I feel like alot are confused why he keeps the tattoo after being happy. I feel like if u really read deep, even tho he was later coerced into a sexual relationship with step-dad, mc feelings were actually all familial. His one and only remaining family. When offered a sexual a relationship, he rlly thought that if it's the only way he can stay with step dad, he could accept it. Later, step dad became more and more controlling and relationship become more and more hard for MC(tbh he is not happy, he is struggling to hold onto his last familial tie). Some who ship this might not believe it but I even think MC never had romantic feelings for uncle(sex is not always romance) but rather familial one's. This is proven by every memory he looks fondly upon being one when stepdad was still a father figure. Later, uncle leaves and all choices are up to him. He no longer has any family. This is even brought up in chapter 8 of the sequel, when other mc goes home and this mc thinks that other dude still has family, he has nothing. Imo, the tattoo is not so much a statement of their later sexual relationship in the mc head, but rather his only reminding tie to his last family figure. Remember, his stepdad is the one that said if they were going to be tied together it had to be sexual. This is mc "family" in his mind. At the end of chapter 8 of sequel, mc also ponders the difference between the two relationships. One is consensual and gives him positive emotions(and he also wanted to do these things), the other he basically had to do if he wanted to maintain a familial relationship with his legit last relative. The scene of him being told that that is the only way he can be with his stepdad(thru sexual relationship) is shown more than once proving this is a deep memory in mc head. He can't give up the only memory he has of his last relative in form of tattoo(however the tattoo came abt, its legit his last memory of his last family member), so his first choice when given agency over himself is to keep it. Bc in his head, if he erases, it removes not just the twisted second half of the relationship, but also the good beginning that would always remain with him.
But his true love can teach him healthy romantic love and start a family with him in the proper way thru marriage. So the feelings are different and this is the way I read it. Now some who ship this couple for prequel can feel different and feel it was romantic since it was indeed a sexual relationship but im just explaining between the lines.
I feel like alot are confused why he keeps the tattoo after being happy. I feel like if u really read deep, even tho he was later coerced into a sexual relationship with step-dad, mc feelings were actually all familial. His one and only remaining family. When offered a sexual a relationship, he rlly thought that if it's the only way he can stay with step dad, he could accept it. Later, step dad became more and more controlling and relationship become more and more hard for MC(tbh he is not happy, he is struggling to hold onto his last familial tie). Some who ship this might not believe it but I even think MC never had romantic feelings for uncle(sex is not always romance) but rather familial one's. This is proven by every memory he looks fondly upon being one when stepdad was still a father figure. Later, uncle leaves and all choices are up to him. He no longer has any family. This is even brought up in chapter 8 of the sequel, when other mc goes home and this mc thinks that other dude still has family, he has nothing. Imo, the tattoo is not so much a statement of their later sexual relationship in the mc head, but rather his only reminding tie to his last family figure. Remember, his stepdad is the one that said if they were going to be tied together it had to be sexual. This is mc "family" in his mind. At the end of chapter 8 of sequel, mc also ponders the difference between the two relationships. One is consensual and gives him positive emotions(and he also wanted to do these things), the other he basically had to do if he wanted to maintain a familial relationship with his legit last relative. The scene of him being told that that is the only way he can be with his stepdad(thru sexual relationship) is shown more than once proving this is a deep memory in mc head. He can't give up the only memory he has of his last relative in form of tattoo(however the tattoo came abt, its legit his last memory of his last family member), so his first choice when given agency over himself is to keep it. Bc in his head, if he erases, it removes not just the twisted second half of the relationship, but also the good beginning that would always remain with him.
But his true love can teach him healthy romantic love and start a family with him in the proper way thru marriage. So the feelings are different and this is the way I read it. Now some who ship this couple for prequel can feel different and feel it was romantic since it was indeed a sexual relationship but im just explaining between the lines.