5 stars // Although i praised the main story for being light-hearted and did not go the dramatic route when they know they don't have to, i actually prefer this spin-off a lot more. The start of this story is already hella dramatic since we have a gay man with trauma behind him as a main character, it's bound to just get more and more heavy as the story goes. I get Iida, it's scary to be rejected by someone you thought would accept you, worse when that person is the one you had feelings for and got not only rejection but also humiliation, that must've taken one hell of a toll on his character. Though, that didn't give him a pass to make forced moves to Asahina, he's still an asshole for that, but i think with a little bit of "talking it out" it could be resolved, so i like Iida, I understand his desperation, I too would be head over heels for Asahina.
Then we're introduced to Yanagi, and i love this son of a bitch, from the moment he showed up i was already wheezing, masochistic tops are such interesting creatures! ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶
To be honest i have always thought about this "straight x gay" trope because it's so weird, because yes, maybe if it's not Iida, Yanagi wouldn't be attracted to any other dude, but would he? how could we know about that? maybe Iida woken up Yanagi's homosexuality, so that would technically mean Yanagi is bisexual now? or Pansexual? If he falls in love with Iida because he is Iida, and not because he's lusting for a man, Pansexual? IIdasexual? But eh, to be honest i don't really like labeling myself either since i never really know my sexuality either, so.
As for the story goes, i like how complex it is-- to me it's not that dramatic to the point where i cry, but i was kind of visibly upset when Iida told Yanagi to end things between them because WHY would you go and do exactly what a straight girl who's the ex of your current fwb told you to do? It just felt very unlike him to listen to someone he doesn't even know that well, but again it's understandable because i think Iida was just scared to fall in love for another "straight" dude (truthfully it's always so weird because Yanagi clearly would take a bullet for Iida and even ended things between him and his ex the moment he's getting it with Iida, like he didn't two-time him and treat Iida as like an experiment to see if he's gay or not that boy is hEAD over heels for this really troubled third-year who needs therapy) and thus backed away before his feelings developed more but SIKE, it has already developed so much.
The resolution was my favorite because we get to see them both be vulnerable, without their guards up and really, really talking things out; Iida's horrible past, the reason why he hates people like Yanagi, Yanagi's reasoning, the adorable blushing Iida asking "should we date?" and the hug afterwards, it's just such a heartful. Oh and also, a fucking timeskip of them living together living their best lives at their respectful jobs together? Are you fucking kidding me? That's so fucking adorable, what the fuck? I love it when high-school couples grow old together and be the domestic full of love couples that they are, especially after such a rocky road to get where they are, hhh. I love it.
Kore ga Koi na Wake ga Nai