beta
I was iffy about this at first but then it got really, really cute and sweet. I appreciated how Shizume was showing more love for Kiumi and their dynamic was really sweet.
The mixed feelings come more from the second volume. I'm not conflicted at all about Koh, I absolutely hate him and how easily he got off. The whole conversation Shizume and Koh had would have been really good if Koh hadn't just sexually assaulted Kiumi wtf. Seriously how are both guys in this relationship gonna have trauma from the same mfer and still interact with him not okay.
The second thing is the random shit about how Kiumi found out he's gay like I was happy to see a comfortable out and proud gay man but why's it gotta be that he hates women. Like dude, he got done way worse by so many men in this story and was fine but one girl being a piece of shit makes him swear off all women? Stupid and bad.
The art is really pretty, and there were a lot of really sweet, good moments that were genuinely good and well written which is why those massive red flags above only caused mixed feelings and weren't total deal breakers.
Also, about Shizume being closeted which I see people are talking about,,, I don't really see the issue as Kiumi is fine with it and they find ways to spend time together. I couldn't be with someone who was closeted personally bc I'd be too stressed, but I don't think it's a problem for them. The whole thing with Koh is that he was incapable of accepting that Kiumi was fine with it and fully decided on his own that bc he wouldn't be okay, no one else would either. Not how that works, not everyone needs to have a public relationship and not everyone views things the same way.
I did think the rings were really cute. Also I loved Kiumi's friends, they're such sweethearts.
Overall, a bit sad cause it could've been an incredible piece but those glaring issues kinda soured it. I still liked everything else about it tho