Kinoshita-sensei writes an interesting story, here.

You have a teenager who has just lost his last parent, and a man, a lawyer, who cannot forget the kindness the teenager showed him when he was broken. Well, I get the feeling that Senoh's been broken all along and had no one else who showed him half the kindness Haru had, back then.

That most Japanese phrase "It can't be helped" plays a big part in this story. You see it in many ways throughout the story and Senoh seems to have lived life this way, but when Haru comes into his life, he actually kind of spirals, struggling with the feelings he's had for 'his savior.' In a way, they are both saved. The fact that Senoh is older is just a tad squicky, but he's quick to defend his affection for Haru when his coworker expresses interest, and I wondered as I was reading if that was because Senoh is transparent? I hope, someday, the entire volume will be translated, because I love me some Kinoshita-sensei, and I would love to see a continuation of Haru and Senoh, as they grow in love and I want to see Haru in college.

How is this romance "slowly developed"? We have a kid who's in debt and a lawyer who appears out of the blue to help him -- so far, not so bad -- and bam! After some half-hearted attempts at refusal, the kid goes to live with said lawyer -- a man who claims to know him but whom he has no memory of ever having met -- after a couple of sweet, but ultimately insubstantial, conversations. Are Japanese highschool boys really that clueless? Moving in with someone you just became acquainted with, simply because the guy said he wishes to help you and makes good his word by scaring off a couple of bad guys? Oh, how I wish the real world was like this, and the suspicious character who offers to let you stay over at his place is actually a nice, decent man who has the willpower to restrain himself even when you're playing right into his hands, and who'll eventually become the love of your life!

But the abruptness doesn't end there. All of the sudden the kid wants to study law; his debts magically vanish with only the vaguest explanation as to how it actually happened; a flimsy, typical back story is introduced to prove that indeed, they had met before...Though I guess it's also my fault for forgetting this was published in a BL magazine, where high standards are hardly the norm.
And the line at the end "I fell for you the day I first met you" was probably meant to be adorable, but fell just short of being highly disturbing, taking into the account the fact that the kid was about seven when this first meeting took place.

The reason I'm not rating Kimi to Harujion too low despite all these flaws? I love Senoh's restraint and presence of mind as portrayed in the extra chapter at the end. Not something you can usually find in a seme, and a definite warrant for approval.

... Last updated on June 28th, 2012, 10:23pm

Kinoshita-sensei excels at slowly developed romances that gut punch me all of a sudden; usually, it's at a deceptively quiet scene that is, in truth, explosively agonizing! Her longer tales are far better than her one shots.

Her art is unusual, but damn is it expressive! In this tankobon, not once did the older man verbally or with thoughts express or acknowledge his growing love for the young man he originally wished to simply protect and care for after being deeply affected by the young man's innocence and purity of heart. The growth of his love was delivered subtly and powerfully with facial expression, body movements and sound effects alone. This mangaka knows how to work her medium! The only consistent disappointment I have with her touching and tender stories is that they never get quite sexually explicit enough. But, since she gives me that great, slow sexual tension, I'll overlook this minor irritation.

... Last updated on June 6th, 2011, 7:12am