pluckaduck's manga / #college(7)

so I guess cakey X okatu and chisa x iori are canon. i mean, there were several hints of iori x chisa but i also want to support the high school boy and gold digger... regarding okatu, i don't think he romantically like cakey- like he said, he finds her presence cozy.

the plot is mid. I only read it for smut.

i actually enjoyed this. it's a well-written subversion of the typical stories with generic plots like these. based on the generalized events, it'll seem like another cliche bl/hetero story where the mc falls for ml first, persistently pursues, and succeeds, but the relationship is rocky cuz the ml treats the mc like shit, so mc has had enough and breaks up. and ml proceeds to regret and try to win her/him back. this, but the story is self-aware about the lovebombing and the ramifications and doesn't romanticize it like several other bl stories do. usually the way the mls would just become stalker-ish after the breakups is so unrealistic, but this story explains the reason well. and it felt rather more pathetic than cathartic ngl. granted, it was very cathartic how mc was just so cold to him and seeing ml so desperate like a stray dog... but this wasn't written to be cathartic and romantic. it actually showed how messed up the situation is. mc is toxic, but in a realistic way. he seemed pretty normal when he was still together with the ml, but his other twisted side reveals itself when he breaks up with him. the way he just lost interest, and was even disgusted by the ml who was acting all clingy, yet simultaneously felt pleasure seeing how the ml was reduced to such a mess.... it's so goddamn realistic. and what makes it better is that this is pointed out several times in this story. tbh, the most healthy ending would be if they should've cut off ties... but i also think they're meant for each other. i hate it when the mc stupidly goes back to ml cuz they choose to believe in him again, but this actually feels right. ml really went crazy here, and he knows it- he knows what mc did was lovebombing but he cant help it. he willingly ruined his reputation to make mc feel guilty and unable to extricate himself from his life... man, that was toxic asf... but i loved it ngl.

it was enjoyable binging this, but the smut in the side stories should've instead been used for the potential side couples like (ml's sister x ml's friend) or (cafe owner x mc's friend)... disappointed ngl. nevertheless, i love puppy ml with unrequited love...

couldn't believe ellery died... he was set up like the main character, but then he also died.... sigh. i have to admit, the trick was brilliant, and the mangaka utilized the advantage of manga format, readers's dismissive attention to details, and a bunch of red herrings to pull the wool over our eyes. the storytelling/panelling is pretty simplistic but the art is really gorgeous. the motive ended up kinda cliche, but the reveal that it was all for nothing made it even more bitter and sad. it'll probably torment him forever.