This story had some really great writing overall. The characters, how the plot was structured, the backstories and motivations... all good stuff. Even the red-haired dude got an arc in the story, and he's just a side character that was in like 7 panels at most.
But.... (there's always a 'but'). I still felt there was a fatal flaw that really prevented the story from hitting quite the highest of highs (although I still rated it 5/5). (spoilers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The author seems to get her wires a bit crossed on what is considered the wrap-up for Chiwoo's character growth. I think this is why I (and others) probably feel the story is incomplete. Chiwoo is depicted as very reticent throughout the story and his wrap-up should've been him accepting Kyujin by verbally conveying his feelings (i.e., saying "I love you" too). Just a kiss is a cop-out. Chiwoo had never been able to reply to Jihyun's many "I like yous" even though at one time Chiwoo did seem to love Jihyun. And even Chiwoo admits (multiple times!) that his lack of communication was sort of the catalyst for everything bad that happened in the story. Because of all this, he needed to tell (not show) Kyujin that he loved him back. THAT was supposed to be his character growth. Boo.
Anyway, that said, I do remain hopeful since Lezhin still lists this series as "ongoing" we might get a bonus chapter of fluffy nonsense for this couple whereby Chiwoo is done being a tsundere.
A few other points to make:
It seems a little ridiculous that this ended up being a non-R19 story given the level of violence and looming dread in the series. Jihyun's presence was always extremely oppressive and I can't see how lightsaber dicks would be worse than reading about this psycho beating the crap out of people, blood flying, ending up in the hospital, etc.
Also. While I like both Chiwoo and Kyujin, I find their story less interesting than Jihyun's development over the course of the series. I would love to read a spin-off story about Jihyun's redemption. Those final scenes of Jihyun where he was realizing that he not only could love someone, but had, and that his own actions had ruined everything with that person were great. And that you can't force love, can't buy it with money, and that you should treasure the people you care about. Plus him realizing that his personality had inadvertently been shaped by his father's crappy behavior. Wow, this is some great stuff. Give me Jihyun (in America or wherever) finding someone who can help him get out of this self-destructive rut he's in. I would eat that sh!t up.
Also I totally want an R-19 series or side-story of Jihyun's older brother boning Jihyun's teacher. There's so much sexual tension there I about died every time the two were on-screen together. Jihyun's teacher kept poking the tiger with a stick and I kept waiting for the situation to explode, but alas... boo hoo. :)
This story had some really great writing overall. The characters, how the plot was structured, the backstories and motivations... all good stuff. Even the red-haired dude got an arc in the story, and he's just a side character that was in like 7 panels at most.
But.... (there's always a 'but'). I still felt there was a fatal flaw that really prevented the story from hitting quite the highest of highs (although I still rated it 5/5).
(spoilers)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The author seems to get her wires a bit crossed on what is considered the wrap-up for Chiwoo's character growth. I think this is why I (and others) probably feel the story is incomplete. Chiwoo is depicted as very reticent throughout the story and his wrap-up should've been him accepting Kyujin by verbally conveying his feelings (i.e., saying "I love you" too). Just a kiss is a cop-out. Chiwoo had never been able to reply to Jihyun's many "I like yous" even though at one time Chiwoo did seem to love Jihyun. And even Chiwoo admits (multiple times!) that his lack of communication was sort of the catalyst for everything bad that happened in the story. Because of all this, he needed to tell (not show) Kyujin that he loved him back. THAT was supposed to be his character growth. Boo.
Anyway, that said, I do remain hopeful since Lezhin still lists this series as "ongoing" we might get a bonus chapter of fluffy nonsense for this couple whereby Chiwoo is done being a tsundere.
A few other points to make:
It seems a little ridiculous that this ended up being a non-R19 story given the level of violence and looming dread in the series. Jihyun's presence was always extremely oppressive and I can't see how lightsaber dicks would be worse than reading about this psycho beating the crap out of people, blood flying, ending up in the hospital, etc.
Also. While I like both Chiwoo and Kyujin, I find their story less interesting than Jihyun's development over the course of the series. I would love to read a spin-off story about Jihyun's redemption. Those final scenes of Jihyun where he was realizing that he not only could love someone, but had, and that his own actions had ruined everything with that person were great. And that you can't force love, can't buy it with money, and that you should treasure the people you care about. Plus him realizing that his personality had inadvertently been shaped by his father's crappy behavior. Wow, this is some great stuff. Give me Jihyun (in America or wherever) finding someone who can help him get out of this self-destructive rut he's in. I would eat that sh!t up.
Also I totally want an R-19 series or side-story of Jihyun's older brother boning Jihyun's teacher. There's so much sexual tension there I about died every time the two were on-screen together. Jihyun's teacher kept poking the tiger with a stick and I kept waiting for the situation to explode, but alas... boo hoo. :)