I don't think I would've appreciated this story if I hadn't lived through a bad relationship. This resonated with me. It's gentle, hopeful, and beautifully drawn - and it's long without being too long! It made me so happy, I cried. I absolutely loved it.
This is one of the most realistic and touching love stories I've read, and the art style is beautiful. I'd been avoiding it because so many comments mentioned people were crying - and you will cry - but it's not devastating. I'm so happy I finally read this.
I know that Ei is frustrating and even cruel at times, but I felt I could really relate to him and understood his decisions - even if I didn't agree with them. He knew first-hand what could happen to someone once they bore a particular label, and it was his unceasing love for Gin that kept him from becoming Gin's lover long ago, believing he was sparing him. I'm sure he thought Gin would eventually tire of it, find a wife, and settle down.
But Ei broke my heart. He was hated growing up and hated himself so much that he couldn't fathom someone actually loving him, despite how many times Gin had said it. And to admit he loved Gin in return would have been to spoil the one pure thing he had, so he chose to keep it locked away so that it could never be taken from him. Infuriating, yes, but very human.
I'm glad this came to a happy conclusion, that Gin understood Ei well enough that he knew his true feelings, that both of their loves were strong enough to weather fourteen years and a metric ton of internalized self-loathing. I'd like to see what they're up to in another decade. Maybe a matching pair of mica rings?