I tend to agree w/ your thoughts. I liked the fact that you brought up the fact that Yuuji might be aromantic. I myself am undecided as to whether i want them to blossom into a romance or not, but lean heavily towards the "hope they remain friends nad Yamato finds someone who'll really love him romantically".
Thank you!
Yes, I did. It is the kind a manga where you will probably enjoy a reread. The characters are very human and flawed, and their interactions are natural and realistic. During a second or third read, you'll see the fine details which are the ones who provide depth and complexity to the story. It is a slow-paced manga - which is to me incredibly refreshing - and you'll get to see how the characters' feelings and interactions evolve with time. They are changing, but the change is believable because the author must have put a lot of thinking into the timing and the pace of the actions. Definitely one of the best for me, and worth a reread.
Actually I really identify with Yuuji. We are so similar! That's why I totally agree with your analysis.
I've always thought that Yuuji is at least asexual with a strong need to have someone to care for. How great it would be if we truly had an ace character in yaoi manga!
Also I've always thought of Yuuji and Yamato as friends only. It would be nice if the love they share was only platonic. But now that it's getting romantic I can only hope for something other than a typical yaoi couple in the endgame or else I will be very disappointed.
Oh, another thing - just saying - if Yuuji will develop romantic feeling for Yamato it would be something really strong. I don't want to see his heart breaking later (Yamato still hides his sexuality, he's still undecided, unsteady...). Well... as I said I am too similar to Yuuji and I've met my Yamato. It didn't end well. Maybe the reason why I like this manga so much is that I want to see a happy ending here...
You know, regarding Yuuji's feeling, I have analyzed that he is subconsciously have big interest towards Yamato since the very beginning.
Think about it. How in the hell did he realize that Yamato was in love with his friend?
Yuuji have to at least have always been looking/observing Yamato for quite awhile before he start able to tell that Yamato was in love. I mean, the 2 have never have any close contact at all before that study group.
The similar case happened in this other BL called "For Your Love".
It may be true that Yamato start falling in love with Yuuji now and Yamato also know that.
But I believe, Yuuji actually is subconsciously already in love with Yamato, but not realizing it himself yet.
wonderful analysis, a tear droped when I read this..
Manga like Koimonogatari are rare.
good observation! also im into this thing called mbti and yuiji is a really good representation of an istp personality type; observer, good listener and his thought process is internal so that's why he doesn't feel much need to share his opinions with others, while yamato on the other hand is an infp... i wonder if the author read about mbti when they were creating the characters :P
Love this analysis and I myself really relate yuiji as an asexual. I think this manga especially draws upon how someone like yuiji is drawn to someone like yamato who has sincere feelings. And how he feels inadequate with himself for those feelings is something that happens with asexuals/aromantics also wanting to someone to love and love them back, and are intrigued by people in love/relationships.
I absolutely love their friendship but I also would love to see how they would develop a romantic relationship because how much they support eachother
I think you summed up my feelings about their potential relationship nicely. I can actually see and believe that Yuuji can be asexual.
Anyway, if Yuuji is going to reciprocate Yamato’s feelings, I hope it’s from an asexual point of view because I can’t see the sexual part of their relationship. One thing that irks me about yaoi is the “straight guy suddenly turns gay”. I’m ok if Yuuji was a biromantic asexual or even a homoromantic asexual. Somehow
I can see him identifying like that, but I can’t and hope it doesn’t go the cliche “I wasn’t gay but now I am”
It's pretty clear how much Yuuji means to Yamato. The reverse is less obvious and I thought I will share my thoughts on this to see if you guys agree or if I am just projecting some of my own characteristics onto Yuuji's character ^^
I think we have to consider that Yuuji is - basically - an apathetic and distant character. I mean, he is friendly with others and he is considerate, but he is secretive. He never talks about himself and his feelings. Even when he broke up with his girlfriend, his best friend (and childhood friend) just knew he would not open up to him and tricked Yamato into coming to listen to Yuuji's worries. It worked, because Yamato is special. I think Yuuji especially admires his sincerity, because Yuuji is not able to talk openly about his secret thoughts and feelings without shame or embarrassment like Yamato does. They are very different when it comes to things like this.
Considering Yuuji's relationship with his ex-girlfriend too, it seems that he acted like a gentleman but that there were no passion or deep feelings involved. When there should have been, in Yuuji's mind. I am convinced that Yuuji felt very inadequate about this. He was probably distressed he was not feeling the feelings he was supposed to (especially as it meant hurting a girl's feelings by not returning them), and worried about his own capacity to love someone, anyone. I think Yuuji has never fallen in love. He could even be aromantic, it would actually make sense to me. But not being able to fall in love, in Yuuji's mind, that could mean a risk of spending his life alone. I mean, he had friends to fool around with, a girlfriend he didn't love, a chill mother and a dog, but nobody he felt really close to. At least before Yamato. And Yuuji was initially drawn to Yamato because, like him, he was feeling inadequate about his feelings.
It seems to me that Yuuji was simply very lonely before he met Yamato. What Yamato needs most is to accept his own sexuality and to learn to love himself. What Yuuji needs most... is someone who needs him. And if this is true, they are both giving each other what they need. Yamato is always thinking that Yuuji is amazing. It's because when Yamato is getting nowhere with his worries and gets stuck in his pessimism, Yuuji is able to say the right thing, always there for him and reliable. Yamato must be feeling dependent, and worried he is always taking without ever giving. But I'm pretty sure they both haven't realised yet that Yamato may actually be returning just what Yuuji needs. It is not a one-way relationship.
I don't know about romantic feelings, but Yuuji seems to have deep affection for Yamato, and love - because they are many kinds of love. One sign of it was how he got angry at Doi (or whatshisname) and struck him. He was prioritising Yamato's problematics (not being outed) over his own (not being expelled). They have grown close, so close that when Yamato's secret was in danger, Yuuji felt fear rather than worry, as if it was his own secret. But Yuuji didn't strike Doi for Yamato. He did it selfishly, because of the frustration. I think he felt hurt because Doi was hurting someone he cares deeply for.