2021-04-23 12:24 marked
2021-04-22 05:10 marked
2021-04-22 04:12 marked
2021-03-13 13:16 marked
![](https://i4.mangapicgallery.com/r/coverlink/rROHYUm8aBWqmUirxkWJ4eY5RFJEc-lzoUxdEAxswa0HEeAb9mrjCPEknZ4X694NAT9Wfn9fBLIeNZT.jpg?1327170847&4)
Is it pedophilia? Traditionally pedophilia refers to attraction to prepubescent children (age 14) and under. However social construct has somehow given the impression that it's anything 18 and under...but depending on the regional law: enforcement varies. Is it a relationship with a minor? Yes. Is it pedophilia...you can argue for it either way, but their romance didn't actually start until Ren was in his late teens.
Is it grooming? No. Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Haru doesn't do anything Ren doesn't want and vice versa. He also never raised Ren with the [ intent ] of being lovers. Their relationship is a result of two people who bonded closely through time spent and space shared together.
Is it incest? Technically no...? Incest generally refers to marriage or intercourse of consanguinity (between closely blood related persons). But depending on the country, the laws might also encompass adopted children. Which I feel is pointless, as you can simply just remove yourself from the registry once you're 18 or with parental consent. Emotionally, Ren never saw Haru as a brother, and Haru...well, he was never sure of what his feelings were towards Ren until much later.
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Personal thoughts: I went to re-watch this series after many years passed. Surprisingly I still enjoyed it...but not for the BL aspect.
It's rare to find a series that explores and talks so deeply about one's emotional thoughts and feelings, and I feel it accurately portrays the pains and obstacles of people growing up and having difficult moments in strange circumstances. The characters learn, communicate, change and try to find an even ground with each other. I think that, even though the circumstances might be unsavoury (what with the age gap and legalities, etc...)... the content itself is hardly what I would consider toxic. They're always surrounded by friends and adults, and they work through their problems instead of let it fester.
I kind of consider Haru and Ren's relationship like an arranged marriage, as their whole family acknowledges their odd relationship and is looking out for them. Haru, also as far as I recall...hasn't gone to last base with Ren and won't until he's of age. And most of the things they do is well...even if it's not done with Haru, Ren is at the age where he's sexually curious, or would've already experimented with those his own age. This is especially more true for boys than girls.
But despite the dubious nature of their relationship, it's somehow, a strangely safe environment. Of course, it's fictional content, and should stay so. I would not support any of these things in real life, but the whole point of being against pedophillia, grooming and incest is because no one wants to see minors being taken advantage of. Which---well, in this case, Ren isn't being taken advantage of. I'm not saying it's ok to romanticize these things but there have been stranger circumstances in real life, and if these two love each other in a wholesome manner, then let fiction be fiction. Everyone has a story and a circumstance. I think it's crueller to deny it arbitrarily without considering individual circumstances.
At least, that's the extent of what the anime gave me the impression of. I don't recall if anything got changed/cut from the manga. If it's any worse in dubious nature or better.
In my humble last opinions, you don't have to enjoy or agree something to engage and learn from it. I think it's equally important to consume content you don't agree with to better understand what aspects you don't like and why.
2021-03-01 11:08 marked
2021-02-14 14:34 marked
seems cool