I thought volume one was very strong. I enjoyed their hate to love dynamic and the world they live in. All second genders are equal in the work place and there wasn't random attacks on an omega in heat. The world is safe and at no point did I feel like Shishikura was in danger while he was in heat, because I was assured the times have changed. And although there are still preferences and dislike for omegas, it's framed as an individual issue, rather an societal issue (meaning the woman that looked down on Shishikura is the problem, not him being an omega). The story is an omegaverse but the story didnt feel like it was screaming at me "this is abo! This is abo!" It was about two men with completely different personalities learning to open up about their feelings AND they happen to be alpha and omega and have these underlying issues that they both need to resolve. That's how volume one spoke to me.
But in volume two it just became a typical abo story. Suddenly being an omega is a societal problem, omegas are inferior than Alphas and Betas, and there's emphasis on society still being the same shitty place it was years ago. Shishikura's reason for marriage branches out to be more about his second gender and security as an omega living in this shitty world that looks down on him. I thought he wanted marriage because of fomo? jokes aside though, initially he wanted marriage because he wants to be happy like his parents and siblings and friends. He original reason for marriage was for happiness. That's such a good and sweet reason. The change made it about safety concern instead. Why did it have to change from that? Just to overcomplicate and crumble the world building back down to the typical.
Shishikura also gets attacked while in heat, typical. The conflict with the family blessing was dealt with very poorly. The trauma Kotani carried for years and the hate the dad has, and his mother's presence and cause of his trauma was glossed over easily, fixed just like that. Not to mention Kotani's little spat with his older brother about not messing with omegas (Shishikura) and the brother was like "like father, like son" to imply the dad is someone who does the same but that little bit never took off and the Dad is just a shitty omega hater? I wonder if that subplot was gonna go somewhere but got cut loose? Idk.
I enjoyed their struggle with coming to terms with what they mean to each other when it really comes down to it but the execution was poor for volume two. It was messy and didn't seem well thought out, just felt like a cookie cutter obligated sequel. The art style change was expected but the stylistic choice for Shishikura specifically was...iffy. His hair being droopy compared to the more volumized perkiness in the previous is a huge loss imo. Also Kotani losing his defined waves/curls and getting replaced with basic flat waves. Cries.
I read this years ago without volume two and really enjoyed this, gave it good score. Now I'll have to change the score cuz volume 2 was disappointing.
Imo if I'm gonna read this again, i'll consider the story ended at volume one and knowing they did eventually get married, then skip volume two to read the extra about having their daughter will suffice.
I thought volume one was very strong. I enjoyed their hate to love dynamic and the world they live in. All second genders are equal in the work place and there wasn't random attacks on an omega in heat. The world is safe and at no point did I feel like Shishikura was in danger while he was in heat, because I was assured the times have changed. And although there are still preferences and dislike for omegas, it's framed as an individual issue, rather an societal issue (meaning the woman that looked down on Shishikura is the problem, not him being an omega). The story is an omegaverse but the story didnt feel like it was screaming at me "this is abo! This is abo!" It was about two men with completely different personalities learning to open up about their feelings AND they happen to be alpha and omega and have these underlying issues that they both need to resolve. That's how volume one spoke to me.
But in volume two it just became a typical abo story. Suddenly being an omega is a societal problem, omegas are inferior than Alphas and Betas, and there's emphasis on society still being the same shitty place it was years ago. Shishikura's reason for marriage branches out to be more about his second gender and security as an omega living in this shitty world that looks down on him. I thought he wanted marriage because of fomo? jokes aside though, initially he wanted marriage because he wants to be happy like his parents and siblings and friends. He original reason for marriage was for happiness. That's such a good and sweet reason. The change made it about safety concern instead. Why did it have to change from that? Just to overcomplicate and crumble the world building back down to the typical.
Shishikura also gets attacked while in heat, typical. The conflict with the family blessing was dealt with very poorly. The trauma Kotani carried for years and the hate the dad has, and his mother's presence and cause of his trauma was glossed over easily, fixed just like that. Not to mention Kotani's little spat with his older brother about not messing with omegas (Shishikura) and the brother was like "like father, like son" to imply the dad is someone who does the same but that little bit never took off and the Dad is just a shitty omega hater? I wonder if that subplot was gonna go somewhere but got cut loose? Idk.
I enjoyed their struggle with coming to terms with what they mean to each other when it really comes down to it but the execution was poor for volume two. It was messy and didn't seem well thought out, just felt like a cookie cutter obligated sequel. The art style change was expected but the stylistic choice for Shishikura specifically was...iffy. His hair being droopy compared to the more volumized perkiness in the previous is a huge loss imo. Also Kotani losing his defined waves/curls and getting replaced with basic flat waves. Cries.
I read this years ago without volume two and really enjoyed this, gave it good score. Now I'll have to change the score cuz volume 2 was disappointing.
Imo if I'm gonna read this again, i'll consider the story ended at volume one and knowing they did eventually get married, then skip volume two to read the extra about having their daughter will suffice.