Cleopatra's activites

it's so interesting to me when a mangaka can create characters where you really feel the chemistry. Like you read BL and the plot is the best part or the art or the smut is the best part but it's rare for me that I overall just enjoy watching two people who I see as multidimensional characters and love to see them interact. Like these dudes are so fuckin wholesome I can't

For those not in the know, the webtoon went on hiatus because of a scandal involving the artist illustrating the story. Basically it was found out that they drew some pretty extreme shotacon (to my understanding, it involved toddlers, and some real kpop idols? Didnt want to fact check with that description tbh). The only way this would be continued was with a new artist. Obviously the old one was, morals aside, pretty technically skilled but this is the best you're gonna get and not gonna lie and say I am mad they dropped the previous one. Normally I don't care for scandals especially when it's about yaoi which is rife with problematic shit anyway but there is such a thing as too far lol

at first I was a bit annoyed at the "WE'RE TOGETHER AND LIVE TOGETHER FOR YEARS BUT LIKE NO HOMO" plot at the beginning but it was interesting how it was explored.

Also kinda really realistic? Like how basically Daichi didn't overly analyze his sexuality because he just kept on telling himself "it's just HIM, I'm not gay in general!", but then with time and seeing his behavior and his partner's shift and how much this relationship was a big part of his life and thus defined him, while being a secret to others, he started questioning who he was and what defined him. That can be pretty rough, especially in such a conformist society where sexuality and gender identity are not as talked about, and it is considered shameful to not fulfill your duty to your family to raise a hetero family and have biological children.

I know I had an identity crisis when I was younger and came to terms with my own queerness. There's so much you need to unpack.

I always find it interesting how queer relationships are a lot more complex and reflective in some ways than hetero ones. What I mean by that is that for many straight people, the ways one dates, falls in love, builds a relationship have been told to us through stories in thousands of ways. Most people have expectations of what that relationship is "supposed" to look like, and also there is this sense that their partner should fill in for things they lack. Like, women are more "nurturing" whereas men are meant to be "relied on", women do housework and men have ambitious careers, women are passive and men are assertive during sex, etc. These thankfully are most antiquated ideas stereotypes, but many people still get trapped by these ways of thinking, even in little ways. It's the culture we have been raised in afterall.
But queer relationships are more reflective. When you have two men or two women or one cis and one trans or nonbinary person or even multiple people dating each other, these stiff rules fall apart. A very common joke in sapphic circles is "do I want her or do I want to be her?", which is a very common and real feeling that I honestly don't think many people in straight relationships recognize! Because desire is very complicated and wrapped up with identity, and that comes out to the surface (more easily) in queer relationships.

Thinking more in these terms, I find the relationship depicted here more interesting. Daichi's obsession with being seen as "equal" instead of "the woman" (tho they fuckin calling him the wife in the end >_> lol). Idk lots of food for thought ^^

that was so anticlimatic. Now in 2024 it just feels like these two should have finished us off when they had the chance
Also I cant believe they made god a woman just to have the plot twist that the comedy relief guy transforms into a Chad God without the perm and like... saves her from herself??? Ugh... lame. Art was great though, ill say that much

honestly I wouldnt mind the effed plot in terms of it basically being porn with some "plot" sprinkled on top, but apart from the fact that the art's bad she basically has the mental age of a 12 year old, so it doesn't feel realistic that she'll mature one day or grow enough as a character, because her issue isn't just "being naive" but "purposefully kept mentally underdeveloped and uneducated" like bruh that's a whole nother level of yikes!

edit: also is it just me or did whoever draw the cover just fuck off afterwards thats some bait illustration work right there

lol at this point this is a slice of life where these guys encounter weird minor problems.
When I heard this guy say my boyfriend I immediately thought uh oh does this guy know he's your boyfriend tho... >__> Stalker subplot visible from a mile away.. hope this doesnt get weird

woooo a fight! Kind'a looking forward!

ok but why is this a wattpad plot I read in high school 10 years ago

Takara Itosaki's boyfriend of two years, whom she had been thinking of marrying, suddenly dumps...

...

10/10 horny kinky gay smut I have no regrets

that being said I am looking forward to the day this artist collaborates with a more seasoned author. I always like her smut but her stories leave something to be desired. At least here she is aware of it and did not stretch out the plot to too many chapters but about as many as a story like this needs.

ohmygod I cant handle how silly these two are I love how this webtoon basically turns korean drama tropes on their heads like dramatic unapproving rich parents and like ukes with traumatic upbringings (because of how Taemoon keeps on misreading Seonwoos weird behavior as stemming from trauma and not him being a freak lol). Very refreshing read lol i love them

damn I cried. That's rough. Poor Sooyoung, but good for him that he got out of it. I don't know if I would if someone threatened me like this. Honestly very realistic depiction of abuse, usually unaliving threats are classic last resort tactics (no matter if they are genuine or not Im not here to debate).

Jihwan's a broken person. I don't know any way he could ever understand. I feel sorry for him too.

Honestly I don't get the hate for Kiyoka's situation. She's an interesting character, it's illuminating to see how she projects and compares a lot towards Kumi and Fujiko. I haven't been in her position but I can imagine that not having any romance experience at that age while being lonely fucks heavily with your self esteem, especially in a conservative country like Japan. I have only had nerdy guy friends in that position in my life, and it always felt strange to me the way they talked about their inability to get/attract a partner as this huge hurdle that defined their inefficiencies as people. It's in a way a false promise of happiness, this idea that if you had someone who romantically loved you in your life it would mean you were happy, you would no longer hate yourself and everything would fall into place. Which of course isn't true. People who dont understand how to like themselves have trouble trusting that other people would, and have trouble also loving others in my experience.

That guy she is meeting with isnt all that different imo from Sawa. He met someone he found to be agreeable and he wanted to get married because he felt the pressure and he wanted to get it over with. Then it turned out he barely knew them and they didn't fit, because of course. I'd agree with Koyanagi that they aren't having an affair, no one is being hurt by his actions, that is except Kiyoka who is feeling torn and of course has to deal with the fact that she is a shameful side of him that to keep up would mean to keep their relationship hidden from his proper social circles. His life also seems miserable in that marriage with a wife who has a boyfriend and a house he comes back to alone, so I understand his cowardly fragility in their relationship.

The only thing I am doubtful of are his intentions. He is clearly very lonely, so is he romantically interested in Kiyoka and could change his own situation by himself, or is he only looking for escape in someone with whom he doesnt have to keep up pretenses with?

Also, I would agree that cheating is shitty behavior, but Kumi's blanket reaction to the situation is one that stems from trauma. She is projecting and not being reasonable or interested in understanding more about the situation. And she probably knew that. It's clear that her issue wasn't that she is mad at Kiyoka, but that Kiyoka's situation pushed the wrong buttons for her. Her father cheating on her mother while her mother forgot means she has had a tough cross to bear for a huge part of her life that she hasn't had the privilege to unpack and understand. Clearly this is a trigger topic for her that she cannot handle.

All in all I think all characters here are very interesting. I am very curious about how this unfolds, it's good writing!

I legit thought the twist with the guy was that he's gay and he felt comfortable being friends with Kiyoka or something like that. NOT AN AFFAIR BRUH
I mean I guess he's in one of those complicated relationships where they are together for appearances but bruh... girl cant catch a break

(also OMG THEY FINALLY KISSED SO MUCH HAPPENING IN ONE CHAPTER AA)

ohmygoooood A SEQUEL ~ this is my couple of the year i hope it gets serialised in english!

Santa and Rintarou are what can easily be described as an old married couple. they have been togethe...