Memory loss is the shitiest "plot twist" ever

I agree, Im not a fan of memory loss plots. Especially when it only last a few chapters and it not turn into something where it’s a whole story line of the couple re falling in love with each other.

I'm going to be really unpopular in this opinion, but I really hate general memory loss when it's really poorly done. It's used as a steeple and is often portrayed as something temporary and/or fleeting. In this story, it's not a fleeting issue but a central and reoccurring one and there's a reason for it. It's affected the characters around Haru and how he perceives himself and others too.

The reason for Haru's memory loss is because he blames himself for his parent's death and also inadvertently blames Ren too. If he hadn't gone to Canada that summer, he wouldn't have had to be picked up from the airport and thus his parents would probably still be alive, or so he thinks. It's more of a subconscious thought in the current Haru, but because he hasn't addressed the issue and that of his loneliness, it keeps cropping up in his life to bite him in the backside. The 25 year old Haru uses Ren to fill the void but when his subconscious mind is presented with the choice, it chooses to erase Ren.

Personally, I didn't like the 17-year old Haru, but that was the write/artist's intention. He acts like such a brat to Ren that it's almost impossible to not want 25-year old Haru back. There are still some blanks in their story to fill in but the back and forth without having flash backs going back in time (which wouldn't be progression) is slowly filling them in. It's surprisingly great!!

PREACH!

While that may be the case I still didn’t like this arc. We have been down the road of the memory loss before. While yes it can re occur as mentioned. It still is a very annoying cliche. He looses his memory and forgets about ren for the second time. Always forgetting the time spent with ren. Hurting ren And then always coming to the same conclusion that ren, despite not remembering him is a very important existence in his life. You can psycho analyze the story all you want to say it’s filling in wholes that were missing. But to me it did nothing other than him running from the progression of their relationship. They could have addressed it in other ways. Like the crazy Lady attacks ren, ren inadvertently becomes hospitalized and unconscious. It still would bring up all those old feelings in Haru. Having to face those feeling of blaming himself like he would for putting ren in said situation also while having to face the loneliness that would come from ren not being around... not saying that’s any better of a cliche but there are other ways to make it come to light with out bringing back the memory loss. This memory loss lasted for a few chapters... the jumbled mess of the crazy lady and a new teacher which was showing a lot of suspicion. Then bam a memory loss due to the lady.. tho the lady tried to trick Haru.. her advances weren’t as strong as it could have been given she got what she wanted. Not only did it seem like a slight after thought we had to watch Haru be an ass to ren all over again. Like ren hasn’t been through enough shit to have to relive being forgotten by the person he loves most in the world. Then tho not technically a rape scene it was a shitty exploit on Harus behalf. After all of that his memory just poof! Comes back to save ren... I’m kinda tired of ren always getting the short end of the stick while Haru has an internal struggle of separating ren as a lover and brother. I would like to see their relation actually grow, and not just Haru acting like an over protective nut.. which I get is all related to the accident. But still I know everyone thinks this is a good way for the story to progress given all the comments about the memory loss. But no matter how you spin it it is a shitty arc.

And let’s just face it that this story has been going nowhere for sometime now. Same old song and dance of ren confessing his love and Haru skirting around the subject. Then Haru pulling some trick to keep ren hooked. Like some sort of tease. Ren is so loyal to a fault when it comes to Haru.. but harus insecurities always squashed everything. Haru needs to get his shit together bc one day ren will be an adult and that excuse of him being a kid will be gone.. and so could ren. Like really, when was the last time Haru made ren smile?

I agree with you

I agree with you about 85%- The arc does feel repetitive, but it was a necessary evil to show just how willing Haru's subconscious is willing to forget Ren to protect itself from feeling hurt, but his own feelings don't just erase themselves either. His 17-year old self still had strong feelings for Ren, but obviously without the memories of him and the emotional maturity to rationalize it all, he just blamed Ren for his own confusion. Ren even says it himself that Haru was blaming him for feeling lonely.

I hate that Ren has to go through all that sh*t to be honest- He deserves a lot better than Haru gives him, but the progression on his side is also slow due to how young he is. You have to consider there's a substantial age gap that Haru doesn't feel like crossing, though they both are slowly approaching a more appropriate mark where Ren will be old enough for it to not be pedophilia. Not to mention incest. Yes they're not related by blood, but Haru considers them brothers just as much as he loves Ren and wants to keep him as a lover. The slow progression helps in aging he characters- I mean look how far they've come from the beginning already! Ren was just a tiny kid when they met and it's going to be hard to forget that first image of him and view him as an equal/young adult despite how he acts. It's the same for parents that care for their children- they'll always view them as their own babies.

Overall, Ren has his failings too- it's not just Haru messing up here, but that's a normal thing. Look around at the relationships you know of and tell me you don't see misunderstandings left, right and centre? It's just a process that need to be worked through. But hey, you're right when you ask when was the last time Haru made Ren smile- the big idiot really needs to make up for his stupidity, but again Ren doesn't smile often. They're always calling him an 'old man' at his school! X'D

Like I totally get that line that shouldn’t be crossed as in going into the pedo part. I know it’s there so Haru can keep him self in check, which I’m ok with. I’m not saying they need to do the deed or anything. Im fine with it not being centered around that. I more so meant at some point Ren will reach that age where that excuse can no longer work. When that happens will Haru gladly accept rens advancements? Or will he find another excuse or keep using the brother excuse as to why they can’t move forward. I know Haru wants to see ren and a brother and a lover. But he really needs to start putting ren into one category or be ok with the fact that his lover happens to be his adoptive brother.
Also yes ren is still a child and is a bit naive when it comes to things. But if doesn’t help him that no one wants to answer his questions. Everyone seems to want to keep him pure to some great extent. So how he approaches his advancements is very straight forward since he doesn’t know but wants to know. I think if someone just sat down and explained everything to him, he may be able to understand why Haru has set boundaries. But since Haru and everyone doesnt tell him anything he gets hurt when he tries to be more adult for Haru and gets shot down.. even though Haru likes to stay in the gray area and play around (sexually) to some extent to ren. Giving him all kinds of mixed feelings.

And on the note about ren smiling. Yeah it doesn’t happen often but I’m sure he has smiled a few times in the story. But I dunno.. I’d think as a lover I would try to make that be a more common thing. You would think trying to make the person you love happy and to see them smile more would be a pretty important thing. I’m not saying ren needs to go from being stoic to happy go lucky.. but it would be nice to see Haru do something for ren every now and then that would leave a enigmatic smile. Like a smile that would leave even Haru speechless...