First, I want to say that I've liked all of other sensei's works. So if my rating is this low, it's because I really feel that she can do way better works. And if you want to try this author, I really recommend you to begin with another story.
I don't really understand the high rating of this series, but maybe the problem lies within me. Even if I was quite tired when I read this, I don't think my brain's been off all this time... cause I have to say that I didn't understand a thing in this story. Maybe the fact I didn't know anything about Kabuki didn't help, but still, I had a very hard time understanding the strings that were pulling the character's emotions and actions.
I mean, I didn't understand why Shougo is afraid of being alone if Kazumi has always been there for him, it should have comforted him instead even if it wasn't the case for his father. I didn't see why Ikuomi and Masahiro were fighting, even if I understand it has something to do with Shougo. Also, why is Hiroki so afraid of talking about their lives with Masahiro, I know he's afraid of being more in love, but we don't have a bit of explanation as to why, if it's because of Masahiro's attitude or because of his past? And it irritated me that he still goes on with this till the end. Ah, and we don't know why Masahiro quit Kabuki, and why it's so difficult for him to play again.
The effort about introducing us to Kabuki is honorable, but it barely gave an explanation of why things are the way they are, so it just adds to the confusing atmosphere.
All in all, I couldn't empathize with the characters and feel for them, it always felt like I was watching from afar making it dull at times. Katakami sensei really achieved to create cute and romantic stories so far, but I think she tried too hard this time to make a dramatic series and failed by complicating it too much.
Plus, there is one thing that got on my nerves, it's that the main couple is an incest one (even if it's not between father and son or between brothers, they still have a blood bond). I usually don't mind incest stories when it's well treated, but it never seems to be a problem here, nobody makes the least comment on this fact, and they all approve happily of them. So even if I don't claim incest themed yaois to be realistic, I at least would like them to be mentionning it, and as an obstacle for the relationship.
But it's not all bad, her art is getting better as time goes by. Sometimes, I found myself looking at a page for seconds before realizing I'd stopped reading. And despite all the confusion about their past, the characters are endearing, which made me all the more frustrated.
Wow, I didn't think I'd write so much! Thanks for reading me till now. And so, if you're not afraid about complicated, hazy stories with good art, plot and characters, then this one is for you.