otakulys's manga / #love triangle(50)

I really liked this at first, because I hoped, despite having read enough yaoi to know better, that it was going to be about the main character getting with his love interest after overcoming the psychotic bully who was abusing him. The moment his attacker was given some development, I knew this was going to have a typical Yaoi-land ending. To be fair, as far as rape forgiveness in yaoi goes, this is absolutely not the worst I have seen. At least the uke was upset for a while, and even later, the seme wonders if the uke is still scared after what happened. But it's still annoying as hell. I don't mind rape in stories when the rapist gets what's coming to him, or at the very least doesn't end up in a relationship with his victim. But that's often not how these things go in yaoi. Still, I liked the manga enough to give it four stars despite the rape to love. It's pretty and emotional, and it's *almost* realistic, outside of the sexual assault and coercion.

It's a really messed up story with a very unhealthy relationship from beginning to end, but it works for me somehow. I don't usually like the way abusive/manipulative behavior is often treated as romantic in Yaoi-land, but I think the story here is at least semi-aware of how screwed up the relationship is here. Not that there are three of them, but that it's such a strange, controlling, pushy, co-dependent sort of relationship. Still, I'm glad that it ended on a happy note. I would love to read more involving these three, as long as they always end up together in the end.

The guys were both on the pushy side, of course, but not as bad as it usually is in yaoi. The chemistry wasn't as strong as it has been in the few other threeway relationships I've read, but I liked the characters and thought it was cute. I hope we get to see more of them and how it's all working out. And it's Yaoi-land, so I suppose we can forgive the fact that the one guy tried to date rape him.

I probably would have given this less stars based on the first two chapters, but I really like the sexual interaction between the two semes. It's nice to see everyone getting it on with everyone. The endless rape that is never dealt with I could do without, but I feel like the manga got better as it went along. I liked the student and teacher one, even though it was short and abrupt, mostly because of the teacher's "yeah, why not" attitude, which made me laugh. The brother thing... It was sort of random, very short, so I don't really get the point of it being in there. But whatever. Decent manga. I would have given it two stars if it were just more of the first two chapters throughout, but three and a half stars for making things a bit more interesting.

I'm always so sad for Bun. I hope eventually he gets a happy ending. Daisuke is so hot, but he's such an asshole. I'm torn between wanting them together despite that and wanting Daisuke to get dumped by Bun and his wife and both of them ending up with guys who treat them well. Or, even better, he stops with the lies and they just have an open, three-way monogamous relationship. I wish more stories like this ended that way.

As usual, Miyamoto Kano's stories are kind of heartbreaking. I'm still rooting for Bun's happiness, regardless of what that means. I'm bitter about Daisuke, but it would kind of be nice if they ended up together, just because Bun loves him so much. But Daisuke would have to clean up his act first. That jerk. I feel bad for Satorou, though. He's so sweet, and Bun would have been better off with him. Hopefully Satorou finds happiness, too, though I doubt we'll ever find out for sure.