Why, Harada......why?
This manga is definitely something that has Harada all over it. From the art style to the general plot and theme, it practically shouts Harada. However, this time the manga is much more nuanced than most of her work as it had an affecting way of showcasing underlying themes. A lot of the manga I've read recently try to be deep on certain topics but just outright state their themes or "message" in their titles or dialogue. This manga is much better at using subtle hinting that, if one was to not pay attention, would almost be able to be passed off as another kinda rapey BL manga. The transition from a faintly creepy plot to an extremely abusive relationship is quite impressive. Make no mistake, I in no way support this sort of toxic relationship, just simply wanted to remark on Harada's improvement of creating tension and atmosphere. In fact, a really big reason why I like this manga is that how disgusted I feel about the seme. I truly felt a sense of disgusts when I read chapter 4 and 5 because of how pathetic and obsessive the seme is. That's a hard feeling to get when I can't relate to the characters in any way except that we're all human.
Another reason why I like this manga is that of the topics it brings up, especially about Japan. In Japan, rape is often seen as a "taboo" topic that harms both the aggressor and the victim (sometimes even just the victim). Aggressor often gets off easy and don't get as affected, yet the victim is the one with less support. This manga can start a conversation about that sort of unhealthy culture, although I am scared this may head back to the cliche "Forgive me for raping you, let us admit both our faults and get back together." ending that we see in a lot of BL mangas.
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