second and third stories, the quality definitely goes down. The second one does have some cute aspects, such as Fujiwara loving Karahashi even though he's CLEARLY not at all hot when they are younger. That's true love. However, to me the path it follows just seems a little hard to believe. Maybe it's just cultural shock, but I wouldn't invite someone who I went to high school with but wasn't very close to, to go up to my apartment if I met them again after years, even if they weren't feeling well. Then Fujiwara just basically attacks Karahashi twice and Karahashi goes along with it, although nowhere did it mention his feelings for Fujiwara. He probably hadn't even thought about him that way up until that point. And suddenly, everything is solved. The most Karahashi says to Fujiwara is that he though he was pretty. That's not enough for me to accept that they are together. The only thing I actually enjoyed about this was the sex scene, because it was very hot; and how pushy Fujiwara is, almost like a seme. He's so experienced, it's very sexy. And the story ends just as suddenly as it started, with no confirmation that they are together. Their looks are also not to my liking. Fujiwara is ok, but nothing special. Karahashi is NOT AT ALL the type I'd consider good looking, even before he "becomes cool". He gets better, indeed, but...still quite ugly. And that's not something I like in fiction in general.
The third story is even worse than the second. It's just wrong, wrong, wrong all over. First of all, why would a dentist do sexual stuff to someone during the consultation?! He could be charged with sexual assault in an instant. Although this is yaoi, where this kind of thing happens and most of the scenarios presented to us ARE sexual assault, this is just too much for me. Then Hoshino jerks Sugita off all of a sudden and Sugita comes back for more assaulting? Doesn't seem the least bit believable. I couldn't quite figure out who the seme is either, and I'm not a "we go both ways" kind of fujoshi. I like seme / uke roles. What made it worse is that Hoshino seems to be the seme, and he has the MOST UKE FACE ever! Finally, I understand the concept of this story, in which Sugita doesn't feel anything (which barely scratches the surface and doesn't make for a good enough character background), but the execution was just terrible. Who in their right mind would put their patients through more pain to make them come back to the office? And who in their right mind WOULD come back?! It just makes no sense at all and is definitely not a good way for a seme to win an uke's heart. Also, to me it's nothing like S&M. Shoko-sensei uses the uke's pain as a subterfuge for him feeling something, rather than living his life emotionless, while the seme is interested in getting a reaction out of him. It has nothing to do with fetishes, but with feelings. Also, their appearances, once again, are also not to my liking. Sugita is plain and boring. Not particularly interesting. Hoshino, like I said before, just looks very feminine, like a total uke.
Overall, I would completely recommend reading the first story, but skip the other two if you value your time. I can't rate this volume high as a whole because it made me read two bad stories after the good one.
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