i tried to like this, but i didn't really enjoy it (be aware this is really long)
the domestic violence stuff that happened upset me, not because it happened, but because hidetoshi was so apologetic about the abuse happening to him. like he seriously thought it was his fault, which was fine at first because that's how victims usually feel and one of many reasons why they stay in abusive relationships. however waaaay after he had broken up with his abusive boyfriend, he was still saying it was his fault and that he deserved it because he was in love with kengo!!! WTF?! i mean i know these things take time to heal, but still. dude come on now. i mean yea the ex sort of apologized but you can tell with the way it was written, that the fault was hidetoshi's and that's just not cool.
i'm aware that this is just a story and my friend told me that i should separate it from real life and that this abuse is a common trope in yaoi manga, so maybe it's a cultural thing. i don't care. abuse is abuse and transcends cultures mkay? the problem is that these messages easily influence people's way of thinking. my friend thought hidetoshi deserved the beatings for leading another man on, so i mean...that's a prime example of why sometimes the topic needs to be addressed.
another thing that bugged me was kengo forcing sex on hidetoshi, right after the abuse and it was glossed over a bit, but not that much. apparently this is a common trope in yaoi. speaking of which kengo, while i found his emotional pov interesting, i was really freaking mad when he said that he understood why hidetoshi's abusers abused him (because of his disinterest and the distance he placed between himself and his lovers) and that all they wanted was love, so they hit him. uuuh i'm sorry but what the hell?? there is no O I UNDERSTAND WHY ABUSERS DO THESE THINGS NOW I TOTALLY FEEL FOR THEM O MY GOD. that kind of thinking just excuses their behavior. like was that line supposed to come off as deep and emotional? because it just came off as gross. so instead of kengo coming off as someone yearning for hidetoshi's love, he just became a potential abuser in my eyes.
it also didn't help when the story shifted to look at kengo's ex girlfriend from highschool, who was also being abused by her husband, and kengo stated that she probably deserved it. i wasn't aware that when abuse happens, it's probably because of a misunderstanding and that the victim should apologize for that after being punched in the face or choked! gosh thanks for telling it like it is kengo. and the cherry on top was when he said he didn't feel sorry for her because she always acted overtly friendly towards men, which sends the wrong signals and that obviously meant that she deserved to be beaten. wow you're totally getting the best dude award now kengo. there are many other instances of kengo being a total asshat, but this review is getting super long.
i'm seriously starting to question whether the mangaka views domestic violence victims as people who deserve it and if so, i'm not reading her works anymore.
positive things: the art is lovely. so you know. if you like pretty art then read this while simultaneously erasing your brain (because you should not take the message of this manga seriously, it is toxic). the main couple were cute too, but the DV issues in this didn't help matters, so i couldn't enjoy their interactions as much like other readers did. i mean if kengo was a total douchebag about other DV victims, why would i want him to be with hidetoshi?! it's sad because i honestly liked kengo in the beginning, but then he turned into this horrible person with these horrible views and it's worse that he's in a relationship with someone who was abused.