hanasan's manga / #Student x Student(19)

played him like a fiddle lmao

Really great psychological romance. It took me a second read to fully understand it, but I feel that's really the proper way to experience it. First run through without knowing it was hypnosis from the start, and then the second. During the first, you can really feel how others see Kakine as a monster for using his hypnosis on Keidai-- and then in the second, you can start to understand it properly from both Keidai and Kakine's perspectives. I think after my second read through, Keidai had a fascination with Kakine from the start, so Kakine wasn't implanting false feelings into him; he had no reason to in the first place, since even he had no idea it was love, especially for himself. Kakine started hypnotizing Keidai to help him, ended up becoming interested in him in an almost therapist-like perspective, then fully became interested in him romantically (despite not being aware since he's so emotionally disconnected to the world) after Keidai himself in a state of pure honesty says he likes Kakine. While yes, Kakine then proceeds to "train" Keidai without his knowledge, that's the pure fiction part of the story. The rest of it, I think they're a lovely couple.

Really wish they fleshed it out a bit more, or at least gave it a couple more chapters to wrap up. All in all, pretty cute, wholesome. Just wish there could've been at least one more chapter or so.

Wholesome, short.

A good example of the idea that you don't need unnecessary misunderstandings to stretch for 50 chapters to have good drama in a story. The main crux of the drama in the story is mostly from Gyu-yeong, the MC, and his relationship with his parents and others. He faces a lot of relatable issues with a broken home and struggling lifestyle, which makes you really feel for him and want him to succeed. He never really wallows in sadness, despite being a crybaby, and constantly fights to make his situation better which I love about him. Meanwhile the ML, Yeonu, is admittedly kinda sus in the beginning just cause of his unknown intentions, he's actually really (spoiler) just a pretty normal, nice guy with a good face and, while snarky sometimes, has a really positive and kind attitude that I adore. He really starts to shine once the story allows for us to peek into his POV. I find his thoughts amusing, and the way he tries hard to be sweet and kind just for Gyu-yeong to praise him is cute. He's the exact kinda guy you wanna adore, and is sometimes pitiful, that makes sense for his character. Actual spoiler: I love that he never really takes any complaint or rant Gyu-yeong says as a personal attack, he really tries to empathize, and really, he finds him cute for it and yknow what? Good for you, Yeonu. What a good guy. The ensemble cast is good too, providing most of the comedy. They're all surprisingly accepting (at least, the ones who know are), which is nice too. All in all, wholesome, cute, with just a smidge of realistic and relatable drama that makes it a really good read overall. I enjoyed it.