Agreed! And that's also just a very nice way to look at it :)
Well..I think there is malice because Kir tells him to stop, especially in this chap but he goes on..we know that he likes Ken, but still...this is rape
Uh, bruh, no, Ken's being a massive douche. I'm just gonna put what Blueninja89 said, cuz they sum this whole thing up perfectly:
"Honestly Ken is such a fucking douche i'm getting sick of it.His need to constantly take out his frustrations out on Kirara is getting ridiculous when all of the miscommunication is a direct result of him having a reputation of sleeping around and then feminizing Kirara when it's convenient for him. He never acknowledges anything, but the physical intimacy that he routinely forces onto Kirara. Of course Kirara thinks Ken doesn't know Ken likes him, Ken has done nothing to disprove that and his track record shows he'lll go for anyone who at least shows interest in him without complaint. Even with his internalized homophobia I'm continuously losing sympathy for Ken's melodrama because you don't start a physical relationship with someone and then fault them when they don't readily guess your intentions and feelings given how he's rudely treated them for a considerable amount of time. Kirara truthfully deserves better, but given the plot is the childhood friends trope they have to end up together when in reality Ken really needs way more time to grow up and Kirara needs to find a love interest who while battling his insecurities doesn't treat him like crap every other five minutes and makes him their emotional punching bag. God what's worse is in this chapter Ken all but raped Kirara but of course yet again Ken's "confusion" gives him a pass for being the worst."
THAT'S what's actually going on here. Like, this is more than a bit much for "teenage awkwardness" ┗( T﹏T )┛
Sorry fam, but I can't get with y'all on that. Everbody is entitled to an opinion, and that's fine, but I really don't think it's that deep at all. The mangaka is honestly just using a popular tsundere trope that is a known success with Japanese BL fans--who she is catering to because they are her target audience. When Ken starts acting like Feiling or Asami from Viewfinder who both literally both treat Aki like a blowup doll and never think about his feelings, then I'll concede. But I stand by the fact that Ken is an awkward kid with daddy issues who will learn as he grows. He acts immature because he is immature. No shade, but it's just not that deep to me.
I agree what Ken did was wrong. But I also understand that he is a teenager still discovering his sexuality and is having a
deep internal struggle coming to terms that he has feelings for Kirara and the fact that he might be gay. Which to many is not see as a good thing.Ken already has this nagitive views of gays because he saw his dad with this man and blamed him for maybe taking his mom’s place. It’s like the whole evil step mom type of thing, not that the dad’s lover is evil in anyway it’s just in Ken’s view because that’s not his mom and probably has this nagative association with him and gays. Yes, Ken is being jerk and he should have stopped when Kiria told him too. But I don’t think he did it to be mean or anything it was some heat of the moment thing. I hope that he will work it out and try to explain to Kirara what he is feeling. But I honestly think at this point he doesn’t know what he’s feeling.
Someone gets it...agree 100%
I also don't think it was done out of the pure intention to hurt Kirara, I just don't think it's appropriate to think that the way he's behaving is funny or just "awkward." Like you said, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I actually agree with basically everything you said here--unlike the original commenter...just, why? It's not just "awkwardly stumbling through feelings," this behaviour is a definite problem and comes from a hurting place inside him. Like you said, he's confused about his feelings, and due to blaming his dad's partner for taking his mom's place/ruining their relationship, he's angry at gay people and has internalized homophobia because of that, causing him to lash out and behave inconsistently with his relationship with Kirara. I get it. I really do, and it's a fairly realistic approach to his character, which I can appreciate. What I take issue with is when people see this type of thing as harmless, funny, or expected and excusable. Is his behaviour
understandable? Yes. Is it okay? No, and he needs to go through character growth to change this behaviour--because leaving things as they are now is toxic.
Sorry, ranted a bit there. In the end, as you said, everyone is free to have their own opinion, I just find it concerning--in my opinion--that some people like the original commenter think this type of thing is just funny and awkward rather than damaging.
And I get it. No hard feelings. But as I stated earlier, Ken is a 15/16 year old kid. I'm not excusing his behavior, but looking back on some of my views, the things I did and said...people do learn from their mistakes.
And I'm willing to bet that the author was not going for anything like that, even if that is how Ken comes off to some readers. It's literally just supposed to be a cute, funny romance manga. I can only see all the other stuff as being taken out of context. That's not a jab or a diss, I just understand what the creator was going and it's noting heavy. We'll just have to agree to disagree. Again, no shade. I'm just not sold on this, y'all.
Thanks (￣∇￣"). I'm glad to hear that you're not excusing his behaviour, and while I certainly wasn't at Ken's level when I was that age (I was a fortunate child ;p), I also can look back and think things like, "Dear GOD, was I really that petty? That immature?" etc. etc. So yes, people can learn from their mistakes, and it can be hard to learn without making mistakes--not everyone does learn, unfortunately, but it's probably safe to assume that the author will have Ken learning from his; at least, it BETTER be safe to assume! I think the main thing I'm worried about is the author sweeping his past behaviour under the rug and not addressing it once their feelings are acknowledged as mutual--like, there better at least be a darn apology!
But I digress ╮(￣▽￣)╭
Thank you for taking my comments with such good grace, I really appreciate it :)
Lol, I also don't think the author was going for anything like that--which is my whole problem (￣∇￣"). The fact that behaviour like this is meant to be cute and funny--not fully realizing or acknowledging the toxicity of this relationship and of Ken's inner state--is what concerns me. So, in a way, I agree with you! But my problem is that I agree with you? If you get what I mean?
I hope so, too. Otherwise, that will be disappointing. And that's why I like this website. You can actually comment and disagree without it turning into a cat fight. You guys are great. :)
Heh heh, right?! The one comment section I actually enjoy (๑•ㅂ•)و✧
Thanks for the discussion, nyokochan
You bet, AW.
wow. I don't remember a rape scene
I think Ken is just an awkward teenager; he's only 15 or 16 and is honestly behaving as such, so I think it's funny. And he's not doing anything with malice, so... Also, I don't think the author means for us to see Ken as uncaring or forceful (in the context of a sexual offender), but rather see the two as two awkward teens having awkward sexual encounters, while awkwardly stumbling through their feelings. That's all.