God, Naru is such an asshole. Young Masato was going to get raped and all he says is "gett...

That's what I had been thinking the whole time! He's way too controlling, manipulative and dismissive of other's feelings and a completely smug know-it-all to have any friends at all, and he doesn't deserve even one of them. Ew, just imagining having a friend like him gives me goosbumps!

Don't just focus on the words without minding who said it. It's not like mangas give you emoji's to figure out the speaker's emotions. It's obvious Naru isn't the type to really mean to let him get hurt and Asahi isn't thick skinned to ask for a favor of a friend who might have done it, without later checking if he helped him or not right? In fact Asahi just remembered to ask about that High Schooler means Naru is worthy of his trust even at that time.

(︶︿︶)＝凸
Did we forget that naru was the one who almost hurt Asahi the worst by tricking masato and almost breaking them up . What if they really broke up wouldn't Asahi be hurt greatly considering after what happened with his wife .
And naru was only thinking of Asahi did he forgot that masato had been hurt similar to Asahi and even deeper than Asahi ....
Asahi moved on in 6 years but masato couldn't move on even after 1O years ...

Yup I agree....
He completely disregards everyone other than Asahi

I think different reader can interpret it differently. I saw Naru tricking Masato is a way for him to test Masato's affection for Asahi. Naru knows what Masato is capable of doing, despite he having his reasons to do so (not all who've been hurt hurt others right). If Masato was in pain from what Naru did, well he deserved it. But he also deserved to have a second chance IF HE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO FACE WHAT HE DID AND SEEK FORGIVENESS. Yes, Asahi might have gotten hurt if Masato didn't come back after what Naru said. But if he is the type to just run away without giving any thoughts to Asahi's feelings, don't you think Asahi's better off him. Sooner he let go of such a selfish guy is better is what Naru must have thought. I would have done the same for my friend. Naru also cared about Masato or he wouldn't have let him get close to his precious Asahi-Friend. It is coz of Naru that the story moved to the next level and all of the characters got closure.

True every reader interpretes the story in their respective way . However masato was selfish but not towards Asahi , it was clearly depicted in the manga that when Asahi said that he fell in love with him inspite of knowing his identity and was willing to forgive him but instead masato rejected him saying that his brother will not forgive him and that will make no one happy ; wasn't it clear that masato did this because he felt guilty and unworthy of Asahi's forgivenesss . As for DESERVING TO BE HURT AND ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS he already apologized to his brother the moment he came to know he was Asahi's brother he diserved to hurt if he didn't feet guilty , apologized and realised what he did was wrong ; Asahi's brother could have simply forgiven(firstly he didn't break-up with his bf and secondly masato never directly broke them up he simply created doubts Asahi's brother was naive enough to believe without investing himself first ) him but instead he asked naru to plot a revenge with a clear intent to hurt him it wasn't a test . As for Naru his concern was Asahi not his brother( masato never hurted Asahi) if Asahi's brother wanted revenge he could have used some other method or Naru could have said no but instead he chose to play the bystander it was clearly because he was enjoying it and didn't at all care about masato . At the end of the manga it was also pointed out by the master at the bar .

I respect your way of thinking but it's just that I somehow can't agree . After what masato did he deserved to have some retribution but what I can't agree was too the extent he was hurt that was a bit too much than what he actually deserved . Afterall he didn't broke up anyone directly by cheating with them he simply raised doubts in their minds .

Yes, I respect how you see things too. I just shared how I saw it with you coz your comment intrigued me :) Maybe coz I'm a writer, I tend to see Naru is a necessary trickster to make the plot move and the Master as a character designed to keep him under control. But can I ask you this- you said that Masato didn't "really broke them", he just created some doubts. Isn't it what then Asahi's brother and Naru also did? They were just their at that moment (don't tell me the difference was they plowed it together coz Masato also calculated the reactions in his head so both were intentional) AND it was Masato who decided that his brother would never forgive them. If his actions were as light as you would claim, why couldn't Masato stand his ground? I felt Masato knew what he did was intentional and nobody deserved to be tricked by a person they trusted. But... do I think Masato doesn't deserve forgiveness? No. I just think he asked for that momentary struggle in his life to move on and seek forgiveness.

*plowed= plotted. OMG even my autocorrect thinks dirty :D

Got it
Jeje...