I liked the first one well enough but the power dynamics between Sensei and Rinka were off the charts. And now Hinako-san lolol such a unique character! Thank goodness for M-san who convinced Ougi-sensei to try something different. She excelled at it.
And I have such a permanent hard on for yakuzas too. (▰˘◡˘▰)
I'm still kind of uncomfortable about how Kan-chan's story unfolds. When I read Renai-rubi I thought he had only hit Yumi once. But this story reveals a consistent pattern of psychological and physical abuse. I totally get why he started to act out that way, but once you cross that line, falling in love with "right" person is not going to make you unlearn it. Getting a better job is not going to make you unlearn it. It's bigger than a "character flaw". It's not a mere "imperfection" that makes him a more "realistic" character. I'm even uncomfortable with how he and Yumi broke up...it came very close to victim blaming.
Yaoi tends to explore all kinds of fucked up story lines -- and I'm usually able to work with it because the story lines are often so melodramatic and exaggerated to the point of fantasy. But in stories like this that are too every day in its realism...I can't buy into the illusion and I get concerned. Obviously, it is *fiction* but if we're going to praise Ogeretsu-sensei for her more realistic characters then she ought to follow through. The Kan-chan in Renai-rubi was a repressed individual who had not come close to dealing with his abusive behaviour...which means that it is pretty unlikely that he would have been able to handle any stress in the next relationship without becoming abusive.
I just had to sign up a account just to like you comment.
I totally agree that the way Yumi and Kan-chan broke up is very disturbing and it IS victim blaming in my opinion, which is unfair for Yumi. I was so shocked when he burned Yumi with the cigarette. The Azami part of this series also kind of made Yumi partly responsible for his personality getting fucked up. Kan-chan owed Yumi an apology.
Aww, I appreciate it (▰˘◡˘▰). And you're absolutely right, it was victim blaming. I hesitated because this book was such a head spin for me. I read Kan-chan's story first and I adored it soo much...that I kinda read this one in a state of shock and disbelief.I couldn't even enjoy Yumi's romantic story line because I was horrified at how he was treated, and how Kan-chan's abusive behaviour was used to make him the sympathetic uke in the next book. "Oh, he never smiles and is such a loner, poor Kan-chan, he just needs love." ..o.O
I'll have to do a tumblr post about it lol to sort out my thoughts over why I stumble over this story so much but leap for joy when there's a new Harada update.
For me was the same, i read Kan-chan love story first and i was thinking he maybe hit him once or twice but not that level of violence, make me hate Kanchan after love him so, is impossible for me think that Kan chan recover after that behavior, makes me wondering how time is going to spend until his behavior pump on again.
For me was the same, i read Kan-chan love story first and i was thinking he maybe hit him once or twice but not that level of violence, make me hate Kanchan after love him so, is impossible for me think that Kan cha(๑•ㅂ•)و✧n recover after that behavior, makes me wondering how time is going to spend until his behavior pump on again.
On the other hand Kan-chan is suffering from it more. In his story he is always looking at the photo and I think he wants to apologize for his behavior. I hope he will do so..
Oh well, my ex wanted to kill me because I moved out and broke up with him. He bought a gun and spied on me..I knew he wouldn't shoot although I hoped he would. After that incident my friend'sand his friend's blamed me for breaking up with him. Even though I'd put up with his bullshit for 8 to 9 months. So yes, the victim is always at fault. ლ(´ڡ`ლ)
It is a horrible, horrible thing to blame the victim for the perpetrator's actions. It is simply not true, on any level! There is no way Kan-Chan is suffering more than Yumi in that relationship.If we can condemn the employers who abused Kan-chan then we have to condemn Kan-chan for doing the same to Yumi. To feel guilty is not enough because feeling guilty does not end abuse. If Ogeretsu-sensei had written a realistic manga we would have seen how Kan-chan abused Shuuna in his story. Guilt is not enough and love is not enough. To write that is to then blame Yumi for not loving Kan-chan enough, for not being the "right person" for him, and that's rubbish.
In the same way, you, absolutely, were entirely blameless, Eva <3. I'm really sorry that your friends didn't support you as they should have. I hope you are far far far away from that ex and have much better support around you!
I absolutely agree with you. Feels like you speak my mind because my english is not very good lol