Their situation is complicated because they live in a country that is not openly accepting of LGBTQ. Heck, even their establishments have no anti-discrimination laws against homosexuality. Yep. It's a completely point of view.
So to the commentors saying you're frustrated that they were pretending to be straight, that's your opinion and i respect that. But I implore you to have a more open mind in viewing how these characters are handling *their* situation. It is after all an actual common situation to people in japan and other countires like that.
Even in the US there aren’t any federal anti discrimination laws against anti LGBTQ persecution. In 27 states its legal to discriminate against gay ppl. That means you can deny a job or housing based on someone’s sexuality or if they are trans. You can fire or evict them as well. There was actually a huge debate amongst LGBTQ activists over wether to go for marriage equality first or first expanding the civil rights amendment to also cover those who are LGBTQ. I grew up in a red state and my mom whose gay had to pretend to be straight in most of her jobs. It sucks that in 2019 that over half of US states lack protections.(Some towns and municipalities in those states have protections but some states have passed laws that overrule those protections. You’ll often see these anti LGBTQ bills pop up on election years as the GOP uses them to rile up their base. In fact in election years you’ll often see anti LGBTQ, anti black, anti Latino and anti woman bills pop up bc nothing fires up the right wing like the chance to discriminate or otherwise fuck with a historically oppressed group. Gets them all excited.
I love it when authors put third party fangirls. I can relate to them so much