Lauvil's manga / #Dubcon(22)

Only in manga would the manager of an escorts service be a good guy... I mean, I get what kind of feel the mangaka was going for, it was just...kinda icky, tbh. The whole escorts thing was icky, the "training" was icky, the dubious consent was icky and the way the ML tried to force a break-up, by hurting the FL's feelings, was icky... The FL might've "technically" had the option of backing out and the ML "technically" didn't force himself on her, as he gave her the choice to stop anytime she wanted. Problem is, the FL didn't feel like she had a choice, because of her debts. It might've not been the ML's fault, but he clearly took advantage of it. So, I'm marking this one as Dubcon. It wanted to be a cute story, but if you apply a bit of common sense, it kinda falls apart. I get why the rating is low...

I just really don't like dubcon... I mean, Yuzuru was not completely forced into it, but he didn't exactly volunteer either. He was naive and desperate enough for friends that he might consent to a sexual relationship... But in my book: If it's not an enthusiastic "yes", then it means no. So, even though there were some cute moments, I can't bring myself to give it a higher rating. Also, the seme: What an ass. No matter how much of a "traumatic" childhood he had, it doesn't excuse him from treating other people like shit.

God. Is there a scene in this manga where Suzu doesn't cry? The smut in this story was decent, but the plot just didn't grab me. I think the story should've ended after chapter 8. I tried reading a bit further, but I got too bored. Too much drama. The ML was a douchebag. The FL was a crybaby and a pushover. The only character I liked, was Tsutsumi and he barely had any screen time... Also, the early chapters were uncomfortable. The smut was too much non-/dubcon, the ML was acting cold and cruel, and the FL had no backbone. The premise itself, was kind of ridiculous too. I mean, who tells a person they hired as an assistant, that their job is to have sex? Like, boy. You hired a normal woman, not a prostitute. What the hell. And who in their right mind accepts a job, where the employer asks them to have sex for work, like a common prostitute? Well, that's smut-manga plot for you, ig.

Yeonsu is in an abusive relationship with a Dom/sadist who disguises the abuse as BDSM. He then meets an actor who needs swimming lessons to improve and uphold his public image. The two become FWB but romantic feelings are already beginning to bloom between them. However, it's clear at this point that Yeonsu's master is going to become an obstacle. He has Yeonsu so thoroughly gaslit, that he can't disobey his orders. Their BDSM practice doesn't come with any safewords or limits either, so when Yeonsu is ordered to never reject Juwan if he asks for sex, he'll have to obey. ...Which is obviously going to take a toll on their relationship... I'm liking the angst so far. I don't know if I like the characters that much. Yuwan is supposed to be the "good guy who gets the uke out of an abusive relationship" but the first time they had sex, he was uncomfortably pushy. He didn't stop, wait or slow down when Yeonsu asked him to and it kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.