RoseMary's manga / #Psychological(158)

The combination of sensei's delicate art-style and those heavy themes, which are btw depicted in a well-crafted non-explicit way, makes a striking impression: there's this sort of fascinating contrast between the gentle, light touch of the art and the harsh, horrid aspects of the plot, all unfolding in that beautiful traditional setting, which makes the story breathtaking! The storytelling is also superb!

≪✿✿≫ The one and only historical BL that will always be my top favourite in its genre. And one of the very best BL masterpieces I've ever read! I love sensei so much for creating such a great story containing so many of my favourite things! The setting, the intricate plot, the complex characters and their development, the emotional depth, the pace, structure and development of the story...everything is impressive and perfect. So brilliantly crafted! And to think that this was sensei's first long period piece (after the oneshot Haiiro no Umi)...I'm amazed! No wonder it's an award-winning work! Needless to say, but for me this is really sensei's best work! And honestly, words are not enough to express how good this story is!! ≪✿✿≫ Their relationship was so precious and moving that towards the end it almost made me cry! Just thinking about how it began and then how much they grew together and how far they came...every meaningful words they said to each other and how sensei conveyed so well all their emotions also through each of their expressions...it was really touching! > I admit that in the last chapter, when Akihito came back after the two years in England, I was really anticipating to see the exact moment of their reunion and some intimate passionate scenes like the ones before his departure...but I was so satisfied with everything that in the end it didn't matter, the story was perfect regardless! > Vol. 3 ch. 14 - Katsuragi Tomoyuki's real identity is explained. He's actually the son of Chizu, a geisha in Shimbashi who became also the second concubine of the young master's grandfather, Naoya Kuze. As his mother was registered in the concubine registration, at first Tomoyuki may appear as an illegitimate child. However it's not certain whether his father is really Kuze or some other man...in fact, in ch. 36 more details are given about this matter and later it's finally confirmed that in Tomoyuki there's no Kuze blood! (Well, the Kuze and the Katsuragi houses are still sort of related in the long run through a Kuze female line, but in Katsuragi there's no Kuze blood and thus no relation to Akihito). The real father is the dying previous head Takamasa Katsuragi's father, so the grandfather in the Katsuragi house. So Tomoyuki is an actual Katsuragi and he's the half-brother of Takamasa Katsuragi and the half-uncle of the Katsuragi brothers, Takayuki (the current head of the house) and Hiroyuki. > Vol. 4 ch. 20 - Katsuragi: "I love you. Akihito-sama...please let me stay by your side" - It was very beautiful that moment where he finally gave voice to his true feelings! > Vol. 8 ch. 46 - Akihito finally sees Katsuragi's sleeping face. And at the end they're finally walking side by side <3 #Age Gap: 11 years // When they first meet, the young master is 10 and the butler 21. Then time progresses...for the most part of the story they're 17/18 and 28/29.

3 Volumes (Complete) - Raw: 77mh.com / colist_199094.html > Why are all the three available stories by Hashiba Maki dropped?? It's such a pity! Well, this is just my personal opinion, but I think her stories are really good! So, I really hope someone will pick them up...

「 Summary: In the dark alleys of this city, there's no hope for trash like Sehyun. Having sex with strangers in the cramped stall behind a bar is just a typical Thursday night. But after a chance encounter with the brash and violent Boris, Sehyun begins to dream of living a normal life and an end to his restless nights. Boris is unlike any other man he's encountered. After a life spent bound by thorns, can time truly heal all scars? 」 I love how Boris was Sehyun's saviour! These stories of salvation, unconditional love and newfound hope for a better future always get me! And, if they have a realistic feel and they're well-written and impressive like this one, also in terms of art and everything else, I'm really totally captivated! Stigma also has many of my favourite elements, from the setting and the plot to the characters and their interaction and dynamics, so I loved it so much from the very beginning! And, in the end, I was so glad that, after so many hardships, Sehyun finally found peace thanks to Boris and strated a new happy life together with him! > Lastly but not least, the message of the story is very important, because it's so easy to judge things as they appear without even knowing what lies behind a facade / a situation, or turn away from something which doesn't have anything to do with us and seems so distant from us! But Boris learnt the lesson in first person (when he witnessed his friends raping a girl but didn't do anything to help, he simply turned away, and then the girl, Tracy, ultimately jumped in front of his car and died), that we can't always remain indifferent and turn a blind eye to such bad things happening in front of our eyes! We have to do something...and that's how Boris saved Sehyun from that living hell! Just thinking about how Sehyun would have had to continue to "live" like that if Boris hadn't come into his life, it makes me so sad! At the end, Sehyun's words in front of Tracy's grave sent shivers down my spine: "If it weren't for you, Boris might have left that restroom without noticing me. He wouldn't have had a reason to follow me to Michael's house...or roll around in the snow because of me, either. So, I...owe my life to you." > Btw, that "slutty uke" tag should be removed! > (Ch. 31-32 - Their first time together) # Uke with tattoos, Seme with tattoos and piercings (lobe piercings, eyebrow piercing, helix and nostril)

It was interesting to read. A very unique plot for a BL! The setting is a mysterious boarding school for gifted / talented young boys which seems to be specialized in medical / scientific studies and the protagonists are the president's new favourite student, Azuma, and the ex-favourite, Tatsumi. But apart from their hate-to-love relationship and the enigmatic figure of the president, the core of the story is about the president's unethical medical practice, how certain areas of medicine shouldn't be pursued / crossed. It's a fascinating topic which gives rise to questions, like the questions Azuma asked in front of the fish experiment...they're really food for thought! And also the whole reference to the story of the book Azuma had Tatsumi read to him to fall asleep was well-done, like Asuma's situation being kinda like that of the book and the principal being like the witch of that story! In the end, it was an intriguing reading and I'm glad for how it ended..."In the end, if it had a happy ending, wouldn't it be nice?"

Prequel: Tetsu x Rika (uploaded here together with Shiiku Gakari Rika, vol.00 ch.1-2.5)

Well, the ending certainly leaves the reader a bit unsatisfied, like one was expecting something more, something definite, you know, a final scene that would seem like a proper closure. But I actually think it's understandable that the author ended it like that, because after all that's just they way Jou and Azuma are, the way their very relationship is all along! So, there wasn't really the need to say anything more and imo a sweet, lovey-dovey scene would have actually felt forced for them. Just Azuma simply asking Jou to go to Nagano (where his real house is) with him for spring break and Jou agreeing conveyed their unspoken understanding and let us know that they'll stay together in the future. The wall Azuma put up around him finally has been broken down and he is now resolute about accepting everything. They feel the same about each other...just like the author said, let's hope they can officially call themselves partners soon! So, I can accept the ending just as it is! Overall, the story was great and I really loved it! Not a masterpiece, but it's an impressive story...one of a kind! # Private|Prestigious School, Catholic School, All-Boys School, Friends "become Lovers", Beautiful Art, Unexpressed Feelings, Friends Grow Distant, Family Drama|Complicated Family (Azuma's), Transfer Student (Jou returns from the USA), Soccer, Love-Hate Relationship|Bickering Love, Sickly but Strong Uke, Strong Seme, Stolen Kiss (when they were younger, Azuma kissed Jou while he was asleep at the hospital. So they were each other's first kiss), Roommates (for a part of the story), Injuries (Jou somehow always ends up in some kind of accident|trouble and Azuma has a motorcycle accident and a stomach ulcer)