Hmmm I dunno. I still think the seme tried to manipulate the uke's feelings via his traum...

I don’t understand what you mean. How did Nishino manipulate Souta? Souta’s trauma on the surface was the attack and his response to it, but Nishino helped him realize he wasn’t sick, just profoundly lonely. Should probably read it again to understand the nuances (and to figure out the characters’ names). This is a psychological piece

I have to disagree. This whole manga was the Healing Dick trope. Nishino acted selfishly by repeatedly disregarding Souta's negative emotional response to Nishino's advances. Sexual assault victims need to have autonomy over their bodies, not be forced into unwanted contact before they're ready. The narrative of an outsider knowing better than the victim what they need to heal is a dangerous and inaccurate one to propagate. Furthermore, Nishino is neither a professional nor an unbiased person, as evidenced by the fact that he knew of Souta's history before even meeting him as a ghost, and presenting himself as such is a manipulative act in itself.

100% agree. uncomfortable read. also Nishino always had that fake polite smile plastered on til the end. I couldn't see any love in his eyes or actions for the uke. Pretty dark story overall

I’d say this comes down to the ability to empathize. Have you ever been stuck in a pit feeling shame and despair? A cycle of self hatred that you’re too close to see the root of? What does it take to help a person like that? This story was from Souta’s perspective, and even then we can glean Nishino is a selfless person with a big heart. He gave his all to his sisters, and the only reason he ended up at Souta’s door is because of the handkerchief his sister embroidered for him. Do you think it’s easy dealing with someone with trauma like Souta’s? It is definitely not, I applaud Nishino for persevering and helping him

I think how he addressed Souta's trauma was very unsympathetic and weird. Choosing to "overwrite" it sexually and telling Souta what was wrong with him and needed fixing is not something Nishino or anyone besides a professional should be doing. What he was doing was SEXUAL ABUSE AND MANIPULATION. That was the huge red flag for me. No one should manipulate your body and mind sexually and tell you how you feel about something and have sex with you to overwrite your trauma of being raped. I don't care about Souta interpreted it and him admitting being lonely, that was not Nishino's call to make. His behavior towards Souta the entire series was off to me. He was nice and helped around the house but psychologically seemed sinister

I'm sorry but still no. While I think there is still some semblance of empathy, as you might put it, what Nishino did can still be construed as manipulation by someone older. And kiyotake and eat more.lard has already said more than enough but I'll just add some supporting materials. Lol

A good read I can suggest to you so you can understand me is Bright Light Sprout. It maybe blurring the lines between rape and exploitation though but compare the seme's action and words in Bright Light Sprout to Nishino's. Bright Light Sprout is about a high school boy who is forced or exploited to have sex by a man who supposedly supports him financially, and a neighbor who stumbles upon the boy's situation and past. The way sex is portrayed in these two manga are way different. The way the semes helped the uke are different too. Although the uke and seme of that manga did have some sexual encounter at the early parts of the manga (that was because the uke mistakenly thought that his payment for the food the seme made was a blowjob), the seme didn't try to use the uke's situation to his own advantage. All he did was cook meals for him and talk to him during dinner.

I can remember one part in Bright Light Sprout where after the uke confessed, and they are going to have sex, he was baffled why the uke was so embarrassed and surprised and acted as if it was his first time. The thought that.lingered in his head was "why are you acting like this? Aren't you used to it by now?" But before he could say those words he snapped out of it and understood. "It doesn't matter. So what if he is acting like this right now even if he is used to it."

Compare that with the scene where nishino is trying to have sex with souta while forcibly trying to recall his trauma and telling him what was wrong with him.

Well, another good read is Banana Fish. A manga that shows you don't need to have sex in order to heal (or start healing) from your trauma. The paet where Ash Lynx was visibly shaken and Eiji just hugged Ash until he calms down.

I'm sorry. I am usually not one to harp on manga because they have rape or other dark stuff in it. As I said before, I can understand it if the manga itself knows what it really is (like Harada's works or Killing Stalking) rather than tryign to disguise that emptional manipulation as pure love for souta. Well, maybe this is just not for me and I am not the target audience. I mean you can disagree with me and that's fine. You do you.

Anyway, this is the last time I'll be responding to this.

Im with Daya on this one.
Anyone expecting some long super sweet realistic “correction” of child sex abuse needs to be checking out the nonfiction area of their local library, Not reading yaoi.
(=・ω・=)

lol it doesn't have to be long at all - just done in a moral way. i don't even know what the author was thinking with the Nishino character. Seems like Souta was just taken advantage of by yet another person and just didn't realize. I think the author presented the situation poorly.

I absolutely agree with you.