I really like the art and the historical theme, I just recently found out about wakashu and oh man this story is 100% a shudo story. Wakashu is a term used for a stage between childhood and adulthood boys went through ( like between 12 and 21) where they entered relationships with adult men that were basically tutoring but you ocasionally have sex with the tutor. The shudo was a very common practice that has its rules and values, especially in the edo era and wakashu were sought upon as being in the prime of their beauty at around 16-18 yrs old. A shudo relationship was supposed to be one-sided, the wakashu just entered them out of duty and compassion. Momo looks like he has just gotten out of the wakashu phase since he doesnt have the forelock which was like a patch of hair in the front that was cut off leaving the fore head entirely shaved as an adult, but finds himself acually liking men (wakashu werent considered real men and sex between two adult men was frowned upon). So yeah that what this story is. and also wakashu wore female clothing.
Momo To Manji