Fukurou-kun to Kare
Err... Didn't feel Shiratori's love so much. If anything, towards the end, it seems like he favors him out of everyone else because of their body compatibility. I really disliked how Fukurou clearly asked him not to cheat on him when they began dating, and he still did. Ugh. I needed at least more chapters to see Shiratori feel more guilty and remorse towards the uke. He's just too self-centered, and I'm just turned off with guys like him.
Hageshii Ame
"Am I also serious? In the past, I would have these cheap misunderstandings with someone who appears to be my type. But from the beginning, this has been interesting. It felt like a game. However, this time, when tears pour out for my sake, I can't help but think Ryuuji is cuter. It's not a lie. Right now, I really love Ryuuji. I've fallen in love. However, the end came too quickly.
Somehow, I predicted this. <...Say something.> *slap* What could have been said at this time? Ryuuji didn't want it, there was no other way. That day, inside me, will always be the 'memory' of Ryuuji. "However, I couldn't do it. I remember all of Ryuuji and compare it. No matter how many years pass, I look back to the same thing. Ryuuji's smile, the shape of his fingertips, the way his eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks, and the warmth of his body when I held him... Why those times I couldn't let go of them with my hands. It's already been five years. Has he changed? Once again, we start from the beginning. Should I smile? Ryuuji, this time, there won't be any mistakes. There are my own feelings..." Why I disliked the seme: - He went out with the uke with half-hearted feelings. - He cheated on the uke with women, and didn't think it was that big of a deal back then because he wasn't serious about the uke. (He only realized that he must've fallen for the uke when he finally snapped and soon decided to leave him.) - He lied about Ryuu the cat being their exclusive secret. (C'mon, I bet the uke felt a bit happy that they shared a secret between them only to find out the next day that their female co-worker actually takes care of it, too. She's even allowed to come and go his apartment with the cat as an excuse.) - Above all, he only apologized for his past behavior when he saw the key and realized that the uke still cherished him after all these years. "It was bad to make you feel that way. I'm sorry." That's it! He was very passive in their relationship. Pain? Heartbreak? Agony? He must've felt miserable after that time, taking in a pitiful cat in the middle of the rain to sub for the guy who left him when it was also raining. But did he even do anything at all to redeem himself? No. Even when they reunited, he acted nonchalantly, and when he felt that he still affected the uke in some ways, he used it as a chance to get him back. I wish we were at least given more glimpses during the 5-year separation to see how the seme changed. Did he date others after they broke up, but somehow those didn't work and he became single just in time when the uke came back? Or did he take the break up as a chance for him to become a better person, (clinging only to the cat to make up for hurting the uke) so he never dated anyone again in hopes to meet the uke in the future? I'd like to delude myself and believe it's the latter, but I wouldn't really know. He never even cared to look for the uke, apologize, and ask for a chance to prove himself trustworthy again. He simply assumed that the uke will not take him back anymore because he got tired of his whims. ===== "That person monopolized me. I was the only one who gave myself. But still... That time, I really loved that person. Even after we said goodbye, I still kept that key. It was painful and many times, I've wanted to throw it away but couldn't do it. It's a part of me I have to carry, and there's nothing I can do about it. Right now, there's nothing that can save me. I know I can't go anywhere. But still, that b*st*rd hurt me! If only that person always loved me, then I wouldn't have tried to forget these past five years. But then we meet again as if by chance. However... D*mnit! Why does this all have to get dredged up? "...How did I end up like this? ...He said it like that, but Baba-san's face looks so happy. But this person... When did this person have such kind eyes? My memories of him are different. It's kind of unsettling. Keep it together, Ryuuji. Do I realize that five years have passed? That man was just after my body. I love him but it's just too painful. However... If he's changed from the past..? If that's the case... "It's painful. He always puts me against this wall. One, just one certainty. And, in the end, he steals my heart. Those words, shake down the last of my reserve. I can't stop this again? Hey, Baba-san, this is cruel. What am I doing? I had fallen again. I'm such an idi*t... What? That look. It's not the Baba-san I know. Is he serious? Should I believe him? " <...Ryuuji.> ... Five years ago, I should have said those words, but my st*pid pride got in the way. It's taken me to reunite again to realize the meaning of those words. But right now, I'll blame it on the fever. Right now, I'm entirely not myself. I'm only existing within the core of my heart. I'm so in love with you!" Why I disliked the uke: - He was very weak. There is a limit to martyrdom, you know? The way he said that he doesn't care even if the seme lies, as long as he stays with him pissed me off. I get that this happens in real life, too. Like, when someone falls too deeply in love that they would endure their lover having affairs as long as they won't be completely abandoned. I had hopes for him, because he actually had the courage to break it off with the seme after being cheated on, despite being so in love with him 5 years ago. So why did he become even weaker 5 years later? How could he just accept the seme again when he suffered all those years clinging on that love? How could he melt just by seeing the seme's changed expression when he didn't even do anything else for him? I mean, what did he even do? He simply gave him back the key and let him decide if he'd take him back when he already felt and knew how much the uke still loved him (He realized this after seeing his key, didn't he?). Hmm, how do I say it? I dislike cheating, but I can tolerate it if I can see that the cheater actually showed remorse or suffered from his act, and proved his sincerity before getting back together with that lover. I liked the art, though, and I really liked the main plot (See how I even extracted a lot of their lines because they give out certain feeling.). I just hoped that after their separation, they really learned their lesson and changed. After all, there is no perfect relationship. People need to learn from their mistakes, grow up, and prove their partner how much they changed and are willing to do better things so as not to repeat the same mistake.
Yume No Kodomo
I'm very conflicted about how I feel about this manga because it feels too deep, yet some of the characters reasoning seem illogical to me. I really liked how Youji matured from his bratty self. In the early chapters, I disliked how he was hating on Hirose's complicated feelings, and he ended up being in the same predicament. Since he had this sense of responsibility to rescue Ren, he felt that he needed to do something for him and started acting strange after Hirose let him in on what he's getting himself into. So when he kissed Ren at night while they drank, then kissed Hiromi (his gf) the next day, I was pissed off. When he told Ren he liked him (despite still being confused with his feelings), I thought he'd break it off with his gf right away. I mean, at this point, Ren or the others would advise not to, since Youji's not even sure of his feelings yet. However, it's unfair for Hiromi to have him continue date her while he thought of another person. He was very insensitive about the ring, too. Well, anyway, it's good that he at least had the decency to break up not long after. I was glad that Ren didn't accept him immediately, too. As the manga goes further, we see that Youji learns more about homosexual relationships and he's slowly healing Ren while being mature and keeping his composure; reminding himself that liking Ren is enough, at least for now. Ren really acted like an adult. When he went over to Hirose's house and said that he still loved him, I was disappointed, but I kind of understood. He's never really gotten over him, so it's just that he started to acknowledge his feelings. It was brave of him to stop running away and refuse Hirose despite his lingering affections. What I didn't like was how he reasoned out that he's doing Youji a favor by not crossing the line, and instead goes around sleeping with others. Sure, he's still unsure about his feelings for Youji and he felt pressured that he can't reciprocate the same feelings he expected. However, I simply do not understand how sleeping around, and coming home to Youji, who could possibly smell him and know what he's doing, would help his situation. He's trying to run away from Youji to prevent him from being hurt, but what he's actually doing only hurt Youji more. Ugh. I dunno. Even in the last "rape" scene where he claimed he wasn't abused and he felt pleasure from the body, I just couldn't understand. I thought he'd given up his feelings for Hirose when he started touching Youji... But I guess his feelings just don't vanish that easily. And as he said, his body truly remembered the pleasure they shared all those times they were together. This made me worried though. It's as if he'd give in to Hirose anytime since it's only physical pleasure anyway. In short, it's as if Ren didn't give much importance to the physical aspect of the relationship. I wish he cherished it more. Especially when he finally accepted Youji... How can he simply enjoy it because he pitied Hirose? Why didn't he try to resist simply because he pitied Hirose? How could he even be sure that he'd be released even after doing all that? In a way, he did betray Youji that time. Ahhh, but he was actually honest to Youji about this, but since Youji's the one chasing him, he could only accept it.. In the end, I guess I wished that Ren expressed more of his love for Youji because he seemed too passive. I get that he was hurt and it took him long to get over it, but I thought that when he knew about Youji's trouble, he'd be more active and all. I think he's been too spoiled by Youji... Ugh. Really, I just can't get over the fact that he still willingly went with Hirose's desperation. Well, he said he no longer hold lingering affections now. I just hope that it's true, and that he'd never sleep around again or allow others to kiss him easily. He's too nonchalant about this. He should think about how his partner would feel more. After all, Youji's one of a kind for him, so he shouldn't let him go by being st*pid like that.
First Kiss
I dunno, there's certainly a "redemption" act in the end, where the seme lets himself get caught, but honestly speaking, it's as if that wouldn't have happened if not for the situation. I mean, his affair with the uke's wife has long been going. I just can't sympathize with him. Well, if they'd meet again after many years and the uke suffers more, maybe I'll like their relationship more. I mean, let's face it, the uke's the one who's been hurt and betrayed the most here. If it were me, I'd really have a hard time believing the seme. I mean, he kissed the uke and confessed so suddenly. Did he expect an immediate answer when they're both guys? He should've at least given him time to consider. But what did he do? He immediately went and did it with a teacher. This just made the uke question his sincerity more. If that were me, I'd doubt him too. Because, how can he tell me he loves me, then be able to do that with another so easily? I guess that would be acceptable if I rejected him. Because once I reject him, it's the same as me, throwing away the feelings he's offering. Therefore, if after I rejected him, I see him do it with another person, I have no right to judge him or question his sincerity anymore.
Totally Captivated
Would've appreciated Mookyul more if he were drawn better.. I mean, he's not consistent. There are a lot of times when I know I'm supposed to find him hot, but somehow, there's something not right with the way he's drawn.. I mean, even Fox Jung looks hotter than him. Anyway, as I said, I'm not very tolerant about cheating. It really made me furious to know that even after they loved together, Mookyul still had sex with Pres. and what, he made it out like it's not a big deal since it's not the same he holds Ewon. I mean, F! Even I would get mad. But oh well. I admire Ewon for having the guts to stay firm in staying away from Mookyul even if he was so hurt, because if he just accepted it as it is, he'd never be satisfied.. Not after he's finally letting himself fall in love. He just can't share him like that. I really liked that. I even forgive him for sleeping around (though I'm usually opposed to this) because in their case, Mookyul wouldn't have really understood how Ewon felt if he didn't do it. He wanted Mookyul to feel what it's like to have their lover sleep with another person even without love, just like what he's been doing, and planned to continue doing to him. Ewon was like it's all or nothing. When Mookyul left him after saying he still hasn't changed his mind and wouldn't abandon the Pres, my heart broke with Ewon's. It's like, he even went as far as to sleep around (which he stopped doing after Mookyul punished him once) even after he finally gave his heart to him, so he felt betrayed. He thought Mookyul will finally choose him now that he understood what it felt like.. So yeah, good job, Ewon! Well, I'd say I also pity Mookyul, because he was torn between the two guys he loved. He can't just abandon the Pres because if it weren't for him, he probably wouldn't be even alive and meet Ewon again. However, it was also hard for him to give up on Ewon because it was the first time Mookyul felt that he really wanted to possess someone completely. He wanted to love and be loved by Ewon. It was a choice he made by himself. However, as he's still shackled, he can't completely love Ewon because he can't just leave. It may seem unfair to him, too, since he's torn like that, but I can't sympathize with him so much because he still lied. I mean, Ewon already expressed how he was afraid of the complexities of love so he wanted to know how it really is with Pres, but Mookyul just had to say that whatever the Pres and he had, IT WAS ALREADY IN THE PAST AND HE'S THE ONLY ONE FOR HIM NOW. Just how was Ewon supposed to take that, when he found out that even after he boldly confesses like that, Mookyul actually hadn't stopped having sex with Pres? It's just messed up. Well, I get that Mookyul's embarrassed that he's whoring himself to Pres so he didn't want Ewon to know, but how could he expect a sincere relationship with Ewon if he couldn't even be honest with him? Ugh. I was really hurt during their "break up" scenes... So I felt relieved when Mookyul finally decided to go all out for Ewon.
Innai Kansen