Responses
that's a long comment but it makes sense hahhaha
i suddenly remember when Rio, Shingo and Kagami went into a park (can't remember if it's really a park all i know it there is so much grass and they were like in a picninc style). while Rio's absorb in playing, the other two have such an intimate talk that when Rio came back and saw that they were in their own little world, he suddenly had a sad expression. i thought that maybe he developed feelings for Shingo, but when i read your comment, i thought that what you said made sense.
i'm seeing a lot of people not liking rio and being frustrated with rio which is honestly, very understandable and relatable. it's just, each time i feel upset with him, i remember the fact he most likely has some massive abandonment/daddy/self-esteem issues. does this justify his behavior of looking for shingo in his current partner and selfishly wanting to be his number one without any proper communication or reciprocal of his partner's honest confession? no, but ir does explain it. frankly, while reading takamizawa and eugine's story, i was really upset with eugine all throughout. i couldn't blame him completely due to the life he had lived and how he still blatantly did cherish rio to his fullest extent, but it never sat well with me how he was still very much absorbed in himself and takamizawa most of the time. i'm not a parent, but i am a child. when my parents are so consumed in each other that they push me and my needs as a child to develop and grow as second priority, it affected me a lot. not to mention, in this story, rio was very obviously saying he doesn't even know if he even looked at shingo in a sexual light before, which made me feel like maybe he did have a crush on shingo, but maybe he also just looked up and admired shingo as his parent figure who actually did care for him and spoiled him rotten each time they see each other. it didn't help that there were many scenes in the kuroneko kareshi series, be it his parents' or shingo and keiichi's where rio was left out by the rest, standing by the sides while he sees everyone prioritize each other but no one prioritized him. i think rio just has some massive issues to deal with and to communicate with his partner properly, but i definitely think he has a lot of potential and room for character growth and development. for the time being though, i agree with his partner for wanting to be clear about everything and wanting a certain line of distinction. rio has to understand everything by himself and figure himself out, his feelings and whether he likes his partner rather than the other way around. you wanting to be loved shouldn't hurt the one who has to love you.