Dude, dude............ Unpopular opinion but I just can't get past the whole rape thing. ...

Anonymous July 4, 2019 7:08 am

Dude, dude............

Unpopular opinion but I just can't get past the whole rape thing. Even if you're in mourning, it can never be justified. Lots of people are crying for Natsuki but I just can't feel sorry for the guy. The fact that they got together despite the assault lleaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Responses
    runicclover October 5, 2019 1:06 pm

    That... wasn't rape. It was dubious consent, sure, but not rape.
    (spoilers below kinda)

    Natsuki begged Yuni to do him at the start and Yuni was in shock so he didn't refuse or deny him. Had it stayed that way with no additional scenes I would have agreed with you that it was in fact rape, HOWEVER... Natsuki then proceeds to ask Yuni to "let him have this one memory" which in effect, is asking Yuni for his consent. Yuni did not refuse him here, instead started actively participating (after a moment of reflection where you can see him really processing the request) which is something shown by the following panels. So while consent was not explicitly given here, he did, in a way, agree to Natsuki's plea at the time.

    Post-sex he was in shock that he could have sex with his friend so he pushed him away and ran off... but he showed no signs of trauma or anything else which shows that he didn't think of it as rape, but more of two friends who crossed a line he never thought about crossing before. The following chapter is all Yuni's thoughts as he circles around this.

    And in the later chapters it's shown that Natsuki has immense regret about how he handled things and a lot of insecurities and emotional baggage he needs to work through. While I could see how you'd interpret the whole "you're grossed out right?" as a "you don't like men! Gay guys disgust you, right?", that's not quite it. While Yuni's lack of interest in men is an insecurity for Natsuki, he actually states over and over that he did a horrible thing and how could Yuni like him despite that? This is his real trauma.

    So no, I don't think this was rape. It was dubcon for sure, but it was Natsuki who went and actively hurt himself, looking for punishment because he felt so much guilt over his father's death and his feelings for Yuni.

    BLOW POP SECRETS October 18, 2019 5:38 pm
    That... wasn't rape. It was dubious consent, sure, but not rape.(spoilers below kinda) Natsuki begged Yuni to do him at the start and Yuni was in shock so he didn't refuse or deny him. Had it stayed that way wi... runicclover

    Exactly. You grasped the situation and story wonderfully. I think rape is so prevalient in the yaoi genre that people confuse dubious consent and even intense sex scenes as rape. They don't take into account that people have sex during anger, or after trauma, when they're scared etc and it isnt always pretty, clean, and lovingly gentle. While I find rape detestful and dislike how normalized it is in this genre and I even agree with people being vocal of their dislike as well, I just don't think rape is the case here. You pointed out exactly what was depicted in this manga which was a reluctant seme actively but almost passively obliging his emotionally distraught Uke friend although he was confused about the situation which would make since because before they were just best friends and nothing more.

    Jesss October 27, 2019 1:18 am

    Even the uke knows what he did was unforgivable. But unless someone goes through a loss like that, you wouldnt understand the overwhelming feeling of loss. The anger, and fear that grips you. I was numb for a year after my mother passed away.

    i think its okay to be angry at his actions, and still feel compassion for his loss. At that moment he probably didnt care if he lived or died and all he wanted was to be with the one person he loved the most. Again, doesnt make it okay. But grief can turn you into someone you are not. Sometimes permanently. I have become much angrier and colder after my mother passed.

    Some of my personality came back, but not completely.

    c u c c c January 17, 2020 4:33 pm
    I'm against rape, but i don't think that this is rape ... why? ... here is what i think Firstly yuni is way taller and stronger than natsuki ... he could have pushed him of way soonerSecondly he didn't utter a ... Rania

    this comment was so unnecessary. Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person's consent. That is what rape is and it's exactly what natsuki did to yuni. Just because yuni is stronger doesn't mean it's not rape and also yes he did say "no". Also apologizing after raping someone still doesn't make it not rape. Thank you for coming to my TED talk

    Peach January 17, 2020 11:27 pm
    This stuff happens all the time? Are you listening to yourself right now? No, it does not justify anything. Rape is still rape. The other party didn't want it. You can't excuse it even if the boy was clearly tr... @Anonymous

    Honestly, it's none of your business, if Yuni forgave him for it that's it, because he was the one who got raped, not you, you have no say in the fact that it can't be justified and that they 'shouldnt have gotten together'.