I read this long ago, and had read this bit by bit. After it was retranslated, I reread it, but as it was making me feel sad, seeing Tama's life and Uchiumi's misery and the situation between them, I felt that I was not ready to read it all. Today, I decided to put it aside, and drink the tea that comes with the cake. Take in the bitter, not just the sweet.
I realized just how much sweeter it all ended up after taking in the bitter parts of the story - his being detatched, remaining unable to trust anyone, not belonging anywhere, and cannot sincerely dedicate his heart to any person, not even Uchiumi.
After the catalyst that is the meeting with his brother and the truth about his past, he realized that there is a person who willingly accepted everything about him, including that which he was not willing to let anyone see. I suppose that was when he decided to put his trust in Uchiumi and desire to love him... although this time, and understandably so, Uchiumi is the one who tries to clear things off, hoping all the best for him.
I think that at the last part before their reunion, he had decided right then that after protecting himself from the harshness of the cold and lonely winter that is his life, false warmth isn't going to give him anymore fulfillment, not after experiencing the genuine blaze of flames from Uchiumi. He had decided right then, after cleaning things up, that the thing that had been restraining him was not necessarily his past, nor his troublesome lovers or clients, but himself. Perhaps, by being with Uchiumi, he would be freer than he ever was; in fact, he probably wouldn't mind being bound if it's by Uchiumi.
He shed his protective layers and decided to fully believe that now, he will no longer be alone. Now, he has someone he genuinely wants to be with; someone he wants to bring happiness to, and be happy with for the rest of his life. His hair is cut, the cat ears are removed, and his name is revealed: Tama the stray cat has finally found a place where he can finally be a human.
I read this long ago, and had read this bit by bit. After it was retranslated, I reread it, but as it was making me feel sad, seeing Tama's life and Uchiumi's misery and the situation between them, I felt that I was not ready to read it all.
Today, I decided to put it aside, and drink the tea that comes with the cake. Take in the bitter, not just the sweet.
I realized just how much sweeter it all ended up after taking in the bitter parts of the story - his being detatched, remaining unable to trust anyone, not belonging anywhere, and cannot sincerely dedicate his heart to any person, not even Uchiumi.
After the catalyst that is the meeting with his brother and the truth about his past, he realized that there is a person who willingly accepted everything about him, including that which he was not willing to let anyone see. I suppose that was when he decided to put his trust in Uchiumi and desire to love him... although this time, and understandably so, Uchiumi is the one who tries to clear things off, hoping all the best for him.
I think that at the last part before their reunion, he had decided right then that after protecting himself from the harshness of the cold and lonely winter that is his life, false warmth isn't going to give him anymore fulfillment, not after experiencing the genuine blaze of flames from Uchiumi. He had decided right then, after cleaning things up, that the thing that had been restraining him was not necessarily his past, nor his troublesome lovers or clients, but himself. Perhaps, by being with Uchiumi, he would be freer than he ever was; in fact, he probably wouldn't mind being bound if it's by Uchiumi.
He shed his protective layers and decided to fully believe that now, he will no longer be alone. Now, he has someone he genuinely wants to be with; someone he wants to bring happiness to, and be happy with for the rest of his life.
His hair is cut, the cat ears are removed, and his name is revealed: Tama the stray cat has finally found a place where he can finally be a human.