I always have love-hate relationship with sensei's works, but this definetely one of her better work and i love it. Sad but beautiful and real. It's really nice for have this kind of bittersweet ending once in a while, to show how life really so fucked up but we still must go through it ╥﹏╥.
It's not bad manga, i actually like the story's theme. But the storytelling is tiring and frustated me. This manga was too clean-cut, i think, it glorifying love too much and hard to relate, the characters also didn't have enough deepness that i expect from josei manga. I feel like i read shoujo manga but with smut (〜￣△￣)〜
It's simple and generally light story, didn't really have angst, mostly just spoiled little brat throwing tantrum. I don't really like that brat forced tendency, but other than that this pretty nice manga, i suppose
I don't really mind the kidnapping thing. Poor Ito but I can understand their action with Hizuru. This poor little puppy is so in love with Youmei he will do anything for him, Youmei know it too and ask Kiriya to stop Hizuru while he taking over Hizuru's job. Why with violence and not in more nicer way? Well, Kiriya and Niwa must do anything to stop Hizuru, and since Hizuru not in condition where he will obey Kiriya or Niwa order, not when Youmei in danger, plus they're yakuza too, so they use violence way. Ito just really unlucky to be in wrong time and wrong place so Niwa used him to hold back Hizuru. He made Ito drunk because it more hard for Hizuru to leave Ito in that condition. I think what Kiriya and Niwa did quite reasonable, especially for yakuza
Yeah, the story is kinda confusing because it have a lot characters and sensei keep jumping from one person/couple story to another person/couple story and also the characters are all connected too, plus the pacing is slow. I also often need to re-read some previous chapters to remember what the heck actually happen now. But that's the mangaka style, slow-paced drama, mature story with real plot and load of characters but jumpy storytelling. It really hit and miss for most people.
I know this story first from the taiwanese drama version, and i like tha drama soo much even though i didn't really understand it (i still in middle school at times), it just so captivating and left big impression to me. Then one day i found that drama was based on japanese manga with same title and surprisingly, the manga was licensed in my country. I really happy i can read the manga with my native language because i can fully understand what i can't in drama version. Now after i done re-read it, this manga still as awesome like in my memories. This is probably my favourite melodrama manga that i can re-read many times without making me feel cringe, it just soo beautiful and good story.
I love noboru and his brothers, their relationship really lovely. But i honestly can't bring myself to liking naoya, something about him rubbing me in wrong way (︶︿︶). I like his older brothers though, and quite okay with kazushi (he's annoying but still tolerable)