For shounen ai, a genre I usually associate with kawaii love and bunny cuddles, really swung my heart around hard. I'm not entirely sure if I can picture these characters as a couple, but I am sure that I can picture them as friends who are closer than brothers. I was most shocked at the lack of sympathy or understanding afforded to It-chan from the adults who not only knew him, but knew his circumstances at home. Children don't become deliquents when there is a happy, healthy environment at home. Even in Yuji's case, his parents put a lot of pressure on him without ever actually listening to his thoughts or feelings. Their idea of "talking" consisted of lectures and demands. They talked *at* him and never actually listened *to* him. If they had, he'd have never been pushed to the brink like he was. In It-chan's case, even if his mother wore the mask of a smile for the neighbors, the adults in town would have seen the red flags of neglect all over It-chan. He was always hungry, never had any money and when he needed a parent the most, she was nowhere to be found. They just saw It-chan as a delinquent and a problem and never asked why or how he came to be like that. I guess there are no "Child Protective Services" in this manga's universe. LOL
The art is a bit "old school", but it doesn't detract from the story or the amazing writing. The story is intense, with lots of drama and lots of tension. You never really know what will happen on the next page.
For shounen ai, a genre I usually associate with kawaii love and bunny cuddles, really swung my heart around hard. I'm not entirely sure if I can picture these characters as a couple, but I am sure that I can picture them as friends who are closer than brothers. I was most shocked at the lack of sympathy or understanding afforded to It-chan from the adults who not only knew him, but knew his circumstances at home. Children don't become deliquents when there is a happy, healthy environment at home. Even in Yuji's case, his parents put a lot of pressure on him without ever actually listening to his thoughts or feelings. Their idea of "talking" consisted of lectures and demands. They talked *at* him and never actually listened *to* him. If they had, he'd have never been pushed to the brink like he was. In It-chan's case, even if his mother wore the mask of a smile for the neighbors, the adults in town would have seen the red flags of neglect all over It-chan. He was always hungry, never had any money and when he needed a parent the most, she was nowhere to be found. They just saw It-chan as a delinquent and a problem and never asked why or how he came to be like that. I guess there are no "Child Protective Services" in this manga's universe. LOL
The art is a bit "old school", but it doesn't detract from the story or the amazing writing. The story is intense, with lots of drama and lots of tension. You never really know what will happen on the next page.