hanasan's manga / #school life(69)

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.

I've been looking for this one, mainly because Chapter 6 initially made a huge impression on me. After finally finding it and re-reading it, I'm not quite sure why it stuck to me that much, other than the idea that I hadn't seen something like that before. Chapters 1-3 and the last extra chapter, are about the unique dynamic of a "manwhore" main character who has no actual interest in other people and the transfer student who falls in love with him at first sight and constantly sexually harasses him until the MC gets used to it and starts feeling lonely when the transfer student isn't around. It's alright, the couple is cute, but a lot of people got kinda pissed that the transfer student would have sex with someone else while the MC was sick... when literally the MC tries the same thing. They're both like that, it's not healthy dynamic wise at all, but technically, they really weren't dating yet. Chapter 4, eh. Short one shot of a guy who falls in love with the MC's face so he starts punching him every time he sees him, so the MC kisses him to make him stop. Kinda funny, kinda generic and boring. Chapter 5, well. Where should I begin with Chapter 5. I can't believe this isn't the one that stuck in my memory, but to be fair, shit like that happens in typical BL manga all the time (sad). MC is raped while he was drunk by his co-worker that he got along with really well, and he can't forget the pleasure he felt (yikes) even when he's with his girlfriend. Co-worker has a plot twist in the end despite looking very innocent and apologetic. Chapter 6. What I've been looking for this specific manga for! It stuck in my brain because I was initially so drawn by the idea of the MC and the boyfriend character not having a regular relationship because of the MC, so the boyfriend dumps him all of a sudden and disappears. The MC has his shit completely knocked upside down because of this, and having refused to return his spare key to the boyfriend's apartment, breaks in and finds he's just not there. He waits for him for DAYS, not taking care of himself or the environment, but always taking a bath to be ready for when the boyfriend comes back. He doesn't, until (spoilers if you really care about spoilers regarding a fucking one shot lol) the MC begins jacking it and he walks in. This part really stuck out to me initially too: the MC then takes a fucking KNIFE (lmao) and threatens the boyfriend to lie down as he tries to have sex with him to convince him to never leave him again. Turns out, the boyfriend was stalking him that entire time, watching his every move and enjoying how much the MC missed and cared about him, so the knife incident was a "pleasant miscalculation" for him. Chapter 7. About a peeping tom who has a friend who has a crush on him so the friend joins him with peeping all the time, and this one time they end up fucking. (shrug) Your standard smut one-shot.

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.