Yeah you right I don't his story yet, and I admit I might have been bias b/c I ship Kousuke and Masahiro. But here is the thing, he had been friend with Kousuke for 10 years, but that's make it's ok for him to tell Kousuke not meddle with Masahiro? of course Kousuke have to meddle, they are lovers. Then, he clearly declare that he will not let them be together b/c Kousuke will only ended in pain. I mean even if you friend, isn't that crossing the line. I mean I'm happy to read the bartender story, it's mean more stories for me to read, but so far he ain't really make himself likable.
And he had been in love with Kousuke, that's pretty clear. But you see, if he was to try to separate Masahiro and Kousuke b/c he want to put himself up as "Kousuke's lover" that would have been better, it doesn't make him anymore likable, but at least that mean he fight in order to be Kousuke as lover (which I totally hate it, reminder: I ship Masahiro and Kousuke) if it was like that I would write it off as "oh so he trying to fighting for his love, ok". However, it is not like that at all, he try to separate them b/c he doesn't want Kousuke to be in love, his logic is that love is dirty and painful like hell, and Kousuke should be keep as pure and as innocent. You see what he trying to do, he doesn't want Kousuke to be with anyone, he trying to make Kousuke to be alone for the rest of his life, that's absurd! That's why I said what he protecting is not Kousuke but himself, b/c he scare of love, he projecting that onto Kousuke, and try to keep Kousuke away from it. And that's why I don't like him.
Oh I forgot let's me add just a bit more (I feel like I'm starting to annoy ppl for taking this too serious, sorry). You bring up a good point, the bartender just have a one-side crush on Kousuke for more than 10 years, and that's maybe the reason why he scares of love, b/c he had been suffering from his one-side crush for so long, now he can't keep quiet anymore (this is just my deduction, our author would surprise me with their creativity), up until this point it would have been fine. That is until he pointed out that Kousuke should be keep as pure and as innocent, this is where I snapped. To me, it look like he want to keep Kousuke in glasses case and isolate him (again, im being really pessimistic). I understand I came down way to harsh on this bartender but because his story haven't been reveal yet, I can only guess, and I tend to let my imagination run wild. I don't like him but I will admit that so far he is one of the character that I'm most curious about, proved that I have alot to say about him. ahahahaha
If you talking about Yuu and Chiaki (Sekaiichi Hatsukoi), then Usami and Kamijou (Junjou Romantica), then they are so different. Yes, they all childhood in love with MC but don't you see the differences in their attitudes? None of their actions/attitudes, Yuu's and Kamijou's, none of them trying to isolate the MC, none of them trying to keep the MC away from love itself. Now, the bartender had yet to take action, but his attitude had suggesting it.
This bartender is really ridiculous. Does he know how many people are in love and building their own family in this world? What with his idea that if you in love you bound to be in pain. Ok, of course you going to be in pain b/c this is 2 ppl butting heads to each other with their own feelings, of course it gonna hurt. But then have those ppl have ever ran away from it? He just using his own cowardice as an excuse and forcing his way into other ppl love life, while he has absolutely no right to do that b/c he chose to ran away from it in the first place. If he doesn't have the courage to facing his own feeling then he shouldn't butted his nose into other business, and to brand that behavior of his as an action of "protecting Kousuke from being hurt" that just ain't right. He haven't protect Kousuke, he protecting himself. He doesn't like Masahiro b/c he jealous, jealous of how Masahiro can always be honest with his feelings and Masahiro always choose to face his feelings head-on at the end of the day, while this idiot bartender had been running away from it. He selfishly decided ppl feelings and think that he's right to do that? Ridiculous, selfish, and self-centered bastard he is...He has no chance to butted in between Kousuke and Masahiro so piss off asshole!