Good but not great

I was just abt to comment this, like some people do plays where no doesn't mean stop so a safe word is discussed to signal a stop, it's not that deep and the ML being like "omg I fucked up I'm a horrible person" and feeling bad cuz "safe words signal a bad dom" is sooooooo fucking dumb of the author to do. A safe word can also just mean wait, after it's used the person can clarify what they are comfortable with and in the sex scene the MC used the safe word because the ML was moving at a faster pace than what he was comfortable with. I don't get why the ML was reacting like he said "I hate you" or sum like mans just wanted you to slow down it's not a personal hit. Why is it the MC's job to console him or apologize for using a safe word they already discussed?? It's also just a rlly unhealthy idea for the author to not even address it later with some clarification that it's okay to use safe words and encouraged if you want to, like I can just see the author's own opinions abt safe words coming through and it's not cute

(this, uh, got a little long... ^^;)

while i do agree that the explanation for safe words is absolutely misguided, speaking only on the ML's reaction - and clearly there's already that societal idea of safe word=bad beyond early relationship (which we can honestly argue they're still in) - i personally interpreted his reaction to be related to his past and the idea that his Dom instincts hurt someone again, and most particularly that they hurt someone he cared for. which, considering his past experiences, he'd never had before. not to mention his parents' handling of the situation was abysmal and only reinforced to him that his Dom instincts were dangerous and something to be feared; plus he didn't seem to get much satisfaction out of plays either since all he had to do was glare to get a Sub into subspace. finding someone he could really interact with, have a real play with, who didn't just interest him but also made him feel he could have a meaningful connection at last - one he did indeed develop - to me, i can see how that would come as a huge blow to him.

i also agree it shouldn't be the MC's responsibility to console him (or really that any consoling should be needed, because as you said, a safe word has a discussed purpose) but since that's evidently just not how the universe in this manga sees it, a strong reaction even without the ML's past isn't strange contextually. so basing this only on the way this world apparently works, the MC should have just said something rather than letting the ML think otherwise. and clearly it upset the ML that the MC WASN'T doing so later on when the ML knew he was genuinely pushing it - perhaps as a way to punish himself (ML) for his previous behavior and current reaction?

speaking now to the safe word, honestly the explanation leads to it being potentially abused by unhealthy/toxic Subs to keep their Doms 'in line' (like partners who constantly threaten to break up/leave/cheat/etc.) or unhealthy/toxic Doms knowing their Subs would never want to hurt them and thus trapping them into whatever the Dom wants to do to them. i can understand the mangaka wanting an in-universe way to instill some manner of realization for the MC without him yet rectifying the misunderstanding and thus create a plot path for the later interactions, but it sets a very poor precedent in a world where apparently a Sub's ONLY defense is a safe word (which in itself is NOT really a safety since it will ONLY matter/work for a partner a Sub would most likely already feel more trust toward than a Dom stranger with bad intentions).

sometimes aspects of some Dom/Sub Verse(s) irk me and feel much too heavily weighted toward Subs having basically no control, while then Doms are ignored as also being capable of drops, needing to be satisfied with a play, and wanting/needing aftercare. i generally enjoy universes like this or Omegaverse, and in the end it's obviously still a romanticized fictional fantasy for entertainment, but i vastly prefer when there's more actual balance. i feel it gives greater depth to the universes the plots and characters are set in. besides, what kind of supposed biology is nearly all pros or all cons? even predator/prey have some balance or else every ecosystem would be thrown into chaos.