Responses
Well, the manga was pretty much written on Yanagi's viewpoint, I don't think they got source material from Masaru's model, hence resulting it in almost all in perspective of Akira. Who knows, maybe someday they will release another manga speaking from Masaru's side of things.
He's a very difficult person to like. Straightforward, okay. Ultimately realizes things he does wrong, tries to rectify it, okay.
Lack of communication, difficult.
Strange sort of selfishness, difficult.
Living with a woman for a year?! Unacceptable!
The trouble with this manga is that we see it almost one sidedly from Yanagi's viewpoint. Therefore the difficult to understand Masaru san becomes dislikable to readers. I wish we could have heard his side, gotten his thoughts.
What makes a straight man suddenly pick up and move to another city to live and try to date a gay guy who wasn't into him?
It's highly unusual.
The reason their relationship lasted so long, IMO, is because Akira just wanted to be loved, and he found a sort of comfort being with Masaru and eventually fell in love with him too. But mainly, he's extremely patient, and understanding, and forgiving.
In short these two strange people make a good match because they compromise for each other- although I personally feel Akira compromises A LOT. But if it works for them, who are we to judge? As long as they end up happy.
Sometimes love isn't great sex, passion and grand gestures and major confessions. It's awkward, quiet, slow and compromising. It doesn't come off as a "great love story", but that depends on who you ask. Just because it isn't ENTERTAINING doesn't mean it's a bad story either