hanasan's manga / #shounen ai(29)

Lots of people rating it low, and I can definitely understand why, but if you're open to a major age gap fiction story that is actually rather wholesome, this is a good book to give a try. As the author's editor says in the author's note at the end, "I can't imagine anything racy happening between these two," that's how wholesome their relationship turns out to be. If you're alright with giving it a try for the "wholesome family" fluff, I do recommend giving this a read. Seijiro Mihara, a 40 year old office worker who just quit his job and landed a new job as a housekeeper for Taishi Arisawa... who is apparently a 12(!) year old head of the Arisawa household. Yes, that's right, at the beginning of the story, Taishi is 12. That's why there are a lot of concerned comments. Don't worry, they don't get together romantically until the last two chapters where he's 18-- That being said, there is a lot of Taishi forcing kisses onto Seijiro without him reciprocating, obviously being bothered by it even. Seijiro ends up being forced to stay as Taishi's housekeeper due to the latter's lowkey threats, but ends up actually being concerned for the kid who acts way to mature for his age. Taishi has been raised as the head of his family since he was literally born, and has never known how to act like a proper child, and when his entire family passes away, he's been left with his entire family name and legacy to run. He's actually pressured by the idea that he needs to be a proper "adult" to run his family's businesses and household, but as a kid, he kinda just wants a family and someone to stay by his side that DOESN'T treat him like he's just the head of the family. At the end of the day, the story is actually very sweet and the two form a very tight familial bond (despite Taishi's insistence for that bond to be more akin to him being the husband and Seijiro being the wife lol), Seijiro even telling Taishi that his ["love"] for Taishi isn't the same as Taishi's romantic love, until Taishi properly grows older. The two of them only kiss and acknowledge each other romantically once Taishi's 18, and they only do more intimate things once Taishi's gone to college (which makes me hope he's 20??? but I'm not too sure, not specified. They just say that Taishi got into his college of choice).

One of my ABSOLUTE favourites. Finished the raws and will 100% say I want more of this, I really wished there were extras or I wouldn't even mind if they did an entirely new season too. I love the leads so much, they're both silly... fucked up little goofballs. I love 'em. They're both traumatized as hell, and they show that in very contrasting ways that end up making them perfect for each other. Seyeong and Heejae are the perfect example of Avoidant vs Anxious attachment styles. It definitely starts unhealthy with Heejae only pushing Seyeong to date him for revenge, but Heejae ends up falling for Seyeong for real. Seyeong takes a long time to properly fall for Heejae, mainly due to not thinking that he's even worth Heejae's time, but thankfully once they properly get together, they'll definitely be the type of couple that will never let the other leave. And I just hope they're happy.