. . .. especially after such a phenomenal start! complete deflation of initial excitement. Did you hear that resounding crash? My '7' is only because the first few chapters I'd rate much higher and the last chapter I'd rate much lower. SO average is where it sits.
The 1st chapter opens with an awesome line: "There is nothing more incomprehensible than violence." Bang. Powerful. The stage was set for a fascinating exploration of human nature regarding sadism and masochism within the framework of a BL story. YES!
That whole chapter, plus chapter 2 did not disappoint. The cruelty and tender sides of Takagi were so intriguing! The pleasure he gained from seeing Hagiwara cry was delivered with a deft hand of words and matched action.The way the mangaka explained how the pain took away the fear was like a punch in my gut. The facial expressions (pg 18 and 22!) and the words (last page of chapter 2!): W.O.W. Good stuff.
Soooo. Ummmm. . .
Chapter 3 runs like an old sputtering car: full of intermittent hair-in-the-wind-fantastic movement and then -whamo!- stall. Give it some gas and away we go again. Sputter. Stall. By this point, I'm getting peeved at everyone in the story.
I'm starting to not like this Hagiwara character. He's so damn cold and unaffected. Although, Takagi's feelings of love and wanting to give Hagiwara a softer side of himself are believable, they fall flat because of the self-obsessed, unrelenting portrayal of Hagiwara. Besides, what has happened to his 'savage' side? Hagiwara: this boy has issues. And I'm not talking about his desire to be hurt. The concept of a 'relationship' doesn't even permeate his consciousness. There are no redeeming moments for him (that he doesn't forget about immediately.)
Oh! Maybe he's realized that he wants Takagi after cheating on him. Nope. Maybe not. . .What?
Chapter 4? Don't even get me started. Did we address the suicide issue at the end of chapter 3? Hullo? Maybe he was just taking a swim. In his clothes. Covered in blood.
And when he started talking about this 'emptiness' i just felt nothing but frustration. By this point, the story totally dumped Takagi's sinister (towards Hagawara) side. He had just sorta pathetically given up on that whole situation.
The story of the 5th dom in chapter 4 was just annoying. I thought, 'Why am i committing time to this bozo kid? What happen to my beautiful story in chapter 1, 2 and sorta 3. Even the artwork suffered. There were still the odd magnificent frame, but mostly not.
So is the 'eternal emptiness' filled now that Hagiwara and Takagi have had a life and death scenario?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Gah! Somebody please choke somebody (with a safety gesture! ;) and kiss like it means SOMETHING.