Fuck i so stupid for not realizing that clever pun on the title. You got me there Bobari-san. Personally i love this story concept from the start. Various character with their own personal problem, personality, history all interact between each other, forming relationship with each other. Some of that relationship bloom into romance but some not.
Park Seungtaek & Lee Kyubin story is probably one of my favorite BL pairing i ever read since long time. The story of how they met to become friend & then become lover is just felt surreal & natural. Their relationship at beginning happen because they like same rapper & they need each other companion. Kyubin need someone to hang out in his empty house after his family death & Seungtaek need place where he can forget all the stress his mom burden him. So it felt naturally like falling in love slowly with your best friend. Also i love their. I also like their dynamic, a delinquent who actually pretty nice & a top student who actually pretty emotional
Even though i would like the series to explore more the "Two Mister" story and history of their relationship, i appreciate any BL story that have diverse couple & character that was well developed.Like Kwon Inbeom, despite the fact he side character & show up again pretty late into the story, has become one of my favorite character in entire series in matter of second. From someone that can be sum up to one sentence ("He Beat Up Seungtaek"), to someone you hope will ever find a person that care for him, say a lot about this writer character development. I am happy that the writer left the two main couple story in open ending but really, i hope there will be Kwon Inbeom spin off story of this. I don't care if its BL or not, i just want that guy to find happiness & find someone who want him in their life, because the feeling of not wanted by anyone is worse thing ever.
After so many tease, we finally manage to see The Seme of All Seme, Akemi Dick in full clear picture
That line sprint at the end hit me like a rock. Its happy and sad at the same time. Not to mention this is the second life time BL story i read today (The other one is Complex by Manda Ringo if you curious).
When Yuki start sprinting a long the line for Akira at the end, all i can think in my head is the song Time (Kitajoh Remix) from Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night. Like the lyric of the song just fit with story well, that time is always unpredictable but we can always greet it with smile as long as we are with the right one. Even if you don't know how long the line that you are gonna sprint up to, everything gonna be fine because you know who waiting at the end of line :)
But When Old Jun mistaken the boy as his grand child, Tatsuhiko, only to realize it was Tatsuya spirit all along, its start pouring out. I Want to say a lot about this series but i probably would do it tomorrow when my heart start calm down.
Probably the best talk about relationship i ever seen in BL manga. Not to mention we get not only Subin perspective on relationship but also Kang Jun, Nam Hyunwoo, and Yeona. Personally i relate with Subin, Kang Jun and Yeona view on relationship. I loathe marriage as some kind of overrated thing when i was in early adolescence. Probably because my family also kinda mess up just like Yeona say and a lot of adult disappointed me when growing up. That before i come to term with my sexuality. But strangely right know, i kinda have same worries like Subin and Kang Jun. Realizing that maybe my love live would be a lot harder now i know that i mostly attracted to same sex and having worries that maybe i just gonna end up growing old alone.
I also appreciate Reck for making the extra and show us that getting into relationship is not the end of your love journey because is gonna be always happily ever after, like in a lot of other BL story. There gonna be a lot of up and down, not to mention a lot to think about the future, but probably its just something that need to be enjoy. Like Kang Jun say, happiness is when you have someone that can hug you when live get weary without question. Overall, there is a lot of BL story that over romanticize their love story, but in Hate Mate, we came out thinking about our own love life compare to the main character.
We almost get to see Toono doing dick (Damn you Dialog Box!!!). Well at least we got to see Kashima doing lewd stuff.
Right? Lol. I went back at the bath scene and I noticed that I believe Toono said “Don’t look” and Kashima was looking away all embarrass like. Then when Shikatani was asking Toono about his dick and Toono left, he went to Kashima and said “it would be real nice if you could actually see it at some point?” Signaling Kashima that he already knows that they are not dating and that Kashima truly never seen it, foreshadowing this extra chapter in volume 3. I think?
One thing that i pick up the first time i reading Yamada to Shonen, even before i read the flashback at chapter 4, is that Chihiro is being too conscious of him seen not masculine enough as a guy. From him refusing Yamada bringing his shopping back by saying he is a guy too to even tremble at the sight of Yamada returning the apron with flower design in front of his male friend. The reason why Chihiro always come to that secret spot is also probably because that the only place where he can cry without his friend or his family see him. There is always this little scene that made feel that Chihiro try so hard to maintain this persona of him just an ordinary high school boy.
That why Chihiro become comfortable around Yamada. Yamada has seen the crybaby and effeminate side of Chihiro, but instead telling him to be more manly just like his family on the flashback (Also i hate when people especially parent, say that boy can't play with bunny or must like soccer/football), Yamada always say "That it'll be okay" and encourage Chihiro to not overthinking thing too much. With Yamada, Chihiro can wear that apron with girly design that he can't wear anywhere. With Yamada, Chihiro can cry in front of someone. With Yamada. And with Yamada, Chihiro can finally act natural as himself without thinking all that complicated thing of being a masculine guy.
Probably that big reason why i really like Chihiro as a character and his development with Yamada for the better. You see, i kinda once too conscious about me don't get along with most of the boy at my age during my early teenage year. They all like soccer and rock music, while i am not really good at sport and listening to pop music like Katy Perry or Lady Gaga, not to mention a bookworm. When i got to first class in high school, i even realize how detached i am with most of the guy, when one of guy (My best friend until know) kinda approach me because i am always so quiet and invite him to hang out with his friend. Most of topic that they talk is soccer or football which at the time i not really into, but i somehow keep hanging out with them because they still pretty nice for quiet guy like me. Then when i move to the second year, i got out of my way to watch football match, learn the basic strategy and tactic, and even choose my favorite club so i got some topic i can talk with the other guy. Well i kinda into football genuinely right know, even though i still can't play it because how unathletic i am, but i still sometimes laugh thinking about it right know.
If i meet someone like Yamada who gonna say everything will be okay, i would not probably overthinking me being not masculine enough, to the point i forcefully develop a new hobby so just i can hang out with more guy, lol. So if you are in any way like Chihiro or me, just know that its okay not being seen masculine enough as a guy. Who give a fuck about that anyway? Just wear that flowery apron anytime and cry when you are sad. It will be okay in the end.
Thank you (づ￣ ³￣)づ
Yep, i am on that weird side of Internet again. Also nice chick you got there Fabian *Wink*
Other BL: "I will love you till end of time"
Kang Jun: "Its unbearable. It feel like i'm playing out the clock, unable to get a hold of my emotions,, but its all fine. Just like all relationship are and I've decide to love you until i can't".
You know there is reason why i always recommend to any one, BL fans or not, to read How to Hate Mate. For me, this is the most realistic romance story in general i ever read.
They don't over romanticize relationship but at same time don't over dramatize relationship too. You want to punch the character sometimes, but also laugh at their stupidity , just like your real life partner. And nothing ever end the moment two entirely different person start loving each other, it just started.
My firend you said exactly what i wanted to say...this is one of the best stories I've ever read..a true masterpiece