Genboxxy's manga / #slice of life(61)

This is such a bittersweet read and wonderfully weaved. Doesn't really focus on romance but more on friendship and finding out one's sexuality. I absolutely adore the way the author set the pace as if as readers, we are privy to someone's actual real life experiences (wc to some might actually be). It explored various outcomes to people who struggled with their sexuality and put it in a more realistic way, even the rape scene was indefinitely toned in a very unromantic way, it was scary and suffocating despite the fact that the rapist is someone who's regarded as good looking, his actions was nonetheless portrayed as it is -- horrifying, and what's more it was wasn't just shoved off, it was vital to the plot and was used for the main characters to reflect on, wc is kinda rare in BLs. I also absolutely adore the shift between artstyle and even the whiplash between the moods, it can be funny and then heartbreaking the next. It defi has drama elements but never pushed to the level of forceful angst, it was mellow and made sense, like some fond memory. Anyway this belongs in my top 5, even top 3, soo sooooo good 5/5.

not finished yet, waiting for vol. 2, but the entire thing is interesting and the whole appeal is so smooth and calming with likeable and complex characters.

I first saw the sequel to this and one of the comments expressed excitement over the return of the "Japanese Hannibal" so I went to this prequel with thoughts that it's going to be psychological and it went on for a while especially on the first chapters when the seme was focused on the uke running away and whatnot wahahahah, thank goodness that commenter just probably meant that the seme looks like Mads Mikkelsen who played Hannibal in a series. Such a nice, considerate seme, and a thoughtful, clingy uke; they have suuuuuccch a healthy dynamic, the communication is just really something, specially on the sequel; though the author had notes on this prequel, I don't think the translators included it. So soft, and warm, and makes you look forward to growing old with someone who loves you and whom you love back unconditionally.

4.5/5