beta
Okay so like. It’s a tragic, uncomfortable, psychological work. We’re not supposed to be happy or endeared by their relationship. At least, that’s the vibe I got. Especially with the ending reveal that even everything “good” he experienced in the last two chapters was just more manipulation by ML. To me, we’re very clearly supposed to read this as a shocking and horrifying revelation that even MC’s recovery, him reclaiming his life, was controlled and created by the ML.
I have some additional thoughts that I gotta work through but I think chalking it all down to, “it’s bad,” because of the MC’s suffering like, misses the point entirely. Since the epilogue takes place in an alternate universe, the ending is completely open as to how the relationship with MC and ML goes after reuniting.
It’s definitely more clumsily done than some other psychological works depicting abusive relationships (Harada my beloved), but… yeah, idk, I don’t wanna fault it for doing what it actually wants to do (make the reader uncomfortable by portraying an extremely abusive relationship).
Basically, it’s a sad story with a sad ending.