Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #university(23)

Self centred (yet likeable) and socially obtuse seme x energetic, puppy like uke. Kaede Manato is a bright faced, cheerful first year college student who is about to make a brave grab for the one he wants the most; Aimi-senpai. Notoriously the best looking man on campus, Aimi-senpai has a reputation for dating anyone who asks (when he is single) but his rules for dating are extreme. Especially the part where they can’t complain or be jealous if he spends the night with someone else. When he publicly breaks up with his current girlfriend, he is surprised to be immediately faced with a stranger who asks him out. A guy. But when he accepts Kaede’s request he had no idea that having all his rules happily followed would be so … irksome!

These stories were enjoyably heartwarming and easy to read. The mangaka likes symbolism and there was a little in each story. The first it was the sky and all the different ones to experience in the world, and the second it was a love of shiny, bright things and snow. The characters had an opposites attract appeal and while the step to being in love may have seemed fast, it was balanced nicely by seeing each couple in their respective futures.

CW: Violence, dub con, abuse, degradation This was a surprisingly good story. Misaki and Haru’s story spans roughly 8 years and shows a lot of growth in both the characters and (imo) the mangaka’s approach to and understanding of, a relationship with someone who is strongly masochistic. When we first meet the MCs Misaki was just discovering his affinity for pain, how he was able to make it become intense pleasure and the unhealthy ways he fulfilled this need. Haru was not a sadist so much as inherently short fused and reactively violent. Their relationship began with violence because giving and receiving it met different needs in each other but it was a very unhealthy relationship. Over time, it evolved and changed into something that suited them. For Haru, having someone who was in his corner seemed to bring out his “lovey dovey” side and he became aware that he didn’t want to hurt the one he cared for, but the one he cared for needed that. And, tbh, at times Haru did too. I really liked that each looked into what real S&M was about, healthier ways to satisfy those deep needs and seemed to really prioritise their partners needs. I also liked the hints that other random Ms out there seemed to instinctively recognise the S in Haru. He had a strong presence as he matured. They weren’t perfect (not even close lol) but they grew into an unexpectedly stable pair and they went from mutually toxic to a loving pair.