I agree and I would like also to note that a good author may have his character having an issue that makes him 3D and complex and realistic. A not so good author just pours things with no connection or coherence just to create drama or sympathy. In this case it was something that relates to the arch. I think the blonde guy lied when he said he had many partners because when they first did it before started feeling good he was in pain. If he had many partners as he said sex would be quite easier. I think he loved him but was so afraid to confess (because he had seen him with girls) that this was eating him inside and the stress made him unable to eat. And the blackhaired guy from his part thought that he was just a casual sex friend and didn't have to courage to admit even at himself that he had feelings. I think this is one of a few yaois that the drama is not present just for adding more pages and it seems natural.
It is tricky to add disorders or mental struggles to already complex situations and maybe that is why some of the authors hope to add a little "spice" to the dramatic storylines but only good storytellers manage to create good characters with good character development that makes sense. Anyone can cook a cake, but not everyone can cook a delicious cake... Silly analogy but that's how I can best describe it. I agree with your points too.
Actually the cake is a perfect analogy. Some people think that if you put eggs, butter, flower and sugar in a ball and mix you can make a cake, but the result can be a flat cement - like over sweet desert. You have to first work with sugar and butter, then add the eggs carefully, work gently with the flower and backing powder, add more liquids like orange juice or Brandy depending on the consistency, flavour it with vanilla extract or cacao. So the same ingredients can result a delicious fluffy cake or an overbaked cement. Same with manga. You can have likable characters and interesting plot or silly fake character with a stupid plot that delivers plain unnecessary anguish. And what we learn from this post? Yes I do know how to bake a cake (●'◡'●)ノ
Moral of the story: alcohol makes everything better (or worse, depending on your mental health situation)
Its been a while I last had a nice conversation on the interwebs, thank you! I can bake a little, nothing fancy tho, if I want alcohol with my desserts, I just take a bite and a sip (or a shot lol) at the same time
That eating disorder thing DID NOT have to be involved (〜 ̄△ ̄)〜