Down With Literary Police's manga / #Angst(86)

This manga is one of those hidden gems with a very healthy plot that doesn't include over dramatic unrealistic plot points. The characters really feel real like actual people with real problems that the reader can empathize with. Some people complained because of Akio's crisis, but he is an untreated, severely depressed man who suffers from an inferiority complex and burn out due to traumatic work experiences. He almost committed suicide at some point after having lost sight of his life's purpose due to struggling to survive. If that isn't real, what is? Kuma came in and literally saved his life. He's not forcing Akio to change. Instead, he asks Akio to be more open minded to the support from people who love him, showing Akio that he is loved and needed. The couple doesn't get "predictable," it's an issue many depressed people struggle with. Their habits can be destructive, but if you can't see past that and understand the gruelling work it takes to combat against sereve depressive episodes, go research it. Don't treat it as some kind of faulty manga personality. Also, someone mentioned how Akio gets jealous seeing the wife. Correction: he didn't see her. That was an assumption. Akio has been obsessed with sky gazing and has grown inspired due to it which is why he is dazed at times including that leading scene meant to scare readers into thinking he'd see Kuma with his ex-wife and misinterpret the situation. If you continued reading, you'd see Akio and Kuma officially get together and Akio has a big break of inspiration. I really love this manga. It's super cute, heartwarming, comfortingly realistic and as a writer who has been through bad boughts of depression and continues to battle it on a daily basis, some days are worse than others. During my life I've done what Akio did, contemplating ending my life in split moments, but stopping myself from actually doing it. If you can't understand the literary values and glory of this manga that many others that try to reenact these elements lack, this isn't for you. You can take your salty ass somewhere else to down rate actual bad literature. Get off your high horse. Don't try to be a literary martyr.

If the story was fleshed out a bit more, I feel like it could've been better. There are some plot holes left because of the short length and deep plot. I didn't necessarily like the falling action as I don't believe Geumhwa should've gone back to his abuser, instead he should've fought harder for Seungjae since they ended up together anyway and I don't believe his abuser would suddenly have a change of heart when he'd been controlling him for so long, even maintaining contact while Geumhwa was away (that rape scene was also never discussed again after it happened which left a pretty shitty feeling). It had a lot of potential though and I did like the art and Seungjae and Geumhwa's relationship.

I wish the rape wasn't excused or forgotten, but with that as an exception, the story was very sweet. I wish it was longer to see their personalities and relationship develop, but I did enjoy reading this.

I wish it was longer and showed more of them in a romantic relationship, but it was a solidly interesting read.

The last gay couple was the best, they were so cute together. The first season felt rushed and sped through the whole trauma thing. The second season was way better developed, but still felt lacking for the uke as the character growth was rushed and turned into a grand comedic gesture. The last gay couple could've had a really nice story if the author had delved into their story a bit more.