“This is awful” doesn’t come out of the mouth of someone fully consenting.
Also it’s perfectly reasonable to complain about something when you’ve read the previous story and the sequel is so different, so don’t give me that bullshit about “if you don’t like it, don’t read it”. I did like it, and now I don’t, and I want to bitch about it, which is what the comments are for. Maybe people pointing out the flaws makes you feel bad for enjoying something and then realising it’s problematic?
I am SO SICK of seeing phrases like “I’m not stopping” or “I won’t be able to stop once I start” or “why are you saying stop when you’re obviously enjoying it” like my mother warned me about those very phrases as red flags years ago. I wish authors would stop ruining good couples
Ikr people keep saying that couple start sex and keep going with the partner's reacting and dismiss it like it's normal. Hell no. There always need to be consent, but it doesn't have to be verbal. When you're in a commited relationship you develop Ques to initial intimacy. Both parties need to be into it or it's not sex, it's taking advantage of the partner. It's sad to see how people are blurring clear lines
Has the art really changed that dramatically? I feel like between volume 1 and this one, yeah there’s a big change, but I do think it’s been gradual over the last years, not sudden at all. Genuine question - am I missing some massive change?
I’m pretty sure it’s just the artist’s technique gradually improving, it’s not surprising for an artists style to change, especially not with how long they’ve been working on this series! It sure is interesting though with long running projects… it always makes me feel like the characters are growing up with me ;x;
yeah, no it's mostly been very gradual, but the latest chapters compared to the first volume makes it very evident. you can still easily recognize chika, but i honestly would have a hard time recognizing natsu as the same character if i didn't know. he seems much more feminine, especially facially for one. hairstyle, fashion and behaviour can all change for sure, but he feels like a completely different person imo on top of the change in art style. so, i think - for the most part, it is most noticeable in his character. and since he's one of the main characters, that is probably why people are noticing and commenting now haha ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
Thanks so much for working together with me to translate this booklet! I bought it hoping I could translate it myself, but it was way harder than I expected. It was so interesting to see which bits I got right when I tried to translate it, and which bits I was way off on! Can’t wait to work on volume 10!
Also for anyone wondering whether to read this but wondering about the rapes mentioned.
1. When Chika was about 15, he had sex with his older female tutor, who was about 17/18. He consented to sex with her, and the age of consent is 13 in Japan (I believe) at no point does he believe she took advantage of him. You can argue that the power dynamic is skewed as she’s older, but she was not an adult taking an advantage of a child, that is misinformation. Just cause she’s a tutor, doesn’t mean she was a teacher.
2. An old school friend attempts to assault a Natsuki sexually. Natsuki fights back but it’s not a particularly violent scene. It’s still not great, but they sort it out after the event, and even stay friends with him. There’s also some weird jokes they make about it cause they all stay friends. I think basically Kurisu was curious about sex with a man and `Natsuki was the first gay man he met, so he tried it on with him, a bit too forcefully.
I am not making excuses for any of these characters or events. What I find happens on this site is someone says something, and then it’s repeated as gospel, ie he gets raped, an adult rapes a child, etc. when reading manga you have to take into consideration the culture, and actually read the plot. Yeah attempting to assault someone is shitty, and yeah it’s a bit weird a 15 year old sleeping with his tutor who’s a couple of years older, but this is a pretty tame manga overall.
Thanks!