I was glad that they finally touch the rape topic again. Because I think the writer haven't done anything about it, and I kinda thought that the writer purposefully did not touch the subject again in order to not ruin Maya's new image and to get readers to forget it. But, I hate that the rape problem is solved just like that. Just by an apology and that's it? Really? I mean, come on. Let's see what Maya, the rapist, got after raping Nemu. He got someone smart, kind, loyal, and wonderful, Nemugasa, as a boyfriend. And what did Nemu got? Sure, he now have a cool, handsome boyfriend like Maya, but what else that he got? A trauma! See here: http://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/hidoku_shinaide_dj_my_boyfriend_is_cute_anyway/mi/mi_chapter-1/14/
Sure, he said that he already has forgotten it, but he might be unconsciously traumatized by it? Yeah, I know it's from the doujinshi, so it might not be canon, but still as a rape victim there is a big chance that he will be traumatized.
What am I trying to say is that, I think it really is unfair that Maya got away so easily from what he has done. He is so lucky that Nemu is so forgiving. Maya obviously has changed and I'm glad, I really am. But, I still think it's unfair and he should've gotten some kind of a punishment for what he has done. Yeah, you can call me petty or salty, but I just have to say this. It's been on my mind everytime I see people worshipping maya in the comment section while I was like, huh? it's obviously Nemu who is the better one ._.
Talk about what happened and Nemu's feelings, why he did what he did? not only nemu saying he has forgotten and that he wanna do him a blow job. The key is that Nemu suffered rape and blackmailing during a period of time by his actual lover. And he has to convey that to him at least. Comunication is the key.
Pessimist/debbie downer coming through. The way I see it the author wrote herself in a hole. There is simply no believable way to have anyone forget and forgive that level of brutality and go on to have such a happy fluffy relationship like this. It was either go the sparkly happy yaoi route where all is no big or go down the dark realistic sad path and have Nemu not actually be in love with Maya but psychology damaged. Another thing she could have done was retcon and rewrite it to something less severe. Like just have him be a typical school bully. But yeah I dont see a way of her writing herself out of that hole in a way that is both happy and makes sense. It was either yaoi logic or we go down the sad route.
It's tough, isn't it? The rapemance trope is--like it or not--an appealing one to many, but that doesn't mean those that are drawn to it don't still long for a satisfying resolution to the complex issues provoked by the "inciting incident" of the relationship.
Rapemances are common in soap operas, the most famous example that of Luke and Laura in General Hospital. What was initially scripted as a brutal rape with fairly realist consequences for both rapist and victim had to be reframed because on some esoteric and hard to define level, the pairing resonated with viewers.
Rape became seduction and for a number of years, that worked for most viewers, but as attitudes towards sexual assault changed and--possibly more critically--writers needed more dramatic fodder, the rape was revisited as a rape with far-reaching repercussions (particularly in how discovery of the rape impacted Luke and Laura's son and how he viewed his parents and their relationship.)
More realistic? Maybe. Maybe not. The thing is, no fiction is ever truly realistic. Strict realism doesn't make for the best stories. And that's not the point of fiction anyway. Fiction connects reader/viewer experiences through simile and metaphor. Rape in fiction--particularly fiction for women--is a metaphor for desire. So on that level, Maya apologizing for his uncontrollable desire and Nemu is accepting that desire is metaphorically right and powerful. If we try to force the metaphor backwards into reality, it becomes irredeemably problematic.
People want it both ways basically. They want their fluff rapemance yaoi and yet want a complex story told. Pick one. If fluff read this. If you want complex read Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai. You're not getting both without the plot seeming like a wonky mess. She did the best she could with what she had.
Why do I like the single father/school teacher plot so much? ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭