I re-read. Till 3a in the morning. This story is like wine, getting better with time.
Their sex scene is the most beautiful and poignant I've ever read. It bothers me when Yashiro recalls the abuse of his stepdad in the middle of the starkly contrasted sex. I tried to understand his decision of not accepting Doumeki. Yashiro said he's lived accepting it all, blame/envy no one, feel no sorrow. He looked like it didn't cross his mind that he was unhappy or that he was pitied upon. I think that's how he survives and deal with shits. However, there're 2 times he was made to acknowledge how pitiful he is. One when Kageyama told him straight out, and another is sex with Doumeki. The only times he ever cried. Accepting Doumeki is like accepting the truth about how pitiful and sad and lonely it all has been. Doumeki's love, gentleness and devotion trample on the core of his survival mechanism. The moment he let Hirata taking his life without fighting back is the saddest moment I ever felt in a manga.
Can someone tell me where in the timeline of chapter 28.5? Thank you!
I reread. And as you mentioned, I think it happens right after he broke up with Ugetsu. Aki is walking back, recalling the toxic relationship, then remembering the warmth and the love of music brought back by Haruki, and finally realizing his own feelings.
I love the comparison between the darkness in Ugetsu's room and the warm/brightness in Haruki's room. It says so much of why Aki decided to change. Don't need words for that. Just panels that have so much feels.
Grei knows. "It's noisy outside so I'm gonna take a look..* She sprinted back to be with her brother. That's war for you. Do you feel sad? Then later if you do run across a decision to support war or peace, what would you choose I wonder.