This was my fav manga as a 14/15 year old and it still is one of my fav's. To all the ppl ...

I love them as much as the next person but they definitely have something going on lmao

i think i was around 13-14 when i first started reading this. what first drew me to it was the world building: the idea of wordplay being the source of one's power was and is so compelling to me, and i've never found any other series with a mechanic like that (i later majored in english and now work in publishing so it all checks out, really). back then, soubi also seemed like An Adult, being in his 20s... but now, when i read through this i just feel pity for everyone being so young and so traumatized. i do think the expectations and dependency that soubi brings into his relationship with ritsuka is completely inappropriate. it is basically grooming. but i still don't want to call it predatory per se, bc soubi has... good intentions? but is just so traumatized himself that he just passes that on in a cycle of abuse. fwiw i think the series is very sober about how inappropriate their relationship is and it seems clear to me that it's just one of many fucked up things in this very twisted universe of the story. like it's purposefully dark and complex. this series would NEVER fly in this day and age, but i'm still oddly glad it exists.

oops i was going to post that as a separate comment but it seems i accidentally replied to you .. sorry!

Thank you for repleying, otherwise it would've took me ages to read it ^^
Yes, it's from an other time, that's for sure.
It was the drama that it was Soubis 'order' to look after Ritsuka. I think the affection he showed to him (which is inap. fr!) is because of his trauma with Minami. Soubi acts towards Ritsuka like he wished Minami would've treated him.
I think even Nisei is a tragic character xD

At the end I'm just sad that the story never got beyond the point that they are reunited. On the other hand, this way the story will stay in my mind forever <3