I read this in English up until Chapter 4 and then the last chapter in Chinese. It's a pretty standard "siblings-that-aren't-actually-blood-related" setup. I thought based on the synopsis and cover that this was going to be melodramatic, and at times it is (mostly because Mikage is gloomy), but there's a decent amount of levity interspersed. Sex scenes are mostly implied, with some softcore nudity but nothing explicit. Art is consistent and enjoyable.
Even though it’s not completely scanlated, I think that chapters 1-4 comprise a complete story arc that’s sufficiently satisfying, and I think it’s worth reading even without Chapter 5. There’s a fairly tight focus on their relationship dynamics and the “rules” that govern it, which allows the story to not feel too rushed even though things happen quickly over the course of just a few chapters.
Chapter 5 is set ~8 years after Chapter 1 and reads more like an epilogue. I’ve included extensive spoilers below regarding Chapter 5 (if you've read the scanlated chapters and just want to know what happens, or if you’re following along with raws in a language you can’t read):
Tomoki works at a furniture/interior design store, Mikage is a salaryman. They’ve been brothers for 20 years and lovers living together for 7 years.
The chapter starts with a conversation spherical lamp Tomoki has at the head of his bed - Mikage has the same one; their father bought a second one for Tomoki when he was in middle school and was forced out of Mikage’s room to his own room (which he protested).
They live together but have separate bedrooms. Tomoki wants to buy a big bed to share (using his employee discount), pointing out that they usually sleep together anyway; Mikage says that the frequency [of sex] is gonna go down as they age and that buying a new bed doesn’t make sense because of depreciation of value, and that it would be embarrassing if their parents visited and saw a new large bed in the bedroom.
Tomoki says that their parents have already approved of their affairs (in a general sense, not specifically a love affair, although it is implied later that their parents approve of this as well) and are happy for them. Mikage says he still hasn’t forgiven Tomoki about this, and gets upset just thinking about it.
In a flashback, Mikage remembers that when he was graduating college and entering society, he worried for a long time that it would be impossible for the two of them to live together as adults, even though they were brothers. After he finally makes up his mind and tells his parents “Mom, Dad, I have something to say,” his mother cuts him off and says that they already know everything, that Tomoki already told them at the time that he told them he wanted to test into the same university as Mikage. His father says “If Mikage is left alone, you might lead a solitary and lonely life forever” and says he’s actually more at ease with them living together. (It isn’t explicitly stated whether Tomoki told them about the romantic relationship or just something along the lines of “I want to keep living with Mikage.”) Tomoki apologized, but they still ended up having a big fight, and Mikage didn’t talk to him for two whole months.
Mikage shows up at the store where Tomoki works and orders a sofa (using Tomoki’s employee discount) as an anniversary gift for their parents. The saleswoman tells Mikage that Tomoki talks about him all the time at work (outstanding at work, calm personality, considerate, warm, handsome, etc)...but then she goes on to say that Tomoki also talks a lot about his lover, and that Tomoki’s lover is someone who is like Mikage (also very capable at work with a calm personality etc). Mikage gets mad and says that with Tomoki talking so much, is he really doing his job? The saleswoman assures Mikage that Tomoki does his work and is popular with customers because of his good taste. Mikage has some angry/jealous thoughts about this.
When Tomoki gets home, he apologizes to Mikage, saying that he knows Mikage doesn’t like it when he talks to other people about these kinds of things, but that “as soon as everyone starts talking about relationships, I can’t help wanting to show off.” Mikage shuts himself in his room and says that he doesn’t want to see Tomoki for the time being, because if he sees Tomoki he might punch him, so Tomoki leaves.
Mikage is alone with his thoughts. He knows he’s childish and that there’s no reason to get so upset about this, but he still thinks things like “if that guy had a normal family, would he be happier?” He acknowledges that he can’t let go of their relationship, and that more than anything, he’s afraid of being alone. He wonders about “what if at that time, our parents opposed us” and “what if our parents ask(ed) us to live normal lives” and notes that he didn’t find out for years after Tomoki had already confessed to their parents, and that Tomoki has always been the strong one. He accidentally breaks the spherical lamp in his room and cuts himself on the shards.
Tomoki comes home to find Mikage waiting outside all curled up. He asks what happened/ why Mikage isn’t waiting inside (“Bugs? Youkai?”) and Mikage very cutely admits that it’s because Tomoki wasn’t there. Tomoki says, “Well, I’m back now.” They go back inside together and Mikage tells Tomoki that the lamp broke, then asks Tomoki to hug him tightly. Sexytimes ensue. Afterwards, Tomoki asks Mikage what kind of lamp he wants to buy to replace the broken bedside lamp, and Mikage says “a big one.” This confuses Tomoki, but Mikage clarifies that he means a big bed, like the one that Tomoki previously wanted to buy (which Mikage shot down), and that if they’re sharing a bedroom, then they don’t need to buy a new bedside lamp (although he still wants to have his own bedroom). Then they have this cute interaction:
Mikage: Also, by the way, l have something else to tell you.
Tomoki: What, what?
Mikage: I love you.
Tomoki: Me too…! I love you too!
Mikage: I know. You’re so noisy. If you keep talking I’m gonna beat you up.
Tomoki: I love you most in the world!
Whomp
(-34)
